Choose-your-own-adventure technology

Tammy’s discussion of “Choose your own adventures” books  led us to an interesting conversation on the appeal of these books to non-readers and then further, to if these  type of books might appeal to on-line game players and X-Box players (do they call them X-Boxers?).  Our sense of this was no – but were there on-line versions that might incorporate some of the decision making and thought processes?

Some Googling and trials of different search terms (choose your own adventure, interactive character stories) brought me to  Choice of Games, a company devoted to “producing high-quality, text-based, multiple choice games”. Their belief is that text-based games are an underutilized format in computer games, and that the use of text interacts with the imagination in different ways than a graphics-based game. (Hmmmm – interesting premise. I like it.)

They have many, many games that they have produced – the one that Tammy and I played is called “Dragon”. It starts off with a knight who attacks a dragon (the character that the player assumes). The choices that are made determine the arc of the story.  Whoever wrote this one clearly has a sense of humour and a willingness to push the boundaries of stereotypes. Here is an example:

“As you think about it, the knight’s attack was probably inevitable. After all, you did just kidnap the princess from right out of her tower. Although…Isn’t it a little sexist to always kidnap princesses?

o   Maybe, but tradition demands that dragons kidnap princesses, even if that is sexist.

o   You dare question my actions?

o   You know, I never thought about that before. In fact, I think I kidnapped a prince, just to avoid being sexist.

o   I’ll have you know that I make a careful point of alternating between princes and princesses, but it happened to be time for a princess.

Good humour displayed here and at a level that kids would get, I think. As you move through the game, the choices that you make determine things about your character (or you) – in this case, whether you, the dragon lose or gain brutality, cunning, disdain and infamy, what your wealth is and if you have wounds. 

The adventure continues – unlike physical books however, if you don’t like the way it is going, you have to go back and start again, which can certainly change the entire focus.

But what Tammy and I thought had huge potential was that Choice of Games offers the opportunity for you to write your own multiple choice games. They offer a basic guide to their programming language that enables someone to post their adventure online. Of course, you cannot just randomly start writing the program. And this is where an opportunity to capture the attention of reluctant writers and addicted gamers comes in. The story line will have to be plotted out, include what happens at each choice point – students would need to know about plot development, think through the impact at each choice point and perhaps even read a few books/short stories to get some ideas for story ideas and what might appeal to a particular age group.

This would not be a quick project – but the inspiration of being able to see a game that you have written on line might just appeal to those who are reluctant writers and readers.  It certainly would have more appeal than a book report – at least from my perspective.  And certainly, in Alberta, at any rate, a project of this nature would go a long way toward achieving not only the vision set out in  Alberta Learning’s Learning and Technology Framework, but the ability to foster cross-curricular learning is invaluable.

Choice of Games can be played both online and as downloads through iTunes and Android. In addition, authored games can be placed on iTunes and Choice of Games will split proceeds with the author. Kind of a win-win for everyone!!
                                                                                                                                                       --Janet

Choose-Your-Own-Adventure (or in modern lingo – interactive fiction)

Recently, I've acquired a few examples of the’ You Choose’ interactive adventures from Capstone Press.  Two subseries are available. One looks at survival in various extreme environments (Antarctica, mountains at high altitudes, a desert) or dangerous/disastrous situations (storm chasing, earthquakes). The other is based on historical time periods (Great Depression, space race of the 50s and 60s) or people from a particular time (ninjas, samurais, knights).

 Each book offers three story paths that leads to anywhere from 41 to 55 choices to work through with multiple endings, of course. There are lots of choices to work through, which I liked.

Overall, these are not bad books.  I know it never sounds good to start a review this way but it's true.  I think the topics are interesting and that a middle grade student would learn something about ninjas, climbing Kilimanjaro, Aztecs, or the recent Japanese earthquake and tsunami or what have you.  The historical adventures all include timelines, additional research resources, glossary and index.  The survival- based adventures include a chapter about what survival techniques are necessary or at least essential to be aware about to live through such events.  These also include very brief bios of true-life survivors, a quiz, bibliography, glossary and index.  A good starting point, maybe.

But. 

I did find the ‘story’ side left me feeling a little flat.  Without much narrative context and even though I’m the main character, I didn't feel all that invested.  I did feel like I got a sense about each adventure I entered and thought that I’d like to learn more. It was somewhat entertaining working through the stories I chose (Life as a ninja, Can you survive extreme mountain climbing?, and Can you survive an earthquake?) to see what would happen - if I would live or die.

I think there might be some appeal for struggling readers who like the adventure aspect and possibilities for affecting the stories outcome.  I could see using these books to model this kind of storytelling in a writing classroom.

And then…

I got to thinking about the digital aspects of this kind of storytelling. Would the story be less flat? Are there digital applications that could enhance the writing and storytelling components of the ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ format?  How enhanced could the story be with interesting graphics?  I can envision the potential for interdisciplinary and collaborative projects.  Coming up with scenarios and potential outcomes requires research and significant comprehension of a topic.  Playing out scenarios would require all sorts of thinking skills.  The possibilities seem really exciting to me

And this is where I’ll leave off and entice you back next week when guest blogger, Janet, will let us in on what apps she’s found.  Stay tuned.

Rain – the good, the bad, and the imaginative

I’m a little tentative about declaring that spring is finally here in Calgary.  We’ve had too many tantalizing false starts, but it’s been almost two weeks without snow and I’ve decided to hope for the best.'

So with spring in the air… Downpour by Emily Martin is a perfect accompaniment for the season.

It’s a gentle, poetic and imaginative reverie about a rainy day that so saturates everything, that the colour from red poppies begins to run, colouring various plants, animals and other things that it contacts.   From its own leaves and roots to the ground underfoot, to the beaks of nearby birds, to fields, fences and puddles, to a happy old man’s beard, all things have the potential to turn red.  A cute and curious hedgehog keeps us company throughout this contemplation of spring and the colour red. 

The grey tones of everything else illustrated really make the red pop.  The line drawings are well suited to the poetic nature of the book, contributing to the ‘flowy’ feel of a very grey, wet, rainy day. 

And what about the now white poppies? Well our little hedgehog tries to give them back some of their missing colour.  The author includes a couple of personal musings on the credits/copyright page on the last page that I think are very interesting.

                Poetry lurks, especially in the rain.

                Red used to be my least favorite color.

                Only fools don’t change their minds.

                Disaster is inevitable.  Watch it unfold, find beauty.

Sync up

May 15th is the start of Sync: YA literature into your earphones.

This week's pairing is the classic Time Machine by H.G. Wells with  WARP: the reluctant assassin by Eoin Colfer.  You only have a week to download these two audiobooks.

See the link at the top of the right-hand column.

SYNC offers 2 FREE audiobooks each week May 15 - Aug 20, 2014. Sign up for email or text alerts that invite you to download the new titles as they become available.

Holiday break

University is winding down for another academic year which means I’m heading off for a holiday.  I don't know about you but it feels like this winter has been never-ending.

But wait!  Before I go, I have to share a little story.

Just a couple of days ago, a co-worker brought the book The Underwater Museum: the submerged sculptures of Jason Decaires Taylor to my attention.  Loved it!

It’s a surreal but amazing look at the work of this artist who casts life-size human models (using real people) to create sculptural pieces that he then sinks off the coast of Grenada in the Caribbean and various places along the coasts of  Mexico.  It blends an artistic statement with a way to encourage reef development.  The three essays at the front of the book, one by the artist himself, Carlo McCormick an art critic and curator and finally, from a scientist, Helen Scales about reef conservation and the importance of healthy reefs to the environment offers different perspectives showing the relevance of such a project.

The book showcases a great blending of art and science.  Check out the website to find out more about the artist and the project.  I think anyone would find this fascinating to peruse. 

And, guess where I’m going?  Don’t say Mexico.  In looking for an off-the-beaten-track spring adventure this year we chose Grenada.  I love how serendipity plays out sometimes.  To find out about this underwater museum just before I go is just too auspicious and I’ll be making the most of this opportunity.

I’ll be back in May and will start posting again in the middle of the month.

The Play’s the thing

I was pretty keen on reading an adaption of Shaun Tan’s The Arrival as a play.

I mean, a wordless book turned into a theatrical production?  Whaaaa?

Well, while it might be said to be ‘based’ on the book it turns out not to be a direct, page-by-page adaption but is better described as a companion piece to the novel.

Which doesn’t mean it wouldn’t have a place in the classroom. 

If you're studying immigration and the migrant experience, then this little play would be very relevant.  It follows three main characters as they think about their lives living in a different country, separated from their families. There are several minor characters of various ethnicities filling out the cast.  They represent the commonalities experienced among immigrants.  One of the characters even says that “We are all in the same boat now!” speaking both physically and metaphorically.  Tan’s male character also undergoes some of the same experiences, leaving his family, sailing on a ship, arriving in a new country, coping with culture shock and meeting new people, often other immigrants.  These overarching occurrences certainly tie the book and the play together.

The play provides stage directions that indicate that at several points, Tan’s illustrations from the book will be projected onto a screen.

This book could be used as an example of adapting one kind of literary work into a different format.  In a conversation with Shaun Tan that is included at the front of the play, we learn that he is also working on the early phases of a feature-length project also based on The Arrival.  He says, “this would be yet another interpretation of story concepts that is likely to depart significantly from the original book, simply because the medium is so different – so quite a challenge.”

I can only imagine what the challenges might be but I'm also very keen to see what this project will look like.

Overall, reading the play is not as rich an experience as reading Tan’s The Arrival.  However, I think watching this play might be the best way to take it in. It incorporates acrobatic and circus-like elements to help impart the story. It looks fascinating.  Take a look and decide for yourself: