The Future of Storytelling?

I've blogged before how "good enough" isn't good enough anymore. Not just because the bar for books is high, but because the bar for ENTERTAINMENT is high. Yes, there's crap out there. But there's a LOT of choice--everything from movies to video games to iPhone apps and gadgets.

Where can e-books go? What about extras buried inside e-books? I've not really drifted too much in my blog into the boundaries of technology and what it means for books.

Until I read this and was utterly fascinated.

Now . . . I'm not saying I would play this game. In fact, it would be too "much" for me. Too emotionally scary. Not. Going. There. BUT . . . the concept? Four POVs. TWO THOUSAND pages of script. Multi-layered characters with inner demons. Homage to noir.

Even more, if things like this take off . . . what does it mean for conventional books someday that DON'T offer this?

And before anyone thinks that idea is ridiculous, I would point to Wii. Three years ago, conventional wisdom was the ONLY people who played video games were adolescent boys. Wiis are in nursing homes. My BLIND father plays the Wii (bowling and boxing) when he visits. My oldest son aligns his arm and shows him how to swing, we play on a high-dwef 52-inch screen he can see. Even my little guys bowls with Pop.

So read the article. And then . . . what do you think?