Comments on: Does Turning Classics into Video Games Indoctrinate Readers? http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/does-turning-classics-into-video-games-indoctrinate-readers/ International publishing news and opinion Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:46:21 +0000 hourly 1 By: Geek Media Round-Up: February 25, 2010 – Grasping for the Wind http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/does-turning-classics-into-video-games-indoctrinate-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-5303 Geek Media Round-Up: February 25, 2010 – Grasping for the Wind Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:04:05 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=12248#comment-5303 [...] Publishing Perspectives asks Does Turning Classics into Video Games Indoctrinate Readers? [...] [...] Publishing Perspectives asks Does Turning Classics into Video Games Indoctrinate Readers? [...]

]]> By: The Great Geek Manual » Geek Media Round-Up: February 24, 2010 http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/does-turning-classics-into-video-games-indoctrinate-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-5289 The Great Geek Manual » Geek Media Round-Up: February 24, 2010 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:33:05 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=12248#comment-5289 [...] Publishing Perspectives asks Does Turning Classics into Video Games Indoctrinate Readers? [...] [...] Publishing Perspectives asks Does Turning Classics into Video Games Indoctrinate Readers? [...]

]]> By: Erik Johnson http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/does-turning-classics-into-video-games-indoctrinate-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-5275 Erik Johnson Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:06:46 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=12248#comment-5275 Sounds like the same old argument about movies and television. Everyone in publishing knows that a movie almost always drums up interest in the original book, even if it's true that many people will just see the movie. I don't see how a video game, unless it's really terrible, could fail to attract *any* additional readers to the source material, particularly if it's something like Dante whose weirdness I think might actually be very appealing to some of the more cerebral comics and games geeks out there. And isn't that the point? We book folks will only lose the "war" with new media if we decide that there is one. Sounds like the same old argument about movies and television. Everyone in publishing knows that a movie almost always drums up interest in the original book, even if it’s true that many people will just see the movie. I don’t see how a video game, unless it’s really terrible, could fail to attract *any* additional readers to the source material, particularly if it’s something like Dante whose weirdness I think might actually be very appealing to some of the more cerebral comics and games geeks out there. And isn’t that the point? We book folks will only lose the “war” with new media if we decide that there is one.

]]> By: kwFrench http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/does-turning-classics-into-video-games-indoctrinate-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-5274 kwFrench Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:50:41 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=12248#comment-5274 I agree with you Fiona, 'messing with them' will not necessarily destroy the enduring nature of classics. Conveying a message or story is the foundation of communication. The method of delivery has, and will continue to change over time. From early cave drawings and story telling to present day digital publishing--the purpose has always been to convey a message to others. Why humankind feels compelled to do so remains somewhat a mystery, I guess we would have to say, it is in our blood. This article and your comment caused me to reflect on another industry with enduring classics. The music industry has faced similar dynamics upon their classics. I wonder what Beethoven would have said if he had seen his ninth symphony integrated into a Bugs Bunny cartoon, or his Ode to Joy sung as rap in the movie Sister Act. Would he be offended, or impressed with other artists’ interpretation and variation? Maybe he would simply be happy to see the endurance of his message over centuries. Will the use of classics in video games introduce and encourage reading? I rather doubt it. However, some of us who enjoy classical music can trace first exposure to Saturday morning cartoons. Did cartoons lead me to the concert hall? No, but an impression must have occurred or recalling this wouldn’t be possible. Must have been favorable, as I enjoy these classics today—in all their variations, well almost all. A spot on my favorite classical radio station reminds listeners that, ‘today’s classics were once Top 20 Hits’. I guess the enduring question remains, will changing the delivery method improve or harm the intended communication of creative authors and musicians who seek to share their passion and gifts with others. I tend to believe the ‘message’ speaks to humankind louder than the delivery ‘method’ and happy to see the video game industry move into something that offers a different perspective to their current list of Top Hits like Grand Theft Auto IV and similar themes. I’m sure a video game with the title ‘Go To Hell’ will be a big hit and gamers will wonder who this Dante dude is and how they can text him about his really cool game! This may indeed become an opportunity for publishers to leverage this new market exposure of literature into unexposed audiences. How we accomplish that may be seen as dramatically as ‘Bugs and Beethoven’ when first introduced. These are indeed exciting times to be in publishing. I agree with you Fiona, ‘messing with them’ will not necessarily destroy the enduring nature of classics. Conveying a message or story is the foundation of communication. The method of delivery has, and will continue to change over time. From early cave drawings and story telling to present day digital publishing–the purpose has always been to convey a message to others. Why humankind feels compelled to do so remains somewhat a mystery, I guess we would have to say, it is in our blood.

This article and your comment caused me to reflect on another industry with enduring classics. The music industry has faced similar dynamics upon their classics. I wonder what Beethoven would have said if he had seen his ninth symphony integrated into a Bugs Bunny cartoon, or his Ode to Joy sung as rap in the movie Sister Act. Would he be offended, or impressed with other artists’ interpretation and variation? Maybe he would simply be happy to see the endurance of his message over centuries.

Will the use of classics in video games introduce and encourage reading? I rather doubt it. However, some of us who enjoy classical music can trace first exposure to Saturday morning cartoons. Did cartoons lead me to the concert hall? No, but an impression must have occurred or recalling this wouldn’t be possible. Must have been favorable, as I enjoy these classics today—in all their variations, well almost all. A spot on my favorite classical radio station reminds listeners that, ‘today’s classics were once Top 20 Hits’.

I guess the enduring question remains, will changing the delivery method improve or harm the intended communication of creative authors and musicians who seek to share their passion and gifts with others. I tend to believe the ‘message’ speaks to humankind louder than the delivery ‘method’ and happy to see the video game industry move into something that offers a different perspective to their current list of Top Hits like Grand Theft Auto IV and similar themes. I’m sure a video game with the title ‘Go To Hell’ will be a big hit and gamers will wonder who this Dante dude is and how they can text him about his really cool game!

This may indeed become an opportunity for publishers to leverage this new market exposure of literature into unexposed audiences. How we accomplish that may be seen as dramatically as ‘Bugs and Beethoven’ when first introduced. These are indeed exciting times to be in publishing.

]]> By: Matt Holden http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/does-turning-classics-into-video-games-indoctrinate-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-5272 Matt Holden Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:05:27 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=12248#comment-5272 As an employee at a major book retailer, I can tell you that the sales of Dante's Inferno have definitely increased due to the release of the game. Inferno being my second favorite piece of literature of all time, and being a casual gamer myself I was very interested to see how sales would be affected by the release of the game, and while I doubt many of these zealous would-be lit scholars (if every classic received the digital treatment) will actually finish the work or even get past the realization that Dante is, to start, a rather cowardly, weepy protagonist, I am excited for the few who do. As a now certified English teacher my view is why not? If you have a better idea on how to get young people to read epic poetry, please let the US Department of Education know. While I do understand people who don't appreciate reimaginings (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, The Looking Glass Wars, Transiberian Orchestra) I for one do not see the harm. These interpretations are like shock jocks: If their sins are so egregious, change the channel or, in this case, don't buy it. As an employee at a major book retailer, I can tell you that the sales of Dante’s Inferno have definitely increased due to the release of the game. Inferno being my second favorite piece of literature of all time, and being a casual gamer myself I was very interested to see how sales would be affected by the release of the game, and while I doubt many of these zealous would-be lit scholars (if every classic received the digital treatment) will actually finish the work or even get past the realization that Dante is, to start, a rather cowardly, weepy protagonist, I am excited for the few who do. As a now certified English teacher my view is why not? If you have a better idea on how to get young people to read epic poetry, please let the US Department of Education know. While I do understand people who don’t appreciate reimaginings (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, The Looking Glass Wars, Transiberian Orchestra) I for one do not see the harm. These interpretations are like shock jocks: If their sins are so egregious, change the channel or, in this case, don’t buy it.

]]> By: Justin Golenbock http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/does-turning-classics-into-video-games-indoctrinate-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-5270 Justin Golenbock Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:16:17 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=12248#comment-5270 Actually, Nintendo is well ahead of the curve on this. They launched an english version of 100 classics (from HarperCollins) late in 2008, right after the Kindle/Sony Reader first launched. It was formatted to read horizontally, in small and large print, with additional stories as extra downloadable content. Pretty much every feature that Amazon/Sony includes, on a much cheaper device, that's already in the hands of millions of kids (the DS has sold over 125million devices to date: http://www.vgchartz.com/). Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Moby Dick, etc., all available for about $25, the standard price of one game (or one hardcover!). Keep in mind too that the young teens game market (much like wtih childrens/YA books) is dominated by parent buyers. Nintendo is far better situated to get kids reading (digitally) than Amazon, B&N, or even Apple, and it's exciting to see their projects start reaching kids. Actually, Nintendo is well ahead of the curve on this. They launched an english version of 100 classics (from HarperCollins) late in 2008, right after the Kindle/Sony Reader first launched. It was formatted to read horizontally, in small and large print, with additional stories as extra downloadable content. Pretty much every feature that Amazon/Sony includes, on a much cheaper device, that’s already in the hands of millions of kids (the DS has sold over 125million devices to date: http://www.vgchartz.com/).

Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Moby Dick, etc., all available for about $25, the standard price of one game (or one hardcover!). Keep in mind too that the young teens game market (much like wtih childrens/YA books) is dominated by parent buyers. Nintendo is far better situated to get kids reading (digitally) than Amazon, B&N, or even Apple, and it’s exciting to see their projects start reaching kids.

]]> By: Fiona Ingram http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/does-turning-classics-into-video-games-indoctrinate-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-5262 Fiona Ingram Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:35:41 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=12248#comment-5262 I think there are positive aspects to this new trend, even though the writer in me screams, "Oh, no! What are they doing?" I agree that many people will not feel inclined to research further into the realms of French classics or Dante's nine circles of Hell. However, for every player that doesn't explore the literary possiblilities, there might be one who does. Many people shuddered with horror at the idea of Shakepeare's timeless stories being turned into movies, and even more shudders ensued when the movie makers set the stories in modern locations. Think Claire Danes and Leonardo Dicaprio in Romeo and Juliet. But the fact that many (if not most) classic stories embrace timless themes makes them work when transposed to any modern or electronic setting. One has to respect the power of stories that have endured hundreds of years, and realize that 'messing with them' will not necessarily destroy them. We are in an electronic age and reading matter and formats will (of necessity) change and adapt. I think there are positive aspects to this new trend, even though the writer in me screams, “Oh, no! What are they doing?” I agree that many people will not feel inclined to research further into the realms of French classics or Dante’s nine circles of Hell. However, for every player that doesn’t explore the literary possiblilities, there might be one who does. Many people shuddered with horror at the idea of Shakepeare’s timeless stories being turned into movies, and even more shudders ensued when the movie makers set the stories in modern locations. Think Claire Danes and Leonardo Dicaprio in Romeo and Juliet. But the fact that many (if not most) classic stories embrace timless themes makes them work when transposed to any modern or electronic setting. One has to respect the power of stories that have endured hundreds of years, and realize that ‘messing with them’ will not necessarily destroy them. We are in an electronic age and reading matter and formats will (of necessity) change and adapt.

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