Seattle, Washington – Indie app developer, Vidya Gamer LLC today is proud to announce the launch of Crowded Fiction for iPad. Created by dyslexic video game maker, Joe Booth (FIFA, NEED FOR SPEED, Ghost Recon), Crowded Fiction is an innovative new eBook app that aims to get kids (aged 9+) passionate about reading. It uses multiple video game inspired strategies to make fiction interactive, tactile, social and competitive.
The app was developed by Joe Booth who has struggled with reading and writing since childhood. Watching his son also struggle with reading, Booth thought, What if eBooks and fiction were more like video games? “Our vision is that the next generation of kids will be just as passionate about reading as this generation is about gaming,” says Booth. Last week, Neilson Book reported that 8% fewer kids are reading compared to just one year ago. “We want to reverse that trend,” Booth adds.
JACKSON’S CHOICE is the debut interactive eBook on Crowded Fiction. As Jackson, the reader will throw punches in fight scenes by swiping the screen, literally steer their way through an explosive car chase, control the pace as they explore exotic locations, read body language to master conversation scenes.
“We are unique in that we focus all our innovation on text and reading. Being a native app allowed us to create something that is tactile and interactive,” says Booth. “But we didn’t stop there: gaming today is social and competitive – we think fiction can be too.”
Each chapter of Jackson’s Choice has a dilemma that is determined by the combined choice of the crowd. For example, in Chapter One, the reader finds a hundred dollars on a dead body. They choose whether to keep it or put it back. The aggregated choice of all readers will impact Jackson’s personality in the next book. Readers also earn XBOX LIVE style achievements and compete with friends to top the leaderboard.
Booth collaborated with Queenie Moffat, the pseudonym for a multi-published author, to write Jackson’s Choice. “Crowded Fiction is an amazing platform for a writer. It enables us to engage the reader by turning the iPad into a steering wheel in car chases or using swipe gestures to direct the punch in a fight scene,” says Moffat.
Device Requirements:
* Compatible with iPad
* Requires iOS 6.0 or later
* 12.2 MB
Pricing and Availability:
Crowded Fiction 1.0.2 is Free and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Books category. The Free download includes a sample of Jackson’s Choice with the full book available as an In-App Purchase.
Crowded Fiction 1.0.2
How It Works
App Store: Direct Download Link
Joe Booth Background With Dyslexia
Key Screenshot
Media Assets
Joe Booth founded Vidya Gamer in 2012 to focus on how to leverage his experience in video games to help kids learn. Crowded Fiction is the first app from Vidya Gamer. It was funded in part via Kickstarter.com (as Vidya Books). Booth also consults for various companies and non-profits (Gates Foundation, Pearson Foundation, Achieve 3000) on using games to enhance learning. Prior to Vidya Gamer, Booth spent 25 years as Producer, Executive Producer, and Creative Director on titles including FIFA, Need for Speed, Ghost Recon, Roller Coaster Tycoon and Microsoft Kodu. Booth’s games have sold over 24m copies generating $1b of retail revenue with 10 AIAS and BAFTA nominations. Copyright (C) 2013 Vidya Gaming LLC. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks and registered trademarks may be the property of their respective owners.