This is pretty genius: Apple has applied for a patent that will allow you to turn your video game experiences into comic books. You can keep the e-books or e-mail them to friends.
As video games develop more as narratives, this becomes more and more useful. Eventually, someone could create a video game that exists solely to make comic books. Sure, this seems like a weird idea now—who would want to read your Super Mario Galaxy comic except for you?—but as technology improves, the possibilities for creation with this idea are tremendous.
People who play the sims have been sharing storylines they’ve created in a similar fashion. It can be really interesting.
Whew.
You had me worried there for a minute.
Good thing I only do Graphic Novels.
If by “genuis” you mean “flagrant abuse of the patent system by a rent-seeking mega-corporation in order to erect a tollbooth in front of an entire art form,” then I agree, this is genius.
This is a superb idea and very forward looking. Anyone who is truly into literature has to (someday) recognize that gaming has become the beating heart of myth and narrative, and that we need to make tools that help gamers refine/publish/share the narratives that now emerge in their dark game caves (well my son plays in a dark game cave, anyway) so they see the bright light of day. I love this idea. I’ll force my kid to make comic books now, every time he says he wants to play a video game.
Paul, are you familiar with “Machinema?” It’s using video game graphic-engines to create the visual component of a movie.
It’s basically what you’re talking about – and there are graphic engines that are purpose-built to this end.
However, my favorites have always been narratives that have drawn off of the initial premise of the source game. And my favorite amongst those is “Red vs. Blue” (Episode One).
There is LOTS of stuff built around World of Warcraft but I’ve never gotten into that – don’t have the time. Sorta like EVE online.
Anyway – there are festivals of this stuff. And a very small portion of it (probably somewhere around the same percentage of traditional independent films) is pretty good.
Patent? Seriously?
EA has been making money off a “Spore Comic Book Creator” for a while now.
Apple = “Will fuck it up”