In an recently launched series, Videogame Tourism looks at the mutual influence between movies and games. But of course, film is not the only medium that sees itself confronted, influenced and, vice versa, used as a source of inspiration by the new medium. The link to the the written word is almost as old as the videogame itself, and recent developments both on the side of literature and the videogame have shown that the relationship between the two media is as vital and strong as ever. Ample reason then to launch WORD/PLAY, a series that sheds light on interesting works that go beyond what our first interview partner Robert Sherman describes as the "trendy fusing of two media, one that is much younger and more vital and one that is much older and more respected."
According to publishing giant Random House, the future of literature is plagued by abscesses, furuncles and various other diseases of the skin and mind. It is also financed by a sleazy millionaire with sadistic tendencies. At least that’s one way of looking at the unlikely genesis of Black Crown, a peculiar hybrid between literature and videogame.