Comment on Are there audiobook releases that have a visual component?
Meron35@lemmy.world 5 months ago
You’ve basically described a simple visual novel. Much more of a thing for Japanese media, but the idea has recently started to catch on for Western media.
For example, Pillars of the Earth was adapted as a point and click game/visual novel. These are very rare though.
CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 5 months ago
Pretty much. I was going to mention VNs but I feel like even the traditional Ren’Py layout with characters laid on top of a static background is beyond what I am looking for and I am also not looking for any kind of choice.
I Have No Mouth But I Must Scream for example is a short story but was also adapted into a video game. I could play the game but I am looking to enjoy a more passive experience.
Quick note for those interested ScummVM is a fantastic way to play these kind of point and click adventure games. It’s available on pretty much every platform you can think of from the Windows 95 to Android.
e0qdk@reddthat.com 5 months ago
Maybe you’d be interested in “kinetic novels”? They’re basically VNs without choices.
Meron35@lemmy.world 5 months ago
More passive media formats include drama CDs (again mostly for Japanese media) and radio plays (fallen out of favour). Both of these usually come with extra promotional material such as a booklet with the script and some images.
Some audio books and podcasts with higher production values also have extra companion guides/supplementary content. Though, these are mainly for non fiction texts to display diagrams etc.
If you are into non fiction, Ken Burns documentaries are basically audio books that happen to have visual content. A less traditional format are museum audio guides, such as the British Museum and Louvre apps.