Its been some time since I last read a comic I must admit and the last one I properly read (up until last week however) was Sonic the Comic back in the early 2000's.
Comics never really appealed to me that much, I was too busy being wrapped up in all the wonder of my SNES, Playstation and wondering if a new Playstation 2 was coming my way at christmas... which it wasnt.
However, Im diverting here, what Im saying is that while all the other kids read comics and enjoyed them, and still do I ,in many ways didnt understand the appeal and didnt really therefore understand completely why people read them. Of course as Ive got older ive grown respect for comics, but I still didnt really understand the appeal. Needless to say I like reading them but theres a connection between the reader and the comic that makes the experience worthwhile.
Now, saying this, imagine my suprise when I see a comic reader appear as software on my PSP. Having found no use for my PSP for a while I installed it and ran it thinking "ah its worth a shot and Ive got 5 minutes free from my Uni studies".
I wasnt disappointed. What I expected was a Adobe PDF reader type of program where i could simply use the analogue stick to move around the screen. What I got however was a code for a free comic and a very snazzy looking interface. "Great stuff. I need to read more comics" I thought.
I downloaded the comic which was a sinch thanks to the PSP's streamlined account interface and away I went. The comic was a Transformers one which was a plus cause I loved transformers.
As I loaded the software it found the comic no problem and lightning fast too.
What appeared on screen next was one of the most impressive narrative based literature-based pieces of work I have ever seen.
The screen loads with the cover of the comic in Question. It scrolls from top to bottom and then zooms to full page. Instantly on the first and even contents pages, the story comes to life!
The most important and possibly the most integral feature to this programs application and success, is the way the screen moves. It is designed to accurately and realistically match where the user would look on the page and at what time like an interactive novel.
It really brings the screen to likfe and it adds so much more to the experience of reading. And this is only a start. SOny have said that future versions will include audio also, so that could be anywhere between narration and just SFX, but in any case, the experience is great as it is.
Ultimately, If you like comics, or even if you dont, check this thing out, its well worth it!