HACHETTE KICKS OFF A NEW CHAPTER IN STORYTELLING, AS NEW STAR SOCCER G-STORY IS RELEASED (Video)

App combines gameplay and narrative to provide an exciting and innovative new format to engage readers and gamers

Life is all about choices…
Good or bad, right or wrong…
We all have to make them…
Every choice you make alters who you are – and what you might become…

Book publisher Hachette UK today reinvents the story-telling process, fusing gameplay with narrative to create an innovative new app that will engage even the most reluctant of readers.

Hachette has joined forces with leading game developers New Star Games and Insight Studios, plus award-winning children’s authors The2Steves, to release New Star Soccer G-Story.

The app is based on the BAFTA-winning and multi-million selling PC and mobile game New Star Soccer. It’s released today, May 26th, on iOS, with the Android format following next week – coinciding with the excitement building around the Euro 2016 tournament.

New Star Soccer G-Story is priced at just £4.99 but will be reduced to £2.99 for the launch period. It is available to download via the App Store.

The G-Story format mixes traditional (written) story narrative with real gameplay challenges. The written story takes different narrative paths, depending on how the user performs in each game segment. As a result, there are multiple plot threads and multiple endings.

These numerous plot threads and endings mean that New Star Soccer G-Story features some 180,000 words of text, across 18 chapters. This is interspersed with 240 segments of gameplay, including shooting, dribbling, passing, tackling, penalties and more, which each change the whole course of the story.

Similarly, all the choices the reader makes – from picking an agent, to how much they train, to which sponsorship deals they sign – will alter the plot.

The story takes the reader from playing a game of football in the park, being spotted by a talent scout, to signing for a leading Club and playing in a Cup Final – or not, depending on the decisions made by the reader and their success during the gameplay challenges.

Working alongside the game development talent at Insight Studios and New Star Games, respected authors Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore (collectively known in the children’s book publishing world as The 2Steves) have created the compelling storyline.

They said: “We firmly believe that New Star Soccer G-Story will encourage kids – particularly the reluctant ones, especially boys – to read.

“Games obviously compete with traditional books for readers’ time and attention. Instead of moaning about that, why not exploit it? Study after study from the Literacy Trust, the Reading Agency and similar bodies show that uncommitted readers are more likely to be motivated by reading from a screen than from paper. Add the elements of competition, gameplay and choice in New Star Soccer G-Story, and you have a narrative that is bound to capture the attention of even the most die-hard refusenik.”

The launch of the new G-Story format is part of Hachette’s on-going drive to encourage children to read and enjoy books more. Boys in particular are more reluctant to read, with latest research from the National Literary Trust (Children’s and Young People’s Reading in 2015) revealing that 61.2% of girls enjoy reading, versus 47.8% of boys.

This initiative, and the launch of New Star Soccer G-Story, has been praised by the teaching community.

“This is a genius idea. It’s a simple concept, but will be so effective at hooking those reluctant readers,” enthused Tim Redgrave, Head Teacher at Esgob Morgan School in Denbighshire and founder of the Patrons of Reading schools initiative.

“I’m really excited about it being released. It’s a great way to get kids – or anyone interested in football – to read. The way the gameplay determines the storyline narrative is brilliant. I’m sure this will encourage more children to read.”

Damian Horner, Brand Development Director at Hachette offered: “The G-Story is one of a number of initiatives Hachette is taking to reinvent the storytelling process. We have something very unique here – a fusion of the best gameplay with the best storytelling. It is an entirely new kind of product and we are very excited about its potential.”

More About New Star Soccer G-Story
Welcome to “New Star Soccer G-Story”, the world’s best fusion of mobile game and book!

PERSONALISE YOUR STORY! You are the hero of the story as you go from kicking a ball in the park to playing for your favourite team in the cup final!

PLAY THE GAME! The story twists and turns develops depending on how well you perform in the addictive gameplay from the BAFTA-winning “New Star Soccer”, “The best football game on mobile” (Eurogamer)

SHOOTING! PASSING! DRIBBLING! TACKLING! HEADERS! PENALTIES! Actually play the key match chances in each chapter and change the course of your story!

YOUR CAREER, YOUR CHOICES! Choose an agent, which skills to train and even which sponsorship deals to take!

EVERY DECISION CHOICE MATTERS! Each one you make affects the story. With multiple storylines and multiple endings, which of the thrilling finales will you get?

INCREDIBLE MIX OF STORY AND GAME! The gameplay makes the story better and the story makes the gameplay better. This is the ultimate football immersion experience: the perfect fusion of story and game!

KEY FEATURES

The most exciting book you’ll ever play.

BAFTA-winning gameplay from the best football game on mobile.

A brilliant story that twists and turns all the way to the last kick of the final match.

Multiple storylines, edge-of-your-seat chances and several possible endings: a real rollercoaster ride from start to finish.

Read the book, convert your chances, dictate your destiny!