Apple cider vinegar Is Pilates for you? 'Ambient gaslighting' 'Main character energy'
BOOKS
Book Buzz

Book Buzz: 'Ulysses' to become virtual reality game

Kelly Lawler
USA TODAY
James Joyce, author of 'Ulysses,' shown in this undated file photo. An Irish filmmaker is bringing part of the novel to life as a virtual reality video game.

James Joyce's Ulysses is one of the greatest books in literature, and it is also one of the hardest to read. Irish filmmaker Eoghan Kidney is crowdfunding a creative solution to this problem: A virtual reality video game that allows the reader to experience the book as the protagonist.

Kidney's game, In Ulysses, literally puts the player in Stephen Dedalus' shoes as he goes through Proteus, the infamously daunting third episode of the novel. On the project's page on the crowdfunding site Fund it, Kidney called the game "a new way of reading Joyce's work."

In a video, he explains the experience of playing the game:

"As a user of 'In Ulysses' walks along a virtual Sandymount Strand, the book will be read to them - they will hear Stephen's thoughts as they are written - but these thoughts will then be illustrated around the user in real-time using textual annotations, images and links. A user can stop walking (therefore stopping Stephen walking) and explore these illustrations, gaining insight into the book and adding to the enjoyment of it."

The project has exceeded its 4000 pound fundraising goal on Fund it. Kidney said on the site that he'll use the money to "purchase hardware and software, record the text using an actor and spend three months finishing the scene and illustrations for part of the Proteus chapter."

The game will be primarily designed for virtual reality devices such as Oculus Rift, but will also be available on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.

Featured Weekly Ad