Picture yourself on your favourite sofa, a steaming pot of tea within reach and a thrilling crime novel in your clutches. Led by a confident narrator, you lose track of time as you turn page after page, advancing through the story as the pieces of the plot fall into place, one after another.

Now imagine that the narrator takes a step back, and grants you control over the actions of the story’s main protagonist. This character’s past may be set in stone, but his present is completely up to you - and unless you play the part properly, you may not make it to the next chapter.

Actually, there is no novel in your hands. There is a Nintendo DS held sideways in one hand, while in the other you hold the stylus - your primary tool for propelling the protagonist forward and interacting with the other elements of the story.

There are no pages here, and no narrator describing the important and the not-so-important details; rather, it’s all there for you to see – and explore – in three dimensions. The linear story of a novel on a clear course to its inevitable conclusion becomes a multi-tiered space of possibilities.

You will need the talent to ask the right questions, and a keen eye for detail – or you can kiss your happy ending goodbye…