# Digital Pay-as-You-Go Literature The 'Black Crown' Story-Game Charges Users to Unlock Storylines By Alexander Lam | Published 2013-05-20 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/black-crown References: [springwise](http://www.springwise.com/chapters-literary-game-unlocked-micropayments/) & [blackcrownproject](http://www.blackcrownproject.com/) The 'Black Crown' is a narrative game that makes players pay to continue reading. The online story-game is free to play but uses [micropayments to reveal additional story lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fourdotpay) and other elements. According to Random House, players can "unlock story strands, expedite the narrative and acquire items and status within the world.” The [interactive novel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/storytelling-app2) runs on the StoryNexus platform and works like a choose-your-own adventure novel. Readers can make decisions that affect the story. The 'Black Crown' hopes to draw users in with its apocalyptic setting in a dystopian world. Created by [Random House UK](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-book-of-money), the game is a step towards innovating in pricing models for the publisher. With literature moving towards the digital realm, 'Black Crown' may just be the beginning of pay-to-read products. Whether or not this pricing model is superior to the traditional one remains to be seen. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.1/10 - Popularity: 23% | Activity: 31% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Multimedia](https://www.trendhunter.com/multimedia) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Pay-to-read:** The 'Black Crown' story-game introduces a pay-to-read model, creating opportunities to monetize digital literature. - **Interactive Storytelling:** The 'Black Crown' game utilizes interactive decision-making to engage readers, opening up possibilities for immersive storytelling experiences. - **Micropayments in Gaming:** The 'Black Crown' game implements micropayments to unlock storylines and acquire in-game items, highlighting the potential of this monetization strategy in the gaming industry. ### Where This Applies - **Publishing:** The 'Black Crown' story-game challenges traditional publishing pricing models, paving the way for innovative approaches to selling digital literature. - **Gaming:** The 'Black Crown' game combines literature and gaming mechanics, suggesting opportunities for hybrid experiences and new revenue streams in the gaming industry. - **E-commerce:** The use of micropayments in 'Black Crown' highlights the potential for e-commerce platforms to explore new monetization methods and enhance user engagement. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Interactive Story Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nicestory.md) - [Interactive Storytelling Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/neverending-stories.md) - [Book Monetization Models](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wattpad-1.md) - [Feed-Style Reading Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-holdout.md) - [Digital Creator Revenue Shifts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beehiiv.md) - [Premium Reading Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yonder.md) - [Pay-What-You-Want Gaming Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paywhatyouwant-gaming-platform.md) - [Interactive Fantasy Fiction Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/curious-readers.md) - [Gamified Book Trackers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/novelquest.md)