There are fundamental differences between linear and non-linear narratives but they can also be very complementary. While it is uncommon, the simultaneous production of a linear form (novel, video, etc.) alongside a non-linear form (game) can make both better, provided the influences on each are channeled properly. On Shroud of the Avatar an accomplished novelist, Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance), and a gaming pioneer, Richard Garriott (Ultima), set out to create a prequel novel and a narrative for a computer role playing game at the same time. The results have been what these creators say is their best work in a very long time. Why does this seem to be working in this case but not in others? One key difference is that they co-wrote both pieces at the same time versus writing them separately (authorship and time).