Why so few "choose-your-own-adventure" type books?

I've always wondered why the "Choose-your-own-adventure" type of books never gained wide acceptance. Why were they largely confined to just fantasy and RPG? And why mostly kid books?

Why hasn't, for example, Steven King made a novel with a "Choose-your-own-adventure" format? He could let the readers guide the actions of the protagonist. Something like: "If you think Paula should run from the Zombie - turn to page 184. If you think Paula should try to kill the zombie with her axe - turn to page 701. If you think she should stand there and scream like an idiot.... etc... etc...

You would think that there would be at least ONE big-name author who would have tried something like that - if only for a publicity gimmick.

Why so few CYOA books? Is there some kind of stupid copyright law that prevents it? Anyone know?

 

i remember i used to read the goosebumps choose your own adventure books. haha. oh the childhood memories...

 

I disagree that there're very few...but recently I agree there're not many new ones being written. I think now that the degree to which children are reading (in the UK anyway) most would rather interact with a game than a book, and now with interactive DVD films (such as the recent...erm...that film about death...) they're more attractive to kids than reading a book where you must keep track of everything. When I was younger I always loved the books where you could choose your own way, and even made my own, though again that was on the computer it was set up more like a book than a game.

 

I used to read Enid Blyton classics that did RPG type books. The Secret Seven and the Fantastic Five. Those were the days

 

I used to love the secret seven and fantastic five. =D Probably still would if I read them...never read any choose your own adventure ones though. That'd've been cool.