The action game would test reading comprehension using a generic and completely automated way that would work on almost any traditional novel. So you would be trying to read the novel as fast as possible while playing an action game that demonstrates understanding of what you are reading. The idea is to motivate impatient people to read novels. I think many people have very short attention spans in the internet age. Could you tell me if this is a game that you would like to play? I'm thinking of making it for the iPhone/iPod touch/iPad.
Your idea immediately reminded me of The Typing of the Dead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNfQ_B6_xy8 I say go for it.
You may want to consider comic books and other mixed media forms such as music. There was the Watchmen Motion Comic which was made to promote the movie adaptation: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=watchmen+motion+comic&search=Search. Perhaps some kind of hybrid game which plays like a movie but is text heavy?
Elaborating, the game would be a memory game that indirectly forces you to understand what you are reading (or that's the hope anyway).
