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GameSpot Reports: Turning Books Into Games

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  • May 28, 2012

Jessica McDonell investigates and speaks to American McGee and Cory Davis about the process of using literary influences to create video games.

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47 comments
REXLAWNMOWER
REXLAWNMOWER

We will see.......They said that Ghost Recon was 8.5  .......No way.  It was OK, but 8.5?

ogara0c9
ogara0c9 like.author.displayName 1 Like

A new "Dune" game would peak my interest.  Also, I heard good things about the Metro 2032 adaptation of the source novel.

Evilnator
Evilnator like.author.displayName 1 Like

I'm not much of a reader, but when it comes to games the story is my priority.I'd like to see more games turned into books, such as Planescape: Torment, for example. This might draw more people to actually try out games, and see the more artistic side of the medium..

chucoche
chucoche like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

I would love a game from the book "the lusty argonian maid"   :)!!!

magicmonkeymatt
magicmonkeymatt

I'm thankful and impressed that Tom Clancy wasn't mentioned once! ....... Informative and entertaining as usual! Thanks very much @JessMcDonell 

 

c0kemusheen
c0kemusheen like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @magicmonkeymatt Why's that? I find Tom Clancy novels to be very well written, and full of details.

magicmonkeymatt
magicmonkeymatt like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @c0kemusheen Ha No not that they're bad! Just that I thought it would be an obvious and dull subject to talk about in a books to games discussion as there's so many and they're largely, massively popular! No offence intended towards the Clancy fans out there! 

skyklg
skyklg

The wheel of time series is a great source for re-iteration in gaming, though a game based on Robert Jordan's great wheel of time was out before, would like to see a proper, good RPG come out base on it.

RobertBowen
RobertBowen

Interesting subject.

 

Personally I'd like to see the Barsoom novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs turned into an open-world RPG, with the green men as a playable race, and thoats as mounts.  Such a wealth of material to draw on from the books.

MooncalfReviews
MooncalfReviews

Jade Empire. Perfect example of how to make a game based on classic novels.

TorMasturba
TorMasturba

 @MooncalfReviews What was Jade empire based on? I would love to read one of those books!

MooncalfReviews
MooncalfReviews

To quote from Gamespy (after a quick google search):"According to the game's producer, the entire team spent months reading classic Chinese novels like "Outlaws of the Marsh" and "Journey to the West", as well as ancient Buddhist and Taoist literature. In addition to these older books, they read many newer novels, including many large collections of Chinese folktales and myths."

rigzzsy
rigzzsy

i reckon lukyanenko's night watch series would make brilliant action/rpgs

gix47
gix47

Enders Game

any or all of the Dragonlance saga

the death gate cycle

orcs

all of them were really good books and would make awesome games

great report Jessica!

Cryptic_Shadow
Cryptic_Shadow like.author.displayName 1 Like

video games seem to be the new era of literature and storytelling.  many people who were once heavy readers now play games more often than not.

ArcherRO
ArcherRO

 @Cryptic_Shadow We play games more than we used to read and that is a little sad.

MooncalfReviews
MooncalfReviews

Why? I'll for the pursuit of knowledge and culture, but why do we as a society automatically laud novels in favour of film and games?

ArcherRO
ArcherRO

 @MooncalfReviews?A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.?

I believe that quote is very true.Simply put you gain way more from books than you get from movies or games.A book will force you to use your imagination and will enrich your vocabulary.

 If you're an avid reader for a long time and you stop you will notice that something is wrong with your brain after a while.

 

vivalatour
vivalatour

I would really like "The Punisher" to return to PS3 , I know I know another shooter , well it seems like they go over big plus Frank Castle is a great character ! so many many books ? well  well  well  oh well ....

ArcherRO
ArcherRO

If made right, Noble House by James Clavell could become a really good economic simulator.

SpookyJack
SpookyJack

A true survival horror adaptation of the Uzumaki manga books would work great, I think.

555671ari
555671ari

I'm just glad that they're finally turning Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series into a game!! Please, please, please be amazing!

TheEveryMan
TheEveryMan

Developers often take "influence" from literary works and then implement them into their own workings to create something "new" in their eyes, and the eyes of the gaming public. Shortly put, the majority of gaming would struggle without great works of literature.

deadpeasant
deadpeasant

No mention of the Parasite Eve games? This was a classic series of games IMO.

shanethewolf
shanethewolf

I'd love to see Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn made into an open world game.

BlueYonderBoy
BlueYonderBoy like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

Has anyone read Ice Station or Temple by Matthew Reily? They are practically blueprints on how to make a game.

Benifited
Benifited

I would love to see the making of robert ferringo's assassins series into a video game would be so tough. post apocalyptic america ruled by a newly formed muslim government. with scifi tech and metal gear type of espionage and conspiracy. It would be epic!

tightwad34
tightwad34

uh, what. This was completely unnecessary and very uninteresting.

Savoritias
Savoritias

 @tightwad34 if you don't want to know what game you play then yes.

tightwad34
tightwad34

 @Savoritias

 I guess I am not that interested in where the game came from. I just want to play them, and hope they are good.

Kaine852
Kaine852

Alice was a great game back then.

Kurushio
Kurushio like.author.displayName 1 Like

I would really love if they redid Rainbow Six that would follow the book more exactly. Though i guess i would love a movie of R6 that would do the same as well.

Duke_51
Duke_51 like.author.displayName 1 Like

I always thought the Dark Tower series would have made a cool game, following Roland through and his troupe between different worlds in search of the tower.

 

Also "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" (aka Blade Runner) would make a cool game, but I suppose there are already tons of games that draw influence from this one - Prey 2, Deus Ex, and to an extent Mass Effect... there are probably many more.

gix47
gix47

 @Duke_51 you are in luck! Westwood Studios / Virgin Games made one in 1997

gix47
gix47

 @Duke_51 ^Blade Runner that is...but

there is this thing called Discordia that is based on the Dark tower series that is produced by StephenKing.com

Duke_51
Duke_51

 @gix47 Oh cool, I had no idea. Thanks for the info!

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