Bethesda tempted by A Game of Thrones adaptation

by Justin McElroy on Sep 15th 2011 6:25PM

If you're a lover of fantasy books, fantasy video games or -- God help you -- both, you're going to want to sit down for this one. According to a report from EGM (relayed by VG247) Bethesda was in talks to adapt George R.R. Martin's supremely popular Game of Thrones book series into a video game. That's right: The Elder Scrolls people almost brought the Song of Ice and Fire to your favorite video game console. We'll give you a minute to go grab your inhaler.

What ruined this dream collabo? Skyrim. Stupid. Terrible. Skyrim.

"We wanted to do our own world. That's where we wanted to put out time into. Before we were even making Skyrim, there was a conversation with George R.R. Martin's people," studio head Todd Howard told EGM. "They thought it would be a good match - and so did we, actually - but then we thought about if that was where we wanted to spend our time. It was tempting, though."

So, update for everybody: We hate Skyrim now. Sorry, kid, those are the breaks.

(Note: This isn't meant as a slight against Focus Home Interactive's RTS A Game of Thrones: Genesis. We're sure it'll be a fine game, or at least better than Skyrim which -- reminder -- we hate now.)

Via: VG247
Source: EGMi

Tags: a-game-of-thrones, A-Game-of-Thrones-Genesis, bethesda, game-of-thrones, skyrim

Reader Comments (67)

aghh, I can't wait for Skyrim but man, F Skyrim for this.

Skyrim looks close enough for me.

@LinkRazr

That's what I was going to say.

That 0___________________________0 face

I'd pay $120 for that game.

@Bubbameister33 Despite the upcoming RTS, I want to rip a person's tongue out through their throat in first person, dammit.

Stupid awesome Skyrim.

@Jkncnr
Stupid sexy Flanders

OH man... That would have been EPIC!

@Cheetoblue

True, but I'm kinda glad they didn't, as I haven't yet finished all the books!

(i was a li'l late to the party)

@Spookimitsu

neither has Martin...

As a fan of science fiction books and fantasy games, I think I'm still allowed to not hate Skyrim. So, yeah, I'll let you guys know how awesome it is.

Btw, who wants to bet this news story is going to spur someone to make a Game of Thrones mod for it? Who knows, maybe there's already one for Oblivion.

I'd personally rather have something based on S.M. Stirling's Change series, but that's just me.

@Apakal I'm pretty sure that is just you.

@Apakal

A friend described that to me once, and the concept is pretty interesting - and given Fallout I can kinda see how Bethesda would be good for that game.

Bananarama, grow up for a second and accept that people are allowed to like things that are not popular. Not just that they are allowed, but that they should. Culture, society and technology would have gotten nowhere if every person sat through a vapid existence only experiencing the Justin Biebers of their day.

LOL that face looks all too familiar, It just needs a dialogue window on the bottom.

"Any news from the other provinces?"

"Winter is coming."

"Goodbye."

@rTwelve LOL

@rTwelve

"I saw a mud crab the other day."
"Horrible creatures, I steer well clear of them."
"It is known."
"It is known."
"It is known."
"Farewell."

Ahaha love the photoshop keep up the good work Justin :D

@thevoid
Seriously, I laughed harder at that graphic than I ever have for any other Joystiq graphic. That is totally how Tyrion would look in an Elder Scrolls game. Spot on.

Actually, its probably good that they didn't get it, while the game would have been fun, it would have been watered down and kid friendly, even if they had the M rating on it. I would rather CD project do it, or another company with the elder scrolls engine.

@Ender7 I'm nominating Rockstar. Bethesda has enough on their plate right now

@Ender7 - Why would it have to be watered down & kid friendly?

It being a game wouldn't require that as there are plenty of non-watered down, kid friendly games, many of which sell quite well...

And the license holder(s) wouldn't require it... The TV show is a perfect example of them not minding if things aren't exactly kid friendly.

@Ender7

Oh yes, that's great, dream up all these other dream combinations that will NEVER happen. This one was a possibility, but instead we get an RTS and RPG from this other dev which is great but it's no Bethesda.

@Ender7 Unfortunately the rights were given to Cyanide Studios. They are developing an RTS that is due for release September 29 and also have an RPG under development.

They haven't shown any gameplay videos of the RTS even though it's less than 2 weeks from release. The screenshots that they've shown look rather week.

@AkumaFTW

Why in gods name would you choose Rockstar to develop an RPG?? At least pick a company with a solid track record for creating the kind of game that Game of Thrones would be.

My second choice ( After Bethesda ) would be Bioware. With the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series' in their catalog.....they've definitely proven they can make an epic game with a detailed and realistic world.

George RR Martin's universe was created to tell the best stories it could. Skyrim's world was created to be the best game it could. I think Bethesda made the right choice here. Every time there was an opportunity to change the world to make a better game, they could take. If they used someone else's world, and the game would be better if X didn't die so early or if this country was closer to this country on the map, torches and pitchforks.

@Mike Kelehan

Mostly I'm with you on that one. I don't think the events of the novels really make the best framework for a game, since it's mostly character focused, and seeing the world unfold around these characters because of their choices is the best thing about them.

But now I'm having visions of a game centered around the original Targaryen invasion of the Seven Kingdoms, or the ancient forgotten times when the Wall had to be constructed because of the (still, even after 5 books) unexplained threat of the Others.

It's very much like Lord of the Rings; the world has such a potential for plummaging its rich history that would make a great game series. Probably even more so than LotR, since Martin hasn't filled in so many details of what happened way back when.

@RedRaptor82

Those sound like great games, and I'd play them, but not at the cost of Skyrim.

@Mike Kelehan

You could still have Skyrim and this, just Skyrim would come later.

@hensothor

Years later, getting in the way of Elder Scrolls 6, or the team's next big RPG project.

THE KING IN THE NORTH!

I have no interest whatsoever in the upcoming Game of Thrones game, simply because I keep seeing dragons in it, and there are no dragons in Game of Thrones.

But a FPS/RPG that was Elder Scroll-esque set in the Song of Ice and Fire world would have been nothin' but sweet bbq chunks.

@BigBadBob113

Ummm...have you read the books or, you know, watched the show? Dragons are a pretty big part of it all. The strategy game is actually set long before the books/tv show when there were even *more* dragons.

@BigBadBob113

Well, considering the story is set before the first book, it makes sense that dragons are in it. Now, is the title somewhat misleading? Yes and no. Genesis implies beginning, while Game of Thrones implies the first book. To make sure they can reach the largest audience possible with this game, they chose "Game of Thrones" no thanks to the recent HBO TV show and the growing popularity of the series.

Personally, I am looking forward to this, I think an interactive way of viewing the prologue to A Song of Ice and Fire as a whole will be fun. The game will probably turn out to be highly mediocre in scores, but I am willing to look past a lot of that because I really enjoyed the books and TV series and having the opportunity to play out the origins will be cool.

@BigBadBob113 I've not read the books but I have seen the TV series, which is meant to be a pretty accurate adaptation and I'm pretty sure there were dragons in the last episode!
And a naked lady!!
Together, in the same scene!!!

@edgore

Ummm, have you read the books? I definitely don't recall seeing a giant dragon flying around burninating the countryside. Dany does indeed help the three dragons hatch, but there as just...dragonlings? As for the TV series, I haven't gotten around to watching it yet, and if there are adult dragons in there, then that's just sad.

@BigBadBob113

A big part of the history of the series has to do with gigantic dragons that the Targaryen's and Valyrians in general, had control of. Dragons are what gave the Targaryen dynasty the Iron Throne.

Also, magic is tied to the existence of dragons. The birth of Dany's dragons is the reason you see magical spells starting to work again, which plays a large part, though not flashily, in the story.

@BigBadBob113

holy crap, I have never before seen anyone be as wrong as you just were. It has to be a record to be this god awfully wrong.

@BigBadBob113
The 7 kingdoms were united by Aegon the conqueror and his 3 huge dragons... The Game is set before the Timeline of "the books", but even within the books timeline there are dragons. Dragons are an integral part of the stories universe & constantly referenced throughout.
The fact that you actually came back to continue you're incredibly incorrect argument is more baffling than your original comment.

also - you totally just ruined this article for me.

"We'll give you a minute to go grab your inhaler." LMAO! man with bethesda making this it would have been awesome

Skyrim ruined gaming and Christmas.

GoT homage DLC for Skryim. Problem solved?

What's the problem? IP ported games tend to suck.

Wow, all the nerd rage is kind of making me more excited for Skyrim...

AGoT RPG? Without the incest and child rape there wouldn't be much of a game left.

@Dickhole Pasta
He probably has only seen the shows and not actually read the books.

Ughhh Skyrim... You're Tyrion up my heart when I'm with you.

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Bethesda tempted by A Game of Thrones adaptation

Reader Comments (67)

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 6:30PM NCPrime said

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Posted: Sep 16th 2011 2:26AM Haggard said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 6:39PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 6:42PM rTwelve said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 9:47PM zyphe said

Posted: Sep 16th 2011 11:16AM rTwelve said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 6:42PM thevoid said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 8:53PM sigma8 said

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Posted: Sep 15th 2011 6:48PM AkumaFTW said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 7:20PM Mcmax3000 said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 9:02PM hensothor said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 10:32PM puny said

Posted: Oct 17th 2011 5:08PM King Under said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 6:43PM Mike Kelehan said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 8:17PM RedRaptor82 said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 8:28PM Mike Kelehan said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 9:02PM hensothor said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 10:31PM Mike Kelehan said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 6:44PM PedoJokerBear said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 6:50PM BigBadBob113 said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 6:57PM edgore said

Posted: Sep 15th 2011 6:58PM Kaizin514 said

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Posted: Sep 15th 2011 9:42PM PedoJokerBear said

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