Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/game-of-thrones-and-the-paradoxes-of-adaptation/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/game-of-thrones-and-the-paradoxes-of-adaptation/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/game-of-thrones-and-the-paradoxes-of-adaptation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This is a weekly column from freelancer Rowan Kaiser, which focuses on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity.
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The role-playing game structure is, in many ways, built as an adaptation. What is Dungeons & Dragons if not an attempt to simulate Lord of the Rings? Many other role-playing systems, both tabletop and electronic, are built off of the D&D model, as well. And all you need to do is look at the elves, hobbits, orcs, and trolls of early and more modern RPGs to see the Lord of the Rings influence. It may not be a stretch to say that many early RPGs were attempts at playable novels.

Improvements in technology and more licensing meant that adaptations of different media, specifically film, have become more prominent over the course of game history. But adaptations can be difficult to execute successfully.

There are two major, though interconnected, issues for video game adaptations: authenticity and pacing. The Game of Thrones RPG from developer Cyanide struggles to deal with both, succeeding in some respects, while failing at others, as pointed out in the Joystiq review. It keeps pace with some older, competent adaptations like last generation's Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, but it falls well short of the very best adaptations, namely, Betrayal At Krondor.

Gallery: Game of Thrones (4/25/12)

Continue reading Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

JoystiqGame Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-game-of-thrones-rpggame-of-thrones-rpgmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxFri, 25 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Game of Thrones gets June 8 UK release date]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/game-of-thrones-gets-june-8-uk-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/game-of-thrones-gets-june-8-uk-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/game-of-thrones-gets-june-8-uk-release-date/#comments Game of Thrones, the latest RPG from Cyanide, is set to take over the UK and Ireland on June 8 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Based on the world first penned by George R.R. Martin, players guide two playable characters through locales both new and familiar to the series.

Players land in Riverspring, a new location to the Game of Thrones world and the home of Alester Sarwyck, who seeks to put a stop to his sister's marriage. Also starring in the game is Mors, a brother of the Night's Watch that guards the wall.

Those wanting to seize the iron throne while living across the sea (you silly Targaryens!) can check out our review of the game and then try for themselves in June.

Continue reading Game of Thrones gets June 8 UK release date

JoystiqGame of Thrones gets June 8 UK release date originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 May 2012 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-game-of-thrones-rpgcyanide-studiosgame-of-thrones-rpgmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxSat, 19 May 2012 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Game of Thrones review: Bowed, bent, broken]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/game-of-thrones-rpg-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/game-of-thrones-rpg-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/game-of-thrones-rpg-review/#comments ImageTranslating the tome that is author George R.R. Martin's masterwork A Song of Ice and Fire is a task that must be both daunting and erratic. In its second season on HBO, the television adaptation of the series has been lovingly crafted into a marvelous weekly hour of television. In the video game world, developer Cyanide Studio has stumbled in its task thus far, releasing an abysmal strategy game that seemed to be created less in devotion to the source material and more in reaction to the franchise's new mainstream spotlight. With the studio's second effort at the series, the French developer has brought the Seven Kingdoms to life in a new, role-playing adventure.

Unlike the strategy title A Game of Thrones: Genesis, the RPG Game of Thrones feels like it was cobbled together by people who have genuine affection for the series. But Cyanide's ideas themselves seem more grand than the company is capable of delivering, showing stitches of the small studio's limitations throughout. It's the intention of the HBO series - with the budget of a SyFy original movie.

Gallery: Game of Thrones (4/25/12)

Continue reading Game of Thrones review: Bowed, bent, broken

JoystiqGame of Thrones review: Bowed, bent, broken originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-game-of-thrones-rpgAtluscyanide-studiocyanide-studiosgame-of-thrones-rpgmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxTue, 15 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Game of Thrones' latest screens don the black]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/game-of-thrones-latest-screens-don-the-black/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/game-of-thrones-latest-screens-don-the-black/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/game-of-thrones-latest-screens-don-the-black/#comments ImageThere'll be an awful lot of sword swingin' in this May's Game of Thrones RPG, at least according to the latest slew of screens. Good thing the all black-clad Night's Watch is battle hardened and tough-lookin', then!

Continue reading Game of Thrones' latest screens don the black

JoystiqGame of Thrones' latest screens don the black originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-game-of-thrones-rpgcombatcyanidecyanide-studiosfocus-home-interactivegame-of-thrones-rpggameplaymicrosoftnights-watchpcplaystationps3xboxWed, 25 Apr 2012 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Translating 'A Game of Thrones' with George R.R. Martin]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/translating-a-game-of-thrones-with-george-r-r-martin/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/translating-a-game-of-thrones-with-george-r-r-martin/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/translating-a-game-of-thrones-with-george-r-r-martin/#comments ImageUntil June of last year, I had no experience with George R.R. Martin's series A Song of Ice and Fire. Like many, the ongoing HBO series was my first exposure to Martin's acclaimed works. Since then, I've become captivated by every facet of it. I've read each of the books and novellas, spent hours arguing on message boards, and very nearly tattooed a dire wolf sigil on my arm. It's a series that is easy to fall in love with, yet difficult to put down. It's what I imagine Martin would want from any new fan.

So, when "Not everyone likes my books" is a response I receive from the author during a recent interview, you can imagine my fanboyish disbelief.

With the second season of the award-winning television adaptation premiering this past Sunday, Martin has been spending his days on an international promotional tour. He's tired, he feels overbooked, and he has mountains of work yet to do before returning to writing the series that has brought him recent success.

And in May, a new video game based on the series will be released. Translating the first book, A Game of Thrones, from words on a page into lines of code.

Gallery: Game of Thrones (2/2/12)

Continue reading Translating 'A Game of Thrones' with George R.R. Martin

JoystiqTranslating 'A Game of Thrones' with George R.R. Martin originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-game-of-thrones-rpgcyanide-studiosgame-of-thrones-rpggeorge-r-r-martinmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxTue, 03 Apr 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Game of Thrones RPG trailer takes the black]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/game-of-thrones-rpg-trailer-takes-the-black/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/game-of-thrones-rpg-trailer-takes-the-black/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/game-of-thrones-rpg-trailer-takes-the-black/#comments
To take the oath of the Night's Watch and travel to The Wall is to forget all you've known and become dead to the civilized world. Oh, and to freeze your butt off all the time.

JoystiqGame of Thrones RPG trailer takes the black originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-game-of-thrones-rpgatluscyanide-studiosfocus-home-interactivegame-of-thrones-rpgmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxFri, 30 Mar 2012 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Game of Thrones trailer highlights combat and role-playing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/game-of-thrones-trailer-highlights-combat-and-role-playing/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/game-of-thrones-trailer-highlights-combat-and-role-playing/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/game-of-thrones-trailer-highlights-combat-and-role-playing/#comments
The previous trailers for Game of Thrones perhaps didn't cement the fact that, yes, the upcoming game is heavy on role-playing and combat. See for yourself in the new video above.

JoystiqGame of Thrones trailer highlights combat and role-playing originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-game-of-thrones-rpgatlusatlus-gamesatlus-usacyanidecyanide-studiosfocus-home-interactivegame-of-thrones-rpgmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 22 Mar 2012 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Winter has yet to arrive in the Game of Thrones RPG, apparently]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/winter-has-yet-to-arrive-in-the-game-of-thrones-rpg-apparently/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/winter-has-yet-to-arrive-in-the-game-of-thrones-rpg-apparently/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/winter-has-yet-to-arrive-in-the-game-of-thrones-rpg-apparently/#comments
While the seasons take a while to get going in Westeros, the violence takes considerably less time.

JoystiqWinter has yet to arrive in the Game of Thrones RPG, apparently originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-game-of-thrones-rpgcyanidecyanide-studiosfocus-homefocus-home-interactivegame-of-thrones-rpggameplaymicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxWed, 14 Mar 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Game of Thrones pre-order includes hardbound art book, hard winter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/game-of-thrones-pre-order-includes-hardbound-art-book-hard-wint/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/game-of-thrones-pre-order-includes-hardbound-art-book-hard-wint/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/game-of-thrones-pre-order-includes-hardbound-art-book-hard-wint/#comments As any citizen of Winterfell will tell you, there's nothing better to pass the time on a cold winter's night than to curl up with a good book. It should come as no surprise, then, that those who pre-order the upcoming Game of Thrones RPG will also receive a hardbound art book. Entitled Game of Thrones: Visuals from the RPG, the book doles out "sixty-four full color pages of sketches, renders, photos, and screenshots from the game accompanied by compelling text and commentary from the game's developers."

The book will be available with orders from GameStop, EB Games, the HBO Shop or Amazon (US or Canada). Of course, if winter gets really bad, books have a dual purpose for emergencies: kindling.

Gallery: Game of Thrones (Art Book)

Continue reading Game of Thrones pre-order includes hardbound art book, hard winter

JoystiqGame of Thrones pre-order includes hardbound art book, hard winter originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-game-of-thrones-rpgatluscyanide-studiosgame-of-thrones-rpgmicrosoftplaystationpre-orderps3xboxMon, 27 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Join the riverside community of ... Riverspring in Game of Thrones on May 15]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/join-the-riverside-community-of-riverspring-in-game-of-thron/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/join-the-riverside-community-of-riverspring-in-game-of-thron/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/join-the-riverside-community-of-riverspring-in-game-of-thron/#comments
Are you ready to brood like you've never brooded before this coming spring? Cyanide Studio and Atlus are banking on that possibility, announcing a May 15 launch date for the upcoming Game of Thrones RPG for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

Beyond the launch date, a handful of new media was handed over to sate fans in the three months between now and mid-May. If you're looking for an early taste at some serious brooding, look no further!

Gallery: Game of Thrones (2/2/12)

Continue reading Join the riverside community of ... Riverspring in Game of Thrones on May 15

JoystiqJoin the riverside community of ... Riverspring in Game of Thrones on May 15 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-game-of-thrones-rpgatlusatlus-gamescyanidecyanide-studiocyanide-studiosfocus-home-interactivegame-of-thrones-rpgmicrosoftpcplaystationps3q2-2012release-datexboxFri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Peruse dimly lit, vaguely medieval dwellings with these Game of Thrones screens]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/peruse-dimly-lit-vaguely-medieval-dwellings-with-these-game-of/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/peruse-dimly-lit-vaguely-medieval-dwellings-with-these-game-of/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/peruse-dimly-lit-vaguely-medieval-dwellings-with-these-game-of/#comments Are you ready to don a suit of armor and look gruff in a land where seasons last years and electricity would be considered some form of dark magic? Cyanide Studios is sure hoping as much if this latest volley of screens for the Game of Thrones RPG is anything to go on.

Continue reading Peruse dimly lit, vaguely medieval dwellings with these Game of Thrones screens

JoystiqPeruse dimly lit, vaguely medieval dwellings with these Game of Thrones screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-game-of-thrones-rpgcyanidecyanide-studiosfocus-home-interactivegame-of-thrones-rpggameplaymicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 12 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Game of Thrones trailer warns of a coming chill]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/game-of-thrones-first-trailer-warns-of-a-coming-chill/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/game-of-thrones-first-trailer-warns-of-a-coming-chill/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/game-of-thrones-first-trailer-warns-of-a-coming-chill/#comments Cyanide Games' first trailer for its RPG adaptation of Game of Thrones warns us of what you might call an impending winter. We're gonna go grab a nice warm parka -- you stay here and check out the trailer above. And watch out for "the Others!"

JoystiqGame of Thrones trailer warns of a coming chill originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-game-of-thrones-rpgatlusatlus-gamescyanidecyanide-studiosgame-of-thrones-rpgmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 22 Dec 2011 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Game of Thrones heading to Europe via Focus Home Interactive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/game-of-thrones-heading-to-europe-via-focus-home-interactive/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/game-of-thrones-heading-to-europe-via-focus-home-interactive/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/game-of-thrones-heading-to-europe-via-focus-home-interactive/#comments Though it'll take place in the periphery of George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" novels, Cyanide Studio's role-playing Game of Thrones looks to convey the grim "ambience" that goes with the author's merciless body count. Atlus is publishing it on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC next year in North America, while Focus Home Interactive takes custody in Europe.

Cyanide's "most ambitious project" offers an assortment of classes, fighting styles, loot and equipment augmentations, but more interestingly promises access to lethal political skills. The press release warns never to "underestimate the power of a silver tongue to solve a critical situation."

Well, that's assuming "lethal" political skills and a "silver tongue" aren't simply euphemisms for decapitating your opponents mid-conversation -- just how we used to do it in the varsity debate team.

Gallery: Game of Thrones (PC/360/PS3)

Continue reading Game of Thrones heading to Europe via Focus Home Interactive

JoystiqGame of Thrones heading to Europe via Focus Home Interactive originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012a-game-of-thronesa-game-of-thrones-rpgatluscyanide-studiocyanide-studioseuropefocus-home-interactivegame-of-thrones-rpgmicrosoftpcplaystationps3rpgxboxMon, 05 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Cyanide also working on Game of Thrones RPG]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/report-cyanide-also-working-on-game-of-thrones-rpg/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/report-cyanide-also-working-on-game-of-thrones-rpg/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/report-cyanide-also-working-on-game-of-thrones-rpg/#comments Good news for fans of Westeros and its inhabitants -- not only does Cyanide have an RTS based on George R.R. Martin's fantasy series coming out, but apparently the Paris-based developer is also working on an RPG set in the world of the Song of Ice and Fire. French site FactorNews got a look at the game in development, and it sounds like just the thing to get your dire wolf howling.

The title is supposed to play out around the book's events rather than follow them, but still follows the conventions of seeing various points of view. Players will start out as a brother of the Night Watch up at the Wall, then move on to play as Alester Sarwyck, a Red Priest returning to the kingdom after being exiled for 15 years across the Narrow Sea. Gameplay is described as a mix of The Witcher and other pseudo-turn-based RPGs, with players choosing skills and directing traffic in the midst of real-time battle. Cyanide is aiming for a release on both PC and consoles.

It all sounds awesome -- but A Game of Thrones: The RPG (working title) isn't planned to see the light of day any time before Martin's Dance with Dragons hits bookstores. If Cyanide delivers everything it is promising in this preview, we'd be willing to pull a Jaime Lannister and kill a king just to get a copy of it.

JoystiqReport: Cyanide also working on Game of Thrones RPG originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A-Game-of-Thrones-Genesisa-game-of-thrones-rpgcyanidecyanide-studiosgame-of-thrones-rpgmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxFri, 25 Mar 2011 21:40:00 EST