Novel Ideas
Discussing why the games industry doesn't look towards books and literature for inspiration and ideas
In terms of putting the plans down from a novel it’s kind of like you have the blueprint. If you’ve been blindfolded, had cotton stuffed in your ears and the blueprint is now a tiger wielding a chainsaw. It’s tricky is what I’m getting at. The one aspect we have on our side at least is time. I’m not saying we have to spend a decade making the game but we have the scope and platform available to make something awesome. There are so many interesting concepts out there it’s baffling.
In a strange reversal of fortune games companies have now taken a backwards approach. Games now have a flourishing array of fiction revolving around their world. Taking a cue from Forgotten Realms and Warhammer amongst others, companies have chosen the pen to expand their universe. Fable and Halo to name but two.
I think it’s a great way to build on the experience we’ve had in-game and transpose it into a new media. We’re being told a tale that takes place in a world we know but are able to let it evolve within our mind sacs. Everyone’s experience and imagining will be different giving a truly unique understanding.
However working our way round and getting used to the idea that looking to this time old medium for inspiration is not a bad thing. You see, the problem with games these days is that they all look and feel the same; they’re mired in ‘sameness’ like the bankers of Wall street in the 80’s. All sleek looking, polished, homogenized packages that on the inside are devoid of any substance and survive on cocaine. Throw two stones in the FPS section of your local game store and chances are you’d hit two indistinguishable games. The real gems, the ones that stick in your mind are those that brought something, an experience. Whether that was in design, storytelling or gameplay, there were elements that set it apart.
Don’t get me wrong, novels are certainly out there to plug a hole of creativity in the market, they’re there to expand it... Perhaps someday, our industry will give this other medium a chance, and create a worthwhile adaptation.
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