Question of the Day, November 1, 2010

[Rogue 9]

I'm a fan of expanded universe novels in all forms, whether they're for movies (Star Wars novels and comics), TV shows (Buffy novels and comics), tabletop games (Warhammer novels and comics), trading card games (Magic: The Gathering novels) or video games (Street Fighter comics/manga, Warcraft and Starcraft novels/comics/manga, Mass Effect comics).

I own some of all of the things I've mentioned in brackets and I enjoy the expanded details and characters and settings. Of course, some are superior to others. That's always the way, and it's up to the individual writer to tell a good story within the setting they've been provided. Particularly with my M:tG novels, there are some I enjoy a lot more than others.

 

[OneOfTheMichael's]

Yes, i like it. Not as fun as the game though.
But i actually do like how they're able to put the action of the game into words.

 

[De Ronneman]

If the story requires extra explanation or clear up some things, go ahead, please do it as a book, at least I can give the characters the voices and faces I want to.

But to make a book after the adventures of Nathan Drake? That's just as much a cash-in as a movie-videogame.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, makes a perfect circle. Yoru allowed to hop aboard on any station and spin around as much as you like:

Book->Movie->Videogame->Book->etc. ad infinitum.

(Don't crucify me for this, I know there are exceptions and small changes to the circle, I just meant to say that there's always room for a cash-in).

 

[Ganthrinor]

Where's my "I don't give a damn" option?


=/

 

[GonzoGamer]

Where's the "I never tried one" option?
I did read a bunch of those D&D books when I was a kid (Dragon Lance, Forgotten Realms, and even Ravenloft) and they were entertaining enough. Not exactly great literature (except for RA Salvatore) but not the worst way to spend your commute.

The worst thing you could do probably is discuss footwear with this guy:

 

[icyneesan]

A novelization of Dynasty Warriors probably wouldn't be any good...

Oh wait-

 

[Lord Honk]

Warhbammer 40,000, Dragon Age and Mass Effect are all really good reads, so yes, I love reading video game novels

Those were exactly the ones that I was going to post. They expanded not only the immersion and background of the characters, but also every author was extremely well suited for their respective novels, linking the "feel" of the games to his writing style.
Maybe the "putting an interactive story into a non-interactive medium" has it's points, but these novels were great because they didn't try to recreate the gameplay but rather capture what the game's story writer had in mind; they exist neatly side by side, supplementing each other.

 

[firedfns13]

I hate them because they're shitty and inaccurate.
I once read a splinter cell novel where his FRAG grenades were remote operated c4.

I was pissed.

>Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
>Tom Clancy is an author
>Splinter Cell novel wasn't even written by Tom Clancy

Ha ha ha. Anything with Tom Clancy in the name invariably has nothing to do with him, and novelizations of Tom Clancy games are always big, hilarious paradoxes.

Oh I knew it wasn't written by him. I've read every real authored by Tom Clancy book.
But yeah, any video game novel just has holes and other stupid things that break continuity and immersion for me.

 

[6unn3r]

I've always put them on a par with video games that got turned into movies, it's rare to find one that works as the medium just isnt the same.

 

[Tharwen]

I've only ever read one, and that was just because it came in the collector's edition of Mark of Chaos.

I think specifically choosing to read game-related books does nothing more than limit your choice to a small section of an otherwise abundant medium.

 

[thirdsonsaburo]

Mostly ironically.

See: You go into a batarian whorehouse, and then the whore is actually Saren.

And then he breaks your legs.

 

[ssgt splatter]

I like the story in the game thanks.