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BioWare links SWTOR and KOTOR in a new novel
Just about everyone who has played Knights of the Old Republic wants to know what happened to Revan after the game was done. After all, he was the main character for 60-plus hours of gameplay. Who wouldn't be attached? BioWare announced today that those fans will get their wishes fulfilled. Drew Karpyshyn, a principal writer for Star Wars: The Old Republic and author of the Bane novels, has set his pen to another Star Wars book. This one simply titled after its primary protagonist: Revan. In an interview on the official SWTOR website, Karpyshyn gives us a tease as to how this novel will relate to the new MMORPG. I think the novel will give them a much better understanding of the Sith Emperor and the Empire, for one thing. The Old Republic Sith Empire is very different from what people know from the movies, or even from the Great Hyperspace War comics that focus on characters like Naga Sadow and Ludo Kressh. The novel will also give them some very direct background and detailed information that ties in directly with key Flashpoints in the game. I can't say too much, of course, but like any great prequel the books will give you the details of what came before to add an extra layer of depth to the experiences in the game. Although he does not mention an exact date for the book's release, we do know that it will come later this year. This reporter hopes that it is before the release of SWTOR.
Fourth Mass Effect novel, 'Deception,' coming this fall
When you need a game-related sci-fi novel -- like, stat! -- you call William C. Dietz. The man's something of a legend, churning out at least a book a year since the mid-80s, and in recent years adapting the likes of Halo, Hitman, Resistance and StarCraft into those neat little paper-filled rectangles you see piled into shelves at your folks' place or stacked by the toilet. This is why William C. Dietz was hired to get a fourth Mass Effect novel in to publisher Del Rey early this year, so it could be released ahead of Mass Effect 3. (That, and Drew Karpyshyn, lead writer of the first game and author of the existing three companion novels, has made a galactic shift to The Old Republic.) Right on schedule, Del Rey today announced the title of this latest work of fiction, Mass Effect: Deception. Due out this fall, Deception will continue the story of Gillian Grayson, who was introduced in the second book, Ascension -- in case you've been reading along. We're not sure if William C. Dietz has or not, but then he's pretty adept at making stuff up.
Rage to be prefaced by tie-in novel
It seems that even a prequel comic book isn't enough to flesh out the universe of id Software's upcoming mutant blaster, Rage. Bethesda has announced that Del Rey will publish a novel based on the first-person shooter. The novel -- conveniently penned by Matt Costello, one of the game's writers -- will retain the game's title and tells the story of Lt. Nick Raine. It seems that poor Nick has emerged from stasis to discover "a new society where might is right, mutants plague the Earth, and 'friend' is a term for the person who hasn't stabbed you in the back." We're going to hazard a guess that, at some point, the plot will also involve shooting. Rage, the novel, is set to hit book shelves on August 30. The game is due out in mid-September.
Crysis 2 adapted for 'Legion' novel in March 2011
Vindictive aliens descend upon New York. A malicious plague cripples the shaken city's human inhabitants, who can only fall backwards into the outstretched arms of a cyborg saviour. (He had to put his guns down for just a moment.) So, pretty out there material for a video game, but perhaps the gloomy premise could be better explored in an older medium? Set to debut in March 2011 under the Del Rey banner, Crysis: Legion will adapt Crytek's upcoming first-person shooter into a novel, written by Hugo Award-nominated author (and ex-marine biologist) Peter Watts. Watts' characters and tone haven't been known to elicit smiles -- if you want a sample of his dark science-fiction you can read Blindsight online, thanks to its Creative Commons license. Peter Watts is the second well-known sci-fi author to be associated with Crysis 2, which is being written for the high-definition screen by Altered Carbon's Richard Morgan. Watts will be seen as the real genius, though -- he's getting Crysis to run on a Kindle.
Dante's Inferno special edition printing provides 'unique insight' into game's creation
These are dire times for ye olde book industry. Dire indeed. A special printing of Dante's Inferno -- like, the book -- hopes to capitalize on "the hottest game around." Due January 19 in book stores, this new edition from Del Rey (of the Random House empire) features an introduction by executive producer Jonathan Knight and 16 pages of colorful artwork from "the action adventure blockbuster that's rocking the video-game world." There's a 14th-century epic poem squeezed in there, too. Perhaps best used as a bargaining chip for kids desperate to convince their parents that they should be allowed to play a game based on a literary classic, however "mature" it might be, this damned tie-in is unlikely to ascend to the heavenly gates of the bestsellers list. Still, if Visceral Games' clone adaptation inspires even a single player to check out the original poem, then that would be a beautiful thing. Hell, it would be divine! %Gallery-82898%
Phoenix Wright manga judged fit for Western release
Further demonstrating the insane success of our favorite lawyer adventure game series, Del Rey Manga, publisher of Avril Lavigne's Make 5 Wishes, will be translating the official Gyakuten Saiban manga and releasing it in the U.S. The first volume of Phoenix Wright is set to be released on August 26th, at a retail price of $13.95. Amazon, of course, is preselling it for $2 less.The manga features all the familiar Phoenix Wright characters you know, love, and object to, along with new characters, in completely new cases. With Apollo Justice on the way next month, we're glad to have a line on some new content, even if it's somewhat less interactive than the games.[Thanks, Eric Flatness!]
