Reading what you play
May 15, 2010 4:40 PM Subscribe
I need a list of video games adapted from books (or graphic novels).
I'm working on an article about the possible value of video games in the classroom, and I'd like to look at as many novel-to-game adaptations as I can find.
My definition of adaptation is pretty broad, by the way: the Splinter Cell Series isn't really an adaptation, but the fact that it has Tom Clancy's (famous for writing novels) name attached to it is useful. Batman: Arkham Asylum is another example... it isn't really a direct adaptation of any particular Batman comic, but I can still work with it. And... Dante's Inferno comes to mind.
Now your turn!
I'm working on an article about the possible value of video games in the classroom, and I'd like to look at as many novel-to-game adaptations as I can find.
My definition of adaptation is pretty broad, by the way: the Splinter Cell Series isn't really an adaptation, but the fact that it has Tom Clancy's (famous for writing novels) name attached to it is useful. Batman: Arkham Asylum is another example... it isn't really a direct adaptation of any particular Batman comic, but I can still work with it. And... Dante's Inferno comes to mind.
Now your turn!
There is a whole genre of video game that use books or stories as a basis - the interactive fiction or text adventure variety.
For example the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy game, and The Hobbit.
There's more information about the genre here.
posted by jardinier at 4:57 PM on May 15, 2010
For example the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy game, and The Hobbit.
There's more information about the genre here.
posted by jardinier at 4:57 PM on May 15, 2010
Dragonriders: Chronicles of Pern
Companions of Xanth
posted by worldswalker at 5:08 PM on May 15, 2010
Companions of Xanth
posted by worldswalker at 5:08 PM on May 15, 2010
Category:Video_games_based_on_books.
posted by A Thousand Baited Hooks at 5:09 PM on May 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by A Thousand Baited Hooks at 5:09 PM on May 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
Legend Entertainment did a whole bunch of these in the 90s (including I think the above-mentioned xanth adaptation).
posted by advil at 6:52 PM on May 15, 2010
posted by advil at 6:52 PM on May 15, 2010
MMORPGs count? There's the Lord of the Rings online game.
posted by Neofelis at 7:30 PM on May 15, 2010
posted by Neofelis at 7:30 PM on May 15, 2010
A Thousand Baited Hooks' link probably has all of them, though I'd draw your attention to Below the Root from back in 1984 for having the author involved in the game and for being quite original.
posted by bobo123 at 8:05 PM on May 15, 2010
posted by bobo123 at 8:05 PM on May 15, 2010
There are Harry Potter video games, for some reason not in the Wikipedia category.
The Tempest is an interactive fiction game based on...I'm sure you can guess. You can also play Hamlet: The Text Adventure online! And apparently it's not even the only text adventure adaptation of Hamlet.
In the spirit of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, there's Clive Barker's Jericho.
It was already mentioned in A Thousand Baited Hooks's category link, but I'd like to draw your attention to The Dark Eye, since your article is specifically about use in the classroom--it's based on texts often studied in schools (Poe), and it's definitely got an immersive/interpretive tone as opposed to being a shoot-'em-up or something.
posted by phoenixy at 9:40 PM on May 15, 2010
The Tempest is an interactive fiction game based on...I'm sure you can guess. You can also play Hamlet: The Text Adventure online! And apparently it's not even the only text adventure adaptation of Hamlet.
In the spirit of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, there's Clive Barker's Jericho.
It was already mentioned in A Thousand Baited Hooks's category link, but I'd like to draw your attention to The Dark Eye, since your article is specifically about use in the classroom--it's based on texts often studied in schools (Poe), and it's definitely got an immersive/interpretive tone as opposed to being a shoot-'em-up or something.
posted by phoenixy at 9:40 PM on May 15, 2010
There are about a million more if you count ones that made a detour in Hollywood.
posted by 256 at 11:39 PM on May 15, 2010
posted by 256 at 11:39 PM on May 15, 2010
An old text adventure called "Rendezvous with Rama" got me to read the sci-fi series that it was based on.
posted by ambulatorybird at 1:58 AM on May 16, 2010
posted by ambulatorybird at 1:58 AM on May 16, 2010
There are Harry Potter video games, for some reason not in the Wikipedia category.
The video games are based on the films, not the books.
posted by slimepuppy at 2:54 AM on May 16, 2010
The video games are based on the films, not the books.
posted by slimepuppy at 2:54 AM on May 16, 2010
The Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series is set to have a video game released alongside the film this summer (although I am pretty sure the game is based off the graphic novels, not the film).
posted by runaway ballista at 7:39 AM on May 16, 2010
posted by runaway ballista at 7:39 AM on May 16, 2010
Are we talking old-school? Shadowman!
Had no idea there was a comic when I played it.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 7:47 AM on May 16, 2010
Had no idea there was a comic when I played it.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 7:47 AM on May 16, 2010
There's a game called Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals based the French graphic novel trilogy by Enki Bilal.
posted by infinitywaltz at 10:22 AM on May 16, 2010
posted by infinitywaltz at 10:22 AM on May 16, 2010
Response by poster: Amazing answers everyone! Thank you!
And for those who pointed it out, if it makes a detour in Hollywood, that's great too.
posted by ndicecco at 11:42 AM on May 16, 2010
And for those who pointed it out, if it makes a detour in Hollywood, that's great too.
posted by ndicecco at 11:42 AM on May 16, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Can't think of any others off the top of my head, but I didn't try for very long.
posted by dinx2582 at 4:54 PM on May 15, 2010