RPG devs Obsidian Entertainment were approached by EA Partners to make a videogame based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books – better known these days as Game of Thrones, after the first book in the series and the TV sensation based upon it. Trouble is, they were approached in 2005, before the show’s success, and they said ‘no’.
Obsidian have made some of the best RPGs on PC.
Obsidian co-founder and CEO Feargus Urquhart was a fan of the books, having followed them since the series started in 1996. He knew what he was turning down, and his reasons for doing so make sense. Speaking with Eurogamer, he says:
“My feeling was, understanding the IP at the time, it’s about this political intrigue, and people’s connection to the IP is to all these characters – that’s how the books are written, each chapter is a person and what’s happening to them.
“Other than what weird stuff is going on beyond The Wall, and the dragons, and some hint [of fantasy], there are no magic users, there are no clerics, no thieves. Basically there’s dudes with swords and armour and a little bit of mysticism, but within the mainland there’s no goblins, no kobolds…”
You can see his point – Game of Thrones is pretty non-fantastical, especially in the earlier books before Daenerys’s dragons have grown, and when the White Walkers and the resurrecting Red Priesthood are still mysteries.
Co-founder and VP of development Chris Parker adds “you can’t give the player a character they can play that is important in this world. All of the important characters are all clearly spelled out and you can’t even really go have a conversation with them.”
That’s the approach that Telltale took, casting the player as part of a minor house which becomes embroiled in the events of the first book, but you can see how it presents a challenge, especially for an RPG. Exploring spin-off story threads or alternate periods in the fiction’s history, like “BioWare did with Knights of the Old Republic,” were floated as possible solutions, and given the success of the IP in the years since, one assumes Obsidian would take those solutions more seriously today.
“Maybe there could have been something we could have done,” Urquhart says, but at the time, “we were starting to think more about open-world RPGs, and we wanted our players to have agency, to be important in the world.
“Back then [real-time strategy games] were more relevant and I said… ‘it just feels more like an RTS game.’ You have different factions and you put more political intrigue in there.”
How to spell check with wordpad. And there was indeed a Game of Thrones RTS made… but it wasn’t great. Personally I’d love a Game of Thrones RPG or RTS, just so long as they’re made by a studio of Obsidian’s calibre.
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Night King
1 year agoArchived
As much as season 7 has slightly tainted the pacing and quality that I expect from the TV show, I do still love game of thrones. And I think it would make a freaking epic Real Time Strategy PC game (similar to Lord of The Rings: Battle For Middle Earth) Like conquering all of westoros as a particular faction, Creating alliances, or just straight up taking on everyone (who then may ally up with others to fight you) and then obviously have the Night King being an enemy faction to everyone.
I'd love it. And with certain houses colliding it may spawn alliances that wouldn't normally happen.
Or maybe even have an option to create your own faction to take on the actual factions and houses (like stark and Lannister) would that be cool? Or just me?
27 comments
The bloody conflict in the Kingdom of Westeros comes to life in the first screens of A Game of Thrones: Genesis, the real-time strategy game based on acclaimed fantasy author George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire saga.
French developer Cyanide Studio revealed its plan to develop games based on Martin's beloved works back in 2009, and now that plan bears its first fruit. A Game of Thrones: Genesis is a real-time strategy game that chronicles 1,000 years of history in the Kingdom of Westeros, the key setting for the Song of Fire and Ice saga.
With a bloody civil war raging for control of Westeros, the menace of the mysterious Others rising in the north, and the threat of dragons from the east, a real-time strategy PC game seems like the most efficient and effective way for Martin's tale to play out.
It'll be much more than simply building an army more powerful than your opponent, however. Martin himself oversaw the development of the game's single-player game, insuring that economic warfare, diplomacy, and dirty tricks played just as important a role in the game as basic combat. Those diverse elements carry over into multiplayer as well, with up to eight rival players struggling for control of the Iron Throne.
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Fans interested in keeping up with the game's development can visit the A Game of Thrones: Genesis website and sign up for the newsletter. Otherwise the game is expected to hit this summer on the PC from developer Cyanide and Focus Home Interactive.
So while I'm super excited that they're finally making an RTS in this world (doubly so for it being set during the rebellion), I'm a little worried about the pedigree of the team making it. I guess I'm just worried that the team that brought us 'horse racing manager' and it's every popular followup 'horse racing manager 2' hasn't shown itself to have too much practice at the RTS field.
Am I totally off base in this worry? Should I be excited anyway? Am I missing something important? Are you guys excited too?
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The fight for the Iron Throne is real. Great houses clash, dragons rule the sky, and the army of the dead threatens to battle the realm in this RPG and RTS hybrid, GoT: Conquest. Live out your GoT fantasy and join the war in the best GoT RPG to date. Join millions of players living the fantasy of the great lords of Westeros. Build your house, raise your army, and find the best way to manage your resources as you aim to rule the Iron Throne.
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Will you bend the knee, create a great allegiance, or fall victim to the other great lords of Westeros in this RTS game?
“In the game of thrones, you win or you die.” - Cersei Lannister
-Become a lord of Westeros:Build a great house, create your sigil, and master the strategy as you Fight for the Crown to rule the realm in GoT: Conquest, a RTS/RPG hybrid game based on Game of Thrones
-Interact with key charactersfrom the hit HBO series
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-Live out your fantasy of claiming the Iron Throne and winning the Great War as you navigate a dangerous political landscape using the innovative Allegiance System
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-Grow your own dragon: Dragons have arrived in Westeros and each kingdom has their own dragon egg. Will you use your great dragon to best your enemies or protect your castle? You decide!
THE SEVEN KINGDOMS WILL REMEMBER YOUR NAME IN GAME OF THRONES: CONQUEST
“It’s the family name that lives on. It’s all that lives on.” - Tywin Lannister
-Build your house and rule your territory
-Raise your army and clash against rival lords in an epic fantasy
-Defend your strongholds, as each Seat of Power endows you with military and economic upgrades for your kingdom
-Conquer the map, clash with your enemies, and spread your influence in this strategy RTS game based on the hit HBO series
-Craft Powerful Gear, much like a fantasy RPG, you can craft and build powerful gear sets and equipment to gain an edge and best your enemies in this RTS game
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-Claim the Iron Throne- Choose between deception and loyalty, use your dragons wisely, as you shift your allegiances and clash with foes just like in the hit HBO series
Only in Game of Thrones: Conquest can you become a lord of Westeros and Fight for the Iron Throne? Build your army, muster your best troops and devise the best strategy for battle. Interact with key characters and conquer iconic locations from the award-winning HBO fantasy series. Dominate your enemies by using an innovative Allegiance System that allows you to recruit your friends as bannermen as you rise in a war to take The Iron Throne, rule The Seven Kingdoms and awake the dragons.
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Join the conversation:
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https://twitter.com/gotconquest
https://go.wbgames.com/GoTforums
™ & © 2018 Home Box Office, Inc. ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s18)
The fight for the Iron Throne is real. Great houses clash, dragons rule the sky, and the army of the dead threatens to battle the realm in this RPG and RTS hybrid, GoT: Conquest. Live out your GoT fantasy and join the war in the best GoT RPG to date. Join millions of players living the fantasy of the great lords of Westeros. Build your house, raise your army, and find the best way to manage your resources as you aim to rule the Iron Throne.
Based on the award-winning HBO series, Game of Thrones: Conquestis an RTS with RPG elements that allow players to become a Lord in Westeros and define a strategy for conquering the Seven Kingdoms. Wage war, clash swords, raise your dragon and join the battle today to best your foes and capture the Iron Throne!
Will you bend the knee, create a great allegiance, or fall victim to the other great lords of Westeros in this RTS game?
“In the game of thrones, you win or you die.” - Cersei Lannister
-Become a lord of Westeros:Build a great house, create your sigil, and master the strategy as you Fight for the Crown to rule the realm in GoT: Conquest, a RTS/RPG hybrid game based on Game of Thrones
-Interact with key charactersfrom the hit HBO series
-Conquer 120+ iconic Seats of Power like Winterfell, Castle Black, and King’s Landing
-Live out your fantasy of claiming the Iron Throne and winning the Great War as you navigate a dangerous political landscape using the innovative Allegiance System
-Raise Your Dragon
-Grow your own dragon: Dragons have arrived in Westeros and each kingdom has their own dragon egg. Will you use your great dragon to best your enemies or protect your castle? You decide!
THE SEVEN KINGDOMS WILL REMEMBER YOUR NAME IN GAME OF THRONES: CONQUEST
“It’s the family name that lives on. It’s all that lives on.” - Tywin Lannister
-Build your house and rule your territory
-Raise your army and clash against rival lords in an epic fantasy
-Defend your strongholds, as each Seat of Power endows you with military and economic upgrades for your kingdom
-Conquer the map, clash with your enemies, and spread your influence in this strategy RTS game based on the hit HBO series
-Craft Powerful Gear, much like a fantasy RPG, you can craft and build powerful gear sets and equipment to gain an edge and best your enemies in this RTS game
MAKE KINGS RISE AND FALL
This is the best GoT experience available on mobile, combining the best RPG and RTS elements to bring you a GoT fantasy like no other.
-Master the strategy of our innovative pledge systemrecruit bannermen, fight great battles with your allies, and live out the GoT fantasy of being a great lord
-Claim the Iron Throne- Choose between deception and loyalty, use your dragons wisely, as you shift your allegiances and clash with foes just like in the hit HBO series
Only in Game of Thrones: Conquest can you become a lord of Westeros and Fight for the Iron Throne? Build your army, muster your best troops and devise the best strategy for battle. Interact with key characters and conquer iconic locations from the award-winning HBO fantasy series. Dominate your enemies by using an innovative Allegiance System that allows you to recruit your friends as bannermen as you rise in a war to take The Iron Throne, rule The Seven Kingdoms and awake the dragons.
LIVE THE FANTASY - PLAY GAME OF THRONES: CONQUEST NOW TO FIGHT FOR THE IRON THRONE AND RULE THE SEVEN KINGDOMS!
Join the conversation:
https://www.facebook.com/GoTConquest/
https://twitter.com/gotconquest
https://go.wbgames.com/GoTforums
™ & © 2018 Home Box Office, Inc. ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s18)
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