Dragons & Jetpacks discussion

Inspired by Rinn's blog post a couple of months ago, and with Brandon Sanderson releasing his second (and final - I think) instalment based on the Infinity Blade game - Infinity Blade: Redemption - I thought it might be good to open it up to the group here. Are there any sci-fi/fantasy video games you've played or know of, which have been turned into novels (or vice versa), what did you think of them?

I have read the first of Brandon Sanderson Infinity Blade novels - Infinity Blade: Awakening and really enjoyed it. However I haven't played the game, so can't really make a comparison on how well it was done. I've also read a couple of World of Warcraft graphic novels - but not enough that I really got into them.

There is tons of gaming literature based on PC- and Videogames.
You have Mass Effect, Halo, Gears of War, Dragon Age, Assassin's Creed, Uncharted, Elder Scrolls, Diablo, Starcraft novels.
Most of the MMOs like Guild Wars, Star Wars: The old Republic or Eve Online have books as well.

For games based on novels, there are A Song of Ice and Fire games for example.

Then you have the hybrids that originate from Pen & Paper Roleplaying or Table Top games.
For Warhammer, Warhammer 40K, Battletech, Vampire - the Masquerade or Shadowrun there were made novels and video-games from the source material.

I think the tricky thing is to find the really good stuff, cause there seem to be a lot of mediocre or outright bad novelizations, but there are also some surprisingly good ones, when you look at some of the reviews.

Thanks Kirsty! =D As you can see from my post, I really didn't like the Mass Effect books that much - but recently I read the first Dragon Age novel and rather enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to the next one! =)

I would happily read novels based on games I've enjoyed, I just don't go in expecting too much.

There was a Dragons of Pern game made yonks ago I think, I only found out about it on some forum a couple of years ago. Not sure if anyone here played it once upon a time. Apparently you ran about doing quests and errands for people but the only dragon flying was cut scenes between going places.

Are there any games with any actual decent dragon-flying? I am vastly out of touch with games and so I haven't the foggiest! :)

I think Divinity 2 has dragon flying sequences. I haven't played it myself, only saw it in the reviews, when it came out.

Freya wrote: "Are there any games with any actual decent dragon-flying? I am vastly out of touch with games and so I haven't the foggiest! :) "

DRAKAN!! Although it's old(ish). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drakan:_... - it was SO fun.

And Skyrim's newest DLC = dragon flying, though I don't have that one yet.

Karen Travis writes good video game books. These also extend into Star Wars: Republic Commandos. Paul S. Kemp also wrote a very good Star Wars book based around the SWTOR video game called Deceived.

The Witcher books are interesting if you are also into the games, though I have only found one that's translated into English.

Kyle wrote: "The Witcher books are interesting if you are also into the games, though I have only found one that's translated into English.
"

And the Witcher was the other way round wasn't it - book first?

Rinn wrote: "And the Witcher was the other way round wasn't it - book first? "

Yep, as far as I know the polish book series was out first and the original Witcher game was based on it.

It's interesting because it seems to be a rare occurrence that way round!

Yeah the Witcher books are quite a bit older than the games. But they are an odd read, and I can see how it would be very hard to like if dark fantasy isn't your thing.

Hey, did you guys know that there's a novelisation of the PS2 game Ico? One of my favorite games ever.

The book is called Ico: Castle in the Mist. I've only known about it for a few weeks, so I haven't had the chance to read it yet. We should put it in the nominations sometime!

Divinity and Divinity 2 are both interesting. You can change into a dragon at various points. Unfortunately I never finished either as the final fight in both is insane even on an easy level. The playing as a dragon parts are very good though.
I did not know about Knaack's books. Thanks for mentioning those!

I've just come across BioShock: Rapture - a prequel to the Bioshock game. I loved Bioshock and may well have a look at this book at some point...

There are also a couple of Baldur's Gate books but as far as I heard they were not something particularly good.

I was very into Halo years ago and read 3 of the books based on the game. Remember them being fairly entertaining, if not that well written. But you got some back story on master chief which was pretty sweet

Just noticed that Halo: Glasslands (Halo 1) is £1.99 on Kindle atm... If anyone wanted to take a look...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Halo-Glasslan...

I'm doing a 'beginner's guide' to video game novelisations on my blog, and part 1 is here.

Really want to read the Bioshock and Assassins' Creed books. I've got another Dragon Age book to read too - and there's a new one coming out next year :D Last Flight

Assassin's Creed: Black Flag (Assassins Creed)
Assassin's Creed: Forsaken (Assassins Creed)
Assassin's Creed: Renaissance
Assassin's Creed: Revelations (Assassins Creed)
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
are currently £1.99 on Kindle.

I played Assassins Creed a long long time ago and never really got into it!

Ooh thanks Kirsty - I've bought Brotherhood because that game is AMAZING, and I'd rather try just the one out first :D