Up-coming MMORPG Based on Shakespeare's Works

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Up-coming MMORPG Based on Shakespeare's Works

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Friday October 20, 2006 @06:35AM from the forsooth-you-shall-be-nerfed dept.

Linnen writes "Edward Castronova has received a MacArthur Foundation grant to build a MMOG based on Shakespeare's plays." "Castronova said 'Arden' will launch — it's unclear when, as the game is still in the early design stage — built around the theme of 'Richard III.' That's because the play, set during the War of the Roses, offers historical context, as well as enough political intrigue, secret conniving, deal-making and war to delight any gamer, he said. 'It's a historical Shakespeare play, so that means it's really easy for us to take all the sort of fantasy stuff like knights in shining armor and peasants and woodworkers...and we can just really fit right into 'Richard III' right away.'"

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I can just imagine it by beyowulf · 2006-10-20 06:39 · Score: 5, Funny

4rm h311's d4rk h34rt 1 st4b 47 th33!!
1. Re:I can just imagine it by Jarjarthejedi · 2006-10-20 06:46 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Juliet1342 > Romeo Romeo, Wherefor art thou romeo? Romeotheman12 > Sorry bout that, lagged out, stupid server... Definatly an interesting concept, the key is going to be the players. If you get a bunch of RPers in the game who just want to have fun then it'll probably be a great time for all. If, on the other hand, you get a bunch of lamers (which, somehow, I honestly can't see the type of people I consider lamers playing anything with shakespeare in it, so maybe this won't happen) it'll just devolve into another MMO where people exploit and do lame things. I for one am hopefully optimistic, and if I was a bigger fan of shakespeare I'd probably watch this until it came out to see if I wanted it. Something tells me that basing a game around a historical figure like shakespeare will scare off all the people who normally make MMOs not so much fun...
  
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  There are two kinds of fool One says 'This is old therefore good' Another says 'This is new therefore better'- Dean Ing
2. Re:I can just imagine it by andphi · 2006-10-20 09:03 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  |ri h4v0( & l33t sl1p teh d@wgz 0f w@rz!
The play's the thing! by lawpoop · 2006-10-20 06:40 · Score: 2, Funny

An MMORPG set in the world of Shakespeare, where all the world's a stage?

Can we have a play within a play, ala Hamlet, within an MMORPG? :D

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Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
-- Pablo Picasso
Whyfore? by Avatar8 · 2006-10-20 06:41 · Score: 4, Funny

Methinks this be a failure from the start
For no person would care to play a tiny part
In what once was great literature that brought Bill great fame
But for a theater of the globe, as a game, dost sound lame.
But.... by LordEd · 2006-10-20 06:43 · Score: 5, Funny

Will it be written in the original kingon?
Midsummer's night dream by techpawn · 2006-10-20 06:46 · Score: 2, Funny

If there's no Oberon, I don't give a Puck *ducks*

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Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what your country did to you
In this game... by brennanw · 2006-10-20 06:47 · Score: 5, Funny

all female characters will have the ability to pose as young men.

Which means male players will be playing female characters playing male characters.

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Eviscerati.Org: All Hail the Eviscerati
Re:I can hardly wait for... by CRCulver · 2006-10-20 06:49 · Score: 3, Funny

Or the online version of Sartre's Huis Clos ("No Exit"). There's no action, and once you connect, you can't ever log off, but are forced to spend eternity enduring the inane conversation of lame fellow online gamers.
/bite by Wrexen · 2006-10-20 06:54 · Score: 5, Funny

/bite
* You bite your thumb at A Montague
1. Re:/bite by TempeTerra · 2006-10-20 08:22 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  ABRAHAM: Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
  * It is dark. You are likely to be eaten by a Montague
  
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  .evom ton seod gis eht
How this will play out... by Gorm+the+DBA · 2006-10-20 07:05 · Score: 3, Funny

"LFG: Juliet's Balcony, have Tank and Healer, need DPS, full on Bards"
Save the drama... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-10-20 07:24 · Score: 1, Funny

Just imagine the guild drama in this one.
A million monkeys by krell · 2006-10-20 07:28 · Score: 2, Funny

Let me guess: your player character will be in the guise of one of a million monkeys with a million typewriters.

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Where were you when the voynix came?
This game sucks! by Rob+T+Firefly · 2006-10-20 07:30 · Score: 2, Funny

Every time I try to get a raiding party together, a bunch of them log off right after my pre-raid pep-talk!

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Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
You've ruined your own lands by bunions · 2006-10-20 07:41 · Score: 3, Funny

... you'll not ruin mine, A_Capulet935!

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there is no need to sign your posts. this isn't usenet. your username is right there above your post. stop it.
Re:Umm.... by illegalcortex · 2006-10-20 07:42 · Score: 2, Funny

Yes, but in getting the genres mixed up, I think you've hit upon a second major feature of a Shakes MMORPG....
Even better; a Shakespeare-Lovecraft crossover by arevos · 2006-10-20 08:06 · Score: 2, Funny

Perhaps it would read something like this:

Stay you speaker of the Dread Cthulhu, tell me more:
By the Mad Arab's death, I know I am Thane of Innsmouth,
But how, of Arkham? the Thane of Arkham liues
A prosperous Gentleman: And to be King,
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more then to be Arkham. Say from whence
You held word with the Great Priest, or why
Upon this blasted Heath you stop our way
And tell of things meant not for mortal ears
Speak, I charge you.
Re:I can hardly wait for... by Dolly_Llama · 2006-10-20 08:06 · Score: 4, Funny

#Godot has entered the channel

Finally!

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Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. -- Carl Sagan
Re:I can hardly wait for... by sammyo · 2006-10-20 08:32 · Score: 2, Funny

Second Life?
Concept/Execution by RomSteady · 2006-10-20 08:39 · Score: 2, Funny

I like the concept of this MMORPG, but it would be difficult to make someone's death a tragedy when they can just respawn two meters away.

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RomSteady - I came, I saw, I tested. GamerTag: RomSteady / http://www.romsteady.net
A horse! A horse! by NJVil · 2006-10-20 08:49 · Score: 2, Funny

My Kingdom (Hearts 2) for a horse!