Turning Classic Literary Works Into Games

Adventure Classic Gaming is running an interview with Chris Tolworthy, an indie game designer who is working on a project to make video games out of various literary classics. His decision to develop these kinds of games was sparked by a desire to reach out to gamers who want more "serious" subject matter, as well as finding an audience among people you would find in a book store, rather than a game store. Tolworthy has already released one game, an adaptation of Les Misérables, and has almost finished Dante's Divine Comedy. After that is done, he'll move on to other works, including Theogeny, by Hesiod, and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, aiming for two or three releases a year. He said, "I try to keep as close as possible to the original text. When I create a game I simply go through the book and adapt it chapter by chapter. As far as possible all my puzzles are based on ideas in the original book. So my Dante's Inferno is a lot closer to the book than EA Games' Dante's Inferno that changes Dante into a warrior with a giant scythe! Although I stick closely to the story, I would find it boring to only give the straight text, so my games always give a different twist. For example, I show Les Miserables from the point of view of a minor character who dies early on. In my Divine Comedy I show other points of view as well as Dante's, and they don't see things the same way. Really, what I'm doing is what theater directors do when they put a Shakespeare play into a modern setting. It's the exact same story, but presented in a new way."

Comments

Microsoft's attempt

[should_be_linear]

There is "Outlook" game, based on Kafka's novel "The Trial".

Re:Microsoft's attempt

[MRe_nl]

On his thirtieth birthday, a senior bank clerk, Josef K., who lives in lodgings, is unexpectedly arrested by two unidentified agents for an unspecified crime. One of them looks like Clippy.

I'm waiting for Pride & Prejudice

[benwiggy]

I can't wait for the game of Pride & Prejudice:

Navigate your way through the maze of 18th century social etiquette!

Avoid Mrs Bennett's attempt to ensnare you with unsuitable gentlemen!

And of course, there's always the zombie version:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudice_and_Zombies

Re:Romeo and juliet

[areusche]

Or even 1984! Have Stanley run around finding his ever elusive razor blades. The best part is you can have a legitimate hot coffee moment in the woods followed by a "shot the hidden microphone" mini game.

steinbeck

[Speare]

[ In the Barn ; 34 points ]
The air in the main barn is stuffy, almost claustrophobic,
despite the large size.  Beams of late-afternoon sunlight
angle down, with flecks of hay and dust suspended in the
stagnant air.  A barn door leads out.
There is a broken puppy here.
There is a broken Candy here.

> out

[ Curley's Ranch ; 34 points ]

> go through gate

[ Entrance to Curley's Ranch ; 35 points ]

> go down path

[ By the Pond ; 36 points ]
You see a crying Lenny here.

> ask about the rabbits

Lenny sits down and tries to explain about the rabbit farm
of his dreams again, calming him somewhat.

> shoot lenny

THE END

36 points

Re:Spoiler?

[OglinTatas]

I know the Usual Suspects in particular demands many repeat viewings to pick up on all the subtleties.

you don't really need to watch it repeatedly. Go to Menu --> Subtleties --> English=ON

There. All subtleties exposed.