Defiance Combines TV Show and MMO

In 2008 we discussed news of an MMO in an early phase of development that sought to merge two different forms of media: TV shows and video games. Now, reader querbeet points out that work on the game — Defiance — is much further along. Screenshots and an interview with a senior developer provide a clearer image of how such a project will work. "Both the game and the show take place in a near future, post-apocalyptic version of Earth. ... The game is centered in the remains of San Francisco, while the show will take place in St. Louis. 'They exist within the same universe,' Hill told Ars. 'And primarily where we're going to be different is the fact that things that happen in the game will occur in the show and things that happen in the show will occur in the game. From a global standpoint this could be a large political change, a big environmental change, and they'll happen simultaneously on both.' As an example, Hill said that a character from the show could leave for San Francisco, show up in the game and go on adventures with players, before returning to St. Louis to discuss everything that happened while they were in the game world."

Comments

Syfy will not let it last and g4 is near death / U

[Joe_Dragon]

Syfy will not let it last and g4 is near death / UFC take over.

SYFY and G4 seem to be merging and if it's any thing like what happened with tech tv and G4 all the good shows will die.

Won't last long

[Nidi62]

Premise sounds good and all, but in all likelihood, the show will be cancelled before it can get more than a few seasons in.

Re:Won't last long

[Qzukk]

That's ok, griefers will probably kill off most of the TV cast anyway ;)

Re:Won't last long

[Ihmhi]

Wow, I'm actually interested in this. I know it's going to turn into a trainwreck, but seeing what kind of trainwreck will be the real fun.

How?

[Anonymous Coward]

This is just a statement on the core concept, but how could they keep the show up to date with the MMO?

Shows require a significant production period - writing, preparation, acting, post-production and editing. In order to have characters reference events in the MMO, the events would have to be written in as particular plot points or relegated to token references (say a shot of a character facing away from the camera and we hear a voice over) that have little or no bearing on the plot.

Re:Syfy will not let it last and g4 is near death

[Dan667]

Ha! They have out smarted your, there are no good shows left on syfy or g4.

Whoda thunk gutting all good content...

[decora]

would make your network go bankrupt?

Grandiose wishes

[Tolkien]

They'll end up being watered down prescripted events instead of retelling the adventures that happened with real players and the show's character(s) within the game.

Grouping/guilds

[haggus71]

I can see this going all kinds of wrong. "Frank" gives his account of fighting with elements in San Francisco: "It wasn't looking good. We were cornered. Then luvz2sp00g and his unit Serenity Now came to the rescue, using incredibly powerful weapons to take down the aliens. However, I couldn't understand why they stooped over the dead to rub their genitalia in their faces..."

Re:Syfy will not let it last and g4 is near death

[ChromeAeonium]

if it's any thing like what happened with tech tv and G4 all the good shows will die.

Glad I'm not the only one who thought that. Really, who is still watching that channel? Do they have anything worth watching?

Trying too hard to be relevant.

[incognito84]

I like the idea but it seems like Syfy is trying to hard to be relevant. First with the name change and then with this.

What they really need to do is tell good stories with believable characters. Create a good show and a fan base will follow. Go back to the fundamentals.

The reason the network does poorly is because most of it's original programming is garbage.