I haven't read anything by GRRM so I was just wondering if you could compare them in any way. Could you describe his writing style? (as far as world building goes)
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Elden Ring announced (FromSoftware's largest game to date, Hidetaka Miyazaki x George R.R Martin, PS4/XBO/PC)
- Thread starter vestan
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Yeah...no, this really isn't the case. GAME OF THRONES (the TV show) boils it down to that for a TV audience, but the worldbuilding in the actual novels and supplemental books is absolutely phenomenal.
I've only read a portion of the books. He's certainly an accomplished novelist, I'm not denying that. But when people keep on comparing his world-building to that of Tolkien, I just don't see it. Where Tolkien invented an entirely alien world that felt thoroughly embedded in its own mythological and historical context, the world of ASOIAF is largely a transparent pastiche of Earth, with a mythos that builds on common fantasy tropes since Tolkien. His appeal seems to stem more from the political intrigue and characterizations and less from the lore itself.
Not just British - The Accursed Kings were a pretty big inspiration for him too, apparently.
As for the world-building, to each his or her own... but I would kill to see a From game based on settings such as Glorantha, Tekumel or Harn.
TBH I think Miyazaki's tastes may prove a little too dark for Sanderson, lol.
well for a videogame it can be quite good, games tend to focus on the gameplay, atmosphere and interactive elements not the writting but external help from George makes this project ten times more exciting!
People just listing authors and what they wish to exist is pretty pedantic. I also could be spouting how they should just throw that fantasy shit in the trash and just do Sci-fi games inspired by Blame! and other Tsutomu Nihei works.That is a waste of emotional energy, i am looking forward to what Miyazaki can dream up and Martin is simply an inspiration for him and his team. Then you have the genre lovers dunking on people as to what the actual high form of literature really is and that makes you sound as annoying as hardcore git gud folks except being elitist about books.
It looks to be a winning formula but people should not forget Kingdoms of Amalur was also written by R.A.Salvatore, and the story presented (though detailed) was nothing to write home about.
Of course this combo is literally x100 times better and experienced than that product, but let's wait and see if Martin chops elevates the gaming medium or too much reliance or overconfidence of their story genius could hog down the experience. I mean Bloodborne story presentation was amazing and I would be ok if it is in the same vein. Anything better and I am ready to have my mind blown.
Of course this combo is literally x100 times better and experienced than that product, but let's wait and see if Martin chops elevates the gaming medium or too much reliance or overconfidence of their story genius could hog down the experience. I mean Bloodborne story presentation was amazing and I would be ok if it is in the same vein. Anything better and I am ready to have my mind blown.
Martin isn't gonna write the item descriptions or Character dialogue, he wrote the myth as the base of the world that happened long ago.
Did you just read like...half of GoT? I'm not sure how anyone can say this.
Most of what makes ASoIaF IS the lore and it's fucking vast and in my opinion, really well done. You can get completely lost in that lore hole.
Facts.
Yeah I dont know how anyone can sit there and say ASoIAF lore isnt anything to write home about. I've only read the first book and skimmed a bunch of wiki shit and its pretty vast and very interesting stuff.
The simple fact that Miyazaki is beyond excited about what theyve created lets me know we're in for a treat.
I am also obviously taking about the overarching background story, not the way that story is decided to be told (like with Bloodborne item description), but I am glad the present story will still be handled by Miyazaki. I am expecting the "insight" kind of genius with how they merged gameplay with the story if two big names are working on this.
The story beats and conclusion can be whatever they feel like without asking for permission on Martin's part, I believe they'll do what they think will be cool. Working out the inner workings of the myth itself can be done like any souls game except with more space to explore and finding stuff in.
Never read anything by GRRM, and only intend to read Fevre Dream because of Miyazaki's recommendation. I don't care how good he is or isn't, all I care about is that Miyazaki is a fan and thrilled to be working with him. This is all I need.
Can't fucking wait to see what an extra inspired Miyazaki is capable of.
Can't fucking wait to see what an extra inspired Miyazaki is capable of.
I think that with a lore bible by GRRM, they will probably be able to have a more coherent mythos that can be pieced together without as many contradictions and vestigial dead ends as the lore of the Souls series, many of which I think come from the way the games were made. Miyazaki also sounds excited to essentially 'adapt' the lore that Martin wrote. He can focus on how the mystery presented, not what it actually is. GRRM will also have enjoyed working on it because it wasn't TWOW.
I also read it on Miyazaki's recommendation. It's a weird little tale and very different from his ASOIAF stuff. I quite liked it too which was nice, because while I will watch almost anything with Vampires in it, I am pickier about the vampire books I read. Too many hours wasted on Twilight after friend lent me them, lol.
I also read it on Miyazaki's recommendation. It's a weird little tale and very different from his ASOIAF stuff. I quite liked it too which was nice, because while I will watch almost anything with Vampires in it, I am pickier about the vampire books I read. Too many hours wasted on Twilight after friend lent me them, lol.
"weird little tale" sounds exactly like what Miyazaki would enjoy, hahaha.
That, and I think he also has a thing for vampires and gothic horror going by Bloodborne, lol.
One of the things I have discovered from reading these recent interviews is that Miyazaki is often most inspired by media outside of gaming, which is a good thing. So many games I think reference mainly other games in their looks and their storytelling, with maybe an excursion into D&D for RPGs. Miyazaki seems inspired by books and graphic novels the way Kojima is inspired by cinema.
A new interview with Miyazaki came out.
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2019/06/09/hidetaka-miyazaki-and-george-rr-martin-present-elden-ring/
I don't see big news there, apart from mentioning "magic".
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2019/06/09/hidetaka-miyazaki-and-george-rr-martin-present-elden-ring/
I don't see big news there, apart from mentioning "magic".
isn't this the first interview that came out right after the reveal？
It's pretty amazing how well Miyazaki understands game development, game design, and the approach to storytelling in his medium.
Some good guy on reddit noted a cool fact regarding a possible release date.
Game is coming early 2020 boys, thats a fact!!!
Love that the music feels way more dynamic in that teaser, esp compared to the more usual dark souls-y wall of sound approach that was present in the e3 trailer. Reminds me of how varied the music in sekiro felt. I hope here we get a healthy mix of both styles.
Having said that, i too find that horn at the end of the trailer a bit off lol
Love that the music feels way more dynamic in that teaser, esp compared to the more usual dark souls-y wall of sound approach that was present in the e3 trailer. Reminds me of how varied the music in sekiro felt. I hope here we get a healthy mix of both styles.
Having said that, i too find that horn at the end of the trailer a bit off lol
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Sounds like boss music, the shrill violins at the start and the horn at the end are pretty distinct from the souls games.
"Storytelling in video games – at least the way we do it at FromSoftware – comes with a lot of restrictions for the writer. I didn't think it was a good idea to have Martin write within those restrictions. By having him write about a time the player isn't directly involved in, he is free to unleash his creativity in the way he likes. Furthermore, as FromSoftware we didn't want to create a more linear and storydriven experience for Elden Ring. Both issues could be solved by having Martin write about the world's history instead."
They should have just hired a famous painter or something to come up with concept art and design the overworld because I don't see how you take advantage of Martin's skills as a writer while silencing him and preventing him from using written or spoken word to convey that to you.
They should have just hired a famous painter or something to come up with concept art and design the overworld because I don't see how you take advantage of Martin's skills as a writer while silencing him and preventing him from using written or spoken word to convey that to you.
I have one. How do you think Martin's writing talents will be put to use in this game? I mean, are we assuming that the game will feature something more than the very limited dialogue and item descriptions that we've seen in other Souls games? From the interviews we've heard it doesn't seem that way. Of course they also take advantage of environmental storytelling and while that has been cleverly implemented in the past, it's also gotten a bit stale as it went deeper into the Dark Souls series and it's also quite limited as a means of conveying something meaningful. Seems to me that this will be much more of a gradual iteration on the Dark Souls formula and Martin's involvement is more akin to Chris Avellone's involvement in the various projects his name has been attached to over the past few years. I guess I just have to adjust my expectations downward.
If you had told me a few months ago that folks would incessantly complain and pedantically moan over a game that is Dark Souls X George R.R. Martin, I'd never have believed it.
I would. He's a very divisive writer and his style is very different than what From have done since Souls.
None of that means they are "silencing" or "preventing" him.
From the little I've seen of GoT, Martin excels at wortldbuilding and there's been previous discussion of some very interesting places in the GOT world. Ideas like those could very well be integrated into Elden Ring.
I mean, there are some really interesting places in the broader overworld of Song of Ice and Fire. Asshai is a super mysterious and interesting place for example, the Gods Eye is fascinating, there are plenty of other examples and George's writing is filled with countless potential prophecies, theories and explanations for different things and one of his greatest strengths is how he defies fantasy tropes in very unexpected ways. This is all born out in his writing though, and certainly as I said there are clever ways to either provoke more questions or answer them through environmental storytelling I just feel like his hands will be tied working in a lot of ways with From Software in how they choose to tell their stories.
My favourite part about this is that the thing you've quoted specifically said they didn't want to restrict his writing.
Eh, probably before the end of the year.
Like Cugel said, probably at Gamescom.
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