Wheel of Time to be adapted into movies and games including an MMO

GRT · 11-13-2008, 02:54 AM

http://venturebeat.com/2008/11/12/re...of-time-books/

Quote:

While the twin movie and game approach is risky, it reflects a growing trend in the industry. Video games have become so lucrative that movie companies have become loathe to give up the rights for games based on their properties to game companies. Instead, Disney and Warner Bros. have stepped up game production. Electronic Arts is also moving in the same direction, greenlighting media such as TV shows or comics based on its original game properties. Radar Group, a start-up that came out of stealth earlier this year, also wants to make games and movies based on the same properties simultaneously.

The path is fraught with peril. EA backed out of making games based on licensed properties because the results were boring gamers. And both movies and games are a hit or miss business. While the rewards of doing both are higher, so are the consequences of failure.

Brash Entertainment raised hundreds of millions of dollars to make games based on movies, but a number of the titles have fallen flat and it recently laid off some developers. Selvage (left) said he is aware of the risks and he believes that most games based on movies fail because they are made in too short a time and there isn’t enough cooperation with the movie studio.

Red Eagle games is planning to release its titles on all major platforms: the consoles, personal computers, handhelds and wireless devices.

I guess I wasn't the only one thinking this might be a terrible idea.

wyrmtung · 11-13-2008, 03:53 AM

Now that Jordan is dead, I guess it's time to cash in on him.

Howard Roark · 11-13-2008, 04:00 AM

I'd play/watch both; been following this series 2nd only to FFXI in duration, 12+ years

Howard Roark · 11-13-2008, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyrmtung

Now that Jordan is dead, I guess it's time to cash in on him.

so long as it remains in keeping with the content of the books he wrote alone then it should be fine; cash in all you want -- if the movie and game are great who cares if it's "cashing in"

I have my concerns over how that ghost-writer dude will fare at completing the 13th book based on the sections RJ wrote, as well as the countless notes by Jordan to his family -- and I suppose subsequently how that final conclusion would spell out into the mmo/movie(s)

thestalkmore · 11-13-2008, 04:11 AM

FUCK YEA WOT. I was pretty hardcore into these until about the 10th when shit got slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Lujei · 11-13-2008, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thestalkmore

FUCK YEA WOT. I was pretty hardcore into these until about the 10th when shit got slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

QFT. It started out great, but now I can barely read the books without falling asleep. 10 worthless chapters that have no relevant plot development, GO! That said, I'll probably see the movie anyway.

GRT · 11-13-2008, 04:54 AM

TBH the WoT story/world/settings are perfect for making a great RPG or MMO, but the company making it is newly established under a brand new movie studio with no work history or financial/credit record to go by, I can just see somehow all these would come together to spell out the recipe to ruin WoT in the most glorious way possible

the way I see it so far, all I can think at the back of my head is that live action dragonball movie coming out >.>

Shuvo · 11-13-2008, 06:19 AM

ooof... I quit MMOs for good after FFXI but i'm such a huge WoT nut. Ever since I was 12 >< Arghghghgh.

Galaika · 11-13-2008, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard Roark

I have my concerns over how that ghost-writer dude will fare at completing the 13th book based on the sections RJ wrote, as well as the countless notes by Jordan to his family -- and I suppose subsequently how that final conclusion would spell out into the mmo/movie(s)

He can't do any worse than Jordan did on the last few books, 5+ chapters to describe the clothes someone is wearing = no thanks.

Olo401 · 11-13-2008, 09:34 AM

I wonder if the MMO will be based at all on the CCG...

Shuemue · 11-13-2008, 10:05 AM

Oh man this'll suck so much. First 8 DVDs will be just the prologue.

Jordan lost it completely in my opinion. His writing became self indulgent and I lost interest around book 10

thatwasnifty · 11-13-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shuemue

Jordan lost it completely in my opinion. His writing became self indulgent and I lost interest around book 10

You lasted longer than I did. I got through book 9 and realized that I'd just read almost a thousand pages of nothing.

The Finesse · 11-13-2008, 11:04 AM

Yeah, since 9 I just waited till people post plot outlines on WoT fansites of the new book a month or so after it comes out.

Ksandra · 11-13-2008, 11:31 AM

I don't think I made it past 8. They were so good up to 5 imo, and then he just lost it. Dunno if the mmo would be very good actually. Bunch of Aes Sedai running around (forget what they called the males) channeling each other.

On a random note, there's actually a PC WoT game out there. I bought it for nerdliness ages ago. I still have it but the game sucked ass.

Elesirdur · 11-13-2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ksandra

On a random note, there's actually a PC WoT game out there. I bought it for nerdliness ages ago. I still have it but the game sucked ass.

I'm glad someone else remembers that game. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a very early WOT game released in the early '90s before this.

Gamespot review of the 1999 game here: The Wheel of Time for PC - The Wheel of Time PC Game - The Wheel of Time Computer Game

Imitarate · 11-13-2008, 06:48 PM

I still have that somewhere. It was silly, definitely not something to be treated like canon (here's some balefire ter'angreal, enjoy sister! *pewpew-holesintheterrain*), but I thought the gameplay was fun. It felt like a WoT mod of another FPS game, but that's ok. The multiplayer was actually pretty decent (also, even more zany -- ter'rangreal-wielding Whitecloaks throwing fireballs around...), or at least I remember it being so.

Umm... whew. I've managed to slog through every book (eleven does get better), and I'm... anticipating the 12th with a mixture of dread and relief. There's fertile ground for an MMO in the WoT setting (since he'll never do it, they can explore Seanchan and That Pseudoasian Place To The East in expansions), but I don't think it makes sense to do it DURING the series. Either before (no Asha'mon though) or after (we don't know how bad he'll fuck the world up), but if they tried to put it during the series...well...when? You'd have to pick an arbitrary point in the story where massive political events and wars keep happening. If it was before or after, it'd be more realistic to really be able to explore and show the various countries... meh. It's a recipe for disaster, but I'm willing to wait before I reject it entirely.

Shuvo · 11-14-2008, 01:05 AM

WoT picked up a lot on the last book, which focused entirely on leading up to the Last Battle. In the whole book weird shit was happening cause of the weakened seals, stuff like people hallucinating dead bodies walking or corridors changing randomly etc. It really pumps you up for the final book. And then Robert Jordan croaked ._.

Maaglin · 11-14-2008, 01:27 AM

When the magic 8-ball is asked if this will suck, answer is: Outlook Good.

It's doomed to failure now.

Ksandra · 11-14-2008, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maaglin

When the magic 8-ball is asked if this will suck, answer is: Outlook Good.

It's doomed to failure now.

I wish I still had my magic 8-ball. ;_;

Howard Roark · 11-14-2008, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galaika

He can't do any worse than Jordan did on the last few books, 5+ chapters to describe the clothes someone is wearing = no thanks.

oh come on lol, that's not even remotely accurate

wyrmtung · 11-14-2008, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ksandra

I wish I still had my magic 8-ball. ;_;

I got a magic 8 ball on my iphone.

Anyway, I really do they stick to just the first book for the movie. I thought it was perfectly self contained. I loved the whole revelation that Rand's father had a secret past that Rand never knew. The tension of the flight from their village. Padan Fain. The Ways. Heron marked blades. So much goodness in that first book.

Then he (or I should say the publishers who asked him to draw the story out) had to ruin it by making the story more complex than it needed to be.

Lujei · 11-14-2008, 02:46 AM

Not to derail, but is the author they chose to finish the last book any good?

Howard Roark · 11-14-2008, 03:01 AM

haven't read his work and I'm not going to, but RJ's wife and family picked him, mostly the wife, can check out the consensus on dragonmount.com -- I haven't heard anything bad about the author and he is working with a large amount of notes as well as original, authentic passages left by Robert Jordan

considering the premise is set down and the author is for the most part merely fleshing it out, it shouldn't go too too awry

Maaglin · 11-14-2008, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ksandra

I wish I still had my magic 8-ball. ;_;

I keep mine at work. So I always have an answer to any retarded question I may receive.

Shuvo · 11-14-2008, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lujei

11-13-2008, 04:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
Howard Roark Sea Torques Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 973	I'd play/watch both; been following this series 2nd only to FFXI in duration, 12+ years __________________

11-13-2008, 04:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
thestalkmore E. Body Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2,299	FUCK YEA WOT. I was pretty hardcore into these until about the 10th when shit got slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww __________________ I don't play FFXI anymore

11-13-2008, 04:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
GRT Old Merits Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,171	TBH the WoT story/world/settings are perfect for making a great RPG or MMO, but the company making it is newly established under a brand new movie studio with no work history or financial/credit record to go by, I can just see somehow all these would come together to spell out the recipe to ruin WoT in the most glorious way possible the way I see it so far, all I can think at the back of my head is that live action dragonball movie coming out >.> __________________

11-13-2008, 06:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
Shuvo Cerberus Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 468	ooof... I quit MMOs for good after FFXI but i'm such a huge WoT nut. Ever since I was 12 >< Arghghghgh. __________________ "The State must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation." - Adolf Hitler

11-13-2008, 10:05 AM	#11 (permalink)
Shuemue Black Belt Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5,826	Oh man this'll suck so much. First 8 DVDs will be just the prologue. Jordan lost it completely in my opinion. His writing became self indulgent and I lost interest around book 10 __________________ Shue's IRC channel - come say hi if I don't hate you

11-13-2008, 03:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
wyrmtung Cerberus Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 497	Now that Jordan is dead, I guess it's time to cash in on him.

11-13-2008, 11:04 AM	#13 (permalink)
The Finesse Puppetmaster Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 91	Yeah, since 9 I just waited till people post plot outlines on WoT fansites of the new book a month or so after it comes out.

11-13-2008, 11:31 AM	#14 (permalink)
Ksandra Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Carlsbad, CA Posts: 1,829	I don't think I made it past 8. They were so good up to 5 imo, and then he just lost it. Dunno if the mmo would be very good actually. Bunch of Aes Sedai running around (forget what they called the males) channeling each other. On a random note, there's actually a PC WoT game out there. I bought it for nerdliness ages ago. I still have it but the game sucked ass. __________________

11-13-2008, 06:48 PM	#16 (permalink)
Imitarate Official Nannyman of Nikkei's Harem Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Where the Red Fern Grows Posts: 171	I still have that somewhere. It was silly, definitely not something to be treated like canon (here's some balefire ter'angreal, enjoy sister! pewpew-holesintheterrain), but I thought the gameplay was fun. It felt like a WoT mod of another FPS game, but that's ok. The multiplayer was actually pretty decent (also, even more zany -- ter'rangreal-wielding Whitecloaks throwing fireballs around...), or at least I remember it being so. Umm... whew. I've managed to slog through every book (eleven does get better), and I'm... anticipating the 12th with a mixture of dread and relief. There's fertile ground for an MMO in the WoT setting (since he'll never do it, they can explore Seanchan and That Pseudoasian Place To The East in expansions), but I don't think it makes sense to do it DURING the series. Either before (no Asha'mon though) or after (we don't know how bad he'll fuck the world up), but if they tried to put it during the series...well...when? You'd have to pick an arbitrary point in the story where massive political events and wars keep happening. If it was before or after, it'd be more realistic to really be able to explore and show the various countries... meh. It's a recipe for disaster, but I'm willing to wait before I reject it entirely.

11-14-2008, 01:05 AM	#17 (permalink)
Shuvo Cerberus Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 468	WoT picked up a lot on the last book, which focused entirely on leading up to the Last Battle. In the whole book weird shit was happening cause of the weakened seals, stuff like people hallucinating dead bodies walking or corridors changing randomly etc. It really pumps you up for the final book. And then Robert Jordan croaked ._. __________________ "The State must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation." - Adolf Hitler

11-14-2008, 01:27 AM	#18 (permalink)
Maaglin Fallso Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 177	When the magic 8-ball is asked if this will suck, answer is: Outlook Good. It's doomed to failure now.

11-14-2008, 02:46 AM	#22 (permalink)
Lujei Relic Weapons Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 302	Not to derail, but is the author they chose to finish the last book any good?

11-14-2008, 03:01 AM	#23 (permalink)
Howard Roark Sea Torques Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 973	haven't read his work and I'm not going to, but RJ's wife and family picked him, mostly the wife, can check out the consensus on dragonmount.com -- I haven't heard anything bad about the author and he is working with a large amount of notes as well as original, authentic passages left by Robert Jordan considering the premise is set down and the author is for the most part merely fleshing it out, it shouldn't go too too awry __________________