Random House announced its new initiative (see this Wallstreet Journal article) today to collaborate with game developers to improve their in-game stories as well as present those stories in other mediums (books, movies, etc.).
The first result of this initiative comes from Elemental. The universe created through a collaboration of writers at Stardock and Random House is seeing itself presented first in the upcoming book, Elemental: Destiny's Embers (August release date) and then followed up by the PC strategy game, Elemental: War of Magic.
What does this mean to gamers and readers?
For gamers, it means that the quality of the writing in Elemental: War of Magic will be much stronger than it would have been otherwise. This manifests itself in terms of the backstory, the campain, the in-game quests and the general the cohesiveness of the game world.
For readers, it means that the book won’t just be the standard “book based on a video game” fare that often comes across as only vaguely connected to the same world that the game came from.
Elemental: Destiny's Embers is a story I’ve been working on for some years now. With help from Random House’s writing team, they’ve helped me take my early manuscripts and polish them and craft them into a story that I think readers of fantasy will enjoy.
More information:
The book: Elemental: Destiny's Embers
The game: Elemental: War of Magic
-Brad Wardell (aka Frogboy)
It isn't signed by Lord Frogboy...
(Following is imo of course.)
Considering that 'bout 80% of all written fantasy is crap (no, it's not only badly written, or cheesy, or boring, it's just really baaad) and game stories and especially books inspired by games are most of the time even worse...
... we willl see.
Nevertheless, grats for finding a publishing deal, that's always something to be happy about.
wait ... if you aren't good in English ... how can you read these walls of text?
seriously, I commend you on your efforts.
I wish I was better at Spanish and Japanese.
When I clicked on the article they wanted me to $ubscribe! Where's the thread's disclaimer?
Vocabulary. After spending some times on those forums I improved my english. But I can barely speak it because I lack a lot of "common" vocabulary. You know, things like "how are you?" "same ol". Same what ?
And fantasy can have very specilized language, like old words or expressions. Anyway, that could b the reason to read some books in english
I am going to analyse the hell out of your writing style.
Well, I can only recommend it. English isn't my native language (Dutch is) but about 15 years ago, I bought the Lord of the Rings trilogy in English, some Terry Pratchett afterwards, Robert Ludlum and Tom Clancy followed... At the moment I have about 400 books in my collection and I think reading those really improved my vocabulary and skill.
It can be tough in the beginning, but if you hang in there, the improvements will come... At the moment, I think I read faster in English than in Dutch
You beat me to it. Would love for this to be a Kindle book.
hehe... sorry, had to...
On the one hand, good for those who care! On the other... I just don't care. Its a game, I want my own story, not a continuation of someone elses. Still, always good to see gameing affect other mediums.
Frogboy,
Can this book be classified as "dark fantasy" type (in fact I hope so!)?
Is there any plan to write, by yourself or others, more books based on Elemental?
And, the 1st time you though of elemental world, it was for the book or the game? In other words, the game get the book background, or the book extends game background?
Thanks and I wish you the same success with this book than you have with your software and games.
Yes, PLEASE, give us a Kindle edition! As someone who worked for years in publishing, I can attest to the vastly greater cost effectiveness of Kindle editions, too. And as the owner of 3 Kindles, I'd darn well buy one for each.
Or the nook, any document format!
Agreed. I own a Kindle but I like to think that us eReader users in general band together to get the attention of publishers.
eInk UNITE!
<nerd mode deactivated>
Can I borrow a few ?
nook has free book
Well, Kindle edition is up for pre-order!
How about an epub version for us Stanza users?
Let's not let the Kindle get the only electronic version.
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