Gaming Literature: Do you partake?

[unindexedsearchengine]

*Looks at bookshelf*
Mass effect, Assassin's Creed, the Witcher, Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo, Guild Wars, Bioshock, Deus Ex, Dragon Age...

*Checks other comments in thread*

I should go...

 

[Hero of Lime]

Does the novelization of Ocarina of Time count? If so, then yes. Though the whole time I was reading it, I would have preferred to be playing the game to be honest. It was not a bad novelization if I remember correctly, but being a little kid, the game was far more appealing to play than to read.

I would like to dive into more of the Halo expanded universe, they seem to genuinely care about it being true to the game's universe while making things interesting.

 

[Neonsilver]

I did read a few books, I have Warcraft: War of the Ancients and I have read a few Diablo books. I thought they were quite enjoyable.

 

[Weaver]

I dunno, I have so much to read already that I simply don't bother.
They're largely just junk food novels in my opinion. Not that I dislike junk food novels all things considered.

 

[Alssadar]

I like novelizations of games' universes. It expands upon characters and the setting in a way few games can get into the necessary depth. Gaming literature is rather fun to me--it's usually violent and rather simplistic in nature, like the games themselves. Sure, there might be interesting character developments, or unique situations, but the core still remains: usually killing the bad dudes.
Quite frankly, gaming literature is the reason why I started to love reading, and enjoy reading. And, boy, have I read plenty.
Multiple Warhammer 40k Omnibuses, Starcraft: Dark Templar Trilogy, Liberty's Crusade (Now I want to read this one again), and Shadow of the Xel'naga, some Warcraft lore titles, Star Wars: Republic Commando and a few expanded Universe, all the Halo novelizations up to Cole Protocol, and probably more that I cannot think of right now.

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

I have nothing against franchise novels, I generally support the concept even. Close to half of my fairly large collection of books are set in the Halo, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, StarCraft, Star Wars, Warhammer 40,000, or Forgotten Realms settings.

The people who say it's "just glorified fanfiction" are stupid, fanfiction can come in any form. The only difference between fanfiction and official fiction is that one is official.

That being said, I read a Halo novelization and it was CRAP.

Let me guess; The Flood? Most of the Halo novels are quite good, but I think pretty much any fan would say you're better off skipping that one.

*Looks at bookshelf*
Mass effect, Assassin's Creed, the Witcher, Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo, Guild Wars, Bioshock, Deus Ex, Dragon Age...

*Checks other comments in thread*

I should go...

Why did you include The Witcher? Did they make novels based on a game series based on a series of novels and short stories?

 

[Poppy JR.]

I read the really rather cruddy DOOM novels once. Game literature tends to be bad, in my experience, but I'm sure it's a case-by-case basis. Maybe, somewhere, a good novelization exists.

That's not to say I don't like books about video games as a subject. Some good examples are Blue Wizard is About to Die and Dreamcast Worlds: A Design History

 

[Poppy JR.]

Why did you include The Witcher? Did they make novels based on a game series based on a series of novels and short stories?

I'm pretty sure collector's editions of The Witcher II: Assassin of Kings came with a small novel.

 

[MrBaskerville]

I rarely enjoy the story in my games, so i'm not really that interested in reading books extending those stories. But i've never tried any and can't really imagine that i would at any point in the future. I read some Icewind Dale and Star Wars novels once, something i throw in the same category as video game books, and i thought it was a bit rubbish, so yeah.

Probably a bit on the snobbish side here, but i'd rather read books from authors who can come up with their own ideas, instead of books based on stories and universes that i don't particularily care for. It's also a bit of a problem that it's often sci-fi and Fantasy, as that is my least prefered genres of litterature.

 

[Raikas]

Why did you include The Witcher? Did they make novels based on a game series based on a series of novels and short stories?

I'm pretty sure collector's editions of The Witcher II: Assassin of Kings came with a small novel.

Wasn't it an artbook and a sample of one of the original novels?

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

I've read the Halo books, and they gave some nice back story. Then it got retconned by Halo: Reach.

I've also read some of the Starcraft books, they were quite nice, giving some insights into Protoss and Zerg minds.

 

[keniakittykat]

I think they are good, just not for me. I own all of the Zelda Manga's, but that's as far as gaming literature goes for me...

 

[Someone Depressing]

As a British-born, Australian snark once said:

"The audience should be given exposition through the art form; not handed a fucking glossary when they first step into the theatre."

Or something like that; I haven't watched ZP in a while.

No. If I have to read a 800 page manual to get to the "stats" page every time I fucking level up, I'm not going to play that game. Same with novels.

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

I've read novels for Halo, Resident Evil, StarCraft, and Doom. For the most part I found them to be fun. I actually liked the Halo books more than the games themselves, and from what I can tell Bungie was actually considering them to be mostly canonical after a while.

 

[Qvar]

Ah, I did read the 3 novels from EVE Online. We discussed this matter profesely at the official forums. Many times was TVtropes linked in those threads. I for one enjoy the possibility of expanding the lore further a nice addition.

 

[AD-Stu]

I read the Mass Effect novels and comics, but that's about it - so far no other game world or story has interested me enough to bother tracking down the extended media.

 

[an annoyed writer]

I quite like game-related novels and comics, personally. Though I haven't been able to read many lately due to shitstorms in my life and such. Making it 'mandatory reading' makes it a bit more of a pain though, as with Halo 4.

 

[Mikejames]

I read the Silent Hill spin-off comic Sinner's Reward a while back. I thought it was alright for a short-story, if not a little fan-servicey. (They just can't let Pyramid Head die can they?)

 

[Something Amyss]

Rarely. I read and enjoyed the Drew Karpyshyn Mass Effect books. I read the first Doom novel (which was weird). I normally don't care, though. The ME books, they're special.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

I've read the Assassin's Creed books, and I think they're pretty good. They're a nice little read that actually makes the series a little smoother, especially when it comes to Ezio's life and to some extent Altair.

I've read Ico after it finally came here and properly translated, and I enjoyed it.

It's not the same, but it was still good.