I know this is really bad, but sometimes before deciding to read a book I look up the author, and if they have a promotional pic which makes them look like an idiot... I don't read the book. I know there's an irony here - that I am, you know, "judging a book by its cover" - but it's true. I mainly choose books based upon whether the author looks like somebody I'd happily go for a beer with.
If they look a bit odd, or wanky, or as if they're the sort of person for whom writing books is the only thing they've got going on in their life, I'll find something else to read. I know I'm a terrible person, but much as I like reading, I'm also massively judgemental, and don't want to read books written by some weirdo.
It might stem from the fact I myself write for a living, and view it as a job, and don't consider writing to be this magical thing, where the characters live in your head and have a life of their own and that. It's just making stuff up. Well, bully for you that you've got the single-minded perseverance to spend months writing down all that imaginary bollocks in return for a two grand advance and bragging rights.
Quick - get somebody to take a moody, black-and-white photo of you while you stand in front of some ivy, and squint off into the middle distance doing your "author face"...
...What was this meant to be about again? Oh yeah. Here are 10 books which got turned into games.
If they look a bit odd, or wanky, or as if they're the sort of person for whom writing books is the only thing they've got going on in their life, I'll find something else to read. I know I'm a terrible person, but much as I like reading, I'm also massively judgemental, and don't want to read books written by some weirdo.
It might stem from the fact I myself write for a living, and view it as a job, and don't consider writing to be this magical thing, where the characters live in your head and have a life of their own and that. It's just making stuff up. Well, bully for you that you've got the single-minded perseverance to spend months writing down all that imaginary bollocks in return for a two grand advance and bragging rights.
Quick - get somebody to take a moody, black-and-white photo of you while you stand in front of some ivy, and squint off into the middle distance doing your "author face"...
...What was this meant to be about again? Oh yeah. Here are 10 books which got turned into games.
TOM SAWYER
This 1989 Japan-only release for the NES was an RPG developed by Square - they of the Final Fantasy series. It featured the main characters from Mark Twain's books going on an adventure along the Mississippi River, facing off in turn-based battles against the local wildlife. You remember all those times Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn punched animals in the face don't you? What do you mean you've never read any of the books? Me neither. I've listened to that song by Rush though, and think I watched the kid's show that used be on the BBC.
Square's Tom Sawyer is perhaps best known for its racially dubious charicature of a black character called Jim. Such depictions might've been acceptable in the post-Civil War period during which Twain wrote his novels, but in 1989 it was deeply offensive.
There was another Tom Sawyer game released by - ha ha - Winkysoft. That one was a platformer which featured a giant octopus as an end-of-level boss. And ghosts. Just like in the book!
Mark Twain was, of course famous for his great wit and many catchphrases, including: "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today".
Square's Tom Sawyer is perhaps best known for its racially dubious charicature of a black character called Jim. Such depictions might've been acceptable in the post-Civil War period during which Twain wrote his novels, but in 1989 it was deeply offensive.
There was another Tom Sawyer game released by - ha ha - Winkysoft. That one was a platformer which featured a giant octopus as an end-of-level boss. And ghosts. Just like in the book!
Mark Twain was, of course famous for his great wit and many catchphrases, including: "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today".
FARENHEIT 451
Technically a sequel to Ray Bradbury's novel, Fahrenheit 451 was set five years after the source material. The multi-platform adventure was, as you can see above, somewhat wordy, but succeeded in continuing the events of the book, with protagonist Guy Montag now dealing in banned microcassettes.
The story was written by one Len Neufield, with the full blessing of Bradbury. The author chattered: "I'm thrilled to be participating in the evolution of my Fahrenheit 451 into a computer adventure. For anybody curious about what happens to Montag after the book ends, or about what science fiction software might be, here is an exciting place to start."
For some reason, you had the option to switch off the graphics. You know: if you think they sullied the literary achievements on offer, or made the game too exciting.
The story was written by one Len Neufield, with the full blessing of Bradbury. The author chattered: "I'm thrilled to be participating in the evolution of my Fahrenheit 451 into a computer adventure. For anybody curious about what happens to Montag after the book ends, or about what science fiction software might be, here is an exciting place to start."
For some reason, you had the option to switch off the graphics. You know: if you think they sullied the literary achievements on offer, or made the game too exciting.
RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA
Based upon Arthur C. Clarke's novel, which dealt with the discovery of a massive, cylinder-shaped, alien vessel - basically, a big space toilet roll tube - 1984's Rendezvous With Rama game was, once again, a graphic adventure. It came bundled with a sealed manual and a map of the spaceship setting, both of which were necessary to complete the adventure.
What did the "C" stand for in Arthur Clarke's name? "Crab".
What did the "C" stand for in Arthur Clarke's name? "Crab".
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
The Charlie And The Chocolate Factory game was comprised of a bunch of Game & Watch-ish mini-games, and a final Jet Set Willy-lite stage. It came bundled with a copy of Roald "Where's the 'N' Ronald?" Dahl's classic children's book, and was published by the little-known, but amusingly named, Hill MacGibbon. It wasn't very good, but whatever.
Get this: I've not read Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, but I did once listen to the audiobook of Charlie And The Great Glass Elevator. It's basically Aliens.
Get this: I've not read Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, but I did once listen to the audiobook of Charlie And The Great Glass Elevator. It's basically Aliens.
ERIK THE VIKING
Based upon the book (later to become a movie) by Monty Python's Terry Jones, Erik The Viking was yet another graphic adventure - albeit with slightly more personality than the most. Jones, of course, would return to video games by providing a voice, and writing the adaptation, for Douglas Adams' Starship Titanic. Nicely, Erik The Viking was one of few games from the era to allow you to save your progress. How? Magic!
THE FOURTH PROTOCOL
Released in 1985, just a year after the release of Frederick "Bruce" Forsyth's novel, The Fourth Protocol was part puzzle game, part strategy sim, and part adventure. Playing as agent John Preston, t was divided into three distinct sections - just like an ant (head, torso, arse)! The aim of the first two sections was to discover the location of a nuclear bomb, planted by Russian agents, and had to be cleared before you could access part three... in which the bomb had to be diffused.
Excitingly, the game's blurb promised "Too many wrong moves and decisions will lower Preston's prestige in the service and vital field support will be withdrawn". Cool!
Excitingly, the game's blurb promised "Too many wrong moves and decisions will lower Preston's prestige in the service and vital field support will be withdrawn". Cool!
THE HOBBIT
"Thorin sits down and starts singing about gold."
The Hobbit needs no introduction - not only due to the boring book that inspired it, but because it remains one of the most ground-breaking, iconic, and successful computer games of all time. Even though very few of us ever managed to finish it without help. What is less remembered is that publisher Beam Software released a further three games set in Tolkien's Middle Earth, the final one of which was called - ha ha - The Crack of Doom. H'ha. H'ha. Ha-ha.
The Hobbit needs no introduction - not only due to the boring book that inspired it, but because it remains one of the most ground-breaking, iconic, and successful computer games of all time. Even though very few of us ever managed to finish it without help. What is less remembered is that publisher Beam Software released a further three games set in Tolkien's Middle Earth, the final one of which was called - ha ha - The Crack of Doom. H'ha. H'ha. Ha-ha.
THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
Created with full input from Douglas Adams himself, the game of Hitchhiker's mirror - but also expanded upon - the plot of the first Hitchhicker's Guide To The Galaxy book. Published by Infocom, it continued the company's tradition of bundling "Feelies" - physical props - with the game. In the case of Hitchhiker's this included a bag of fluff, a Don't Panic badge, a pair of cardboard sunglasses, and various in-world documents.
TIMELINE
It's pretty remarkable how few time travel games there have been, given that the genre is ubiquitous in other entertainment mediums. Riding high on Jurassic Park, author Michael Crichton tackled it in his decent-ish 1999 novel Timeline (again, later to be turned into a film). With a plot featuring a bunch of archeologists travelling back to 14th Century France, it should've been a recipe for success - not least because Crichton was directly involved in its development.
Unfortunately, those who'd been expecting a first-person action game with exciting sword fights and horse-riding were disappointed by its pedestrian pace and short-length (exacerbated by the presence of a character who follows you around telling you exactly what you should be doing at any given moment).
Unfortunately, those who'd been expecting a first-person action game with exciting sword fights and horse-riding were disappointed by its pedestrian pace and short-length (exacerbated by the presence of a character who follows you around telling you exactly what you should be doing at any given moment).
BIBLE ADVENTURES
For some, The Bible is the ultimate book, and Bible Adventures was just one of several games that have been based upon it.
Oddly, publisher/developer Wisdom Tree chose to interpret it via this collection of three platform games inspired by the Old Testament stories of Noah's Ark, David and Goliath, and Moses. Fortunately, anybody seeking something a little more pious than leaping over giant spiders and snakes were sated with between-level Bible verses. Ironically, everyone involved with the creation of this game is now in Hell.
Oddly, publisher/developer Wisdom Tree chose to interpret it via this collection of three platform games inspired by the Old Testament stories of Noah's Ark, David and Goliath, and Moses. Fortunately, anybody seeking something a little more pious than leaping over giant spiders and snakes were sated with between-level Bible verses. Ironically, everyone involved with the creation of this game is now in Hell.
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