Books are the great centre of high fantasy, epic story lines, and dramatic characterisation. They are essentially where it all began. Long before there were movies, television shows, and video games, books formed the bastion of fiction that lit the imagination of many. They still play a massive role within society today, being one of the main mediums of entertainment. However, it can’t be helped but thought that their impact has been slightly weakened by the prevalence of new, high-octane TV shows or video games where you ARE the character. With that in mind, this list is formed in order to bring to attention a certain selection of books that would definitely be enhanced with an entry into the video game market on current-gen consoles.

The Discworld series – Terry Pratchett

The fantasy genre has always proven to be a hotbed of many strange and delirious imaginings of the world. Some are melancholic in tone, commenting allegorically upon the state of humanity such as J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings or Frank Herbert’s Dune. Others are decidedly satirical in their approach, mocking stagnant fantasy tropes as it examines unrealistic circumstances through a realistic perspective. There are many different series of books that follow this certain writing style, but no author does it better than Terry Pratchett in his now-concluded Discworld series of books. As his readership remains in mourning at his passing in March 2015, attentions turn towards the future of his legacy. Discworld is a series that has spanned many decades, having its origins in 1983 with The Colour of Magic. It is a collection of over 41 titles including short stories. Terry Pratchett’s masterpiece occupied readers across the globe with its sharp wit and fantastic characters and the question on the lips of many is: What now?

Over the series’ 33 year lifespan, over 63 publications have been released involving the Discworld series. Four official video games have been released as well as a non-profit game, the last of which, Discworld Noir, was released in 1999. It has been 17 years since the last Discworld game, in which an additional 17 books have been released. With such a wealth of new content as well as a much further-developed medium with which to present itself, surely the time has come for a new highly satirical video game entry in this series.

“No one had asked her, before she was born, whether she wanted a lovely personality or whether she’d prefer, say, a miserable personality but a body that could take size 9 in dresses. Instead, people would take pains to tell her that beauty was only skin-deep, as if a man ever fell for an attractive pair of kidneys.” -Terry Pratchett, Maskerade

Haruki Murakami’s Work

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author who has written a vast collection of books in his native language. Almost all of which has since been translated into English, published from 1987 to his latest in 2014. A key figure in the ‘magical realism’ genre, his work is permeated with almost feverish imaginings of reality and the expectations of society upon individuals. While the word ‘magical realism’ may seem like an oxymoron, the genre emphasises upon the daily struggles, slightly tinged with the fantastic. The combination seems counter-intuitive but it allows for some hard discussion of issues that many would have initially felt too ‘sensitive’ to consider. Many of his stories are filled with despair and loss, which may encourage the conclusion that they are depressing books to read. However, they are almost always anything but depressing. While a large majority lack a concrete conclusion to the story of its characters, the reader quickly finds themselves engrossed in the twisted tale that Murakami weaves.

It is this apt story-telling ability that makes his work so fascinating to explore and what could constitute a fabulous game. As of now, there is a Kickstarter-funded game in the works by the name of Memoranda by indie developer Bit Byterz and it looks incredible. It seeks to capture the same tone that Murakami creates within his work and takes direct inspiration from his stories. The art style looks amazing and the characters look as multi-dimensional and intriguing as readers have come to expect from Murakami.

As an avid reader of Haruki Murakami, I wait with baited breath for further news of Memoranda, excited to try out this “point & click adventure game with a touch of magical realism”. It would be fascinating to see how a deep and complex story such as that of 1Q84 is put into an interactive medium.

“I want you always to remember me. Will you remember that I existed, and that I stood next to you here like this?” -Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood

Monster Blood Tattoo – D.M Cornish

Monster Blood Tattoo by D.M Cornish is a high-fantasy epic that takes place in the sprawling magical world known as the Half-Continent. The initial trilogy follows the story of Rossamund Bookchild whose strange connection to the monsters which inhabit the realm becomes a driving force for the plot throughout the tale. The grim, macabre world of monsters and monster hunters (who are sometimes the monsters) is expertly crafted not only with words but also with the author’s own fantastic illustrations that bring each character to life. The illustrations are not too common but are interspersed well enough throughout the pages to establish key character’s and their roles depending on their clothing. There is an incredible feeling created when reading these books and being able to see the author’s own interpretation of what a character looks like and what they are wearing rather than an illustrator’s own take on it. It allows for a more personal link between the author and reader and truly contributes to the success of the overall delivery of Rossamund’s story.

The world of violence, friendship and quasi-romance would be one very well-suited to the world of video games. Whether it be action or role-playing adventure, the game would be able to deliver with its multi-faceted story. However, it is a strong opinion of mine that the game would need to allow for choices to be made. Rossamund constantly has to make difficult decisions within his story, some of which come back to haunt him, and people would likely want to be able to decide for themselves how they progress through the story line. There is also a question as to whether a game like this would focus on the story of Rossamund like the book or whether it would focus on something entirely different like what D.M Cornish has been writing in his new short-stories. It is large world with a lot to explore.

Monster Blood Tattoo is one of those rare gems of a series that is impossible to put down until you have devoured every word, every map, every appendix. It becomes a new way of life and I believe that it would be the perfect story to create a video game out of. Especially if it has D.M Cornish’s own art-style to work off.

“The orphan boy with the girl’s name lives safe within the walls of Madam Opera’s Estimable Marine Society for Foundling Boys and Girls. Safe, at least, until the day he is recruited into the service of the Empire by a strange man with blood-red eyes. This is his story.” –D.M Cornish, Foundling