“A Song of Ice & Fire” is a series of books by George R. R. Martin, set in the fictional realms of Westeros and Essos. You may have heard the name “A Game of Thrones” from the series, bearing the same name. It is also the first book of this saga.

A Game of Thrones – Genesis (hereafter referred to as Genesis) is a real-time, single player strategy game based on the setting created by George R. R. Martin. In Genesis, we will pick from one of the 8 houses featured in the game (Targaryen, Stark, Tully, Arryn, Tyrell, Baratheon, Martell, and Lannister) and try to make our way to the Iron Throne, announcing our rulership over the realms. If you are a fan of the books, you may have noticed that not all the houses are featured in the game (for example, Greyjoy). Perhaps the developer plans on adding them later on with an expansion pack, or as a DLC.

As expected from a strategy game, each house comes with different traits and abilities. In addition to these bonuses, each house will have their unique units to command.

POLITICS

The main aspect of Genesis is that you don’t need to use military force. Of course, you can bash and smash anything and everything in your way, but Genesis will feature an extensive political front, near to the military one. After all, treachery is a part of this setting and political games are quite important for houses while they try to make their way to the Iron Throne. From this perspective, A Game of Thrones – Genesis reminds us the Total War series, especially the Medieval 2 and later titles. However, remember that Genesis will be a real-time strategy game. Therefore, expect to see Age of Empires like battles. Though, it seems that we won’t be building towns or anything since the game world is already a well established one. I don’t know if this will be a good or a bad feature yet but since I am very much interested in the setting of “A Song of Ice & Fire”, I won’t complain over it at this time.

As Mr. Martin himself is overseeing the development of the game, it wouldn’t be a surprise to know that A Game of Thrones – Genesis will be faithful to the books.

According to Cyanide Studios, the game will have a setting spread over 1.000 years (-750 to 299) and it will feature lots of iconic events from the books such as the invasion of Aegon The Conqueror and the War of the Usurper.

BEING SINGLE

A Game of Thrones – Genesis is a single player game and the campaign will feature a solid, in-depth strategy and story telling experience. Near to the single player campaign, we will also be able to play the game in multiplayer with up to 8 people, racing to win the Iron Throne. Of course, winning the throne won’t be that easy. We will have to build our way towards it by applying cunning politics, gaining prestige over other houses and trying to keep that prestige as high as we can. If the game can keep up with what it promises, we will have some quality time while trying to win the ultimate rulership.

There will be lots of dynamic elements in the gameplay of Genesis. For example, we will have a chance to interrupt messengers who carry peace messages in between houses, creating a conflict. There will be marriages, economical disputes, spying, assassinations, abductions and all kinds of dirty applications to give us the upper hand we need. Since the game is featuring lots of icon characters from the books, it will be quite exciting to work our way against formidable, famous opponents. I don’t know you, but I wouldn’t say no to the chance of being able to stick a knife to each and every Lannister out there.

When we add the real-time strategy element to this equation, we get ourselves a unique game with some serious potential.

HERE COMES THE RIDERS

Who knows, the series are doing great at the moment and the books are awesome. Perhaps “A Song of Ice & Fire” is a lucky charm and, with some creativity and innovative approach, Cyanide Studios will have that luck as well.

A Game of Thrones – Genesis promises a good blend of political, economic and militaristic approach with a real-time strategy design. If they can keep their promises and reflect the cunning “behind the scenes” political attributes of the books, we will have a solid, good looking and appealing game in our hands by the end of Summer 2011.

Now, I really wish to see a proper game of The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan.

WHAT IS APPEALING

• Politics and economy are not some side-strategies but actual game concepts.
• The world of Martin’s “A Song of Ice & Fire” is an appealing one.
• Faithful to the books and lore.
• Real-time Strategy adds another dimension of gameplay.

WHAT IS QUESTIONABLE

• Politics and economy were always a part of strategy games and none managed to come up with a great, in-depth approach so far. This creates an unavoidable prejudice.
• May end up as a Total War carbon copy RTS.
• About books – movies – series – comic based games, there is always a chance of developers picking the easier way, leaning too much on the original IP and forget being creative.

WHAT WOULD I DO

I would support the game with lots of side content like in-game videos, articles, lore, random events, mini-games and such. With such a powerful intellectual property at hand, it wouldn’t be much to ask for innovative design ideas from the developer. We had many titles in the past with such ideas (Birthright, Heroes of Might & Magic III and so) and I would hope to see A Game of Thrones – Genesis as another mighty example.

NOW LISTENING

• Michael Schenker – Open Gate

Written by Oganalp Canatan