Tolkien - The Big Game

[Inziladun]

I don't really see Tolkien's works as a game, any more than other books I've read. I'm not a 'genre' reader, in that I don't care much for other fantasy books. For some reason, I tend to only enjoy individual authors that may write about certain things on a regular basis, while being totally unimpressed by other writers of the same genre. For instance, though I obviously greatly admire Tolkien's works, I have never read anything by C. S. Lewis. I also like Stephen King, but couldn't stand the one Dean Koontz novel I tried. I'm a fan of Lovecraft, but not Arthur Machen or Poe. I could go on, but my point is that I read Tolkien for the same reason I read other authors: I like the subject matter, the prose, the ideas. Tolkien's work particularly stands out to me because it is so well written from a linguistic point of view, and Tolkien's deeply held religious convictions and moral messages that are so apparent in his works are an additional bonus.
If I did see it all as a glorious game, I think I would be more enthused about RPGs and ME themed computer games, and so forth.

[Morthoron]

Oh, Tolkien's Middle-earth is certainly the greatest game-world ever created. Go to nearly any fan-fic site, and Tolkien-related stories outnumber all others by staggering margins. It is the conciseness and millenial nature of the chronology, the enormity and precision of the maps, and the unparalleled depth of the story itself that causes so many acolytes, mavens, fans and freaks to wish to 'live the experience'.

It is unfortunate that none of the actual online games (like Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online) have even the slightest allure for me, because the developers took the original premise of the story, bastardized it, stretched it to fit a preexisting and generic game mold, and then took mechanisms, magic and malarkey from outside Middle-earth, and plopped the offal right into downtown Bree, while all the while beating their breasts righteously and claiming they truly care for the lore. Bah!

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I don't really see Tolkien's works as a game, any more than other books I've read. I'm not a 'genre' reader, in that I don't care much for other fantasy books. For some reason, I tend to only enjoy individual authors that may write about certain things on a regular basis, while being totally unimpressed by other writers of the same genre.

I'm like you, most definitely not a genre fan. And even though I've taken an enjoyable part in some RPGs on here, I've never really played D&D or anything like that (not for want of trying...but nobody wanted me to join in - how's that for Billy-no-mates eh, being rejected by the D&D crew? ), and I've never got on that well with RPG computer games either as I prefer either strategy, skating or motor racing games.

However, I do see something in this 'game' idea, mostly as I see much of what I get from the books and some of the things I have done as pure play. Yes, even writing long posts and reading dry academic texts, that's 'play' to me as it's my hobby.

Mind that probably says a lot about me, as even the things I am serious about are things I wouldn't do if I found them too serious.

Originally Posted by Morthoron

It is unfortunate that none of the actual online games (like Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online) have even the slightest allure for me, because the developers took the original premise of the story, bastardized it, stretched it to fit a preexisting and generic game mold, and then took mechanisms, magic and malarkey from outside Middle-earth, and plopped the offal right into downtown Bree, while all the while beating their breasts righteously and claiming they truly care for the lore. Bah!

This is what puts me right off the spin off games. I never even got on with Final Fantasy games, so how I'd feel about a Tolkien based one that was filled with Mary Sue Elves and having to hoarde magic points and whatnot doesn't bear thinking about.

But I haven't half had some fun because of what Tolkien did. I mean, one evening I even found myself doing experiments with custard and action figures because of Tolkien

[Groin Redbeard]

While Tolkien's fantasy world could be taken as a play house, but than again isn't that what fantasy should be: to transport you out of this world into new realms that are there for us to explore? I picture Tolkien's work as he intended it to be: a revival of myth. Tolkien used myth not allegorically but to express Catholicism (in a sense his own view) in the form of a myth, a sanctifying myth one might say.

[Selador]

A big game. Yes! It is that. The story itself throws off branches in so many directions that it seems to provide no end of inspirations for 'play'. For writing, for discussion, for artwork, for serious study - as a work of literature, or history, or of pure fantasy. Whether you are fascinated by elves, dwarves, dragons, wizards, warriors, language, poetry, storytelling, map making . . . Middle-earth can be your playground.