Shadow of Mordor

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Zigûr

I've already seen someone say it's "true to the spirit of Tolkien". It's almost like there's a standard-issue crib sheet or something for these people's opinions.

I'm surprised they even feel inclined to try and justify it. Someone like me, who wears the 'Canon' mantle overtly, wouldn't seem to be in their target market demographic. I would think the games would aimed at the next-gen movie fans. With PJ's films as the sole benchmark of canon, I wouldn't think an effort to harmonize the games with the original works would be a priority.

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I'm surprised they even feel inclined to try and justify it. Someone like me, who wears the 'Canon' mantle overtly, wouldn't seem to be in their target market demographic. I would think the games would aimed at the next-gen movie fans. With PJ's films as the sole benchmark of canon, I wouldn't think an effort to harmonize the games with the original works would be a priority.

Yes, it's certainly odd but it still happens.

I think my biggest problem with this is it just contributes all the more to the miasma of misinformation which surrounds the books, the culture in which the books are treated as completely interchangeable with the adaptations.

[Nerwen]

=Inziladun;706290]I'm surprised they even feel inclined to try and justify it. Someone like me, who wears the 'Canon' mantle overtly, wouldn't seem to be in their target market demographic. I would think the games would aimed at the next-gen movie fans. With PJ's films as the sole benchmark of canon, I wouldn't think an effort to harmonize the games with the original works would be a priority.

Well, we saw the same thing with "The Hobbit"- hordes of fans repeating the now-infamous mantra that everything was "in the Appendices". Clearly they hadn't read them, so why did they care? It's as though the idea of canonicity is the important thing for some fans.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

Well, we saw the same thing with "The Hobbit"- hordes of fans repeating the now-infamous mantra that everything was "in the Appendices". Clearly they hadn't read them, so why did they care? It's as though the idea of canonicity is the important thing for some fans.

That's what I don't get. For people who have either only made a cursory read through of the books, or not read them at all, why is canonicity important?

On this forum the Canon is used to support or deconstruct various discussions, and obviously the vast majority here are ardent fans of the books.
But I have difficulty seeing why the general public, especially the 'gamer' clique, would be so concerned about the 'legitimacy' of the games. Are they that sensitive to criticisms of the games they perceive might come from people, say, like us?

Admittedly, I may have a colored view of those who would buy games like SoM, and devoted readers of the books might well be also avid gamers who could overlook the extreme liberties taken with the source material. I'm just not one of those people.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

That's what I don't get. For people who have either only made a cursory read through of the books, or not read them at all, why is canonicity important?

Even people who aren't into art would prefer a genuine Mona Lisa to a poster. Authenticity makes things cooler. Saying that it's an exact replica makes it better than admitting it's a scribbled colouring book.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Even people who aren't into art would prefer a genuine Mona Lisa to a poster. Authenticity makes things cooler. Saying that it's an exact replica makes it better than admitting it's a scribbled colouring book.

You mean like a later artist haphazardly adding a second female character into the background of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece and renaming the painting "Mona Lisa and Tauriel"?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

You mean like a later artist haphazardly adding a second female character into the background of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece and renaming the painting "Mona Lisa and Tauriel"?

No, I mean literally like a scribbled colouring book. But the outlines are all drawn based on Da Vinci's unpublished material, and the CGI application of colour is done in his style. It's a true replica of his work, I tell you!