Massively Multiplayer Tease

July 11, 2012 at 1:12 am

Bigpoint has unveiled a short teaser for their forthcoming GAME OF THRONES mmorpg. I thought the gamers out there might enjoy a look

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If the scenery and music seems familiar, that’s because this game is being produced under a license from, and with the cooperation of, HBO and is based on the TV show, whereas the previous Cyanide videogames were based on the books.

Moreover, I’m informed that BigPoint will be previewing the game this weekend at the San Diego Comicon. To have a look, visit the Dark Horse booth. I know I will… I want to see what they’re doing just as much as you do!!

Here’s the BigPoint press release:

July 2, 2012 !“ San Francisco !“ Bigpoint !“ a global leader in online video games !“ today revealed the official name of its upcoming free-to-play (F2P) fantasy massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) as Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms. Bigpoint has partnered with HBOÂ® to develop the game inspired by the network’s critically acclaimed television show, Game of ThronesÂ®, adapted from the bestselling fantasy book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, written by George R.R. Martin. Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms will be set within the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, giving players the chance to experience epic moments from the television series. At the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con, July 12-15, Bigpoint will release a new exclusive video trailer for Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms.

!œSelecting a game’s title can be quite an arduous process, especially in the free-to-play space where games must be easily discoverable by players around the world,! said Max Pfaff, Producer, Bigpoint. !œBy selecting Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms we’re confident that we’ve chosen an identifiable name that will resonate with the global community of diehard Thrones fans.!

In context of the lore, the Seven Kingdoms were originally independent countries which rose up over thousands of years until the Targaryens ruled over them as one nation of Westeros. Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms begins after the deaths of King Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark. The Starks of the north declare war on the south and Baratheon’s two brothers both make claims to the throne. Players are challenged to form alliances through Player vs. Player (PvP), Siege combat and politics to control Westeros.

Fans attending San Diego Comic-Con (July 12-15) will also have the opportunity to get a first look at the exclusive new Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms trailer by Bigpoint which can be viewed at booth 2615 (Dark Horse). The teaser captures the essence of gameplay and visual fidelity that players will get to experience when the game is launched.

Bigpoint is collaborating with Norwegian development studio, Artplant, on the development of the forthcoming Unity-based project. Bigpoint and Artplant have previously partnered on the production of Battlestar Galactica Online, a breakthrough F2P space combat MMO that recently celebrated its first birthday and 10 million registered pilot milestone.

Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms beta testing is slated to begin later this year. Fans are encouraged to visit: http://www.GameofThronesMMO.com/ for more information and to follow the latest Twitter updates @GOTMMO.

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Tags: conventions, game of thrones, hbo, videogame

Back from Montana

May 30, 2012 at 11:09 am

Back home again from Missoula, Montana, where I spent the weekend as GOH at Miscon 26.

’twas my first trip to Montana, and I can’t say I really saw much of it, but Missoula was a pleasant little city, and the con itself was great. They drew 1300 people, I’m told, a record for Miscon, and I think all of them had a great time. I know I did. Miscon fen party like we did in the old days, and the hotel — Ruby’s, a small indy with local ownership — was really great. None of the nonsense with noise complaints and shutting down parties and elevators that has plagued so many cons of late. In fact, some of the hotel management partied with us.

So a tip of the hat to Justin, Cthulhu Bob, Clay, and the rest of the Miscon Miscreants, and to Tim, Dustan, and Vicky from Ruby’s. You were great.

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Tags: conventions, travel

Off Again

March 26, 2012 at 11:24 pm

Seems as though I just got back from Toronto, and tomorrow I am off again — this time for England and Portugal.

The UK comes first. Signings in Bath and London (details on my website), a visit to the London Book Fair, and best of all, EASTERCON at Heathrow. I hope I will see some of you there, and we can hoist a pink or three.

And from there it’s on to Portugal, and appearances in Lisbon and Porto. Not nearly as long as visit as I’d like, but I’m looking forward to it.

I don’t often log on while on the road, so posts here will be few and far between for the next few weeks. Though Ty may drop in from time to time with some announcements.

Back home just in time for the NFL Draft!

I expect that the UK will be a No Tebow Zone. That will be a relief.

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Tags: conventions, travels

March Madness

March 1, 2012 at 12:17 pm

Somehow it has become March already. Where did January and February go?

Two months of the year are gone, and already I feel as if I’m two months behind.

And things only get crazier from here.

CANADIANS, take note! I am heading up to Toronto in less than two weeks. I’ll be speaking and reading at the Toronto International Film Festival (sorry, they tell me the event is already sold out), and the signing at Indigo Books. Dates, times, and other details available on my website, so go check there for links.

Back home after that, and back at work, but then at month’s end I am off again, this time to the UK, where I will be Guest of Honor at Eastercon, this year at Heathrow. I will also be doing a couple of signings, one in Bath and one in London. From the UK, I head to Portugal, and events in Lisbon and Porto. Back home again just in time for the NFL Draft (didn’t think I’d miss THAT, didja?).

In between all this, I have, hmmmmm, lemme see, one two three four FIVE projects that I am currently working on, four of which were due months ago… but it’s the fifth that has all my attention now, that I absolutely must finish and deliver before the trip to the UK.

(Oh, and somewhere in there me and my assistants and my accountant must find time to prepare my taxes, so I can write the IRS the biggest check that I have written in my life. I am going to be much, much poorer by month’s end)

Busy, busy, busy.

I love the work, actually. I just hate the deadlines.

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Tags: conventions, travels, writing

Westeros in Italy

November 15, 2011 at 12:10 am

Just wanted to share this great picture from this year’s Lucca Games and Comics Show in Italy.

Wonderful costumes… you guys are great… I’m sorry I wasn’t there to party with you.

The Lucca Show is the San Diego Comicon of Europe, held in a walled medieval city midway between Florence and Pisa. A great event. I attended once, back in 2005, and I mean to get back there one of these days. It just wasn’t possible this year.

But it’s nice to see that Westeros was so well represented.

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Tags: conventions

Bubonicon

August 25, 2011 at 7:37 pm

Great worldcon. Best in several years.

Great wedding. Best ever.

Great road trip. DEath Valley, Grand Canyon, WInslow, Pie Town.

But now I’m back in the Land o’ Enchantment, and just in time for Bubonicon.

See you at the Sheraton!

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Tags: conventions, travels

Worldcon Looms

August 14, 2011 at 8:46 pm

Tomorrow morning it’s off to Reno for worldcon.

Worldcon is my favorite con, and Reno promises to be an especially good one. They have a very experienced committee and, by all reports, a great facility. If the fannish ghods are good (and I sure hope they are), we will not be vexed by any of the hotel problems that troubled the recent worldcons in Melbourne and Montreal.

All that being said… I sure wish Renovation was being held on Labor Day weekend.

Two reasons:
(1) Labor Day weekend is the perfect worldcon weekend, hallowed by decades of tradition (yes, I know the con originally started on July 4th weekend, but that was before I was born, and not relevant), and worldcon (and worldcon alone) belongs on that weekend,
(2) it would give me more time to rest. It seems as though I just got back from San Diego Comicon and my nine-city book tour (maybe because I DID) and now I’m on the road again. It’s too damn soon. San Diego has become an increasingly important part of the annual con circuit for any professional writer; worldcon needs more distance from it, to give us poor pros a chance to catch our breath, unpack our suitcases, maybe do a laundry.

But Renovation is when it is, and I’m not about to miss it.

So off I go, weary or no. See you there.

The road goes ever on and on…

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Tags: conventions

Speaking of Cons…

August 10, 2011 at 1:52 pm

… I wanted to give a shout out to a convention that I won’t (alas) be attending — TITANCON, the one-day GAME OF THRONES convention being held in Belfast on September 24.

This one is fan-organized, fan-run, and not for profit. It’s being held in the city where the HBO series is filming, and (depending on shooting schedules) several of the cast members are likely to show up to sign your autographs and let you buy them drinks.

((Actors, like writers, like it when you buy them adult refreshments)).

Here’s the dope: http://www.titancon.com/

Like I said, I can’t be there myself. Wish I could, but the dates don’t work with my schedule, alas. But if this Titancon succeeds, maybe there will be more in future.

And Joe will be there:

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So for those of you over in the UK and Europe who can’t find your way across the pond for Renovation, consider attending Titancon instead. A weekend in Belfast and the company of your fellow Ice & Fire fans and Hodor too. What could be better?

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Tags: conventions, game of thrones

Renovation Schedule

August 10, 2011 at 11:25 am

It seems as though San Diego Comicon and my nine-city book tour just ended yesterday, and yet here comes worldcon, bearing down on me like a wedge of charging knights.

As I said at every one of my tour appearances, the BEST place to meet your favorite writers (including me, if I’m one of them) is not at a bookstore signing, but at a con. And there’s no con like worldcon. Yes, comicon is bigger. So is Gencon, Dragoncon, and many more. But worldcon is the source from whence they all sprang, the granddaddy of them all, and still the center of the SF/ fantasy universe.

And hey, they give the HUGOs there!

Here’s my schedule for Reno:

THURSDAY, August 18
1:00 pm A reading, from THE WINDS OF WINTER (AO1+6, RSCC)
3:00 pm autographing (Hall 2, RSCC)

FRIDAY August 19
11:00 am The Art of Ice & Fire, with John Picacio and Martina Pilcerova

SATURDAY August 20
11:00 am – 1:00 pm “The Pointy End” – a special screening of my episode from
the first season of the HBO series, with commentary

4:00 pm The Ethics of Adaptation, a debate/ dialogue w/ Melinda Snodgrass

8:00 pm HUGO AWARDS (Peppermill, Tuscany Ballroom) I will be presenting.

SUNDAY August 21

12:00 noon WILD CARDS panel (Ao1+6, RSCC)
1:00 pm autographing (Hall 2, RSCC)

Of course, the daytime programming is only a small part of what worldcon is all about. The other part is the room parties. And yes, I’ll be hitting those as well, partying every night — and you can expect that the Brotherhood Without Banners will once again throw the best, most kickass party at the con, as they’ve done for most of the past decade.

Unlike comicon, worldcon does not sell out. Full memberships and day passes will be available at the door. All you need do to attend is make it to Reno.

For most information, go to http://www.renovationsf.org/

See you in Reno!

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Tags: appearances, conventions, hugo awards

Coming to Comicon

July 19, 2011 at 4:19 pm

I’m off to San Diego tomorrow morning, for comicon.

Tickets have been sold out for months, alas. But for you lucky 150,000 who will be lucky enough to get in, here’s my current schedule of signings, panels, and other public events.

THURSDAY, JULY 21

10:00 am – 12 noon Daniel Abraham and I will be signing copies of the FEVRE DREAM graphic novel at the Avatar booth (#2701),

12 noon – 1:00 pm EPIC FANTASY panel, rm 6A

1:30pm – 2:30 pm The panelists from Epic Fantasy will be signing in autograph area AA1

3:00pm – 4:00 pm The GAME OF THRONES panel, an hour long discussion of the HB0 series with showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and actors Lena Headey (Cersei), Peter Dinklage (Tyrion), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys), Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Nicolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime). I’ll be moderating.

4:30pm – 5:45pm The GAME OF THRONES cast and I will be signing posters at the Warner Brothers booth #4545.

FRIDAY JULY 22

10:00 am – 11:00 am I will be signing copies of the DOORWAYS graphic novel at the IDW
booth (#2643)

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm John Picacio and I will be signing copies of the 2012 Ice & Fire calendar in the autograph area, AA 21 I will also be signing A DANCE WITH DRAGONS and my other Ice & Fire books during this appearance.

SATURDAY JULY 23

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm I will be signing A DANCE WITH DRAGONS, the other Ice & Fire books, and anything else you care to bring in the autograph area, AA 18.

5:00pm – 6:00 pm Tor Books will be giving away complimentary copies of INSIDE STRAIGHT at their booth, and I’ll be on hand to sign them, along with Melinda Snodgrass, Daniel Abraham, Carrie Vaughn, and other members of the Wild Cards crew. We’ll also be glad to deface FORT FREAK and any other Wild Cards books you care to present to us.

SUNDAY JULY 24

10:30 am – 11:30 am WILD CARDS panel. Half a dozen of your favorite Wild Cards writers will assemble to talk about the past, present, and future of the long-running shared world series in the field.

12:00 noon – 1:00 pm The Wild Card panelists will adjourn to AA1 to sign your books.

Later that afternoon, I will heading over to Mysterious Galaxy for my signing there, but that’s offsite, and not an official part of the SDCC schedule.

A couple of notes about the signings:
1) as on my tour, I will be autographing your books, but I won’t be able to inscribe or personalize them (unless by some chance you catch me at a slow time when there’s no line),
2) many of these signings are keyed to particular books and projects. At Avatar, I’ll be signing FEVRE DREAM, at IDW it will be DOORWAYS, for Tor WILD CARDS. The place to get your DANCE WITH DRAGONS signed is at the big general signings on Friday and Saturday. We’ve scheduled me for four hours of signing between those two days… so please, respect my other publishers and DO NOT ask me to sign your Ice & Fire books at the booth signings. Those are meant to promote my other projects.

[[AFTER THE CUT IS NSFW. ]]

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Of course, there are certain things I am always willing to sign.

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Tags: a dance with dragons, appearances, avatar, calendar, conventions, game of thrones, hbo, idw, signings, tor, wild cards

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Off Again

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