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Witcher author sounds off on the games' canon status
- Thread starter RedSwirl
- Start date
Snapshot King
Member
It'd make it a lot easier to appreciate his comments if I could read the books, but oh wait, more than half of them have yet to be translated into english, despite being out for years and years.
Laughing Banana
Weeping Pickle
You two know what? I am interested now in reading the series. But then again suddenly I see this magnificent gem of a massive spoiler for the books shown wide open at the 1st page:
Spoiler tags by me. And thus I don't want to read the books anymore.
But I suppose if there aren't any English versions available (?) then it is all pointless anyway.
The opening of the first game spoiled that, the real surprise might be that it was meant to stick. It's basically in the same position (for us) as Anakin Skywalker becoming Darth Vader by the end of Episode III: the original Star Wars Trilogy outlined that so it's more about seeing how and why it happened. Of course, I assume the books aren't as dumb about that.
Jawmuncher
Member
Dont forget The Thing on PS2, Xbox, and PC is last I checked a canon sequel to The Thing.
Seriously how does one franchise have 3 properties all with the same name
The Thing (Prequel)
The Thing (One that started it)
The Thing (Game)
The_Player
Member
Quoted you to my colleague who's huge fan of Witcher universe; he was mad. Ah, who am I kidding, so am I.
Sorta. Things were explained in The Witcher 2.
chickdigger802
Banned
Are the books localized?
dem on kindle?
dem on kindle?
SMT
this show is not Breaking Bad why is it not Breaking Bad? it should be Breaking Bad dammit Breaking Bad
Yes, but they cost $8 each, and worth holding in your hand while you read.
dr3upmushroom
Banned
I never understand posts like this. If it's like any other fantasy series there's likely thousands of pages of story, and you won't read it even though you're interested because you know something happens at the end? That completely renders meaningless everything that happens in the entire rest of the series? Even though you have no idea what the context of that even is?
Granted I'd never read the Witcher because from what I hear it sounds like pretty generic "dark" fantasy (and like you say, it doesn't matter anyway if they're not in English), but still, I don't get how knowing how something ends completely ruins interest for the story leading up to it. I mean, when you read a book or watch a movie or play a game, do you always gauge your enjoyment of the entire experience based solely on the last five minutes?
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
Yeah, almost done with it and really like it as well. There is only one story I didn't really care for (the Queen's dinner). The rest I love. This is from someone who doesn't read books ever.
I've heard the other book isn't that great though sadly.
The games take place after the books. And at the rate they are being translated, we're never getting all of them in English.
Fucking love both the Witcher books and TV series.
Funny thing is that CD Project's design for Triss changed up how she was described in the books, but looks a lot closer to Sapkowski what originally said about sorceresses and overlooked when he turned Triss into an actual character.
Funny thing is that CD Project's design for Triss changed up how she was described in the books, but looks a lot closer to Sapkowski what originally said about sorceresses and overlooked when he turned Triss into an actual character.
I noticed that the opening cut scene in the first game is the first story in The Last Wish, which is about all I've yet read. Is the rest different then? I'm kind of interested in the second game but hate the controls in the first.
Good news! The gameplay's completely different! And if you prefer controller there's that too.
Yes, the game is entirely different from the book. The intro cutscene is just there to set the mood and explain what a witcher is.
I think it's laughable that Gearbox think if another film was made, any director would give a fuck what they put in there. If Scott or Cameron wanted to make Alien 5, they'd do so, and they would never even look at that game.
Absoludacrous
Member
The rest of the game is its own story. It just builds on stuff from the books, especially the second collection of short stories that was skipped over for English translation.
I doubt even Gearbox thinks that. It's just a marketing tactic. I mean Aliens doesn't even have a central creative force, so who is even giving this canonical blessing besides some suits at Fox?
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
Just give it time, who says that James Bond films not based in the novels are not canon?
I think they really do. The writer was on the bombcast with allusions of grandeur that would make even the most disillusioned narcissist blush.
But you're right, Alien really has no serious canon, the Director's Cut of Alien 1 alone completely breaks Aliens.
Absoludacrous
Member
Yea, that's the weird thing with that franchise, there really isn't a "canon" outside of the bookend connections of the first 4 movies. I mean we live in a world where AvP2 exists. Maybe he was just hyped to be working on the franchise? I dunno, I haven't listened to it, but if I had involvement with anything creative in the Aliens universe, I'd be lording it over everyone I met. Unless my last name was Lindelof.
Anyway, more on topic I think the Witcher doesn't matter in the same way Aliens doesn't matter. I think anyone who has read and enjoys the books doesn't need it to tie back into the games. They can both keep on doing awesome things in this cool universe and I'll just be happy to have two mediums where I can enjoy witchering.
As for the popularity of the books, CDProjekt has actually called him Poland's Tolkien. From what I understand the books actually are pretty popular in Europe. The games are probably to those people what Knights of the Old Republic is to us. The problem with the US is, of course, only two of the seven books have even been translated into English yet, and they seem to be taking their sweet time with the rest of them, going so far as to skip one.
So far I've only read The Last Wish and am midway into Sword of Destiny, but they are really good. A lot of the stories and subject matter basically involve grittier riffs on well-known fairy-tales that take into greater account the nastiness of human nature. I definitely suggest them for people who enjoyed the games.
Yes, but The Witcher 2 actually acknowledged this and explained how he's still alive in its backstory. Hell, half the people who encounter him in the first game start off with "dude, I saw you die."
So far I've only read The Last Wish and am midway into Sword of Destiny, but they are really good. A lot of the stories and subject matter basically involve grittier riffs on well-known fairy-tales that take into greater account the nastiness of human nature. I definitely suggest them for people who enjoyed the games.
Yes, but The Witcher 2 actually acknowledged this and explained how he's still alive in its backstory. Hell, half the people who encounter him in the first game start off with "dude, I saw you die."
The books dont exist to me, therefore, the game is cannon. Salty guy cant see that his books got a boost on popularity due the awesome games.
I suggest you "The First Law" trilogy by Joe Abercrombie if you like that kind of thing.
I suggest you "The First Law" trilogy by Joe Abercrombie if you like that kind of thing.
Internationally, at home it's apparently the same as saying this about KotOR and the Star Wars movies if George Lucas ever made any comment there: yeah, the game's great, but the movie's THE big deal.
Plus it was pointed out earlier this was more him setting the facts straight for his next book in that universe. Again, similar to George Lucas with all new material in the EU.
Jawmuncher
Member
I've read the first 2 books that have been translated and enjoyed them.
More so with Blood of Elves since im not a big fan of short stories (Though Last Wish still had some really good ones).
But seriously I have no clue as to why they are taking so long to translate them.
More so with Blood of Elves since im not a big fan of short stories (Though Last Wish still had some really good ones).
But seriously I have no clue as to why they are taking so long to translate them.
jim-jam bongs
Member
I really hope that CDP get Yenn right on that front.
I was at Pax when he told for the first time that Aliens Collonial Marine will be a canonical sequel. If I remember correctly, he went to see the author of Aliens and asked for a permission which was granted. They also went to speak with Ridley Scott to be sure everything is canon.
So yes, this is as canon as Aliens 3 will ever be.
Absoludacrous
Member
Canon in the Aliens franchise means almost as much as it does in Highlander.
That is completely missing the point. The only 'canon' that matters is whatever the next director decides. If James Cameron wanted to do Alien 5, Fox would not hold him to anything in CM, it's completely irrelevant. It's only 'canon', because no one is making an Alien 5, if and when they do, the game will hold no influence at all on it's development. Aliens was written without Cameron even having seen the cut footage from Alien. No attempt was made to do anything other than follow the theatrical cut of the film, because that's the only thing that mattered.
Riposte
Member
Alternatively, you can just ignore a Alien 5 and accept whatever you want to be canon.
HP_Wuvcraft
Banned
It basically parodies fanbases to the extreme.
The fans of Dethklock once killed a mayor because he wouldn't give them a national holiday.
Laughing Banana
Weeping Pickle
But it always, always play a huge part in how one enjoys things.
If not, then all that furor in GAF and wherever else about Mass Effect 3 wouldn't happen.
Empty Space
Member
In other words the people in this thread giving me shit are zealots and I should in no way take them seriously.
This is a joke.
Never watched Highlander, but from what I understand 2 is the best one, right?
I don't agree with Sapkowski's "You can only teel a story in a book", but the written word is infinitely more suited for that. The stories in Witcher games, and other games, can be great at times, but the way the player experiences them is flawed, due to the imperfections of games mechanics.
In games, the gameplay is the most important thing (as it should be), but with books, there's nothing that goes in the way of telling a good story.
In games, the gameplay is the most important thing (as it should be), but with books, there's nothing that goes in the way of telling a good story.
jim-jam bongs
Member
weeeeeeeeeell
there is a difference between finding the resolution of a story unsatisfying because of the way things happen and being unable to enjoy a story because you know the event at its conclusion. nobody would watch historical dramas if the journey weren't important because we already know how they all end. I don't think people going to see Lincoln are oblivious to his assassination at the hands of Booth, and if they are then they're thick as pig shit.
Fun fact : In a court of law, video games are concidered Books in term of Copyright limits. Because everything inside it is written.
A video game, in some aspect, is better than any book will ever be to tell a story. Games like Fallout or Planescape or even the Elder Scrolls games have thousands and thousands of pages of text, going so deep into lore, and details. No book could do that.
Geralt shares the lead role with Ciri in the books. His death is not a spoiler that ruins the story.
Freshmaker
I am Korean.
Meh. There's so much more to the books than just that one rather minor detail.
If you played Witcher 1, you already knew this.
There are English Kindle editions of most of the books. (Book 2 remains untranslated since the publisher insists that short story collections don't sell well.)
Castor Krieg
Banned
For the people who don't know the background: Sapkowski is kind of "out there" when it comes to his opinions. Sure, he is a bestselling author here in Poland, wrote a very successful trilogy after the Witcher books, but nobody really takes what he says seriously, mostly because he really has "I am awesome, I made the Witcher, bow before me" attitude.
As for the books - unfortunately this is one case where if you read them in Polish they are 100000x more enjoyable. I saw the English translation and it was very dry, doesn't convey the humor at all.
As for the books - unfortunately this is one case where if you read them in Polish they are 100000x more enjoyable. I saw the English translation and it was very dry, doesn't convey the humor at all.
Rawket Lawnchair
Member
I see. Has he ever addressed Geralt's similarities with Elric of Melnibone, by any chance?
Sapphire Dreams
Member
Yes of course they're not canon, they're an adaptation of his books.
Castor Krieg
Banned
They aren't, the books' main plot is completely different.
Laughing Banana
Weeping Pickle
*shrugs*
I don't think having your enjoyment of a work impaired due to foreknowledge of its conclusion is weird at all. Are you okay with people spoilering the end of a book or movie that you have been dying to watch or read for example? It is not an unreasonable thing to expect people to be bothered by anyone spoilering the end of a work they wish to enjoy.
I have never played Witcher 1 due to its PC exclusiveness.
In any event, typically the death of a main character is a huge thing in works of fiction so I don't know about it being a minor detail in this one. Hmm..., alright.
Diomedeskun
Member
Good enough. Just release the rest of the novels in English already.
Agreed. While I was introduced to the series by the games, I really enjoyed The Last Wish and I thought that Blood of Elves was a genuinely interesting way to tell a fantasy story. I am very unhappy that the second short story collection was skipped and A Time of Contempt won't be out in the US until the summer. I've considered just ordering the Spanish translations of the series, but even though Spanish was my first language, I really prefer to read in English, and the differences in naming between the English and Spanish translations would no doubt get annoying.
Yeah, I agree to an extent. These games do indeed have a great writing (well, the first two Fallouts and Planescape, I haven't played the Elder Scrolls games or the new Fallouts). But why are you implying that if the writers decided to create a series of books in these worlds instead of games, it would be worse? Well, different, yes. sure. But there's no limit of words that can be written, you could fill them with as many details and stories as you want.
I'd love to read a well written Fallout saga that consists of a couple of long books.
In my opinion, games are more limiting medium in terms of telling stories, because of a necessity of player input and interactivity. You control someone or something. Therefore, you must have a degree of freedom, but that degree is often too small; there's too few choices you can make in them for the story to feel believable.
Most of the time, I end up annoyed because I couldn't do something in a game, something that felt completely natural or justified to me, but the devs didn't think that way or the technology isn't advanced enough to allow it. It takes me off of whatever story they try to tell.
When you have a book, it's just the author's vision and your interpretation of it. You can't change it in any way, and because of that, it's better for telling stories than games. The author can focus on the plot, on what he/she wants to tell. There's no "what if", unless we count fanfiction
I hope I'm easy to understand (not a native English speaker here).
His death is not a minor detail but knowing it will happen will not ruin the ending, at all.
Jay Shadow
Member
Now that I've recently read all of the books it becomes more and more obvious that the games wouldn't be canon. I have no issue with them being separate.
CD Project's community forum has fan translations of the rest of the books. Who knows how long it'll take them to translate them all officially at the pace they're going
CD Project's community forum has fan translations of the rest of the books. Who knows how long it'll take them to translate them all officially at the pace they're going