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Animal Farm video game adaptation of George Orwell's literary classic is in the works

Saw this pop up on Twitter earlier and it immediately piqued my interest, talk about perfect timing to tackle this classic and its subject matter.

They have an interesting mix of people they follow on Twitter as well....

Keeping the faith

We live in turbulent times where established democracies are coming under attack from all sides. Animal Farm is a literary classic whose original message is more relevant than ever before. We will adapt this story for a new audience on a new medium whilst keeping true to George Orwell’s vision.

Your Journey

A good story makes us feel sympathy for its heroes, and a great one evokes empathy. But a game allow us to actually become those heroes and in so doing, to experience their challenges first hand. Our game gives you an immersive experience - you are part of the farm.

Independent Thinking

We’re living in very disturbing times. Whilst we all thought that the world was making real social progress, we actually fell asleep and failed to notice dark corporate and political powers silencing all dissent. We are dedicated to maintaining an independent creative process; responsible only to George Orwell’s work and to our audience.

You can sign up for more info at the link below

http://animalfarmgame.com/#site-block--a7x9ab4i2fw7iy8nt4xlogde5

UPDATE

So there has been some press that's released around the game and the developer today.

The team creating the Animal Farm game is full of familiar names. There's experienced industry head Andy Payne, cinematic and performance director Kate Saxon, former Lionhead creator Georg Baker and BAFTA-winning game composer Jessica Curry.

"Animal Farm will be a narrative-lead management game," Jele responds. "This adventure-tycoon will place the player in the Manor Farm as one of the animals just before the revolution, and will follow their journey through the ups and downs of the farm. The gameplay will combine story choices and decisions about how to run the farm into a consistent narrative. Our story and play mechanics will be about our deeply rooted, collective desires for liberty, equality and fraternity that are overshadowed by the absolute corruptive effect of power over individuals.

And there's an awful lot more at the link below, well worth a read if you even have a passing interest in the book and what this game might be. If it all comes together it could be something pretty special.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articl...ost-important-literary-works-of-human-history
 

Orb

Member
I hope its not a literal adaptation

As good as the book is, as a game that would be the most boring slog
 

Whimsical Phil

Ninja School will help you
Temple Run clone, but you get to choose if you run on two legs or four.

"All IAP are equal, but the $99.99 IAP is more equal than others."
 

daxy

Member
I feel like something in the style of Papers Please or Cart Life could be a really interesting approach.
 
I hope its not a literal adaptation

As good as the book is, as a game that would be the most boring slog

This is what it says on there Twitter bio

An indie game adaptation of George Orwell's Animal Farm is in the works by a world class team of games industry veterans.

A lot of people on Twitter are bigging them up saying stuff like 'mind blowing talent' are working on it.

I'm going to remain hopeful :)
 

Rncewind

Member
so is this going to be a visual novel or walking simulator type of game? I mean i cant really imagine a game that follows that story cohorently with engaging gameplay.


edit:
Why not? The interactivity of a game can highlight the story's themes nicely if done well

Plus it doesnt hurt to introduce things like this to kids who are maybe not in to books.
 
so is this going to be a visual novel or walking simulator type of game? I mean i cant really imagine a game that follows that story cohorently with engaging gameplay.
Ideally, I'd use a management sim/city builder-style format for an adaptation, like Rimworld or the upcoming Frostpunk, and gradually change your options as the story progresss to mirror the descent into fascist regime

Maybe with a text adventure/interactive fiction element as well
 
3 paragraphs of text?! how am i supposed to be interested in this? talk about cart before horse - how about showing me something/anything whatsoever first! :) ...
 
I have absolutely no idea how this is going to work, but I'm going to be interested in seeing how they're planning on executing this idea.
 

Kalor

Member
I'm not sure how you would try to make an Animal Farm game but I'm looking forward to seeing what they do.
 

Lynx_7

Member
I'd be kinda interested in seeing a 1984 adaptation. One of my favorite books of all time and there are some interesting concepts to explore in a game. Of course, a 1 to 1 adaptation would never work, so it'd need to be something a little more liberal, like I imagine this game will be.
 

StoveOven

Banned
Great book. One of the first books that really clicked with me as a kid and made me appreciate the concept of metaphor. I have no idea how this will turn out obviously, but I'll keep an open mind.
 

MrOogieBoogie

BioShock Infinite is like playing some homeless guy's vivid imagination
I thought Animal Farm was just okay. Nothing like 1984, which is an unbelievable piece of work.
 

sn00zer

Member
This is one of those things that would have soinded real stupid like 5 years ago. But after Edith I feel like yoi can do some real cool stuff with storytelling in games
 

Kuraudo

Banned
I'm not entirely convinced this has been cleared by Orwell's estate. It doesn't seem like the kind of property they'd give the go ahead to.
 

rpmboy

Member

Osukaa

Member
Nooooooo there's to much feels in this film. I still cry at the horse scene..... Love the Donkey.

We need those animals here to handle Trump and his regime....

hqdefault.jpg
 

Flux

Member
Please let this literary classic be a MOBA. The only way socialism and communist metaphors can be expressed is through Loot boxes and the most toxic community possible.
 
Looks like some of the people involved:
Imre Jele (co-founder of Bossa Studios)
Andy Payne (BAFTA committee member, founder of Gamesaid charity)

More names in a few weeks, according to Twitter
 
Looks like some of the people involved:
Imre Jele (co-founder of Bossa Studios)
Andy Payne (BAFTA committee member, founder of Gamesaid charity)

More names in a few weeks, according to Twitter

They also follow on Twitter

Georg Backer ex Lionhead
Jessica Curry co founder of The Chinese Room

Not saying that means anything but you never know.
 

Drencrom

Member
A video game adaptation of George Orwell's literary classic is in the works by a world class team of games industry veterans.

Who are working on this? I'm genuinely curious.

EDIT:
Looks like some of the people involved:
Imre Jele (co-founder of Bossa Studios)
Andy Payne (BAFTA committee member, founder of Gamesaid charity)

More names in a few weeks, according to Twitter

Alright
 
Saw this pop up on Twitter earlier and it immediately piqued my interest, talk about perfect timing to tackle this classic and its subject matter.

They have an interesting mix of people they follow on Twitter as well....



You can sign up for more info at the link below

http://animalfarmgame.com/#site-block--a7x9ab4i2fw7iy8nt4xlogde5

As intriguing as this idea sounds to me, I'm not quite sure on how Animal Farm would work as a game. Seems to me like it's much more powerful as a book...like I saw a film adaption of Animal Farm before...and it wasn't even remotely the same as the provocative, haunting, cautionary tale of the book of Animal Farm to me. To me, the film version I watched veeered close to a comical, cartoonish tone lmao, which greatly diminished the messages/themes of the book version, I feel.
 
Surprised by how many people are saying they can't see this as a game or why you would make a game adaptation

If anything, a game offer so much more freedom than making a film or miniseries

You could do an adventure game
Interactive fiction or text adventure
Resource/group management sim
RTS, turn-based strategy, board game mechanics
etc

You can tell the story from different perspectives. You can use the options available to the player to place them in the shoes of Napoleon, or the farmers, and so on. You can use traditional mechanics to thematic effect

Look at Shrouded Isle, or Papers Please, or King of Dragon Pass, or Prison Architect, or Edith Finch, and other games
 
So there has been some press that's released around the game and the developer today.

The team creating the Animal Farm game is full of familiar names. There's experienced industry head Andy Payne, cinematic and performance director Kate Saxon, former Lionhead creator Georg Baker and BAFTA-winning game composer Jessica Curry.

"Animal Farm will be a narrative-lead management game," Jele responds. "This adventure-tycoon will place the player in the Manor Farm as one of the animals just before the revolution, and will follow their journey through the ups and downs of the farm. The gameplay will combine story choices and decisions about how to run the farm into a consistent narrative. Our story and play mechanics will be about our deeply rooted, collective desires for liberty, equality and fraternity that are overshadowed by the absolute corruptive effect of power over individuals.

And there's an awful lot more at the link below, well worth a read if you even have a passing interest in the book and what this game might be. If it all comes together it could be something pretty special.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articl...ost-important-literary-works-of-human-history
 
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