I have an idea, tell me if it's good one

[Spiro]

Hi,
i'm reading  Umberto Eco's "Il nome della rosa" (The Name of the Rose)
It's a book about mysterius murders in medieval abbey. It's setting and story realy look like material for an advanture game:

- medieval abbey should give interesting locations (church, crypt, graveyard, library, secret doors...)

- NPC-s: many priests with own history and diferent views of the world

- main story: find the murderer and his reason, discover some other secrets of abbey

What do you think?

[Proskrito]

There was a game here in spain (dont know if it was published in other countries) based on that book many years ago (i used to play it on a MSX  : )
http://computeremuzone.metropoliglobal.com/abadia/abadeng.htm and it was an excellent game!
(btw: Someone is making a remake! )
I remember it was great! so, i think its a great idea.
Just dont make it EXACTLY as the book, to make it playable for people who have already read it.
I think it is an excellent story for an adventure game!  

EDIT: Oh, it was never published outside spain: http://www.cpcgamereviews.com/a/
EDIT2: Someone translated it, i think (dont know what platform, though): http://www.msx.org/newspost543.html

[Lazy Z]

I agree, The Name of the Rose could make for a good adventure game story.

[LordHart]

Did they make a movie of that where a guy is crucified on a cross and sent down a waterfall or something?

[Goldmund]

Os: I think you're thinking of the Mission, although there was a Name of the Rose film with Sean Connery as the protagonist.

The idea is, of course, wonderful. Go for it, but, as already mentioned, please add some more puzzles for those who read the book (as the setting is perfect, it shouldn't be too much of hassle).

[Nine Toes]

I like the idea.  Sound like it's right up my alley@!

[Spiro]

So i shuld start working.
My plan is to stick to the book for start and then as story develops, start adding my own puzzles, characters, locations.

[GarageGothic]

This is a great idea. I love intellectual mysteries like The Name of the Rose. However, I do think you should change the plot considerably, not just add more features. Much of the excitement comes from the unravelling of the mystery, and everyone who've read the very popular book as well as those who've seen the film will miss out on that part of the game, unless you make major changes to the plot.

I'm in more or less the same situation with my game Shadowplay. It's inspired by Theodor Roszak's novel "Flicker" (which has, in fact, been described as "Sunset Blvd. meets The Name of the Rose"), and although fewer people have read that book, I've changed the story almost entirely, but kept what really thrilled me about the novel: The rediscovery of a long forgotten director and the hypnotic power of his films.

The attractive elements of turning The Name of the Rose into a game are obvious - the unique setting and atmosphere, the intellectual and philosophical themes, and a mystery, based on esoteric secrets and religious dogma.
All these elements can be kept, while totally re-inventing the story and the mystery, making it just as enjoyable, if not more, for those familiar with the novel, as for those who've never heard of it. It's just like Cruise for a Corpse, it borrows heavily from Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile", with it's setting, its character stereotypes and the Poirot-like detective, but the plot is nothing like Christie's mystery. It's obviously a game for fans of detective stories, so why ruin it for your core audience?

Spoiler

Instead of Aristotle's book on comedy, poisoned pages and all that, maybe you could find something else even more worth hiding? What would truly be worth killing for, in the eyes of a man of God? Research the Inquisition, politics, the religious tensions of the time, monastery life. You're bound to find something that hasn't been touched on before. It could still involve books - the labyrinthine library is an awesome setting - or something totally new, but still using the library as a source of knowledge in the mystery.

Edit: You could play with the themes of the original story, while telling an entirely different plot. One of the themes seems to be about perception. How to look at things from a different angle (how appropriate for a detective story), and how good and evil is in the eye of the beholder. The Inquisition claim to act out the will of God, but aren't they truly satanic? You could possibly play on the theme of blind faith and how men trying to do good actually do great evil. Just some ideas.

[close]

No matter which way you go, I'm really looking forward to this game.

[Spiro]

GarageGothic gave me some thoughts.
Since i don't have much experience with story writing, i thought that if i make a game based on finished story, i'll be safe from making beginners mistakes. But this will ruin much of the fun for those who already read a book.

So i decided to bring atmosphere and main characters into game and write completly new mistery. Also, i'll push timeline more towards  the rennesaince: i'm more familiar with that age.

Thanks for support

[Goldmund]

Hey, this could even be a brilliant idea for the series.
If this is going to be your first game using AGS, you could start with a smaller mystery William and his sidekick have to face, a sort of a pilot to the series...

[Spiro]

I thought about releasing a demo wich will have graphics i plan to use in game with just one puzzle.
After i get some comments and critics about my style in general, i'll continue to work.

[Totoro]

Don't forget that Eco is "only" using his novels to show his semiotic theories better. What cannot be explained, should be told in a story he says.  
ARGH ARGH I have to write an exams on semiotics in february, and I don't understand it yet... BLIMEY!!!