James Barclay

[DeathJunior]

I was looking through my collection of games, and noticed ... a lot of my hack and slash games are based on ancient or at least older cultures.

God Of War - Greek
Prince of Persia Trilogy - Persian (Egyptian?)
Dynasty Warriors - Chinese
Onimusha - Japanese
Way of Samurai - Japanese
Gladius - Roman
Spartain - Greek/Roman
Drakan - Medieval Englandish/Frenchish
Tenchu: Fatal Shadows - Japanese

It got me thinking, can anyone else think of any others? Or anyone got any opinions on them? Maybe an egyptian one or Viking? ... I can't think of any right now but ... waddya think?

::EDIT:: Perhaps even what you'd like to see?
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Dan Jaines a walking dictionary of Danisms

[Drizzt]

There's a hack'n'slash game for the ps2 called 'Rune: Viking Warlord'.
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Pagan Music

[DeathJunior]

Any good?
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Dan Jaines a walking dictionary of Danisms

[Drizzt]

Never played it but the reviews are.... poor. But, it's one I've been meaning to try out! Hehe... May be an eBay job.
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Pagan Music

[DeathJunior]

Or a hunt round the supermarkets
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Dan Jaines a walking dictionary of Danisms

[Drizzt]

Tried and failed! Although, we only have Asda here... Cheaper online anyway. Hehe...

And, in answer to the original question, I reckon - particularly amongst fantasy readers/writers - there's a fascination with ancient'legendary cultures which leads to the popularity of games based around them. On the consoles, this seems to mean lots of blood and guts; on the PC it seems to revolve more around RTS games. There's a market there. We're so disillusioned with our own society and so used to the romanticised images of the older ones, we covet them and cling to whatever vestige we can. Enter the ps2 and all its friends!

Wow, that was heavy...
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Pagan Music

[DeathJunior]

For such a time as it is (1am) yes that was, but then again i's interesting.
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Dan Jaines a walking dictionary of Danisms

[Selik]

Let's face it though. There's not that many modern cultures in which you could have a hack and slash game, short of basing it in Grimsby on a saturday night.

I'd be interested in that Viking game. I don't really care much about reviews. If someone says something is bad, i'm likely to test it just to prove the opposite.
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"I sit on my arse, not my head." - Baron Gresse.

[Drizzt]

I still think I need to have a rest or something.

Nah, look at all the old movies and the numerous books we have all seen and read. 99% glorify the ancient civilizations and how everything was so much better when things were so much simpler. Ages of heroes and feats and adventure... hell, these ideals lend themselves soooo much to games it's almost silly. I mean say you're a games designer and you need to create a game based on a civilization; why create a new one from scratch when most of us have become so accustomed to admiring ones that have already been, failed and gone, that we're not just ready to accept the next game based on one, we're itching for it!

Look at the new movie out in March, 'The 300', about the battle at Thermopylae. It happened. Yes, it has been romanticized over the centuries, but it actually took place! Amazing! It's the kind of 'last stand' worthy of any fantasy tale. And over the centuries we attribute the same boons this battle advertised about Spartan warriors to Spartan culture in general. As such, come the release of Spartan: Total Warrior, it sold like hot cakes and was never in danger of doing anything different!

Now, would a game about 'The Raven' sell as well? No way. Cult hit, certainly! But, unless you've read the books, you've no idea who they are and despite the fact their could be some awesome games created around them, unless you're a fan you're asking yourself "Who the hell are these guys?". Ask someone about the Romans, Spartans, Samurai, Vikings... we all know who they were and our minds are full of images of Spartacus, Achilles, Leonidas, Beowulf... cue sales.
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Pagan Music

[TheJovialGnome]

Pedants corner! DJ, for Persian read Iranian!
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"Constant Vigilance!"

[DeathJunior]

say what? ... How could it be Iranian when it's title prince of persia? ...
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Come see me at my other spot locations:

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Dan Jaines a walking dictionary of Danisms

[dragonkillernz]

Maybe a little historical geography lesson is in store for you, young man
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Ian Fulguirinas(dragonkillernz)

[DeathJunior]

Go for it.
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Come see me at my other spot locations:

www.myspace.com/djjaines
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=DJJaines
Dan Jaines a walking dictionary of Danisms

[dragonkillernz]

Look familiar?

As it happens, Persia has been one of the greatest empires of all time. Vast amounts of land, plenty of acadamia from Persia, especially Mathematics. Algebra comes from that region.
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Ian Fulguirinas(dragonkillernz)

[TheJovialGnome]

Thanks Dkz, couldn't have put it better myself!
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"Constant Vigilance!"