Yes, yes, we know this is a British comics blog. But what’s wrong with a little bit of a distraction when Merlin, the one BBC show crying out to be a comic is developed as a game? (We’re still hoping someone develops a comic although, five seasons in, we suspect the show may reach a natural closure before so long).
Anyway: Merlin: The Game, the work of award-winning London-based Bossa Studios, is now available to play in open beta via Facebook: a fun and beautifully crafted game that introduces casual gamers to a real-time, co-operative, role-playing experience on the world’s most popular social network.
Merlin allows you and six of your best friends to fight off hordes of monsters, complete quests and explore new exciting areas. As you battle across Camelot and gain experience points, level up, you can also customise your character with the skills you want to use.
Progressing through the game allows you to upgrade your equipment from the basic clothing of the medieval age to shimmering suits of armour, or colourful sorcerer’s robes; and be part of the story in the action adventure game that will always have new content for you to explore.
Bossa Studios say they have had a blast developing Merlin: The Game revealing, for lovers of such trivia that the most redesigned part of the game was Merlin’s ears, the lyrics for The Knights of the Round Table from Monty Python and the Holy Grail were used as placeholder text during alpha stage; and, during the making of Merlin, the team consumed enough pizza to cover a tennis court.
From the visuals we’ve seen so far it looks great… so where, British publishers, is the comic?
• To play Merlin: The Game visit the official website: http://merlingame.com
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: downthetubes News, Games, Other Worlds, Television
Related Articles
-
Choose Your Fate in The Walking Dead: Destinies Coming Soon to Consoles & PC
-
“Magic: The Gathering – Doctor Who” lands in October
-
Latest Doctor Who multimedia crossover, “Doom’s Day”, announced
-
Global Entertainment Leader Skybound Entertainment Announces Public Investment Opportunity on Investment Platform Republic
Didn’t someone publish a one-shot Merlin magazine a few years ago? Or did I imagine it? (I didn’t buy it as I’ve never followed the show.)
There’s a few properties that would lend themselves to being good comics, but publishers seem very cautious these days.
That said, modern kids do seem a tough crowd to please comics-wise, with all their distractions of video games and the Internet.
Yes, Attic Media launched a Merlin comic that aped the Doctor Who Adventures format and the went out of business (http://downthetubescomics.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/new-merlin-magazine-out-today-in-uk.html). Things then get vague but I believe Titan then published Issue 2 as one of its ‘Totally’ magazine series?
But Attic weren’t the first to pitch a comic at the producers: artist Smuzz did art samoles for one try out.