Westeros and Facebook have some things in common. Both have their fair share of jerks therein and are ruled by powers that don’t seem to care all that much about the rights of their peons. We are all pawns in the Game of Social Media. And now the two long-lost siblings have joined forces with Game of Thrones Ascent, a Facebook game set in George R.R. Martin‘s A Song of Ice and Fire series.
The game, now in open beta and suffering through some lag and server problems, is set concurrent to the books, albeit with a separate perspective and new characters. The official press release from game developer Disruptor Beam describes the basics like so:
Game of Thrones Ascent is a new type of social game that unites both story and strategy allowing players to lead the life of a noble during the time of upheaval portrayed in the books and TV series. Players claim their birthright by choosing which of the Great Houses they’ll swear allegiance to, select their lineage, secure their holdings, develop their lands and reputation, and assign sworn swords to quests — while forging alliances with new friends and much more.
I’m not much of one for social gaming, but if I were, theoretically, to play this game, I think I’d choose House Lannister. Not that there’s a good House to be in Game of Thrones what with all the constant death. At least you play a noble, not a commoner. Dying every ten minutes would get old.
Also not much of one for social gaming: Martin, who blogged back when the game was first announced last May that:
I don’t know much about social media. I don’t have a facebook or twitter account. But I’ve been told a few people have them, and that some of those people like to play social media games. I’m told the biggest social media game involves running a farm.
Oh, George. He went on to say that “no turnips will be involved” in Ascent. But lavish meals make an appearance, surely, alongside the backstabbing and murder? It’s not Game of Thrones without detailed descriptions of meals.
(via: Wired)
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