f you are a fantasy fan – or even better – a follower of Robert Jordan’s epic Wheel of Time series, today has you both excited and cautious at once. We just got word that an MMORPG based on Robert Jordan’s high-fantasy world is currently in production. The MMO will feature both themes and characters from the lengthy novels.
The MMO is being developed by Red Eagle Games, which to our knowledge was created solely for the purpose of producing the Robert Jordan titles. Red Eagle Entertainment was founded in 2003 and has since been working on adapting The Wheel of Time into a feature film. In addition to the MMO, a line of stand-alone Wheel of Time games are planned for release on all consoles, including PC and handheld systems.
“I am confident in Red Eagle Games' ability to capture the timeless appeal of The Wheel of Time story as they adapt its characters and themes into this new electronic medium,” Rigney said. “I expect fans of the series will be delighted by these new interactive additions to the Wheel of Time universe.”
If you are new to The Wheel of Time series, Jordan began penning them in 1990, when the Eye of the World – his first title in the series – was published. Since then, eleven books and a prequel have been published. Nearly all the entries have made the New York Times Bestseller list, with the last four topping the charts at the number one position. The series was always planned by Jordan to be a twelve part run, which was dashed when he passed away last year. The final book – A Memory of Light – is in the works with the help of fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson, who is using notes and a partial draft to finish Jordan’s work. The final book is expected to be published in fall of 2009.
“There are few properties as well-loved and influential as Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series,” said Rick Selvage, chairman and president of Red Eagle Entertainment. “The Wheel of Time books have captured the imagination of millions of readers around the world, and we expect our interactive recreations of Jordan's complex universe to garner a similar level of devotion and enthusiasm.”
While fans of any property are always hesitant to see work translated to a different medium, we can’t fault them this time. Robert Jordan’s books usually total well over 700 pages, with his last expected to be broken down into two installments due to its overwhelming length. For this reason, Jordan had been vocal in his past about not wanting his properties to be watered down for film or video games, believing that only an ongoing television series would do the property justice. Still, as a Wheel of Time fan myself, I can’t help but be intrigued as to what the future holds for the Dragon Reborn.