Destructoid has pointed out that there’s a Guardian article about the works of Philip K. Dick being optioned, and one planned use of said rights will be the creation of video games based on some of the books. The Halcyon Company is a new production group that scored a coup in securing a wide range of access to the works of Philip K. Dick at the same time as being able to link Christian Bale to three movies based on the Terminator franchise. (Bale, apparently, wants to live out fanboy dreams by becoming both Bruce Wayne and John Connor.)
As for the Philip K. Dick estate, the company’s plans extend far beyond just video games:
Winning first option on Dick’s writing is certainly eye catching. His stories have been adapted into movies such as Blade Runner, Minority Report and Total Recall and influenced others including The Matrix, but with 44 novels and more than 120 short stories in the canon, Halcyon believe there is a huge seam left to be exploited. “It truly is a treasure trove,” said Kubicek.
The early plans include two movies, a major animation and two games based on his work as a direct result of the partnership deal with the Dick estate.
“Philip’s daughters have never allowed anyone this kind of access before,” said Kubicek. “We’ve forged a very trusting relationship with them and we truly share a similar sensibility. Until we closed the deal we didn’t realise how coveted the library was in Hollywood.”
The fact that Dick’s family was so willing to provide wide access to the production company is good sign for fans of the novels and stories. The company, to my knowledge, doesn’t have experience in the interactive entertainment realm, so they would likely seek an outside developer to create the games. My question is, once you exclude Blade Runner, Minority Report, and Total Recall, which novels are going to get the video game treatment? Maybe the alternate history Man in the High Castle where the Nazis and Japanese won World War II? But with more guns, of course. And demons. I’ve got an idea: how about we cross Wolfenstein and Doom and slap the license on it?
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