According to Gamespot, Vivendi has penned a deal with the estate of thriller writer Robert Ludlum to create games based around his novels, including The Bourne Identity and Covert One. Clearly, this is a response to the success of Ubi Soft's Tom Clancy titles, and it could well be that the airport novel conversion is going to be the next big money-spinner in the industry. Games designer and blogger Greg Costikyan is skeptical about Vivendi's choice of author, though, pointing out that Ludlum readers are usually in the 50+ age-group (not a key videogame demographic), and that the works are cerebral spy thrillers rather than hi-tech shoot-outs.
Anyway, if this is to be the latest 'me too' licensing craze, it'll be interesting to see who gets chosen next. Perhaps Dick Francis will inspire a series of games that combine third-person action adventure with the odd Final Furlong-style horse race mini-challenge. I'd also love to see a Jackie Collins translation, probably combining The Sims, The Movies and Hot Coffee into one daft overblown sex comedy.
Any other suggestions? I think we can get a top five together and really help the industry in its noble quest to make more money out of other peoples' ideas...
