Hobbit Game Designer Haden Blackman Interview
W. Haden Blackman has a renowned history working in games, particularly big blockbuster games set in expansive and well loved universes. He was written numerous novels and comic books set in the Star Wars universe and was a project lead on both Star Wars: Galaxies and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
Blackman has since moved on from LucasArts and is now tackling an equally massive body of fiction. Blackman joins Kabam and is now taking a leading role the development of the studios upcoming Hobbit video games. Wikia recently got a chance to sit down with Blackman to discuss his history, the struggle of turning an adored franchise into a game, and much more. See his answers below!
You came to Kabam and what has the experience been like transiti…
A History of Hobbits in Games
It is an undeniable fact that J.R.R. Tolkien has had an immense influence on popular culture today. While Tolkien did not invent the fantasy genre, he pioneered it. Nearly every work of fiction, in any medium, can trace some part of their lineage back to Middle Earth.
Today, in celebration of Hobbit Day, I’m tracing one small aspect of Tolkien’s effect on the video games industry by walking through the History of Hobbits of games in the present day.
This is by no means a definitive list or chronicle of hobbits in games, and I am no Tolkien expert. So if you have a favorite diminutive hero or some keen/corrective insight into the state of Shire-folk in games, chime in below in the comments!
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Hobbits in Games Input
Hey there Lord of the Rings fans!
So in celebration of Hobbit Day, I thought it would be fun to use my own expertise in games and delve into the influence Tolkien has had on the fantasy game genre. Specifically, I want to trace the history and inspiration of hobbits through games. Their progenitor might include halflings and any other variety of short-statured fantasy race.
Specifically, I am interested in what ways their features change over time and what role they play in both the role and the gameplay of the games in which they live. Do you have any favorite "versions of hobbits" in games? Have any input on the idea? Let me know by leaving a comment or a message on my talk page!
Thanks!