OPINIONS NEEDED: Canon, yae or nae?
13 April 2010 in Production UpdatesOK guys, I’m putting the question to you. As most of you probably know, A. C. Crispin has recently laid out Han Solo’s life adventures from a very young age all the way through to his fateful meeting with Obi-Wan and Luke in the Cantina in his Han Solo trilogy of novels. Unlike the earlier Han Solo trilogy by Brian Daley, the new series covers pretty much every inch of his life and leaves little to the imagination (save his stint in the Imperial Navy).
So here’s my question to those of you who’ve read the new books: would you prefer my adventure game stick to Crispin’s canon like glue, or would you rather see a new take on Han’s formative years? Just so you know, I have no intention of depicting anything that actually occurred in the novels. I’m not making “The Paradise Snare: The Game.” That would violate my definition of “fan fiction,” and cross more into some sort of “remake” category. The game storyline will be original, the only question is should the story fit snugly into the Crispin novels, or does it really matter to anyone?
The reason I ask is, although it’s easy enough to accommodate the Corporate Sector history of the Brian Daley novels and details about Nar Shada from Dark Empire, the Crispin novels basically carpet his entire life and cover all the fun stuff so completely that it’s difficult to write around them. Normally I’m sympathetic to the canon, but when we’re talking about a world where no one can seem to agree on whether this bounty hunter was killed inside the Pit of Carkoon, or that bounty hunter shot first, I figure what’s “canon” is up for debate.
I’m just sayin’.
31 Comments to OPINIONS NEEDED: Canon, yae or nae?
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Han Solo Adventures is a fan-game project in the tradition of classic point-and-click graphic adventure games. This is a project I have embarked upon purely for my own enjoyment, and for the love of two things: PnC goodness and Star Wars!Although the storyline will be fairly original, loosely based on available background info on Han and his early exploits, you can expect gameplay similar to classic LucasArts titles like Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis by Hal Barwood and Noah Falstein (also the creative forces behind Sinistar and Dragon Slayer!)
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Just finish the game. Don’t let everyone else distract you. You can’t be expected to deal with Canon which changes while you’re working.
Isn’t there a whole series of Star Wars alternates? Who decides what’s real and what’s alternate?
nae
I’m good either way. Personally I wasn’t a huge fan of the Crispin books, but I didn’t hate em either.
What would be more fun for YOU?
I’m not the rabid-est fan, but I don’t really care about canon that much. Besides, I haven’t read a Star Wars novel in years (see what I mean about not being rabid?) since they started inventing backstories for every character ever seen or mentioned in any film or other book.
Not all fans are going to read Crispins books. Therefore, making the story harder to write for yourself so you can reference (or just stay true) the books, I see it as lost work effort — a lot of people won’t get it.
Screw Crispin, stick with Daley
Screw the canon, write for fun. The expanded universe is too restrictive. The Daley books are far more true to the spirit of the original films in my opinion, but it’s a big universe out there.
Do you’re own thing. Those who haven’t read it won’t know and those who have will have a hard time seeing anything else.
I may be for the canon route. The game my be taken a but more seriously by casual players, imo. But there’s a lot you can do, there are probably a lot of gaps in Solo’s history you can fill. Keep up the good work!
Well I didn’t read the books but I just want you to know that I can’t wait to try your little piece of art! I take a look many times a week at your site for news and I’m glad to see that your project’s not dead!
(By the way, sorry for my English
If you want a French-Translator by the way… Maybe I can help later… 
)
Long live Han Solo Adventures!
Stick to the plan! We are with you!
I can say that I loved SW’s established canon and I like to see it respected in fan productions such as this. I enjoyed very much Ann Crispin’s novels.
I would translate both
Just continue YOUR story.
Dude, tell the story that you want to tell, I’m sure it will be awesome.
I liked Crispin’s books as well, but it would be too difficult to stick to Daley’s and Crispin’s “canon”. I say have fun with the story, do your thing, but maybe little in-jokes or small references to either would be nice to those familiar with those works… might please everybody that way…
Thanks guys! It’s been awesome to read all these and I’m definitely taking it to heart. The thing is, I started all this before the Crispin books came out, and they sort of covered some of the same territory. I’m definitely leaning toward going my own way, at least with those particular books. Jimmy: don’t worry, I’m a big fan of rewarding the uber-fans with easter eggs and jokes only card-carrying Bantha Tracks subscribers will get.
Love it!
Another vote for non-canon. I’d be more interested in your take myself. The books are great in their own right as I’m sure your game will be in its own right. Double the fun; don’t feel compelled to duplicate!
Canon is over-rated anyway
nae. the more content the merrier (and the more mystique added to legend).
i say do whatever you want. star wars contradicts itself all the time. the real fans will go with whatever you decide.
I wouldn’t know, either way. I just like to see adventure games like this get made. If you feel like “borrowing” from the books, go ahead.
They should change to novels to fit your game
Get this man a cigar! I like his thinking.
Do your own thing! You’re making a game, not writing a biography…
I say go with your own planned origins, I think it will be more entertaining for the fans and more fun for you as you make the game.
WOW. Yes. Forget EU “canon”, the stuff is a mess (and I’ve read almost all of it). It’ll be more fun to see your interpretation.
Yeah I’m with Matt. =P Definitely always liked the Daley novels over Crispin.
Crispin who? Why should his stuff be considered canon?
As far as I am concerned, only George Lucas can create canon, and he doesn’t even stick to his own stuff. So why should you bother with what some other fan wrote?
I am old school [yes, Bantha Tracks suscriber here]. The movies are the only canon – by definition of the word. The books are not canon. Some of us don’t appreciate any of the books before or after the PT or the OT very much. I say, it’s your project. Make it the way you want to see it. I am sure your best work will be when you please yourself.
Man. I used to follow this game’s development years ago but it looks like its gone the way of so many other fan games – to the grave. Ah well. You ever planning on finishing this project? I say finish it and get the monkey off your back.
Thanks Mike. Actually I started this just under one year ago, you might be thinking of a similar fan project. I do work on Han Solo regularly, in fact if you guys follow the “Progress” page you’ll notice I’m getting very close now! Although right now I’m in that tough patch just tying everything together, coding all the game logic, etc. They say the last 10% takes longer than the first 90%.
Okay, this is about the coolest thing I’ve seen all week.
It sounds like you are on the right track with your own recipe, liberally sprinkled with Easter eggs for extra flavour.
I can’t wait to play!
May the Force be with you.
Hey, I have read all the old Solo books and I loved them, but there is no right or wrong here. It is your game! Anyone who is a fan of SW, and especially Han Solo, will appreciate it no matter what. I do have a question though…are you incorporating any space travel?? Millennium Falcon aspects?