And it doesn't really matter what the basis is for your fic. I mean, you can write the FFTA2 storyline from an unexpected character, like a sword! (I read a published story like that that was damn good.) Or there's other things you can add in that would make it your own. Don't just write down what happens in the game, with that basic knowledge. Make the battles real with description, toss in some character thoughts that weren't explored before in the game, write from a random character's point-of-view. There's all sorts of various things you can use to make your novelization different from the game.
I haven't played FFTA2, since I don't like the style of the Tactics games, but I have read a few novelizations of different games, and the ones that I enjoyed were the ones where the author did something different.
Quoted for Truth. In particular the underlined parts.
Novelization seems to be a complicated matter (never have I tried) but also fun. The fact that the fandom we're writing in is quite open in several basic aspects allows a writer for a (somewhat unnatural) good possibility for openness. There are simply too many angles to explore that something could not be done in an original manner (here I am reminded of Pokémon-X for some reason).
But that other universes are more "plot-closed" is not much of an issue, either. As mentioned above, anything that has not been given the, or enough, limelight can be thought of a starting point for a good perspective flip. Not only that, the sole fact that some events and perspectives have been left unexplored enough makes writing about them viable, no matter the plotclosedness (word invented for the occasion FTW) of the... well... plot. Case in point,
Final Fantasy VIII gives the player exclusive access to Squall's (the lead character) thoughts. But there are thoughts that are, at least IMHO, far more interesting to explore given what the game shows us. Cid, for example, would seem to have taken exit left, coward-style, near the middle point of Disc 2. That Quistis's incompetence was suppossed to be due to her being hot for her students is never explored, even in fanfics for some reason. Given all the plot-related convenience of a game like Triple Triad and the importance of the cards and challenges I'm very surprised I haven't heard of anyone taking a Yi-Gi-Oh approach to it (I mean come on, there's a point in the game where you play a card game
IN SPACE). And I can only
imagine what a standard battle under overkill-lover Selphie's perspective would be (if someone has done it before please
please send me a link to it).
Then again, I guess it is only natural that most fic writers either take the already proven path of retelling a story almost verbatim, use the High School Alternate Universe Exemption Clause, or turn to lemon/slash/prøn. Or heck, all them alltogether.
All in all, the others have said what had to be said. I simply emphatize the point of why not.
Astinus said:
Edit: I also have to say that I read each and everyone of your posts in Luke's voice. It's quite amusing.
You mean... something like this?
So, no intention to deviate from the interesting conversations here (never would) but hope you don't mind asking how did you spend X-mas. And also ask where does that X come from. It's not that it is a very spectacular holiday with superpowers to be called like the X-Men, right? And I'm sure "X-mas" is older than "X-Men". I'd rather ask here than google around, because for semantic, cultural value stuff the net still doesn't feel competent enough (I tried finding why some cultures associate the color yellow with treason, without success). That, and there may be some insanity in the answer.