Game of Thrones RPG Isn't the Only Song of Ice & Fire Title Coming Soon

While we always knew that Cyanide was developing A Game of Thrones RPG alongside their A Game of Thrones - Genesis RTS, it comes as a bit of a surprise that there's a free-to-play MMORPG and a social networking title based on George R.R. Martin's series of novels in development at the moment. And of all places, the news comes to us via USA Today:
Best-selling author George R.R. Martin and cable's HBO, which had a hit earlier this year with a series based on his fantasy novels, are working with developers on three games, all due next year:

'¢ Game of Thrones, a role-playing game from developer Cyanide Studio and publisher Atlus for PS3, Xbox 360 and PCs, is based on an original story by Martin. HBO plans to share video with the developers so that the game parallels the series.

'¢ Bigpoint (Battlestar Galactica Online) is developing a free-to-play Game of Thrones massively multiplayer online role-playing game.

'¢ A Thrones-based social networking game think FarmVille comes to Westeros is also in the works.

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The Game of Thrones realm, a fantasy inspired by Britain's War of the Roses, "makes an excellent basis for a strategy game because, as you may know, the universe of Westeros is full of twisted plots, spying and treachery, which have been really interesting to turn into gameplay," Bordeleau says. In Genesis, "the player will have to use diplomacy, underhanded methods or warfare to take the upper hand."

Even though Martin is involved in all the games, the author says, "I am not an expert in this field. . I trust in (the developers') expertise."

Among the characters Martin created for the in-development and as-yet-untitled role-playing games are a member of the Night's Watch on the frozen Wall and a Red priest. The game "has some interesting stuff and looks gorgeous," he says.