It’s yet another summer, so it is time for another rambling summer article from me. As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t game as much during the summer, but this year will be unusual if Weta Workshop and Private Division publish Tales of the Shire at the end of July as promised. This is a game I’ve been waiting for 30 years, so needless to say, I have Expectations. Let’s hope I am not disappointed. In the best-case scenario, the game is so good that I don’t feel bad about staying at home when the weather is nice.
Frodo, where are you going?The Tolkien Preparations
In preparation for the game, I’ve started rereading all the books, and I mean all the books – The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion, and the History of Middle Earth. I am also reading some companion books, like David Day’s Encyclopedias and Christopher Snyder’s The Making of Middle Earth. The last one is not actually a reread, but a new read. I’ve also never read before some parts of the History of Middle Earth, so I am enjoying it like a new reader. I am planning to rewatch the movies as well. So, yes, I’ll be ready for the end of July.
A walk in the countryside.Jane Austen and the drought of games
In the meantime, I am also reading “Jane Austen at Home: A Biography” by Lucy Worsley. I’ve recently completed Molly Williams’ Jane Austen’s Garden, with illustrations by Jessica Roux, whom you might remember from another summer article of mine, where I was reading her Floriography. You might be wondering what’s with all the Jane Austen. Well, did you know 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth?
Sadly, Jane Austen-inspired games are hard to find, even impossible. There was a short-lived MMORPG based on Austen’s body of work, Ever, Jane, which is no longer available. Studio Drydock Pty Ltd’s upcoming sim game Wylde Society, while fantasy, does look somewhat similar to what I imagine a game based on Jane Austen’s work would look like.
Sherlock Holmes, where are you?Some Sherlock Holmes
My other forever literary obsession is Sherlock Holmes. Earlier this spring, a new TV series based on the legendary fictional detective Sherlock and Daughter was released, and there’s also a new cozy game, Afoot Games’ The Beekeeper’s Picnic, which I plan to play as soon as possible. After that, if the inspiration sticks, I might finally start Frogware’s Sherlock Holmes Chapter One, which is not too cozy.
So, there you have it, my summer gaming plans – mostly reading, inspired, mostly reading. Of course, I’ll go see the mountains and the forests, I’ll walk the streets of my city, and some others. I’ll read other books, try new ice cream flavors, attend a concert, catch up with friends, and try some new recipes. It’s summer, after all.
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