A Sons of Anarchy Game Suddenly Sounds Like a Really Great Idea

A while back, rumors started kicking around that a game based on Sons of Anarchy, FX's hit series about SAMCRO, a motorcycle club that tussles weekly with rival gangs, drug runners, white supremacists, and all manner of other shady characters, was in the works. Unfortunately, those rumors centered around a social, browser-based game. While a version of Mafia Wars with bikers and meth dealers sounds basically reasonable conceptually, it's also not something I would particularly want to play.

So color me perhaps overly excited given the actual number of details available that the direction of this Sons of Anarchy game appears to have changed. Showrunner Kurt Sutter, well-known for just kind of saying whatever the hell is on his mind via various online platforms, took to Twitter recently to provide an update on where the game currently stood. From his description, the focus has shifted to a full-fledged, console-based game, and "not some slapcrap browser MP thing." His words, not mine.

The reason for the shift had to do with quality, it seems. Sutter described the original social game concept as something he "wanted to love," but said it ultimately felt "rushed and unsatisfying." Sutter has evidently been meeting with publishers recently, and stated that he, FX, and parent company FOX are all committed to making this new console game happen.

When you think about popular TV shows that could potentially make the jump to the video game space in a quality way, Sons of Anarchy actually seems like kind of an obvious choice. The question, of course, is what kind of game befits the kind of territorial action the show has built itself around? Open world action game? Road Rash-style vehicular combat? Meth eradicating puzzle platformer? Man, these ideas practically write themselves.

A while back, rumors started kicking around that a game based on Sons of Anarchy, FX's hit series about SAMCRO, a motorcycle club that tussles weekly with rival gangs, drug runners, white supremacists, and all manner of other shady characters, was in the works. Unfortunately, those rumors centered around a social, browser-based game. While a version of Mafia Wars with bikers and meth dealers sounds basically reasonable conceptually, it's also not something I would particularly want to play.

So color me perhaps overly excited given the actual number of details available that the direction of this Sons of Anarchy game appears to have changed. Showrunner Kurt Sutter, well-known for just kind of saying whatever the hell is on his mind via various online platforms, took to Twitter recently to provide an update on where the game currently stood. From his description, the focus has shifted to a full-fledged, console-based game, and "not some slapcrap browser MP thing." His words, not mine.

The reason for the shift had to do with quality, it seems. Sutter described the original social game concept as something he "wanted to love," but said it ultimately felt "rushed and unsatisfying." Sutter has evidently been meeting with publishers recently, and stated that he, FX, and parent company FOX are all committed to making this new console game happen.

When you think about popular TV shows that could potentially make the jump to the video game space in a quality way, Sons of Anarchy actually seems like kind of an obvious choice. The question, of course, is what kind of game befits the kind of territorial action the show has built itself around? Open world action game? Road Rash-style vehicular combat? Meth eradicating puzzle platformer? Man, these ideas practically write themselves.

Interesting.

I haven't seen this show, but I've been wanting to play a biker game ever since I read about Ride to Hell (which I don't think will ever come out). I always need more meth in my games.

I love that tv show, watched all episodes, one of my favorites

This could end up being amazing in the right hands, or a horrible disaster, we'll see but I don't think anything is ever gonna come out of this

didn't rockstar do that with Lost and Damned?

Kurt Sutter plays games and genuinely seems to care about their quality. A while back on Twitter he tweeted at Rockstar that they'd better not fuck up Max Payne 3 (his words) because he's realllly looking forward to it.

Whether or not this ultimately translates into a good SOA game is a whole other issue, but at least we can feel confident knowing that this guy actually gives a crap about gaming.

Also, September can not get here fast enough... I need more Sons of Anarchy on my TV right NOW!

I've said it before I'll say it again Ron Pearlman looks like he needs to be in porn. Just sayin. Look at all the B rated Movie Paraodies he's done.

Hmmm, I'd be interested though highly skeptical considering the history of games based on tv shows(or movies for that matter).

Edit: My copy of Road Rash got stolen a couple years ago and I could use another Road Rash game.

@SlightConfuse: yeah, thats what i thought too.

i think it came out during the first or second season. i remember watching the show and playing through it at the same time.

The show is very good, would be nice to see how it translates into a game, but we all know that these Tv series based games rarely come about. Remember the Heroes and Dexter based games that were meant to be in development.

Stealth based action, on motorcycles! Escort missions, on motorcycles! Fetch quests, on motorcycles! I'm talking about the show, not the game.

Never watched the show but, by the description given, I agree with this guy: 
 
@SlightConfuse said:

didn't rockstar do that with Lost and Damned?

Awesome, I've been really wanting another good biker gang game after watching SoA and playing Lost and Damned.

@Begilerath said:

Never watched the show but, by the description given, I agree with this guy:

@SlightConfuse said:

didn't rockstar do that with Lost and Damned?

I liked lost and the damned; it was entertaining, if not highly steeped in tropes and cliche, as are most rockstar games

@omghisam said:

Stealth based action, on motorcycles! Escort missions, on motorcycles! Fetch quests, on motorcycles! I'm talking about the show, not the game.

Yeah, but all the quest dialogue is ill.

You had me at Road Rash-style vehicular combat.

Could be really cool. I'm looking forward to hearing more details

@Jazzycola said:

Hmmm, I'd be interested though highly skeptical considering the history of games based on tv shows(or movies for that matter).

Edit: My copy of Road Rash got stolen a couple years ago and I could use another Road Rash game.

I think I have your copy. I have one for Genesis and I KNOW I never bought it.

So.... we're not getting a Sons of Anarchy kart racer?

Hmm this could be good. I love the show after all.

Wtf hell no keep it a show this game gon suck!

I thought this was a really well written, entertaining read.

Having watched it just recently, I'd love to see the remaining plot of Carnivalè as a game.

Get this man into contact with Double Fine! Polecats vs SAMCRO!

It will just be Road Rash 3D. Biff will be in it. He won't hit you unless you hit him first, then he'll whip out his night stick. Also he will steal your woman at the end of the first part.

...I think I'm going to go play Road Rash now.

Couldn't you just play GTA4:TLATD?

If they turn SOA the Game into a longer Lost and the Damned type game that would work. Or it should be a Kart Racer in the veign of Crash Team Racing

When it doesn't win Game of the Year Sutter will take to twitter to yell at the world. Yawn.

Hard to avoid skepticism with licensed games but I really enjoy the show and the lore has enough to support a pretty fun game. I personally wouldn't want an FPS, but I think taking a look at Lost and Damned could be pretty inspired. Also, I really hope they incorporate some of the internal and external alliances for the club (presuming you would be with the Sons).

And actually being a Prospect could be a good way to slide in.

@SlightConfuse said:

didn't rockstar do that with Lost and Damned?

Yeah, all they really need to do is make a better version of that game in the SOA setting. Shouldn't be that hard to do.

@PolishHill said:

Hard to avoid skepticism with licensed games but I really enjoy the show and the lore has enough to support a pretty fun game. I personally wouldn't want an FPS, but I think taking a look at Lost and Damned could be pretty inspired. Also, I really hope they incorporate some of the internal and external alliances for the club (presuming you would be with the Sons).

And actually being a Prospect could be a good way to slide in.

The fact that he is an avid gamer and wants to be involved gives me hope.

Personally i would love to see a SOA game that's a prequel to show that takes place in the 60s/70s with the Redwood Original 9 or maybe takes place in the 90s after the death of John but really i think the 60s/70s would be the best because there is so much back story there that we haven't seen or heard about.

I got asked to go to a party tonight but I'm seriously contemplating watching Sons of Anarchy because of this story. Meth apparently makes for compelling television, who would've thought.

I hope Rockstar does this game because I enjoyed Lost and Damned.

I know someone that will be very happy, or very angry, about this news. 
@TaliciaDragonsong

@MadExponent said:

When it doesn't win Game of the Year Sutter will take to twitter to yell at the world. Yawn.

Sutter went after the Emmys for a reason and it was a damn good reason. The emmys have snubbed FX for years and everyone knows it's fucking bullshit. They snubbed The Shield on the final season which was complete bullshit and nobody is saying SOA is the greatest show ever but the performances in S2 deserved nods.

I don't blame Sutter for his frustration to the Emmys because the Emmys are horse shit and you cannot deny that and if you actually followed him you would see most of his hatred towards the Emmys don't even come from the fact that they snub him, it's the fact they snub other shows that deserve to get nods and he speaks out against "cunt" bloggers (his words) and rightfully so, just because you own a blog doesn't give you the right to be a bitch or give you some special insight. Sutter gets a LOT of flack for his twitter but i love it because hes one of the few who has the balls to say what other producers, directors and writers are thinking.

Puzzle Fighter.Make a long chain with Clay and he does his "chop balls off with knife" super.

@Zajtalan said:

Wtf hell no keep it a show this game gon suck!

Pass me the crystal ball brah, need to check tomorrows lottery numbers.

Yeah, there's every reason to be cynical but SOA is fucking awesome, a game like TLaTD but more would be fucking awesome, I want to play as Piney & ride around on my big bad ass trike.

Third person open world shooter. That would be awesome.

I think this game is already made, Lost and the Damned

I'm very pleased that this has turned into a full-scale console game. When it was first announced that there would be a SOA game I was damn stoked but the words "social" and "browser" killed my stoked-ness as quickly as it came. God I hope this turns out to be something great, though the odds are against that. Even if they find a decent publisher who wants to do it I don't see this being a project thats handed to their A-team.

We already had Lost and Damned, but no. This is going to be terrible.

could always make a bigger version of the Lost and Damned

The show is damn amazing. But I doubt the game will be. I just don't really know how they could do it in the time these kinds of licensed games usually have at their disposal. It seldom turns out anything other than pure ass. Well, we could be lucky. Who knows?

'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' adventure game.

SOLD.

This should not happen do not fuck with quality drama man NOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo

Lost and Damned was a pretty great ripoff of Sons of Anarchy, so I could totally see this working. If the proper respect is given to the source material.

Basically just give the property to Rockstar. There's enough meat there.

i never watched the show but i see people wearing sweat shirts with it, the state.

motorcycle gta game.

Sons of Anarchy is probably my favourite show. Oh man I really hope this is good.

Man, you know what this is going to be. You're going to play as some 'other' SAMCRO charter. Doing half assed jobs for the charming club. This way little to no story cannon will get messed with. It will do a paragon/renigade style choice system where you A) choose "Jax'" side or B) choose "Clay" side. Oh joy I can't wait to see how poorly this comes out. Love the show, but am kinda bummed about this.

It'd be cool if you could mod GTA: TLaD on PC to fit a similar theme.