Books about games are nothing new. In fact, they've been around since the days of the NES, but they've always been little more than an afterthought to help promote the game. So, when you think about it, the title Advent Rising is rather fitting for a game that heralds a new relationship between books and games. Featuring a story penned by sci-fi legend Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game) and a dynamic, action-packed adventure running on the Unreal Warfare Engine, Advent Rising looks to transport Xbox players into an imaginative universe like they've never experienced.
In the universe of Advent Rising, a common legend is shared by the galaxy -- that a powerful and ancient race known as humans will one day unite the universe. Millions of culturally distinct worlds look to these prophecies with a religious awe, and hopefully await the arrival of the mythical humans. However, one race -- known as the Seekers -- already knows that the humans are more than a myth, and pose a direct threat to their power. Dawning the guise of explorers, the Seekers travel throughout the universe in an attempt to exterminate the entire human race. Players will take the role of Gideon Wyeth, one of the inhabitants of the last human outpost. Gideon is also one of the few humans who possess the power the Seekers wish to destroy.
According to Card, "Creating an engrossing story is paramount to establishing credibility with players and allows them to connect with what's happening on screen." In addition to crafting the game's story, Card will also write a book based on the game. Both are scheduled to ship early next year.
