USA pilots

[frieza]

You know what the Americans are like; what works for our little country is often lost on them. Unless it's got huge effects, a massive budget and plenty of "press-the-button-for-laughs" comedy then it won't find a big audience. Incidentally, the whole-might-and-magic thing might have been too boring for them.

[Malefact]

When considering making an American version of Fawlty Towers, they wanted to do it without the character of Basil Fawlty. Answers on a postcard, please!

[darkDescender]

I think the only answer is that most Americans are too thick to understand Fawlty's humour. Remember, When Harry Potter was released over there, they called it "Sorcerer's Stone" because the Americans didn't understand what a phillosopher was. Other examples of dim-wittedness are game company EA who are releasing a new "soccer" game with reworked rules. Apparently, there are no pitches. "Soccer" is played in back alleys and so forth, with only four players a side and no rules. And if this isn't proof of America's lack of intelligence, consider: They voted Bush as the president. Sorry about this rant, but I needed it. I feel better now. *Rips playing card in half*

[Wolfshead]

There must have been people in the UK that didn't understand what a Philosopher's Stone was.

Its really hard to say why KM didn't work in America. Maybe Americans just couldn't identify with the medieval setting becaue America has no medieval history. France and Spaiin do. Though maybe this is tupid as Americans usually borrow our medieval history and mess it up by making terrible films in which Americans go back in time and meet King Arthur. Interesting how these films always refer to Arthur ruling England when there was no such place at the time (that's if he existed which I doubt), they can converse with no language barrieres and the 6th century knights always seem to wear 14th century armour. Even more annoying was the American Robin Hood. Sorry about the rant.

[Billy]

Surely it was just a simple case of them being unsure on the Chromakey aspect? After all, long running shows over there like 'The Price is Right' don't involve complex computer graphics like 'Lords of the Game' did.

Certainly kudos go to Anglia for commisioning it over here in 1986. If the US had given it a series, who knows how well it could have done...

[Kieran]

I believe that the American pilot appeared around the same time as KM ended over here (I may be wrong, but I believe this is the case).

Once Knightmare had finished in the UK, chances of it being commissioned in the USA were slim at best.

I believe this also shelved plans for the proposed PC game in 1995.

[Illusion]

I believe this also shelved plans for the proposed PC game in 1995.

This is interesting, as I remember seeing a game called 'Knightmare Classic' in the Special Reserve magazine's upcoming releases page at the time. It was listed under the PC, Amiga and Atari lists, but I never heard anything since.

[Kieran]

I do believe the game was developed a fair bit between 1994-95, but of course as the series ended, there was little point in putting out a game for it.

A real shame, a proper KM game would have been a very nice addition after the earlier 2 games.

[TheIronMaiden]

Incidentally, the whole-might-and-magic thing might have been too boring for them.

I dunno...Conan The Barbarian was kinda big over there, ne? Though I wouldn't be surprised if the slow-paced nature of the game made it unsuitable for their audiences...pity, their loss!

[malibupete]

Ah yes, I forgot to mention the screening! I'm sure there'll be a much fuller discussion of Lords of the Game elsewhere in due course, but it was fascinating to watch... The game aspect of it was somewhat simplified to the extent I don't think the team could have easily lost, but as Tim pointed out afterwards, the pilot was not intended for a D&D literate audience. It was wonderful to see new footage featuring the characters we know and love, but the main revelation for me was the American dungeon master. Completely different from Treguard, but fun and sincere - I could definitely have seen it working with a few gameplay tweaks.

So yes, thanks for digging that one up!

[Drassil]

...A 30 minute pilot for the US market, entitled Lords of the Game. All the cast were used except Hugo who was replaced by an American actor.

Nearly a week after seeing Lords of the Game, I am still having American Dungeon Master moments.

"Darn you, Veerash, you rootin' tootin' son-of-a-witch! We're wagin' us a war on your terror. We're comin' over there and we're gonna kick your ass!"

"My 'ass'? I don't keep donkeys anymore. The goblins kept asking to ride them by the sewers and I ran out of ice cream. What I do have, me old mucker, is an arse - and a fine one at that. When you've got a KISS spell, call me."

You know what would improve the US DM though? Sam Beckett from Quantum Leap leaping into him.

I'm just saying.