The A Song of Ice & Fire series of books, written by George R.R. Martin, has a massive following - especially after it was adapted into a television by HBO, Game of Thrones.

Undoubtedly, there will be a number of fans who wish the series would be turned into a video game. Well, those hopes and dreams may not be dashed after all. Cyanide, who is also working on a Game of Thrones real time strategy game also intends to release a role playing game - in the vein of Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect.

The RTS version, A Game of Thrones: Genesis, which was announced not too long ago and detailed in a recent you can see a trailer, deals more with the actual world of Westeros and the warring factions within it. However, the Game of Thrones RPG will be focusing more on the mythology and setting of the world - to tell an interesting story accompanied by, hopefully, enjoyable gameplay.

News of the game's development came from Cyanide studio head Yves Bordeleau in an interview with Kotaku - where Bordeleau confirmed that the RPG had been in development along side of Genesis. It's important to note that both games were actually already in development before the announcement of the television series - and that George R.R. Martin personally told the studio "yes" with regard to developing games based on the series.

The Game of Thrones RPG will also be reminiscent of the first Mass Effect game - since storytelling will be a major drive in the gameplay. The narrative will be running alongside events from the first season of the show (or the first novel). Gamers will not be taking control of any major characters in the world - but will encounter familiar faced throughout the player-character's adventures.

Speaking of gameplay, Bordeleau describes the combat as an "active pause system" - similar to Knights of the Old Republic, but rather than outright pause combat to a stand still, it will slow down time significantly. So, more specifically, like The Witcher 2.

More information on the game will be available in the future - but Bordeleau puts the release date in early 2012, and we cannot wait.

Game of Thrones RPG releases in Q1 2012 for (presumably) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

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Source: Kotaku