Gothic (series)
Encyclopedia
Gothic is an action role-playing game
franchise, created and owned by Piranha Bytes
. The latest release was published by Nordic Games.
The latest installment in the series was developed by Spellbound Entertainment
.
The game takes place in a medieval and fictional world, in which humans are losing the war against the orcs. The hero, a young nameless man, is forced to work in the Penal Colony, because of his crimes. In order to continue the fight against the orcs, the king needs to extract magical ore and use it for weapons and armor. Every burglar, thief or criminal is sent in the Colony to work in the mines, by the king's order.
To keep the prisoners inside, the king hired 12 magicians to create a magical barrier over the colony. Thus the militia blocked inside soon lost control over the prisoners, and the king had no choice but to trade with them. Soon after the convicts divided into several camps, which the Man can join in order to survive and advance the plot.
The game events continue the ones from the first Gothic - as the barrier was destroyed, many prisoners escaped; many of them headed to Khorinis with fake titles (since the militia started to search for the escaped convicts), and others remained in the mountains forming groups of bandits.
But things aren't quite that good in Khorinis, as many thought - Xardas (the hero's mentor) informs him that a greater evil is now threatening the land - as The Sleeper was banished he made a last call to all his minions to gather in the Valley of Mines.
. It was released on August 22, 2003 in Germany, and on January 20, 2005 in North America as a part of the Gothic II Gold package.
The expansion introduces a new world to the game called Jharkendar which is located in the northeast of Khorinis. It is an ancient and deserted city, populated mostly by pirates and bandits.
The hero opens a portal to Jharkendar with the help of the Water Mages, and after getting there, discovers what threatens the island: Raven, a former ore baron in the Penal Colony who has sold his soul to Beliar, the god of darkness, and is hungry for power.
. It was released on October 13, 2006 in Europe, and on November 20, 2006 in North America.
The third part of the saga shows the hero and his friends sailing to Myrtana. After getting there, they discover that the continent has been overrun by orcs which have enslaved mankind. The hero also gets another hit, when he finds out from locals that Xardas, his mentor, is the one who helped the orcs with their evil scheme. Things will change later, when the hero discovers Xardas and finds out that he only helped the orcs for his own purpose. He quests the hero to retrieve some artifacts and kill the king which has imprisoned him in the Colony; after that, they (Xardas and the hero) went together through a portal into an unknown land.
. It was released on November 21, 2008 in Europe and North America.
Two years have passed since the hero and Xardas went into the Unknown Lands. From there, they were watching over Myrtana - which was destroyed by wars between the factions. The hero could stand no more, seeing that the land for which he almost gave his life was destroyed, and decided to return. Xardas refused to let him go and tried to explain that eventually mankind will tire of war and peace will prevail. The angered hero refused to listen, and after a great battle which almost killed him, returned to Myrtana to unite it.
Eventually the hero will crown himself the new king of Myrtana.
The action takes place 140 years before the events in the first Gothic game, on the island of Khorinis. Xardas (one of the main characters from the original PC Gothic series), an orphan, raised by farmers, is visited one night by the ghost of Buthomar. The ghost tells the young Xardas about an unknown threat and asks him to find "the other four Chosen Ones".
As of 2011, with the return of the Gothic rights to Piranha Bytes
, ArcaniA has become an independent series, a spin-off from the original series, developed within the same world.
Arcania is the first game in the series which will have a new hero. Also, it is the first game in the franchise which was released for two platforms: Microsoft Windows
and Xbox 360
. Initially, the game was also planned for Playstation 3
. The fourth game is also being developed by a different company. The first three were made by Piranha Bytes
whereas the fourth is being made by Spellbound Entertainment
.
The events in Arcania continue directly from Forsaken Gods. Arcania will introduce players for the first time to the Southern Islands. 10 years have passed; the self-crowned king has turned rogue and has destroyed/overrun parts of the Southern Islands. A new hero arises, after he finds his hometown destroyed by the evil king. Great threats await the new hero as he quests for revenge.
He eventually discovers during his quest for revenge that it wasn't the king who destroyed his village but a rogue element in his army and finds out that he is the only one who can put an end to the demon that was tormenting the king. In the end, after receiving his revenge, the hero also puts an end to the demon's possession of Rhobar but it is summoned by enemies that were long time thought to have been defeated thereby setting the stage for a possible sequel.
ArcaniA: Fall of Setarrif ties up the loose end of the main game's story and adds yet another chapter to the epic tale. After the demon that possessed King Robar III was exorcised, it made its way to Setarrif to find a new host. In Setarrif, which is cut-off from the rest of the island, chaos and anarchy spread rapidly!
King Robar III is troubled by these facts and is afraid of losing the city and some of his companions, which are in Setarrif at that very moment. The nameless hero therefore is sent by the king and must journey to Setarrif… but he has no idea of what lies before him.
, Gothic's creator, stated that soon (after the release of their current game - Risen 2: Dark Waters) the rights for the series will return to Piranha Bytes
, but avoided to mention if they will develop another game within the series.
Later in 2011 it was confirmed by JoWooD Entertainment that they only had rights for the fourth game in the series and the expansion. As such, the rights will return to its former developer - Piranha Bytes
.
As with the Gothic rights returning to Piranha Bytes
, Gothic and ArcaniA will split into different series, each with its own story and setting. Gothic will continue to be developed under the same trademark, and ArcaniA will be continuing the events from Fall of Setarrif - most probably it will remain a spin-off from the Gothic series. It is currently unknown if Piranha Bytes
will develop another game within the Gothic series, while Nordic Games already announced that they have plans to continue with ArcaniA in the future.
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
franchise, created and owned by Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes is a German computer game developer known for their Gothic computer role-playing game series.-History:On 12 October 1997, as part of the development of the computer game Gothic, the Piranha Bytes Software GmbH founded the company in Greenwood out by Alex Brueggemann, Mike Hoge, Stefan...
. The latest release was published by Nordic Games.
The latest installment in the series was developed by Spellbound Entertainment
Spellbound Entertainment
Spellbound is a German developer of computer games based in Kehl, Germany. The company was founded in 1994 by Armin Gessert. The company is best known for the Desperados Series....
.
Games in the Gothic franchise
- Gothic (2001)
- Gothic IIGothic IIGothic II is a computer role-playing game and the sequel to Gothic, by the German developer Piranha Bytes. It was first released on November 29, 2002 in Germany, with North America following almost one year later on October 28, 2003...
(2002)- Gothic II: Night of the Raven (2003 German; 2005 English)
- Gothic 3Gothic 3Gothic 3 is a fantasy-themed role-playing game for Windows from the German game developer Piranha Bytes. It is the sequel to Gothic II. Although widely available in English, the native release of the game is German. The game was released throughout the European Union on October 13, 2006 and became...
(2006)- Gothic 3: Forsaken GodsGothic 3: Forsaken GodsForsaken Gods is a standalone expansion for Gothic 3. It was developed by Trine Games and published by JoWooD Entertainment. The game was released in Europe and North America on November 21, 2008. An Enhanced Edition was released on March 22, 2011 developed by Mad Vulture Games.-Gameplay:Gameplay...
(2008)
- Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods
- Gothic 3: The BeginningGothic 3: The BeginningGothic 3: The Beginning is a role-playing mobile video game, produced by the German developer Handy-Games GmbH, and published by JoWooD Entertainment.-Plot:...
(2008) - Arcania: Gothic 4 (2010)
- ArcaniA: Fall of SetarrifArcaniA: Fall of SetarrifArcaniA: Fall of Setarrif is the official standalone expansion for Arcania: Gothic 4. It was released on October 25, 2011 after a long period of silence from both publishers and after being delayed indefinitely in March 2011....
(2011)
- ArcaniA: Fall of Setarrif
Gothic
The first game of the franchise was released on March 15, 2001 in Germany, and on November 23, 2001 in North America.The game takes place in a medieval and fictional world, in which humans are losing the war against the orcs. The hero, a young nameless man, is forced to work in the Penal Colony, because of his crimes. In order to continue the fight against the orcs, the king needs to extract magical ore and use it for weapons and armor. Every burglar, thief or criminal is sent in the Colony to work in the mines, by the king's order.
To keep the prisoners inside, the king hired 12 magicians to create a magical barrier over the colony. Thus the militia blocked inside soon lost control over the prisoners, and the king had no choice but to trade with them. Soon after the convicts divided into several camps, which the Man can join in order to survive and advance the plot.
Gothic II
Gothic II is the second game in the Gothic franchise, released on November 23, 2002 in Germany, and October 29, 2003 in North America. It's the sequel to Gothic.The game events continue the ones from the first Gothic - as the barrier was destroyed, many prisoners escaped; many of them headed to Khorinis with fake titles (since the militia started to search for the escaped convicts), and others remained in the mountains forming groups of bandits.
But things aren't quite that good in Khorinis, as many thought - Xardas (the hero's mentor) informs him that a greater evil is now threatening the land - as The Sleeper was banished he made a last call to all his minions to gather in the Valley of Mines.
Night of the Raven
Gothic II: Night of the Raven is the official expansion for Gothic IIGothic II
Gothic II is a computer role-playing game and the sequel to Gothic, by the German developer Piranha Bytes. It was first released on November 29, 2002 in Germany, with North America following almost one year later on October 28, 2003...
. It was released on August 22, 2003 in Germany, and on January 20, 2005 in North America as a part of the Gothic II Gold package.
The expansion introduces a new world to the game called Jharkendar which is located in the northeast of Khorinis. It is an ancient and deserted city, populated mostly by pirates and bandits.
The hero opens a portal to Jharkendar with the help of the Water Mages, and after getting there, discovers what threatens the island: Raven, a former ore baron in the Penal Colony who has sold his soul to Beliar, the god of darkness, and is hungry for power.
Gothic 3
Gothic 3 is the third game in the Gothic franchise, and the official sequel to Gothic IIGothic II
Gothic II is a computer role-playing game and the sequel to Gothic, by the German developer Piranha Bytes. It was first released on November 29, 2002 in Germany, with North America following almost one year later on October 28, 2003...
. It was released on October 13, 2006 in Europe, and on November 20, 2006 in North America.
The third part of the saga shows the hero and his friends sailing to Myrtana. After getting there, they discover that the continent has been overrun by orcs which have enslaved mankind. The hero also gets another hit, when he finds out from locals that Xardas, his mentor, is the one who helped the orcs with their evil scheme. Things will change later, when the hero discovers Xardas and finds out that he only helped the orcs for his own purpose. He quests the hero to retrieve some artifacts and kill the king which has imprisoned him in the Colony; after that, they (Xardas and the hero) went together through a portal into an unknown land.
Forsaken Gods
Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods is the official standalone expansion for Gothic 3Gothic 3
Gothic 3 is a fantasy-themed role-playing game for Windows from the German game developer Piranha Bytes. It is the sequel to Gothic II. Although widely available in English, the native release of the game is German. The game was released throughout the European Union on October 13, 2006 and became...
. It was released on November 21, 2008 in Europe and North America.
Two years have passed since the hero and Xardas went into the Unknown Lands. From there, they were watching over Myrtana - which was destroyed by wars between the factions. The hero could stand no more, seeing that the land for which he almost gave his life was destroyed, and decided to return. Xardas refused to let him go and tried to explain that eventually mankind will tire of war and peace will prevail. The angered hero refused to listen, and after a great battle which almost killed him, returned to Myrtana to unite it.
Eventually the hero will crown himself the new king of Myrtana.
The Beginning
Gothic 3: The Beginning is a role-playing mobile video game, produced by the German developer Handy-Games GmbH, and published by JoWooD Entertainment.The action takes place 140 years before the events in the first Gothic game, on the island of Khorinis. Xardas (one of the main characters from the original PC Gothic series), an orphan, raised by farmers, is visited one night by the ghost of Buthomar. The ghost tells the young Xardas about an unknown threat and asks him to find "the other four Chosen Ones".
ArcaniA
ArcaniA: Gothic 4 is the fourth game in the Gothic franchise, which was released on October 12, 2010.As of 2011, with the return of the Gothic rights to Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes is a German computer game developer known for their Gothic computer role-playing game series.-History:On 12 October 1997, as part of the development of the computer game Gothic, the Piranha Bytes Software GmbH founded the company in Greenwood out by Alex Brueggemann, Mike Hoge, Stefan...
, ArcaniA has become an independent series, a spin-off from the original series, developed within the same world.
Arcania is the first game in the series which will have a new hero. Also, it is the first game in the franchise which was released for two platforms: Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. Initially, the game was also planned for Playstation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. The fourth game is also being developed by a different company. The first three were made by Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes is a German computer game developer known for their Gothic computer role-playing game series.-History:On 12 October 1997, as part of the development of the computer game Gothic, the Piranha Bytes Software GmbH founded the company in Greenwood out by Alex Brueggemann, Mike Hoge, Stefan...
whereas the fourth is being made by Spellbound Entertainment
Spellbound Entertainment
Spellbound is a German developer of computer games based in Kehl, Germany. The company was founded in 1994 by Armin Gessert. The company is best known for the Desperados Series....
.
The events in Arcania continue directly from Forsaken Gods. Arcania will introduce players for the first time to the Southern Islands. 10 years have passed; the self-crowned king has turned rogue and has destroyed/overrun parts of the Southern Islands. A new hero arises, after he finds his hometown destroyed by the evil king. Great threats await the new hero as he quests for revenge.
He eventually discovers during his quest for revenge that it wasn't the king who destroyed his village but a rogue element in his army and finds out that he is the only one who can put an end to the demon that was tormenting the king. In the end, after receiving his revenge, the hero also puts an end to the demon's possession of Rhobar but it is summoned by enemies that were long time thought to have been defeated thereby setting the stage for a possible sequel.
Fall of Setarrif
Announced by Spellbound and JoWooD on December 9, 2010, Fall of Setarrif is the first standalone addon for Arcania: Gothic 4, which was released on October 25, 2011 for PC.ArcaniA: Fall of Setarrif ties up the loose end of the main game's story and adds yet another chapter to the epic tale. After the demon that possessed King Robar III was exorcised, it made its way to Setarrif to find a new host. In Setarrif, which is cut-off from the rest of the island, chaos and anarchy spread rapidly!
King Robar III is troubled by these facts and is afraid of losing the city and some of his companions, which are in Setarrif at that very moment. The nameless hero therefore is sent by the king and must journey to Setarrif… but he has no idea of what lies before him.
Future
Speculations on who really has the rights for the Gothic Series have made their way around since 2007 until 2011, when, Mike Hoge, co-founder of Piranha BytesPiranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes is a German computer game developer known for their Gothic computer role-playing game series.-History:On 12 October 1997, as part of the development of the computer game Gothic, the Piranha Bytes Software GmbH founded the company in Greenwood out by Alex Brueggemann, Mike Hoge, Stefan...
, Gothic's creator, stated that soon (after the release of their current game - Risen 2: Dark Waters) the rights for the series will return to Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes is a German computer game developer known for their Gothic computer role-playing game series.-History:On 12 October 1997, as part of the development of the computer game Gothic, the Piranha Bytes Software GmbH founded the company in Greenwood out by Alex Brueggemann, Mike Hoge, Stefan...
, but avoided to mention if they will develop another game within the series.
Later in 2011 it was confirmed by JoWooD Entertainment that they only had rights for the fourth game in the series and the expansion. As such, the rights will return to its former developer - Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes is a German computer game developer known for their Gothic computer role-playing game series.-History:On 12 October 1997, as part of the development of the computer game Gothic, the Piranha Bytes Software GmbH founded the company in Greenwood out by Alex Brueggemann, Mike Hoge, Stefan...
.
As with the Gothic rights returning to Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes is a German computer game developer known for their Gothic computer role-playing game series.-History:On 12 October 1997, as part of the development of the computer game Gothic, the Piranha Bytes Software GmbH founded the company in Greenwood out by Alex Brueggemann, Mike Hoge, Stefan...
, Gothic and ArcaniA will split into different series, each with its own story and setting. Gothic will continue to be developed under the same trademark, and ArcaniA will be continuing the events from Fall of Setarrif - most probably it will remain a spin-off from the Gothic series. It is currently unknown if Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes is a German computer game developer known for their Gothic computer role-playing game series.-History:On 12 October 1997, as part of the development of the computer game Gothic, the Piranha Bytes Software GmbH founded the company in Greenwood out by Alex Brueggemann, Mike Hoge, Stefan...
will develop another game within the Gothic series, while Nordic Games already announced that they have plans to continue with ArcaniA in the future.
See also
- Risen, a similar game by the developer of the first three games