First REAL trailer for HBO's A Game of Thrones

[Spaceman Spiff]

Yeah, that's true. But I was referring to the fact that I have to wait for it to come out on DVD. With this and True Blood, I'm almost tempted to just say the hell with it and order HBO.

Call your TV provider and ask them if they have any specials where you can try HBO. Odds are they do.

 

[JD]

You mean like those free previews they periodically do, or would it be something I do through the cable provider?

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

There might be a free preview, but there's always some sort of deal going on. If you call up and just tell them you want HBO, lots of providers will just tack it on your bill at full price. But if you ask if there are any specials or promotions going on, you can often get a discount.

When I moved and called Dish Network to cancel my service (new lease wouldn't allow a dish), they practically pleaded with me to stay, offering me the same package for nearly half off. It made me wish I'd called to "leave" six months earlier.

 

[Hyperspace05]

At my cable company, HBO is $15 extra per month. Sometimes they have special offers that are lower for a limited time.

I'm adding HD service in the next few weeks, so if they have a special offer I might consider it. $15 is a bit steep. (although in many places it costs more)

 

[JD]

Hmm, I might have to look into this.

 

[Hyperspace05]

HBO has released some nice character posters: (presumably to be used in advertising)

Ned Stark: http://winter-is-coming.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/got-ned-poster.jpg
Robert Baratheon: http://winter-is-coming.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/got-robert-poster.jpg
Cersei Lannister: http://winter-is-coming.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/got-cersei-poster.jpg
Daenerys Targaryen: http://winter-is-coming.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/got-dany-poster.jpg
Jon Snow: http://winter-is-coming.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/got-jon-poster-702x1024.jpg

(Ultra high-res versions of these posters can be found here: http://www.makinggameofthrones.com/...lution-game-of-thrones-character-posters.html)

And in case it was not mentioned here, a couple days ago they also released the official poster of the series, featuring Ned Stark on the throne:
http://winter-is-coming.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/GOT-OFFICIAL-POSTER-691x1024.jpg (this is also the cover for the HBO tie-in edition of the paperback)
Ultra high-res version here: http://www.makinggameofthrones.com/storage/game-of-thrones-poster.jpg

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

No Tyrion poster? Boo.

 

[Hyperspace05]

I'm sure one will come soon.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

In contrast to my avatar/title, I DO want that.

 

[JD]

I just found an image of the tie-in cover for the book. I kinda wish I didn't already own a copy with the gold cover now.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I usually don't care for it when publishers do that, but that looks pretty good.

 

[Skywalker]

That does look cool, but not cool enough for me to repurchase it. Heck, I still have my big paperback with the silver-and-blue cover. I hate those new covers they came up with when A Feast for Crows was released.

 

[Venardhi]

Well they've got new covers now since they've changed the style again for 'A Dance with Dragons'. The new ones are basically the British covers but mixed around and not too impressive IMO. At this point I'm tempted to just wait for him to finish the series and get some custom leather bindings since none of the covers really do it for me.

 

[JD]

Yeah, I've got this paperback cover, and it's probably my least favorite of any of them. And here's another new cover, which is in the same style as A Dance with Dragons. I'm thinking this is probably the one Venhardi just mentioned above me.

 

[Hyperspace05]

Another new trailer from HBO, titled "Power":

YouTube HD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qJsSEnhsuI

This one appears to be aimed at people new to the material.

 

[JD]

Damn! I really need to go back and read the whole book. For those that have read it all exactly how close does this appear to be? I only made it about 50 pages before, so it's kinda hard for me to judge the whole thing. I'm assuming since GRRM is a executive producer and writer that it's going to be very very close.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Those character posters are awesome. I saw the new tie-in covers at Chapters a couple of days ago and sighed in annoyance. I too hate when publishers do this. That being said, I kind of like them. I still need to get the third and fourth novels. I have the first two.

 

[FreezeC77]

Damn! I really need to go back and read the whole book. For those that have read it all exactly how close does this appear to be? I only made it about 50 pages before, so it's kinda hard for me to judge the whole thing. I'm assuming since GRRM is a executive producer and writer that it's going to be very very close.

It looks pretty close to what was in the books. I know there was a comparison done with the script to the pilot to the corresponding text from the books and there were quite a bit of word for word lines used in the pilot. I believe GRRM has said there will be some 'tweaks', not sure he's used the word changes, but perhaps some of the structure of the book will change.

HBO wants to keep Dany's story ongoing so I think some elements of that will be flushed out a bit more so you just find out about this girl who's separated from all the other major players by a large ocean on another continent and then not see her again until season 2 or something.

So I think the task falling on the shows writers (and they are being given some assistance by GRRM himself) is to keep the major players storylines moving in such a way as to not have them disappear for 3,4,5 episodes.

So the pacing will probably be a bit different from the books, but I expect it to be extremely faithful ultimately in content.

 

[Shurik]

Many of the clips that were released so far contain the exact text from the books, so it looks like it'll be very faithful. There will be changes of course, but not something huge like

Spoiler: spoiler for book 1

keeping Ned or Drogo alive

.

So I think the task falling on the shows writers (and they are being given some assistance by GRRM himself) is to keep the major players storylines moving in such a way as to not have them disappear for 3,4,5 episodes.

Yeah, there are main characters that just disappear for entire books. It will be interesting to see how the produces deal, for example, with

Spoiler: more spoilers

Jaime not being in the second book at all because he's stuck in some dungeon in Riverrun

.

 

[JD]

Many of the clips that were released so far contain the exact text from the books, so it looks like it'll be very faithful. There will be changes of course, but not something huge like

Spoiler: spoiler for book 1

keeping Ned or Drogo alive

.

So I think the task falling on the shows writers (and they are being given some assistance by GRRM himself) is to keep the major players storylines moving in such a way as to not have them disappear for 3,4,5 episodes.

Yeah, there are main characters that just disappear for entire books. It will be interesting to see how the produces deal, for example, with

Spoiler: more spoilers

Jaime not being in the second book at all because he's stuck in some dungeon in Riverrun

.

I've been wondering if perhaps they'll go the True Blood route and add some storylines and stuff to get the seasons longer, and give different characters more to do.