Based on an old pen-and-paper role-playing game, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is a new action/RPG from Troika Games that's powered by Half-Life 2's groundbreaking Source engine. The story takes place right before the "Time of Judgment" books from White Wolf, and has become the official prequel to the end of days for the Vampire universe.

As you might expect, the game revolves around the vampiric politics in the World of Darkness, as do all great Vampire: The Masquerade games. The story starts as a prince has recently come to the anarchic free state of Los Angeles to establish the Camarilla's power. Meanwhile, you are embraced (turned into a vampire) illegally without the prince's permission. The prince kills your Sire but spares your life, putting you at his beck and call to be his errand boy…for the time being. From there, it's up to you to decide how the rest of the game will go.