May 20, 2008
The Movie Game
Michael wrote this at 8:23 am:
Another game is going to hit the silver screen and it’s going to leave a huge mess. That’s what us “hardcore” gamers think anytime we hear a certain name, isn’t it? I won’t mention who I mean because you can probably guess! And for another reason which I’ll soon reveal, possibly with a SHAZAM! But is it really as bad as we think? Or are we just a bit… snobby? Because, let’s face it, most games don’t have a really deep storyline - kill the bad guy(s), maybe save the girl along the way. Perfect fodder for a big dumb Hollywood film, right?
You see, I’ve been wondering if game movies actually do raise the profile of gaming to the mainstream. Sure, there’s us who know the source material and have expectations which are usually crushed like they’ve been sat on by Bob and Harvey Weinstein.
But what about your average person who wouldn’t know an energy sword if it smacked them in the face? Do they come away from game films thinking “That wasn’t so bad, I might check out X game now” or do they just remain ignorant? So here’s the reveal… SHAZAM! I want you to ask your non-gaming friends what they’ve heard of Uwe Boll (if anything) or whether they knew that, say, Alien vs Predator was inspired by a videogame.
Me, I’m going to keep hoping BioShock turns out as good a film as it was a game.
May 20th, 2008 at 8:42 am
The Bioshock film had better be super awesome or there’ll be gamer riots! Who’s with me?
Actually that’ll interfere significantly with my gaming time but I’ll definitley send them a pompous email if they let us down ;)
May 20th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Well, if it has long periods of time where the same thing happens over and over, virtually no characters in it who don’t get killed and wins loads of awards without being all that good, then it’ll be a perfect compliment to Bioshock the game.
May 20th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Oh, didn’t know BioShock was a Marmite game…
Tony, if it worked for Titanic then this film will surely clean up at the Oscars - it’s got everything you mentioned in common with that film plus giant drill-wielding crazies! :P
May 20th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Ace post dude!
There was an press release I read about EA head honcho John Riccitiello and how he had just left a boardroom full of movie execs shaking in their boots.
They were scared because Iron Man (the movie) was opening close to the release of GTA IV (the game) and how he has never seen this kind of thing happen beforeon such a grand scale (movies and games competing for receipts)
So the solution they came up with? - More movie tie in games and more movies about games…brilliant :S
Needless to say, it’s a changing time, perhaps not for the best if people like Uwe Boll are still allowed to wear their director’s cap.
May 20th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Michael, I don’t know if Bioshock really is a marmite game, I was just underwhelmed with it.
http://ready-up.net/2008/04/01/slaughtering-the-sacred-cows/
May 20th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Haha, Actually there are some game movies I do enjoy XD Shamefully the first Resi movie. Even more shamefully the 2nd and 3rd ones!
Nothing Uwe Boll though XD I have limits.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:24 am
There is a very good chance that AVP was actually based on the Dark Horse comic of the same name. Which was then made into a game and then the film. If you can find the old comics they are brilliant.
May 21st, 2008 at 8:34 am
Yeah, I knew there was a chance it’s based on the comic but chose to ignore that possibility… ;)
I thought Resident Evil was OK but I think we’re in the minority, James. Same with AvP - good movies to watch when you’re just vegging out/kinda bored, you know?