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Games, Movies Tie The Knot

Posted by simoniker on from the escape-before-plunging-into-river dept.

Thanks to Wired News for their article discussing the continuing and increasing synergy between games and movies, as the piece starts: "Hollywood involvement has gone one of two ways: licensing a hit game franchise... for a big-screen adaptation, or incorporating Hollywood talent (writers, directors, actors) within a... game." The piece discusses Hollywood agencies like Endeavor, who "...worked with Vin Diesel in setting up his new game company, Tigon Games.", and has also arranged creative input behind the scenes: "Despite the objection of some game designers, agencies are cutting deals for writers to get involved in video games. In the case of Activision's World War II game, Call of Duty, Michael Schiffer was brought in to punch up the game characters' dialogue." The article concludes: "It looks like Hollywood and games are in this marriage for the long haul."

4 of 23 comments (clear)

  1. wopee (FP?) by jermyjerm · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'd rather there be more "synergy" between games and writers. No matter how cinematic a game is, it'll still suck if it's got a B-movie equivalent script (as most of them currently seem to).

    --
    --- "Yeah, I'm a bit stressed out. I have a research paper due tomorrow and it has to be +5, Insightful."
    1. Re:wopee (FP?) by leviramsey · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The only issue I think there would be is that screenwriters might not be attuned to the open-ended plots of games.

      But I would definitely like to see more screenwriters brought in as script doctors for dialogue!

  2. Using Hollywod "superstars" in games by Scorchio · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Bah, mod me -1, cynic, but I think this is the last thing games need at the moment.

    We all know a major problem with the games industry at the moment is the lack of innovation - the reluctance of publishers to fund the long term development of a game that doesn't fit the tried and tested mold of a dozen other games. They can't afford to spend money on games that they can't guarantee will sell.

    Tell these same publishers they need to divert many $$$ from the budget to secure an actor or actress for essentially a couple of hours in a sound studio and a signature allowing the use of their likeness, and I guarantee you they'll plump for a basic clone of whatever's in the top 10 that particular day. You could argue that the use of a popular celebrity would help any game sell, but I can't see that washing with those in control of the purse strings.

  3. Oh god... by SuperMo0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Seeing "Hollywood" and "Video games" in the same sentence bring horrible memories of the Mario Bros. movie into my head... MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! *cries in a corner*