Movies Stars Seek More Control Over Videogames

stoolpigeon writes "MSNBC has an article about major actors and their relationship to videogames, saying: 'The trickle of A-list talent appearing in games has turned into a torrent of late and beyond publicity, the trend has triggered changes in game development. Stars now work with game producers on story and character development as agents and lawyers try to figure out how an actor can maintain his 'image,' in an interactive environment.'"

Comments

Great.

[Dolemite_the_Wiz]

If this is going to be the new trend then it's just a matter of time before the Gigli of Video games is put on the market. ::hurl::

Dolemite
__________________

Slackers...

[Metal_Demon]

The trickle of A-list talent appearing in games has turned into a torrent of late and beyond publicity

Whats up with the editors? A torrent without a link?

Medal of Honor and Call of duty.

[SmallFurryCreature]

Don't tell me that these games (the good bits meaning the none dungeon crawling bits) weren't inspired by "Saving private ryan" and "Band of brothers".

At least it is not the old interactive movie crap.

And script writing for games is very very hard. In movies the audience is passive. In games the audience is supposed to be in some kind of control.

I hate the movie script of Max Payne. I am in a warehouse killing bad guys left and right without any worries about police procedure. Then I hear a couple of thugs holding someone hostage. So what happens? Control is taken away and ME does something really really stupid and gets the hostage killed. BAD writing. It could work in a movie but in a game I AM MAX PAYNE and I am not an idiot.

OFP Resistance has the main character constantly whining about how he hates wars and really doesn't want to fight. Yes nice speech. Except I am supposed to be the character and I bought a war game. Spare the pacifism and lets go shoot someone. (when are we getting a war game in wich units can surrender? (and that ain't hex-based))

This has been true for all games with a story. How to make sure the personality of the player and the character in the game match. Dramatic plot twist like the dead of a character are the proven elements in a movie but hard to do in a game apparently. All somehow seem determined to make it integrate with the players action. Wing commander, you kill all the baddies in a second yet still your wingmate buys the farm. Doesn't matter how good or bad you are, it is scripted and she dies. BAD

The better way? Make it happen outside the PERCEIVED area of control of the player. You and her go on different patrols. You hear her patrol being ambushed and change course to intercept. As you come closer you hear more messages until you are close and the patrol is wiped out. Far less frustating I think, a really good script writer could improve it of course.

System Shock worked well for me since all the plot happened before you arrived on the scene. So people fighting and dying is totally outside your control yet you still can have the plot of finding out about a desperate struggle. But all the deaths are outside your characters control.

Say good-bye to modding, hello IP enforcement...

[Gyler St. James]

Draconian enforcement, that is. Has anyone thought about the ramifactions this will have to how "open" games will be? Here's a choice quote from the article: "The fact that a player has the ability to control the character presents issues,".

It's already been announced by EA that there will be no PC version of the upcoming "Everything or Nothing" Bond game. I wonder why? "What would happen to an actor's career, for example, if it was discovered that a player could have use his or her character to perform violent or sordid acts and then post screenshots on the Internet?"

Although I love the idea of game developers getting more access to Hollywood, the possiblities for abuse of the medium will be incredibly high...all too easy even. What will happen when people try to crack the console-only versions of the games and post working hacks on hacked Xboxes, GameCubes and PS2s? Can anyone smell DMCA waving all over that? Don't be surprised when the first $100+ million game is developed, with 90% being agent, lawyer, producers, etc. fees. This is not entirely good news for the gaming industry as a whole, especially after the new FBI seal they got.

There will be a war on consumers and it's already gearing up.

The First Game To Come Out

[hambonewilkins]

Supposedly, the cast of TV's Friends has teamed with Maxis for complete image control of the new "Sims: Friends", which takes the level of not having real friends one step further.

Said series creator Wil Wright: "It's a perfect combination. People play the Sims to pretend like they have a real life and a job. People watch the TV show 'Friends' to pretend like they have a real group of close-knit friends. We're creating a real synergy here."

Geeks are disappointed with the decision, hoping for either a "Buffy" or "Farscape" version of the popular sim-game. Due to a lack of demand from the general public for either, geeks will likely hack the game to create it themselves.
-Gamespot

Re:No involvement

[Jens_UK]

Game developers telling movie producers to include a car chase in their movie, as they have already written a great driving section for the spin-off game?

I swear this is the only reason for that conveyor belt/factory sequence in Attack of the Clones.