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Aiming For Hit Games, Movie Licenses Come Up Short
Thanks to the New York Times for its article (free reg. req.) discussing the relative unpopularity of licensed videogames based on recent films. The piece notes: "Of the nation's 10 top-selling games for video consoles last year, only one was based on a film, a television show or a book: Enter the Matrix", before arguing: "The problem seems to arise from basic differences between films and games as forms of media. Films, like books, are obviously linear, with a specific, tightly defined story arc and specifically defined characters." Are there ways film adaptions can break free of these constraints?
Star Wars Episode 1 Racer was one of the best reasons to own an N64. The second and third Lord of the Rings games for the GBA are probably the best games I've played on that platform. Neither of these stuck tightly to the story of the movie. They picked out key elements and used them to flavour a game that would have been popular even without the francise. That's how you make a movie license game.
I think it's more to do with deadlines. Tie-in games have to come out when the film does. This means that publishers will go for unadventurous game designs and the game will often be released before it's ready.
Games like Max Payne 1 & 2 were linear, but still great games. It's all in how creative you are with the gameplay. Hell, those games were more like movies than a lot of movies I've seen.
It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds. - Captain Hammer
The problem seems to arise from basic differences between films and games as forms of media.
Yeah right!
The problem is that they just aren't making good games based on these... linear or non-linear. The common assumption is... if we put "The Hulk" or "The Matrix" on it, it will sell itself. So they tend to concentrate more on the brand than the quality of the game itself.
I have a solution! Are you listening movie and game companies? Concentrate on quality as much or more than the brand! I know that sounds hard... but it's not. Developers do that on just about every other game out there.
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor
just to note, this is a generality (granted a pretty good one), but a generality nonetheless. if you want to talk games based on movie licenses, look at the reviews for everything or nothing, the newest bond game. the return of the king game garnered strong critical praise as well. further, the reviews that i've seen so far for the new chronicles of riddick game (read: EGM) call it one of the best xbox games yet. admittedley, these two games took an existing license and crafted an entirely new story from what was seen in the movies, but still, they're based on licesnses nonetheless.