Aiming For Hit Games, Movie Licenses Come Up Short

Posted by simoniker on Wednesday May 26, 2004 @08:04PM from the not-so-great dept.

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?

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Deadlines by henben · 2004-05-26 20:25 · Score: 5, Interesting

The problem seems to arise from basic differences between films and games as forms of media.

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.