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Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

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Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#261

Post by pvg »

jitix wrote: post #233
sirmarksalot wrote: post #44

So many video game movie projects are missing the simple question, "why?" So many of these games are inspired by movies in the first place, and their stories are mostly just cliches based on their source material. It's fine in the context of the game, because the player is doing something, but when you put that into a non-interactive medium, the flaws become obvious. If you take Indiana Jones, turn it into a game wit…

I think Mass Effect trilogy is fairly original and does away with a lot of the space sci-fi cliches like humans being the ruling class of the galaxy, or all species having a united voice, etc. I’d love to see it made into a movie.

"Humanity makes contact with the galactic community of intelligent life and claws its way to respect and acceptance with the help of plucky heroes". That is a very common trope employed by many, Star Trek among them. It's a fine set of games but as a story for a movie, it's as generic as it gets.

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#262

Post by jitix »

bananarepdev wrote: post #251
jitix wrote: post #233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Mass Effect trilogy is fairly original and does away with a lot of the space sci-fi cliches like humans being the ruling class of the galaxy, or all species having a united voice, etc. I’d love to see it made into a movie.

When i think about Mass Effect, what comes to mind are these long sequences in the Citadel where you do nothing more than talk, learning about the biology, technology qnd geopolitics of the game's universe. I don't think this kind of content would fit a blockbuster movie, and without it what remains is a bunch of space marines shooting aliens.

Actually the looong cutscenes where you cannot do anything, is one of the reasons I think it’d be a good movie. If you think about it it’s a very interactive story. Yes, you have choices like most RPGs but they don’t really matter at the end.

The learning about background stuff is one thing that the movie makers would have to smooth out. I think the new tomb raider does a good job at balancing backstory and the plot. Assasins creed, not so much.

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#263

Post by tormeh »

peatmoss wrote: post #243
vvillena wrote: post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are lots of great side quests in The Witcher 3. The wolfman one, the one with the ghost and the oven, the one that takes part in a tower in an island in a lake, the one where you finish tracking down some witches... Not to mention, part of the appeal of the game is not knowing if those quests are going to end well or not. Some quests don't have good endings, while others depend on your choices, making you respo…

I’m not scandalized by the sex. I just find myself eye rolling at the hamfisted treatment of the topic. A couple of lame pickup lines and every woman you encounter practically impales herself on you. Not to mention the tedium of the cut scenes where sex is depicted. But you’re right that I have a double standard in one regard: I’ll put up with lengthier cut scenes with magic explosions and plot advancements than I wi…

>I’m not scandalized by the sex. I just find myself eye rolling at the hamfisted treatment of the topic. A couple of lame pickup lines and every woman you encounter practically impales herself on you.

Ah, I'd suggest you check the digit on your game install again. It appears you've played The Witcher (the 1st game of the trilogy). That was indeed a bit ridiculous. On the other hand, it's not like being strong, handsome, famous and famously infertile is a bad strategy for getting laid. That said, most of the sexuality/romance should probably be kept out of scene unless it contributes to the plot in some way, which is what Witcher 3 does. Whenever you can have sex with someone it is because this either advances the main romance plot or because it reveals an interesting facet of a person.

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#264

Post by lostgame »

This is incredibly obvious.

Games are not films for a reason, usually because the interactivity is tightly interwoven with the story, otherwise the artists would’ve picked a different medium.

Take away the game elements and you may have something that has a high percentage of not translating well.

If it was meant to be a movie, it would’ve been one to start. If that’s not the case, it’s an exception to the rule.

NiGHTS Into Dreams...(Saturn) is a fantastic game that IMO would make a shitty movie I dare say even if Miyazaki himself gave it a shot.

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#265

Post by Tistel »

They are different things with only a very superficial overlap. Yes they all may have: writing, 2D/3D art, acting and audio etc. But, only games have an interactive mechanic. You can tell if a game will be fun without any of the aesthetics. Just a controller, the code and simple geometry (debug/collision boxes) for the avatars and the map. Once you have found a fun mechanic all the art merely enhances a bit. Don't get me wrong, there are lots a bad games (bad mechanics!) that try to be movies with beautiful art and no real fun. But a great game is like nothing else we know of so far.

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#266

Post by abledon »

badlucklottery wrote: post #79
MrMember wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mortal Kombat wasn't amazing but it's definitely watchable. The sequel, on the other hand...

Agreed. MK Annihilation is amazingly bad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA5nDyJ8sA0

That was really enjoyable to watch. Theres something about a 'bad' movie that is relaxing and sincere in its attempt to put on a show. Id say its akin to watching your 5 year old nephews pageant or something, yes its 'bad' on the scale of believability, but an enjoyable experience nevertheless.

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#267

Post by kenning »

lostgame wrote: post #264

This is incredibly obvious. Games are not films for a reason, usually because the interactivity is tightly interwoven with the story, otherwise the artists would’ve picked a different medium. Take away the game elements and you may have something that has a high percentage of not translating well. If it was meant to be a movie, it would’ve been one to start. If that’s not the case, it’s an exception to the rule. NiGH…

I basically agree, but I do think it's possible to make a narrative from a game. The pokemon tv show and movies were very successful and widely enjoyed by the audience.

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#268

Post by shkkmo »

Tistel wrote: post #265

They are different things with only a very superficial overlap. Yes they all may have: writing, 2D/3D art, acting and audio etc. But, only games have an interactive mechanic . You can tell if a game will be fun without any of the aesthetics. Just a controller, the code and simple geometry (debug/collision boxes) for the avatars and the map. Once you have found a fun mechanic all the art merely enhances a bit. Don't g…

>You can tell if a game will be fun without any of the aesthetics. Just a controller, the code and simple geometry (debug/collision boxes) for the avatars and the map. Once you have found a fun mechanic all the art merely enhances a bit

This is only true for a limited subsection of games. (granted, this subsection of games is pretty much exclusively the source of Video Game Movies).

There are many games where mechanics are just a delivery mechanism for the art, story and overall experience.

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#269

Post by abledon »

p3llin0r3 wrote: post #136

The Super Mario Bros movie is a treasure of a terrible film. Even reading the production retrospectives is hilarious. And the fact that Dennis Hopper is in the movie is priceless.

I'd like a startup kinda like airbnb but it just gets a bunch of nerds on HN together to watch bad films and have a group discussion afterwards at a rented apartment LOL.
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