Game & Movies has the line been blurred?

[SAS]

Due to the lack of juicy news items today I've been persuaded by Mazling to post about a topic. So here's goes...

There is news of Spiderman 3 the game being developed, but Spiderman 3 is still in script form, and we have yet to see Spiderman 2 (due to hit the big screen soon). Why has the game and movie industry decided to launch so many game tie ins? You may think it's down to the money but is that the sole reason?

The Matrix with its 'Animatrix' animated pre-sequel, and the game tie in was designed to add more to the storyline, making you play the game to understand more of the matrix story. The game was pretty poor, which sadly seems common with movie game tie in, but did it serve its purpose of giving a better understanding of the story line, and add to the overall Matrix experience?

#FreddysHouse IRC user Spinky’s comments> The game was supposed to explain the origins of the matrix, though that I felt it was designed for milking. I would have preferred to keep some mystery in how the matrix began, without knowing who started the war and all that.

Van Helsing which I recently had to sit through has an animated pre-sequel. The game is also available. While I sat through the film I could see where the action was scripted just for a game purpose and I felt as though I was watching a game with scripted cut scenes rather than a film. Numerous movie sites have commented Van Helsing was scripted to fit in with a game, and a Van Helsing TV series… This could have spoiled an otherwise good film?

What are your views? Could a game tie actually add to a film experience? Are games companies better off creating a game after the films are made, and not have the film edited around a game which recently seems a common place in Hollywood.

 

[Mazling]

The cynical sod inside me wants to say that the big, evil corporations want to get their oar in everywhere, and control everything - film tie-in games already look like factory line rubbish. Not that the films are much good, either.
For me, the Jedi Knight series is and always will be the best example of this kind of thing (second to x-wing and the likes, MORE Star Wars). They aren't specific film tie-ins, but what the hell they rock.
It's probably also fair to mention that films have been made, based on games. Do you prefer Wing Commander or Tomb Raider, and why I suppose the games based-on films are successful because the films create a great universe, something to get involved in rather than mimic - rather than a character who we're supposed to think is cool and buy little plastic models of and lunch boxes with stickers. Though we're all older now and some probably go to "conventions" dressed up really, er ... wrongly.
The kid inside wants to lop people's arms off with a lightsaber, then go online and lop other peoples' arms off. It's all cool, but I wan't something for myself.

 

[yaruar]

i think the bottom line is cold hard cash.

The video game industry is now bigger than the film industry in terms of cash and film makers know that they can make more money with game tie ins, it's a logical extension of merchandising.

 

[TdC]

personally I hold film<>game and game<>film conversions in contempt. I find there is usually a distinct feeling of "let's milk it for all it's worth", and the quality tends to be mediocre. having said that, I've played the LotR games with a mate on PS/2 and had a good laugh. not much more than that though.

 

[Escape]

It's only about the money now, because developers don't have the imagination to make good film<>movie tie-ins.
Games developers lack inspiration and the majority of games released are crap. Just like films, only 2-3 released every year are worth watching. Given the low quality of both, films and games it's expecting a little too much to have a good movie accompanied by a decent game.

Instead of action figures, movies will come with games now because games make more money. Parents who take their kids shopping aren't going to stand in WH SMITH reading reviews before making a perchase(like any self respecting gamer). They see a title they recognise[random walt disney game_of_the_movie] and buy it. So the quality of games don't matter, they'll sell on the name alone and that's business.