Poppular Videogame to Become Movie? High Risk of a Flop...

[Tendou]

I have to say that the key reasons why a video game based movie doesn't succeed is because of the writing staff first and foremost and then due to the guys at the top.

There is little to no creativity when these writers write the script. They tend to try and stick to what the game has in it and they don't go any further. No one game(excluding Metal Gear Solid Franchise) has enough material to make a decent plot for a movie. Nowadays you see a lot of the bigger games have novels and a whole expanded universe supporting them. Games like Halo, Gears of War, Mass Effect and many others have many novels and other material that expands the universe.

As for the guys at top they tend to play it safe. They are sometimes the ones that urge the writers to just stick to the game's plot and not expand it. They want to make money not do the game justice.

In order to make a good video game based movie there needs to be an expanded universe for the game. That EU needs to be implemented in the script heavily in order to give more substance. Also it needs to be treated seriously. Not just like some B action flick. There needs to be decent characters that are well developed and a very immersive plot. Also in my opinion the most important piece is that the developers need to be heavily involved as well as the publisher of the game.

The one game that I see making the best transition to the big screen is Halo. Out of all the current popular games on the market Halo due to the novels, games and many other sources has the single most well developed story. There is so much material to use that it would be easy to make a decent script. Also both Bungie and Microsoft have already shown how involved they would be with the project. All of the amazing live action Halo commericals are their attempts at showing that making a movie for this game is possible. Also Microsoft was actually willing to pay for almost the whole movie.

As for Shadow of the Colossus I played the game and thought it was massive in scope and was a great experience. I think that if they do what I said above then it will be a great movie. I do believe that it will be good. I doubt they would want to waste money on a flop. The other video game inspired movies cost very little to make, but this one I would assume would cost a pretty penny.(I think that is the phrase) I would definitely see this movie upon release. I usually have high hopes about these types of movies.

[Gerbil the Sinner]

Originally Posted by Tendou

In order to make a good video game based movie there needs to be an expanded universe for the game. That EU needs to be implemented in the script heavily in order to give more substance. Also it needs to be treated seriously. Not just like some B action flick. There needs to be decent characters that are well developed and a very immersive plot. Also in my opinion the most important piece is that the developers need to be heavily involved as well as the publisher of the game.

Explain what you define as EU.

[Tendou]

Originally Posted by Gerbil the Sinner

Explain what you define as EU.

EU=Expanded Universe

Novels, comics and other sources of material outside of the game that expand upon said game's universe.

[Gerbil the Sinner]

Originally Posted by Tendou

EU=Expanded Universe

I know. I asked what you defined as Expanded Universe.

Novels, comics and other sources of material outside of the game that expand upon said game's universe.

But why is that necessary and not, say, introducing new plot elements specifically for a film?

Sorry for the double post. But I couldn't pass this up.

Originally Posted by TokuNoob

I meant not bad in terms of production value. "Eragon" certainly could've been better, but I think the studio wanted to aim for a more child friendly film. As for the books being unoriginal, with as many stories that have been made I would find it hard to find anything original these days.

That excuse is shit.

"There have been a lot of stories, so I'll just settle with derivative crap."

Stories can be original while having concepts not entirely original. It's about how the ideas are implemented.

While with the Inheritance Cycle comparisons to such works as Dragon Riders of Pern, Lord of the Rings and (most infamously) Star Wars, it at least makes for some enjoyable story telling.

If you like really crappy, overly flowery, ugly purple prose and shitty characterization, then sure. It's really enjoyable.

I haven't seen Chun Li yet (nor am I likely to), so I really can't say, but alot of films deemed as bad I personally enjoyed (Deep Rising; definitely a guilty pleasure ). I'd have to say that the difference between good or bad (with today's films anyway) really depends on the viewer.

Quality =/= preference. Just because you like something doesn't make it good. I like the original Power Rangers, but it's a shitty show.

Things can have quality that can't be disputed. Preference, however, is up to the individual.

But I would have to say movies like Manos: the Hands of Fate, really do suck. If you haven't seen it yet, but your curious, buy it as a part of Myster Science Theater 3000.

Nice way to contradict yourself there.

MOD ACTION: DO NOT DOUBLE POST, EDIT YOUR FUCKING POSTS

[Tendou]

Originally Posted by Gerbil the Sinner

I know. I asked what you defined as Expanded Universe.



But why is that necessary and not, say, introducing new plot elements specifically for a film?

The reason why I believe that EU material is necessary is due to most games not having decent stories in terms of movies. You could always introduce new plot materials and that is what I am getting at. I think the EU needs to be there as a base for the writers to expand upon. If you give the writers nothing to work with they can't craft anything good. The writers need a lot of material to work with in order to create new material that still adheres to the game's universe.

I don't think a movie should ever just be about the events that took place in the EU of said game. There is no point in just redoing a story that is already done unless it is horrible of course.

[Gerbil the Sinner]

Originally Posted by TokuNoob

Okay, fine. Point taken. Touche'. But then what? Is it a bad movie if a Shadow of the Colossus film strays from the source material.

Um. No.

I never implied that, either.

It would be I Am Legend set a sword and sorcery setting with no hope of success because Will Smith wouldn't be in it.

Except the story of Shadow of the Colossus is NOTHING like I Am Legend behind very, very few superficial similarities (or a core similarity; one man with an animal-like companion alone battling monsters) that are implemented in completely different ways.

Or is it a case of an unfilmable story?

...It's basically one giant monster movie.

I have to admit that I've thought about a Shadow of the Colossus movie before and decided that it should just be left as is (a game!).

In it's original state, maybe. But the core concept could easily be turned into a movie with modifications to fit the medium.

Like I posted previously, the idea of having a big deserted land scape wouldn't work for a film, because the audience wouldn't be directly involved.

People can't be interested in large, beautiful landscapes? What constitutes as "directly involved" to you?

I suppose they could try and make up for this in some area, and they do have the game Ico to fall back on in the case of an expanded universe.

Or they could just create story elements for the movie.

Other than that it seems to me Shadow of the Colossus is a bit of a risk. Remember, I walked into this thread expecting it to underperform (if it's even released theatrically).

Um. Okay.

If you were trying to come up with something original you would just have to take a previously presented concept in a new direction. If it were to be truly original, well I have no idea. :(

You're...not even saying anything here. I don't understand what this has to do with ANYTHING.

Oh, and by the way, I forgot to say welcome to the board.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by Tendou

The reason why I believe that EU material is necessary is due to most games not having decent stories in terms of movies. You could always introduce new plot materials and that is what I am getting at. I think the EU needs to be there as a base for the writers to expand upon. If you give the writers nothing to work with they can't craft anything good.

You don't know that and that claim is completely baseless.

[Tendou]

Originally Posted by Gerbil the Sinner

You don't know that and that claim is completely baseless.

Actually I get this notion from movies like Street Fighter, Doom, Super Mario Bros. and pretty much anything done by Uwe Boll pertaining to video games. Each and everyone of these movies suffer from bad plots among other things. Due to the recurring trend in this when it comes to video game movies it is fair to say that the writers can't create a cohesive script. Plus if you look at these movies one problem is that none of them have any movie story worthy material.

Street Fighter is just a bunch of people fighting in the streets. They added in a "story" just for a way for players to progress through the game and ultimately extend replay value.

Doom is another game that has a typical FPS story. Nothing special nor deep nor complex nor anything else about it. Great game though for its time.

I don't think I even need to state the lack of story in Super Mario Bros.

I think these are fair observations based on recurring trends. That is one reason why there is such reluctance in actually creating these movies in Hollywood. We'll have to see how Prince of Persia and God of War do story wise since these seem to be the closest to release.(Prince of Persia is actually underway. Don't know about the status of God of War.)