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Why do Most Games Based on Movies Tend to Suck?

September 23, 2008 in Blog comments 15

Have you ever noticed how most games based on movies tend to be not so great? Even when the movie was really good, and there is huge potential for an awesome game, the potential doesn't shine through, and the games come out seeming lower than average. Part of the reason is that game makers often want to have it out the day or close to whenever the movie airs, selling more copies. Edge Online talks about some reasons why these games tend to be subpar.

Over time, tons of motion pictures have been licensed for a video game iteration. Unfortunately, no matter how good the movie, and even when the premise fits perfectly, games based on films tend to all suck. Or at least most of them.

The best known anecdote about a movie made into game is one that industry insiders have heard as often as their grandfather’s WWII tale… The year was 1982, Atari was on a roll, Steven Spielberg’s E.T. had just blown up the box office.

Steve Ross, CEO of Atari's parent company Warner Communications, entered talks with Steven Spielberg and Universal Pictures. A long time got wasted negotiating the right amount to be paid for the rights (reportedly something between 20 and 25 millions US$). By July, when the contract was finally inked, less than six weeks remained in order to meet the September 1 deadline necessary to ship in time for Christmas shopping season.
Twisted via edge-online.com »
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Most recently commented on by on Sep 25, 2008

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  • 0
    Final Blade Sep 23, 08
    Its probably due to the fact the directors doesn't make mistakes filming the video and everything at the ends turns pretty great. Where as games if one small things is not right with the controls or how its different to the movie people tend to dislike the game. I suppose Movies are put on a higher Pedestal then games and its easier to make movies.
  • 0
    tekmosis Sep 23, 08
    quote
    Why do Most Movies Based on Games Tend to Suck?
    Fixed, and..Because they're made by Uwe Boll....OHSNAP.
  • 0
    Gutter_Tech Sep 23, 08
    or maybe its because after seeing the movie we already know all of the *bleep*ing plot twists!
  • 0
    The Primagen Sep 23, 08
    No matter how good a story is, people buy games to PLAY them. I don't go into a game store looking for a movie, I go in looking for something interactive, and in the case of EB games, I go in to make fun of the staff for bad haircuts and the fact that most of them pronounce Mario as may-ryo.

    But Tekmosis is right, Uwe Boll is a dick.
    • 0
      Big A2 Sep 23, 08
      You shop at EB?

      That's sad.

      I feel very sorry for your wallet.
  • 0
    Duality_18 Sep 23, 08
    I think its because you cant make a quality game in the amount of time that they try to do it.
  • 0
    Killosity Sep 24, 08
    I would say because the conventional/functional aspects of a movie differ from that of a video game.
  • 0
    Dylanrulz4794 Sep 24, 08
    Yeah, I agree. I mean come on! They think people will buy it, they do. and then it turns out that its SUCKS!
  • 0
    BlackLabel Sep 24, 08
    It is all down to creative licence and freedom, most game developers are only given the script and a select few assets from the movie once the movie is almost complete. This gives the developer 6 months if lucky to make the whole game and polish it, only in rare occasions does the developer get more access and time. For example Treyarch on the making of the new James Bond game, they have been making that game from the ground up since Casino Royale (movie) came out and have been given 24/7 access to all the movie sets, all the actors and everything else. It shows in that game but unfortunately for every 1 that is granted all access the rest either don't have the option or choose not to take it.
  • 0
    King X2 Sep 24, 08
    I never like games based on movies, because I already know the storyline and the characters. I also think "(Something) THE GAME" is a pretty cheesy title. There are some good movie-based game, don't get me wrong, but the majority of them are mediocre.
  • 0
    ZaikXory Sep 24, 08
    Maybe because most people already know whats going to happen? And most of the gameplay in those type of games aren't exactly original and get really repetitive.
  • 1
    Big A2 Sep 24, 08
    I say it's because most of them are made by EA.
    • 0
      ZaikXory Sep 25, 08
      Perhaps. Maybe they focus too much on the movie itself to actually make a good game out of it.
      • 0
        Big A2 Sep 25, 08
        So your saying that they make games that they expect will sell off the hype of the movie and not the actual quality of the game its self.
  • 0
    Killosity Sep 25, 08
    haha EA is probably a key factor never thought of that.

    Many of these movie-to-game productions are rushed also, to release alongside or close to the release of the movie, to ensure that the buzz from the movie makes transitions onto the purchase of the game.

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