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What are your opinions on Video Game movies, and do you think good ones can be made?

Last posted Nov 14, 2015 at 08:43PM EST. Added Nov 08, 2015 at 08:15PM EST
9 posts from 9 users

(Don't know whether to put this under video games or moving images gonna go with video games)
So with the release of the Warcraft trailer, I've been hearing some mixed reactions, mostly disappointment over the CGI/live-action combo, which I'm not a fan of as well (should've been all CGI, the people reeeeeally stand out and not in a good way). Whether or not you're looking forward to the WoW movie, there's still the fact that video game movies are notorious for being "meh" at best and "holy shit what the fuck is this catastrophe on screen"/Uwe Boll at worst. What do you guys think?
Personally, I think that games more known for their long stories would work best as miniseries. As for movies, I think that instead of adapting the game's story, kind of go the Telltale route and develop a story within the universe that either takes place before or during the game's campaign. That or just don't adapt games unless you are 100% sure everything about it works.

It's honestly impossible to make a movie based off a video game that will be as personal and satisfying as the original game. The premise alone is taking away the agency that made the video game great in the first place.

Though I will say, it's been going on a lot, just just not in the Hollywood scene. Visual Novels forego their sense of choice all the time while adapting to Anime or Japanese films and they pull it off just fine. Largely because they are so story based.

The same could be done for other games as well, but just remember the directors will have to surpass one very common thing in gaming… Repetition. Lots, and lots, and loooooots of incremental repetition. Strip that away from a video game and you are left with 10 minutes of content.

Last edited Nov 08, 2015 at 08:34PM EST

Well as you said, I think miniseries would work better. I've actually imagined the Ace Attorney games as a series, but I'm unsure on whether it would work better as a network, cable, premium channel, or online show.

If the game has characters with great personalities a great series/movie would be possible if the devs make(assuming the game hasn't already) a backstory and/or a story. Take Team Fortress 2 as an example, first the devs made the entire gameplay core and then added the backstory and story via comics and sfm videos and I've seen many people (even some that have no interest in the game itself) that really like them and would like a movie/series. And to keep from that example only if the creators are keeping an eye into the movie/series production it can be great.

Unless the game is more story-based, I don't think a good adaptation can be made.
Look at the Super Mario Bros. movie. What was the story behind the game? Not much, and look at how awful that movie is when they tried to give it one.

I guess it depends on the game and who tries to adapt it, but as far as I can tell it's insanely difficult to do since video games are just so different from movies. I'd much rather watch an original movie than an adaptation of something anyway.

I think a video game movie can be good so long as it captures the original essence of the game.

Unfortunately most of them don't.

Such as making Agent 47, a stealthy assassin, who is haunted by all the people he has killed and the horrible things he done, into a guns blazing action hero.

Or taking Resident Evil, a game that is meant to fill you with dread and terror, and turning it into another action flick.

Skeletor-sm

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