Five movie/book plots that COULD make great games.
It is no secret to the gaming world that games based on movies…for the most part, suck horribly. I can’t count on two hands the amount of games that are crapped out into the gaming industry and stockpiled onto the shelves of our favorite over-pricing electronic retail stores. These aren’t just games shelled out to make money for blockbuster summer hits like Iron Man, and Pirates of the Caribbean. I’m talking about games that are awful movies, and make the unsurprising transition into awful game. These games appear on every system, from Charlie’s Angels on PS2, to Lethal Weapon on NES. I think there is a major problem with the way the games are made, but I also think that if you’re going to make a video-game based on a movie or story, it should be one that would transfer over well. Here are five movie/story plots that could make excellent games if designed correctly.
I, Robot - The movie was based on a science fiction novel written by Isaac Asimov in 1950, which makes this the oldest idea in my selection that I think could be used as a game. In the movie, a smart-mouthed, her0-clique cop with a robotic arm (played by Will Smith), isn’t crazy about the idea that robots are now everywhere in the world. His mistrust is soon confirmed when armies of robots that are smarter, faster, and stronger than himself attempt to take over the city. Teaming with a unique robot with human-like thoughts and feelings, the main character uses his excellent physique, street smarts, and all-around badassery to release microchip-munching nanites into the brain of the robot control center. Are you kidding me? That sounds like it could be a great game! Imagine the different futuristic weapons that could be unleashed, hordes of super-strength pieces of tin that could be obliterated, and a very Uncharted-like environment of the city and the USR building.
The Island - Yeah, Yeah…I don’t want to hear about how bad you think Michael Bay is at directing, just think about this. In a place where everyone is treated like sheep and given a sense that the outside world was over-taken with infection there stands two characters that feel inside themselves that something is wrong. A lottery is held every so often, sending one “lucky” person to an island of luxury, but in all reality, means they are being sent to their deaths. The characters then realize they are clones being stored like back-ups for their sponsors in the real world. The sponsors don’t know that the clones are killed for their body parts and trapped like rats. How would this make a good game? Easy…you must escape the facility, avoid and destroy the people trying to kill you, and find your sponsor, letting them know what’s going on. Feels like a Mirror’s Edge type of game to me.
District 9 – 20 years ago, an alien ship took anchor right above South Africa. The aliens inside were malnourished and weak. The government welcomed them by taking care of them, and then keeping them locked into a high-security zone, living in filth and disparity. You play a normal-life agent that is sprayed in the face by some alien goo, then start changing into an alien. Being the only man on Earth to be able to fire alien weaponry, the government is hunting you like an animal, and your only option to go back to normal is to fit in with the aliens you once treated unfairly, and get to the ship hovering above to country. What part of this plot doesn’t sound like a video game?
30 Days of Night – The movie was based on an amazing graphic novel, and this is the plot I wish would’ve actually been made into a game. It takes place in a little town in Alaska, where the sun is about go down for a month. Half the town is leaving, and the other half is preparing for a dark time. Little did they know, a group of vicious barbaric vampires decides to feast upon their presence. You’re the leader of small group of survivors trying to stay alive for one month, until the sun finally comes up. Your mission is to stay alive, and kill as many vampires as you possibly can. This sounds like it could be an awesome Valve game.
Event Horizon – Your crew has been selected to investigate a ship that has ripped through dimensions, gone to hell, and has been possessed by demons. You are the leader and your crew members are becoming insane, possessed, and psychotic. Your ship is being repaired and you are stuck on the possessed one. Bodies are everywhere, recordings of past crews screaming and ripping their own skin off are found. You must wait the amount of time it takes for your ship to be fixed, and get back on it and escape to safety. This movie would make for an obvious terrifying game like Fear or Bioshock.
9 Comments
It's sad I have not seen any of these movies. They seem interesting enough though and It's looking like I should really watch event horizon
Event Horizon WAS made into a game. its called DEAD SPACE
Brilliant Movie, Brilliant Game. The creators of dead space even sed they got their inspiration from Event Horizon. D9 NEEDS TO BE MADE AS A GAME. AMAZING, I want that force gun he has at the start. Dunno bout I,Robot and Island, and havent seen 30 Days of nights, but arent there already Enough zombie/vampire games out there?
Actually, from what I understand, The two plots are completely different. Dead Space is much more of an alien/monster breach in an empty space vessel. I can see where some of the scenery is inspired by Event Horizon, but the plot is more like the low budget movie Deep Rising, with Treat Williams…and if I'm not mistaken, the two huge monsters look almost identical. Event Horizon is much more about supernatural things, and demons.
I would like to try out Dead Space though, heard its amazing.
Dead Space is amazing. When i was playing through it, I almost instantly saw similarities between it and Event Horizon. I think the basic outline of the two is very similar; Rescue/Repair mission goes wrong, you get stuck on the other ship, then have to find a way off while something you don't quite know what it is tries to stop you. Although i do agree Event Horizon is more supernatural/psychological the Dead Space.
Event Horizon pretty much was already made as Dead Space.
Even Isaac's suit looks like the ship Event Horizon.
they need to make a proper Stargate game not one of these have they gone bust or not rip offs
… and how. I would love to see a Stargate game, that's worth a damn anyways.
what about Team America: World Police? You have to stop Alec Baldwin & Kim Jong-Ill from doing whatever bad shit they want to do, have puppet sex & sing the theme song. Think COD/Leisure Suit Larry/Lips. Cool huh?
&^%$ YES! to the island video game