Ben-DutkaVideo games are closer to movies than ever before in terms of technology and cinematography, so perhaps it isn't a big stretch to see cut-scene collections in theaters.
During a Bank of America Merill Lynch Media, Communications, and Entertainment Conference, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick cited their latest hit, Starcraft II , which has already sold over 3 million copies. The slick movie cut-scenes in the game got a lot of attention, which prompted Kotick and Co. to think about producing full-length feature films . Said Kotick:
"If we were to go to our audience and say we have this great hour-and-a-half of linear video that we would like to make available to you at a $30 price point or $20 price point, you'd have the biggest opening weekend of any film ever. Within the next five years, you are likely to see us do that. Now that may be in partnership with somebody; it may be alone. But there will be a time when we capitalize on the relationship that we have with our audience."
Kotick said Activision is poised to make the leap, as they could "bypass the expenses of standard distribution methods" and after purchasing it, "an extremely high percentage" of company followers would be willing to head to the theater and watch it again. Back in 2001, Sega launched a limited Japanese theatrical run of Shenmue based on various parts of the Dreamcast game. That movie was then included with the Xbox version of Shenmue II . Blizzard has also tried something similar, as they released a three-DVD set boasting cinematics from Starcraft , Starcraft: Brood War , Diablo II and Warcraft III .
Kotick apparently wants to tap into Hollywood; he also spoke about a vision he's had for several years…a vision that has now come true: the audience for video games would broaden to the point where it resembled the fan base of television and films. He mentioned the lip-syncing and facial animations we'll see in the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops , saying it would be a "breakthrough" for the industry. In the end, he said "the ability to have characters with whom players could form an emotional connection – the same way they do with characters in movies – was a 'Holy Grail' in the industry." Well, that sounds about right.
I dunno, it could work. I mean, imagine taking the cut scenes and cinematics of something like God of War, upping them a bit visually so that they're either on par with God of War III's visuals or some CGI movie or another, editing it to the point where it's coherent, and offering it to the rest of the world — the non-gaming folks — as a film.
And then imagine a live action version of the same film made by a bunch of screen writers and directors that think they can do better than any other medium in the world, chopping the story to the point where it bares no resemblance to the source material whatsoever, and having Vin Diesel play the Ghost of Sparta.
Which is the more pleasing option?
As for the numbers he's throwing out there, this guy loves to talk big and make absurd statements regarding the financial aspects of gaming. I have no idea why he does it, but he continues to do it.
I would prefer this route to Hollywood's Holier-Than-Thou version, but it still would take a lot of work and post-production effort to turn cutscenes into a fully functioning film.
To be fair Vin Diesel is the only actor in Hollywood who remotely resembles Kratos.
Physically, yeah. Well, wait. What's his name… Jason Momoa. I think he could pull off a Kratos if he lost the current mop of Conan hair he has for the new Conan flick.
That's the reason I never want to see a GoW live action film. Ever. I can't see anyone pulling off a convincing Kratos.
Same with Metal Gear. There's not a single actor off the top of my head that could be Snake.
I'd rather they did them like this… but for, y'know, the same price as regular movies. Heh..
I wholeheartedly agree with you. Making a movie out of primarily game cutscenes, vastly improved graphically, and then filler added to make up for any elements gotten across during gameplay, and it could be brilliant. Then again, 20-30 bucks US for a movie ticket is insane. Eh, my brain doesn't want to work right now, but yes. AGREE.
Peace.
I think Mr. Kotick needs to stop getting baked before his shareholders meetings. And there's this little invention called youtube where you can watch the same videos for free, maybe he hasn't heard about it yet.
Sorry, I can't really see this happening. I'm not sure movie studios would take it too seriously either, given the quality of most cinematics.
In a related subject, wasn't there a super special edition of MGS3 that had a movie made up from all of the game cut scenes plus some new ones to fill the gaps? If so, I'd watch that for sure.
Why not just make good CG films out of the games and put them in theatres?
I loved Spirits Within though it had nothing to do with any FF game. The cost of advertising and releasing a move in theaters is a big reason you don't see any videogame CG films as of yet.
I prefer they stick to DVD like the recent RE Degeneration and Dead Space Downfall.
Spirits Within was eye candy. I really wanted to like that movie but couldn't.
Blizzard is in the process of making a CG Warcraft movie. Uwe Boll asked to direct it. Blizzard politely said, "not ever."
The Star Craft cut scenes were really cool i'll admit that but im not gunna buy into this. Also, is it just me or does Kotick have such an evil smile?
oh dear lord, yea good luck with that!
will somebody please hurry up and shoot this prick!?
Don't even bother Bob, selling cutscenes and add a few is nice.
At $30?
Only the fanboys would buy it.(Just like those bots who bought the overprice DLC for MW2)
Take the cutscenes from the MGS series and watch as it put Pixar to shame.
MGS cut scenes are great but Pixar still owns. Monsters Inc. Still looks better than most games this generation.
Even Toy Story looks better than some of the stuff being pumped out today. More game companies need to learn to use Maya. Then we'll really see some eyepopping games. Pixar uses it and so does Weta for example. And we see what they can do with it.
Let me guess – with three minutes of never before seen content? Ugh…
Why pay $30 to see a cutscene movie when you can pay $10 to see a real movie? I'll drop $1.99 to see a cutscene movie and thats about it. Theres no real innovation there.
dot.Hack series (both Roots/GU and the originals) had great success. Although, that was anime for the shows… and it wasn't in theatres.
By the way, if anyone here plays alot of PS2, the dot.Hack games/animes are freakin' awesome!
I think Kotick is really out of touch here. He talks of “fans†of his company. What fans? Doesn’t he realize that most gamers despise Activision this gen?
Yes, I buy Activision’s games because I’m a completionist and a collector; but I buy them used, not new. So, Kotick and Activision do not, and will not, see any of my money. Furthermore, Activision doesn’t release any DLC that I want to buy.
Kotick is confusing the millions of fans of Activision’s three hit franchises — COD, Warcraft, and Starcraft — with them being “fans†of the company. I’m, however, sure that most of the fans of those three franchises also despise Activision and Kotick and are not “fans†of either.
Besides, didn’t most developers include theatrical modes in their games at one point that allowed you to watch the cut scenes from beginning to end like a movie?
Leave it to Activision to figure out a way to monetize and destroy the purity of gaming once again.
Some games do allow you to do that. I played the cutscenes from 24: The Game as a movie for my parents so they could catch up on the story (which was canon) without having to sit through the whole game.
He calls what Activision has with its audience a relationship? HA!
But where does it say Kotick is talking about video game cut scenes? Some people gotta start reading what is actually written.
The man wants to make a cg movie, not an hour and a half compilation of cut scenes. If Activision released a cg film with the same caliber of animation and action that is found in Starcraft II, everyone and their uncle would go see it.
I agree with some of that! My aunt would definitely not see it.
It says so in the gamespot article that Ben links to, it says nothing about making entirely new movies.
Charging $30 for cutscenes that you already have and expecting customers to go back and pay to see them again just shows how greedy Activision really is.
Last edited by Benzin on 9/16/2010 1:08:23 PM
Seems your the one who needs to read more clearly Alienage. Nice try though.
Next thing you know, he will sell in game music and call it a musical.