Video Game Adaptations of Films

[Teckdeth]

Hey guys,

I need some help with my dissertation. My dissertation topic is "Why adaptations made between Films and Video Games fail", and I'm currently doing some research for it.

My main question for you guys is is ET for the Atari 2600 the earliest example of a video game based on a film? So far it's the earliest I've found, I would appreciate anyone correcting me.

Aside from that, lets just open up the discussion. Why do you think these adaptations fail? What do you think are the primary reasons they fail? Can you think of any particular examples? Can you think of any exceptions? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Right now I'm focusing on two points:
1) The differences in the development cycle, focusing on development time, budget size and distribution.
2) The problems with transferring stories from a linear to a non-linear writing style.

Originally, I thought that the key to making a successful adaptation is to not follow the direct story of the film or game in question, but to use the most apparent set pieces, mythology and lore to create a unique narrative. Evidence of this theory working can be found with Star Wars games, like how Star Wars: Episode 1 for windows and playstation was considered pretty average or bad, whereas KOTOR is obviously awesome. I also thought the same went for Lord of the Rings games, comparing the trilogy games to things like Battle for Middle Earth, or The Third Age, but then I found out the trilogy games are actually reviewed pretty well and have been generally well received, so I've kind of abandoned this idea.

 

[Dandark]

It can depend. A big flaw can be if a game tries to follow a movie to closely. The lord of the rings games were actully pretty good, if I remember rightly they didn't follow the movies exactly and actully split the story up into 3 different storylines that eventully converged.
A lot of the time this doesn't work however. Movies were not made with videogame design in mind so it usaully won't work if you try to follow it too closely.

Another movie game(I believe) was Spiderman 2 which im pretty sure had pretty positive reviews. This game was open world, it gave you a lot of freedom and didn't follow the movie way too closely.

The biggest reason though seems to be that movie games just have low quality. Usaully they seem to just be thrown together with little to no effort, it's as if they were not even supposed to be able to sell on their own merits but simply be carried by the movies.

 

[distortedreality]

People don't realize how hard it is to transfer one type of media to another type of media successfully - that's the reason they fail. It seems to me that devs treat movie adaptations as just another game when in reality they're a very different beast.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I view one of the main reason why game base on a film fail is usually due to the fact they had a smaller budget to make it when compared to any other regular game being made.
Also another reason is probably the team who are making the game. I mean I assume (you probably got to find evidence of this) the team don't care about the game project at all and are making it cos it's their job. Compared that attitude to let say Bioshock or SWTOR, assuming those making of video are genunine they show more enthusiastic toward making their game. In another word the film base game team have little to none passion toward making their game.

 

[Limecake]

My main question for you guys is is ET for the Atari 2600 the earliest example of a video game based on a film? So far it's the earliest I've found, I would appreciate anyone correcting me.

as far as I know this is the first one, also credited with crashing the video game market.

Why do you think these adaptations fail? What do you think are the primary reasons they fail? Can you think of any particular examples? Can you think of any exceptions? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

These games usually fail due to time constraints, they are often rushing to get the game released at the same time as the movie. They are also under more constraints when it comes to story/content since it will need to line up (at least a little) with the movie.

...
2) The problems with transferring stories from a linear to a non-linear writing style.

I don't agree, there is no reason the video game can't be linear as well. I think we've been spoiled by games like Mass Effect 3 and Skyrim, but a good game with a good story can stand on it's own without 'branching storylines' and 'morality decisions'. There is nothing wrong with a linear game.

Originally, I thought that the key to making a successful adaptation is to not follow the direct story of the film or game in question, but to use the most apparent set pieces, mythology and lore to create a unique narrative. Evidence of this theory working can be found with Star Wars games, like how Star Wars: Episode 1 for windows and playstation was considered pretty average or bad, whereas KOTOR is obviously awesome. I also thought the same went for Lord of the Rings games, comparing the trilogy games to things like Battle for Middle Earth, or The Third Age, but then I found out the trilogy games are actually reviewed pretty well and have been generally well received, so I've kind of abandoned this idea.

I somewhat agree, I'd like to point to 'spiderman 2' the game adaptation of the second spiderman film. What made this game great was it understood why it would be fun to be spiderman (mostly swinging on webs around town and pulling off crazy acrobatics). The story was fairly sub-par but I didn't mind because it was the first (and only) game that made me feel like I was playing spiderman

That being said, KOTOR and the LOTR games aren't based on any movie. They are based on the same world as the movies however I would not consider them movie adaptations.

 

[Teckdeth]

...
2) The problems with transferring stories from a linear to a non-linear writing style.

I don't agree, there is no reason the video game can't be linear as well. I think we've been spoiled by games like Mass Effect 3 and Skyrim, but a good game with a good story can stand on it's own without 'branching storylines' and 'morality decisions'. There is nothing wrong with a linear game.

Hm, I could have phrased my point better better. I realise of course that games can be both linear and non-linear, and have nothing against linear games. In fact my favourite game of all time is Resident Evil 4, which is a mostly linear experience. What I should have said is the issues with transferring from a non-interactive to an interactive medium, or the issues when transferring from a fundamentally linear writing style, to a writing style that must allow for player participation. But I take your point.

That being said, KOTOR and the LOTR games aren't based on any movie. They are based on the same world as the movies however I would not consider them movie adaptations.

Knights of the Old Republic isn't a direct adaptation of Star Wars, but it has been adapted from the Star Wars universe which of course, began with the films, so you're right, but it may have succeeded because of this, same goes for B4ME and The Third Age. That was kind of my point. However, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy games definitely are direct adaptations. I mean, they contain portions of the film for cutscenes, all the characters are voiced by the actors in the film, they just are.

I somewhat agree, I'd like to point to 'spiderman 2' the game adaptation of the second spiderman film. What made this game great was it understood why it would be fun to be spiderman (mostly swinging on webs around town and pulling off crazy acrobatics). The story was fairly sub-par but I didn't mind because it was the first (and only) game that made me feel like I was playing spiderman

Another movie game(I believe) was Spiderman 2 which im pretty sure had pretty positive reviews. This game was open world, it gave you a lot of freedom and didn't follow the movie way too closely.

Yeah, Spiderman 2 is definitely on the list, no worries there, love that game.

Cheers for the other comments folks!