In an interview with the Financial Times, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello says that the film industry is "worried" by the high-profile videogame industry. Specifically, Riccitiello cites the release of Grand Theft Auto IV on certain summer box office blockbusters.
"[Hollywood] is worried about whether Iron Man the movie is going to get killed by Grand Theft Auto the game," he tells the paper.
I'm already planning to hit the sticky floors of my local cinema to see the live-action Iron Man film, but for many, the movie-going experience has been killed by obnoxious crowds, and the high price of snacks and admission. It only makes sense to think that people may be more likely to drop $60 on a 20 to 50 hours entertainment experience, versus the $10 to $40 (with snacks!) movie-going experience.
I know it might be hard to be objective, since many of you are likely to sell blood or your babies to pay for Rockstar's next big thing. But do you think that the increasing popularity of gaming is having an impact on the movie industry? Is the perceived value of the entertainment of games versus movies changing?
[Via MCV]
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Contest:
11:40 AM on 04.14.2008
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So no.
It won't.
It's like Hollywood doesn't get it or something. If they "made entertaining movies" again instead of lowering their standards and producing 2 hour long advertisements (I'm sorry, 3 hour) I'm not going to the theater.
And 11 bucks to see one in the theaters? Please. Lower it to 5 and I'll go back to seeing 3 movies a week. This is just ridiculous. Either that or start using one of those things called "budgets" when you're filming. You can do a lot with very little, it just takes some... I dunno, IMAGINATION!
I think for the audience that GTAIV is geared towards (18 year olds and up) they'll buy the game AND go see Iron Man if they have any interest because they make their own money
The thing is, you know there are tons of young kids out there (like 13-15 year olds) who's parents are buying GTAIV for them. It's very possible those kids who may have gone to see Iron Man won't be because their parents just shelled out $60 for GTAIV for them.
Personally, I have no problem paying $10 to see Iron Man but will be getting GTAIV from GameFly because I think it's stupid to spend $60 on ANY game. I own the three previous GTA's and haven't touched any of them since a couple weeks after they launched. I expect most people could say the same thing. Why pay $60 for GTAIV when I'll finish it within a couple weeks and never play it again?
if iron man does not do well, then it will be due to the movie sucking - not the release of a video game.
'Summer blockbusters' are crap anyway. Maybe if contemporary movie-makers would take a lesson from what used to make films great (e.g., watch some Hitchcock or Kurosawa) and focus on the strengths of film - instead of trying to make movies that emulate videogames (poorly), then they wouldn't have to worry about competition from this other medium.
I love GTA but there's still no way I'm going to miss Iron Man in the cinema! If the movies are that good then people will go out to see it in the cinema eventually regardless of what game just came out.
but last time i went, the snack bar had pictures of the items and no prices!! like 2 medium sodas & a medium popcorn, among other combos. i asked the lady at the counter how much, she said $25!!!! this is after we paid $12 each for tickets! i told her no wonder you guys don't post the price, jesus christ!! (i live in southern california btw)
screw movie theaters, i'll take a blu-ray/dvd movie on my 42" lcd & home theater with good (and regularly priced) food while lounging in my pajamas with the ac cranked any day.
If the movies can't offer something compelling to consumers, then it isn't the games industry's fault if they benefit; it's natural that they would take advantage of the disillusioned market.
It's too bad that film production relies so much on the exhibition business, as the fixation on success at the box office is likely the root cause of a lot of the problems.
As for complaining about crowds, people could just, you know, not go to see a movie on opening night or on the weekend. If you wait a few weeks and go on a Tuesday or other week-day night, theatres are always comfortably sparse, I find.
All that being said, I still think video games are better, overall and in terms of money-to-enjoyment-time ratio.
(Oh, and people are actually considerate around here and turn off their phones. So that's nice.)
They probably wouldn't admit it openly, but there must be some concern.
Making good movies would be a great start. Cleaner, more welcoming theaters would be a just as nice. And lastly, try dropping ticket prices, just for like a month, ad see if it makes a difference
Few people are going to rationalise spending an average of twenty dollars per movie, for ticket and food, plus whatever ridiculous amount we're being raped for gas to get there, when one can either a) wait for the dvd or b) find someone who can torrent it. Sure, if it's a real big blockbuster, must be seen on the big screen (think Lord of the Rings), maybe, but for some piece of crap flick with men who wax their chests and woman with more pancake on their face than IHOP serves in a week? No thanks. Hell, I know I can't stand watching most of the crap that comes out for free on the television. I'm pretty sure I've logged more time on Oblivion since I started playing it last August than I have watching movies for the last decade. If it sucks, it sucks.
Maybe if Hollywood stopped cashing in on sensationalist 'hot piece of ass of the moment' actors and went back to the days when actors actually earned their keep by acting and not flashing their crotch for the world to see, we'd start going? But video games offer more entertainment, more time, and more personal satisfaction.