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Hollywood revelation: 'most games aren't movies,' also The Sims story details photo

Film has never been a medium that videogames translate particularly well to. I am in complete agreement with Jim Sterling that the reason for this (aside from obvious time constraints) is mostly due to a removal of the interactivity that makes a videogame a videogame. So long as a profit comes in, though, most of the people in Hollywood don’t seem to think too much about it. It’s like they see gaming as a conveniently placed field of ideas and pre-established IPs that’s just begging to be reaped in the name of media synergy.

The Sims movie producer John Davis at least recognizes that there’s a fundamental difference between the two mediums, although his plans to compensate for it don’t look particularly promising and mostly serve to highlight the pointlessness of bringing videogame franchises to film.

And Tom Rothman, the Chairman of Fox said to me, ‘How are you going to take this incredible piece of IP and make it into a movie?’ Right? Because most games aren’t movies, so this is the way I did it: The Sims, as you know, you can control your imaginary world, right? And our movie, a young man, a 16 year old kid of a 14 year old kid and his friend get their hands on this thing called the Sims Infinity Pack, right, which kind of this very strange video game store which was there just for that moment, and seemingly wasn’t all that. But what they realize is that they can scan their world in, because this is the most life like, real Sims game ever. And as they are playing this they are all of a sudden realizing is what they are playing on the game is having an effect on the real world. So in effect, through the game, they are able to control their world. It’s wish fulfillment, and obviously it turns against them.


That’s right folks; instead of just playing The Sims or The Sims 2 at any time on the platform of your choice, you’ll soon have the option of paying eight dollars at a movie theater to watch some child actors pretend to play it.

Best idea ever, right?








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13 comments | showing # 1 to 13
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Krow's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/22/2008 17:45
Krow
GENIUS!
Aaron Mxy Yost's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/22/2008 18:09
Aaron Mxy Yost
That sounds like a bad episode of Goosebumps written by mental defectives.
Big Z's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/22/2008 18:18
Big Z
I think the biggest problem most video game movies seem to have is that they feel the film has to be somehow greater than the game. Take the Hitman movie for instance. Why does Agent 47 need a love interest? Why can't the story presented in the game simply be followed and translated into a new media? There's no reason for this sort of disconnect. Doom was an absurd action movie that made no apologies for the fact that Doom is an absurd action game. A space marine fighting aliens from hell with a Big Fucking Gun? That's retarded, but I loved the hell out of both the movie and game.
Superfluous Moniker's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/22/2008 18:19
Superfluous Moniker
How the hell do you make a movie out of a game where all you do is hang out at your house buying furniture and taking showers?

"And our movie, a young man, a 16 year old kid of a 14 year old kid and his friend get their hands on this thing called the Sims Infinity Pack, right, which kind of this very strange video game store which was there just for that moment, and seemingly wasn’t all that."

I see.
whormongr's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/22/2008 18:31
whormongr
that sounds miserable, and I am a sims fan
RonBurgandy2010's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/22/2008 18:33
RonBurgandy2010
Sounds awful.
Wexx's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/22/2008 19:04
Wexx
....


I hope to god the whole movie is in Simlish.
Miguelcar808's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/22/2008 19:36
Miguelcar808
That sounds like Alladin story, the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and the movie Click.
Captain Cranberry's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/22/2008 22:26
Captain Cranberry
$10.50 where I live, so that's a huge no.
Charedj's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/23/2008 03:34
Charedj
Fu$k that shit. What a shit idea. seriously, go read some R.L Stein and it'll be 10 times better than this movie. Bollocks to movie producers.
Slique's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/23/2008 05:51
Slique
I'm with Big Z. I think the main reason video game movies fail is because the producers insist on changing the story to fit around the movie industry clichés and demographics. Like Big Z mentioned, the love interest in Hitman was a prime example of this; in the game, 47 would have just shot her without a second thought, but the movie version? Nooo, let's have her dry hump him for 30 seconds.
Demtor's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/23/2008 07:58
Demtor
Okay... I see your point Slique, I really do. But any excuse to watch that girl ride on someone, is good enough for me. Be it love interest or the simple fact that sex sells. I don't care. A bad movie, yes. An entertain watch, hell yes. She was smoking hot in a few scenes. Then 47 sticks a syringe in her neck and its goodnight sister. I laughed so hard. I knew the movie would pale compared to anything the games offer, but it was still kind of fun to watch.

I think for me the biggest thing wrong in the movie was the voice. Nothing can compare to the smooth, menacing, cold and calculated voice of 47 in the games. Without it, I can't take Hitman seriously.

The movie, should have been an animated feature with the same voice actor. I believe thats the only thing that could have saved that movie, never mind the hot chick. She's just there for eye candy anyway. Give her less lines and a smaller role.

As for a Sims movie... I guess, why not? I never understood the game, not surprised I wouldn't understand why fans of the game would be interested in a movie based on it. People will pay to see it I'm sure. No matter how convoluted.
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/23/2008 13:55
Darren Nakamura
This sounds just as awful as when I first heard they would be making a Sims movie.
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