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Which came first, the game or the movie?

[ Posted On: 2006-05-26 ]

One of the spin-offs of the long-awaited movie, The Da Vinci Code, which premiered at Nairobi theatres last week, is a video game by the same name. Though its sales have not been as high as the movie’s, it provides a different form of entertainment from Dan Brown’s best selling novel.

The game offers players a chance to break the code for themselves as they try to solve a murder mystery whose origins date back more than 2,000 years. One can play either as Harvard professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks in the movie) or Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) in the 11 rounds. You advance to the next round only after solving cryptic clues on the way. Until you have completed the required tasks in each round, you cannot move on.

Though critics have been quick to point out that one should not expect the same satisfaction from playing this game as from reading the book or watching the movie, the game will undoubtedly increase video games' growing reputation as serious challengers to movies, both with regard to earnings and fans.

The Da Vinci Code game also adds to the number of movie-based video games. "The games are a stepchild to movies," says Justin Macharia of Tin Tin Video Productions, a local video and documentary-making company. "And most of these spin-offs are from either mystery or action movies."

He says movie-based video games seek to capitalise on a movie's success as well as serve a different niche in the entertainment market. "Children and teenagers might not appreciate a movie but will always love a video game, as long as it meets their entertainment expectations, which is high adrenaline. And as you know, they account for the highest number of entertainment consumers."

Notable block busters that have gone this way include Harry Potter, Spiderman, Star Wars, ET, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Lord of the Rings. Some of these games come complete with voices and soundtracks from the movies The Da Vinci Code game, for instance has ethereal sounds meant to create a mysterious effect as a player searches for clues.

And with the growth in technology, the characters in these video games appear more realistic, unlike the case a few years ago, when they were miniature, square monochromatic types. "The market appreciates this quality," says Macharia.

To create a video game that closely resembles its parent movie, the game makers often go in tow with the cast when the movie is being filmed. "We want people to play our game and say to themselves, 'Wow! Is that a scene from the film or the movie?" says Neil Young, the executive producer of the Lord of the Rings game in one website.

Some of the games even surpass their movies in quality. When Reign of Fire, a violent game was released in 2002, it got better reviews than the movie from which it was adapted. And in 2001, video games made more money than feature films for the first time, according to an online arts journal.

But at times the games require a substantial understanding of the movie plot. The Da Vinci Code is an obvious example. Since progress in the 11 rounds of the game comes only after decrypting a clue (often after wandering around churches, art galleries and homes) , it's advantageous to those who have read the book or watched the movie.

The game, notes a BBC review, can be gallingly hard. At times, players are reduced to pure guesswork by the needlessly elaborate clues. "This can lead to long periods of play, endlessly retracing your steps and painstakingly poring over rooms in the hope that you will trip on the missing object."

In addition, since a lot of the action takes place at night or inside churches and mansions, the screens often appear too dark.

Then there are several examples of video games spawning movies. The movie Dungeon Siege was inspired by a game by the same name. The movie follows the hard life of lowly farmer on a mission to save his wife and child. An unspeakably evil army is moving across the land, destroying everything in its path and focusing on conquering a mighty castle and vanquishing the king himself. Others games copied by the studios and made into movies are Tomb Raider, which was partly shot in Kenya and stars actress Angelina Jolie and Resident Evil.

But video games have in the past been branded exactly that: "Resident evil." They have been said to have serious effects on children and teenagers, including addiction, depression and aggression. Some video games, such as Mortal Combat and Doom, which are easily available in shops in Nairobi, are interactive and involve violence, like decapitating an opponent. Some even have disclaimers on their covers saying "Real-life violence" and "Violence level not recommended for children under the age of 12".

When two teenagers in the US, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, shot at their colleagues at Columbine High School in Colorado on April 20, 1999, killing 13, one of the motivation fronted was that they were maniacs in playing the video game Doom. The game was popular with the American military and was used to train soldiers to kill effectively.

From their dressing (trench coats) to weapons (more than one) and targets (sportsmen) the duo's act was a true re-enactment of a customised version of the game.

Video games date back to the late 1940s, when a young engineer named Ralph Baer embarked on making the "absolute best of all televisions". He sought to incorporate some kind of game into the set. Eighteen years later, Willy Higinbotham designed an interactive tennis game.

It would see the creation of global favourites Space Invaders, Need For Speed and Pong.Video games are now based on almost any topic under the sun.

Publication Date: 5/26/2006

Article Source: http://www.afroarticles.com/article-dashboard

About The Author:

John Koigi is based in Nairobi, Kenya. He can be reached at: jkoigi[at]nation.co.ke

| View Profile & All Articles By: John Koigi |

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