Basically the last year and a half or so, since acquiring both a Wii and Xbox360, I've pretty much been thinking that this generation of hardware has created a generation of software that truly is competition for movies - and in some cases better.
I mean $500 mil GTA4? Holy Shit. I think movies are great, but suddenly I find myself completely absorbed in Resident Evil 4, which incidentally keeps track of how long you've been playing as you reach your save points, and this week I've put in 5 hours with the game. My daughter actually finished it a few months ago, and her saved game is still on there - 34 friggin' hours! And you know what? I know there's better things for her to spend her time with but unless its homework, or we go kayaking or something, she usually is on Myspace which I think is a huge vat of social nothingness, or watching crap like America's Next Top Model, which both me and the SO feel free to delete off the DVR at random. So I actually think a good game of RE4 is a much better choice for her than either of those other pursuits. She's a straight-A student, does all kinds of extra curricular stuff, and does all kinds of chores around the house, so the stereotype of some lazy videogame playing teenager really doesn't apply. And plus, she will try games here and there, but it is only maybe one game a year that has high enough quality to actually get her to play it for more than an hour or two. (Just like movies, games are of varying quality.) And as far as my own time with the game? That's 5 hours that formerly was tv/movie/reading time.
Last summer I was totally looking forward to Transformers for about two months before it came out. This summer it's Dark Knight. But I'm actually even more excited for this, which doesn't even have a set release date yet:
Through the years I've been a fan of Roger Ebert. He's probably the funniest critic out there, and I actually prefer to read his reviews AFTER watching a movie. It's sorta like having a short discussing with a friend about it, and sometimes he'll point out stuff I missed, and sometimes I'll agree with his assessment, sometimes I'll disagree, but either way, he reviews are almost always a worthwhile read. But he has some very strong opinions about the "video games as art" argument that I think are totally wrongheaded. As much as I respect him, I just can't agree with his thoughts which are along the lines of, videogames cannot be and will never be art in the way that movies are. His argument is basically that since videogames are a user controlled experience, and art is, by his definition, an artist controlled experience that video games by their very nature cannot be art.
But let me tell you - as referenced in Todd's recent scary movie thread, there have been a few moments in RE4 that have scared the living shit out of me. Not just a suprisey-jump scare, although there have been a few of those, but like creepy, fuckin', literal chills up my spine moments. I haven't had a movie do that to me since I was maybe 14. Or I'll finish a level and realize that my heart is beating a mile a minute. The only thing I did to create those moments was get extremely involved in the game because I was forced to concentrate at the tasks at hand, all the rest was in the hands of the game's writers and programmers and artists.
Now, I'm not about to defend all videogames because to be honest most of them are crap - just like, let's be honest, there aren't really that many, percentage-wise, four and five cookay movies. But, like movies, when videogames are good, they're damn good!
So as a bunch of movie fans, what do folks here think of games? Do think they can surpass movies? Any thoughts? Any games out there that are 5 Cookay? As Resident Evil can scare the shit out of you, do you think there will someday be a game that can squeeze other emotions out of you in the way movies can - sorrow, heart-tugging, etc.?
Very good point Smirk. Actually, I've found myself more engulfed in game plots than movies. IE: The death of Aeris Gainsborough in FF7, put a lump in my throat. The constant chills up the spine in Fatal Frame. The adrenaline rush from GTA. Not to mention beautiful cinematics in most all games now. They've got all the makings of great movies, except you control the main character(s)!
The best part about it, games can only get better and better.
Used to be way more into it than I am now, but I always have all the latest generation of hardware with a pretty substantial collection. There are some games that can get up there with movies (mainly the Metal Gear Solid series) but most of the time, they don't. That doesn't mean I don't think they can, but it's going to take a lot more on the part of the game developers.
So how many hours did finishing GTA4 take you, Mr. AD?
Actually, as far as a different emotion being evoked by a videogame, about a year and a half ago I picked up Shadow of the Colossus for PS2. I played it for about 2 weekends. It's a fascinating game, challenging, and had very good art direction and graphics for the PS2 console. Thing was, you are (your character, that is) pretty much alone throughout the game. Riding your horse from your homebase, a giant empty, echoey castle, out into the game's world in search of each Colossus which can sometimes take 10 or more minutes. The world is pretty much void of any other living thing except for maybe a bird here and there, there just the sound of wind blowing to nowhere, giant caverns that just echo empty footfalls. There is only one word to describe the world of the game: Desolate. So desolate in fact, that by the time I was up to the 9th or 10th colossus I was just downright depressed and really didn't want to play the game anymore. The sheer loneliness that is forced on the character, after a while, starts to infect the player. And although graphically and gameplay wise the game is top tier, it actually is so good at what it's trying to do, that it made me stop playing.
I would like to see a videogame made out of Apocalypse Now in the same spirit as the Scarface and Godfather games.
Smirk - Right with there buddy with 'Resident Evil 4'. Possibly the greatest video game ever! Yes, I WILL go to the mat for that. It takes hours upon hours to complete, and the bells and whistles? Magnificent! I mean the Ada mini-games at the end, and the (really hard) multi-character shooter? Oh man, how I wish my PS2 didn't break - dammit.
A game that really convinced me to actually follow game plot lines was Beyond Good and Evil. It was just so beautifully written and tied the characters together so well that it made my heart explode when (SPOILERS) p'jey was captured and torutured (END SPOILERS) that I couldn't help but want revenge for someone I had actually felt like friends with. Seriously though, the quality of plots for video games is starting to become more movie like. I like to think as more movies copy try to copy video games (Speed Racer) and more video games start to copy movies (GTA 4), soon both will be treated as equals in the media cicles.
I'm playing the Wii edition of RE4, and the targeting and motion controls are spot-on.
Re: the Wii, recall when Manhunt 2 was being released and there was the usual controversy, but this time not only with the violence, but the motion control capability supposedly making the player even more influenced by the evil? Well, related to that, I have been also toying with the Godfather Wii edition game, and I must say the strangulation move is rather fun because ultimately you are pretty much making the motions of strangling somebody.
(As far as Manhunt 2, played some on the PS2, and a very sad sequel.)
I think as a whole I've spent far more time playing games then watching movies, unfortunately I'm embarrassed to admit I've spent a fair amount of time in both categories. I think there is definite potential for Games to overtake movies as a quality entertainment genre, some already have. Games by square-enix for example are sometimes a little repetitive but the idea is so enthralling even the worst Final Fantasy Game (VIII) is still better then most, and rivals a whole slew of movies. Different emotions can absolutely be conjured up using the game medium as well, here are some examples:
Conker's Bad Fur Day - Comedy (hungover squirrel = comedic gold
Resident Evil - Horror (Zombie Doberman anybody?)
Final Fantasy Any of them - Drama and sweeping epic cinematics (Peter Jackson doesn't have the market cornered)
Myst - Mystery
GTA, Street Fighter, Burnout, Call of Duty 4 (I've spent 4 days playing this one, yes 96+ hours) - Straight adrenaline pumping action
There numerous other examples but along with the emotions and genres associated with them games bring other things to the table.
Interaction - Games like Knights of the Old Republic and GTA you actually make your own story giving you more to identify with then any movie ever could (aside maybe an autobiography but by that time you're probably dead)
Versatility - Games can give you a chance to really explore a different world and instead of wondering I wonder if the main character did this instead of this like is often done in movies you can actually try it and find out.
Social - For some this is one of their primary interactions with other human beings as well as entertainment. I know most think of games as you alone with the lights off, some mountain dew and your eyes glued to a TV; but with multiplayer locally and online it allows people to not only play a good game but enjoy it with friends here and abroad. I personally have had friends move away and have been able to keep in touch with them largely due to a common game we played. Not only this alot of parties I go to now adays have guitar hero guitars and Wii controllers strewn about, or in use while friends participate or cheer. Guitar hero has also invaded local bars to replace Kareoke (sp) FREEBIRD!!!
Adding these things to the best aspects of movies, ie. acting, writing, directing and CG, I can't see how it eventually won't surpass or at least rival the film industry if it hasn't already.
Now if any of you guys want to come get shot up in Call of Duty 4 I'd be happy to oblige...
O by the way I thought Shadow of the Colossus was an awesome game maybe in my top ten. It was just so huge and completely unlike anything I had played before. The desolate feeling and the pangs of guilt you felt every time you took down one of those lumbering giants just minding their own business... it was great.
It's all in the main character, they had all the right stuff... I mean swords that are guns at the same time!!! That's like combining peanut butter and chocolate into one and despite all of this the main character was too brooding and annoying to get behind. Plus after 7, which was what some consider the best, it was kind of a let down. Me personally think 10 and 12 are the two best and yes I friggin loved blitzball.
Agreed Turk. FFVIII wasn't bad, but the plot t-totally sucked. I lost interest in the FF saga because of VIII.
Give me Sephiroth or Kefka or Sin even, any day. Those were some bad assed villains that really gave you a huge sense of achievement when you finally trounced them. Not to mention the "Weapons" (Ruby, Emerald, etc.).
I totally agree that video games are an art form. While I'm not too great on what properly defines art, I can say that video games are well rendered with a goal set in mind for the audience to achieve or accomplish in finding at the end. Or at least something to Ooh and Aah about.
If I had the money to spare, I would still play video games now. But it costs an arm and a leg to acquire them and to sell them at lower price later.
But anyway back to the point I guess. If I had the choice of playing a video game versus seeing a movie, I would take the game. Why? Because you can get people involved without being annoying, it's fun to be a part of it instead of just sitting and watching (the interactive quality), reading a review will not give away spoilers (it just gives you a better idea of what to expect in gameplay and so on), and of course it's something to challenge your brain a little. Sure you sit on your ass doing it (unless it's with certain Wii games) but figuring out how to jump your car over Liberty City River is half the fun.
Anyway I've probably rambled on enough but games are art to me. After all a whole group of people had to direct it, render the characters/scenery/plot, create the music/sound/atmosphere. And if anyone disagrees with that...then that is an insult.
To confuse the matter further, in the new GTA you can actually watch fictional television shows, which would count as art in Ebert's view since they are pre-written and passive, the author's of which, are completely skewering American culture. There are also comedy revues and caberet shows to attend. As a player, you can pretty much kill hours in GTA IV doing nothing just as you can in real life.
