Grand Theft Auto: The movie? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

troit · 01-21-2004, 07:23 AM

http://money.cnn.com/2004/01/20/comm...ming/index.htm

It's possible - if gaming companies are willing to make some bold moves.

Quote:

January 21, 2004: 8:30 AM EST

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) – The time has come for some of gaming's biggest companies to go on a buying binge.

Rather than further consolidating their own industry, though, perhaps it's time to focus on other forms of entertainment. Film. Publishing. Music. (But mainly film.)

It might sound a little hair-brained at first, but expanding into other realms is, in fact, a natural evolution for the industry. After all, Hollywood is converting games into films as fast as it can (witness the "Tomb Raider" series as well as pending development deals for "Doom", "Half-Life" and "Max Payne" among others). More and more games (such as "Halo") are spawning published works with original stories. And recording artists have been using games as the launching pad for original songs for years (heck, two tracks from the "NFL Street" game are being made into music videos).

Despite this cross-pollination of industries, gaming is still viewed as the secondary partner. Now, two entertainment conglomerates are looking to expand their turf somewhat by setting up video game divisions.

Warner Bros. (a corporate cousin of CNN/Money) got the ball rolling first, tapping game industry veteran Jason Hall to run its division and ensure, in short, that games based on its properties don't stink. Marvel Enterprises (MVL: Research, Estimates) followed suit the next day, with comics vet Ames Kirshen overseeing all games based on Marvel characters.

Both companies stopped short of announcing their own publishing division, but the announcements lit a speculative fire that mainstream media conglomerates could be setting their sites on buying into the gaming world.

"There are various interesting 'what if' pairing scenarios between the entertainment and videogame companies," RBC Capital Markets' Stewart Halpern wrote in an analyst's note. "THQ and Pixar (PIXR: Research, Estimates) are already in a strategic relationship, both lean toward a younger demographic and have good management complementarity; (Electronic Arts) and Time Warner (TWX: Research, Estimates) are already in business in a big way with the Harry Potter license as well as via AOL and the online games business; (Activision) has significant relationships with both Marvel and DreamWorks; the personality of (Take Two's) RockStar studio suggests a good fit with Viacom's (VIA: Research, Estimates) MTV unit; and it cannot be forgotten that Viacom's Sumner Redstone already personally owns approx. 30 percent of (Midway Games (MWY: Research, Estimates))."

These are all good points, which is why I think it's in the gaming industry's best interest to turn the tables.

Gaming companies aren't small organizations. Electronic Arts has a market cap of $14 billion. Activision's is a smaller, but still significant, $1.7 billion. And Take Two (TTWO: Research, Estimates) is a close third with $1.4 billion.

More columns? Click the shades.

Now, granted, those numbers aren't near high enough to buy a conglomerate like Time Warner or Viacom, but there are smaller film studios who could be approachable. If not, there's always the possibility of buying an individual studio from one of the bigger Hollywood players.

Gaming companies have enormous creative resources from which to draw ideas. Pooling those resources with the creative minds at existing film, publishing or recording studios could help open up new avenues of entertainment. (And let's face it, how many more sequels and remakes can we stand?)

Obviously, I'm not advocating game developers replace Martin Scorsese. And while I love the work Warren Spector has done on "Deus Ex", I can't really picture him as the lead actor in anything. Nor do I want to hear (under any circumstances) Sid Meier, the creator of "Civilization" and "Pirates!", belting out any of Barry White's greatest hits.

But there would be several advantages. First and foremost, gaming companies would save tens of millions of dollars in licensing fees. The last few years have seen phenomenal bidding wars for the rights to high-profile projects, such as "Harry Potter" or "The Matrix".

Activision (ATVI: Research, Estimates) reportedly paid $10 million for the rights to make games based on the Spider-Man films. EA (ERTS: Research, Estimates) is whispered to have paid up to twice for both the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchise rights. THQ (THQI: Research, Estimates) leads the pack, though. The company is rumored to have paid Pixar $250 million for the rights to Finding Nemo, The Cars, and The Incredibles.

The closer coordination between game and film studios would also undoubtedly result in higher quality games based on films (and films based on games, for that matter). So far, there have only been a few examples of this happening (most notably last summer's "Enter The Matrix"). The results have been far from perfect, but have shown creative promise – and boasted substantial financial numbers.

On the publishing side, there's a built in audience for stories about the heroes of these games. Lara Croft as a video game property sure seems to have breathed her last breath. And I suspect we won't see Angelina Jolie putting on the short-shorts anytime soon, either. But continuing her adventures in a pulp fiction series could help revive the brand.

Music? Release those songs only available in video games as singles. You'd not only see sales of the game bump up, you'd be recouping your investment via royalty fees. Need a mental picture? Imagine if OutKast's "Hey Ya" had been exclusive to "Madden 2004".

Yes, the game industry and other forms of entertainment have traditionally mixed about as well as filet mignon and chocolate sauce. But if, in fact, the tide is shifting, isn't it better to be the one in charge of your own destiny?

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Kadath · 01-21-2004, 07:37 AM

They already made GTA:VC the movie. It was called Scarface.

In all seriousness, I can count the number of good video game to movie translations on one hand. If they want to throw money away, let 'em.

sherpahigh · 01-21-2004, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kadath
They already made GTA:VC the movie. It was called Scarface.

In all seriousness, I can count the number of good video game to movie translations on one hand. If they want to throw money away, let 'em.

That's exactly what I was thinking while watching Scarface the other day.

Mr.Deflok · 01-21-2004, 10:52 AM

Bad idea, GTA is popular because YOU get to cause the anarchy, sure it'll be fun to see some guy run over pedestrians then blow off a mob bosses head but it's still not YOU up on the screen.

djflish · 01-21-2004, 10:56 AM

There has already been a film called Grand Theft Auto with Ron Howard in it, i think

mystmarimatt · 01-21-2004, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Deflok
Bad idea, GTA is popular because YOU get to cause the anarchy, sure it'll be fun to see some guy run over pedestrians then blow off a mob bosses head but it's still not YOU up on the screen.

that's a good point, without the aspect of me blowing shit up, it doesn't really hold any value, it's all about MEEEE, Baby, Bwahahahahaha.

On second thought, (and this shows what a horrible person i am) it crossed my mind, "what if it was made like reality tv, or jackass, where we see real people doing it for REAL..."

and then my mind jumped in "No! NO! what the bloody f*** is WRONG with you?! Reality tv should NEVER invade a movie theatre!!"

Wait for it...

Nimbletoe · 01-21-2004, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mystmarimatt
Reality tv should NEVER invade a movie theatre!!"

They had a reality show in the movies, the real cancun or whatever. Obviously, it bombed.

Vales419 · 01-23-2004, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by djflish
There has already been a film called Grand Theft Auto with Ron Howard in it, i think

Your right, he did make a movie call that. As long as they would have Jenna Jameson in it, who cares. It would probably suck, just like pretty much any video game to movie, but hay, who knows.

Redjake · 01-23-2004, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kadath
They already made GTA:VC the movie. It was called Scarface.

I couldn't believe the similarities between the last "level" of Vice City and the last scene in Scar Face. The damn mansion is almost exactly the same. I loved it. That game being like Scar Face is definitely a good thing. I liked how they switched up the characters though. Spoiler: The main character of Vice City doesn't suffer the same fate as the main character from Scar Face....Vercetti kills Sonny, while Montana is killed by the spanish dude.

ironchefkorea · 01-24-2004, 04:41 PM

For some strange reason, I always felt that True Romance was a movie that had a very "GTA" feel to it. The scene where the rasta kills off the yeyo dealers and takes their shit had me feeling like I was in Liberty City. But then again, I was stoned, so who knows.

And I don't think what was said above applies about GTA...granted, a lot of the fun comes from the fact that you're the one doing all the killing, but the series of games, is really about american gangsters. That's all. It's about street trash scum that rise above the petty shit and forcefully, and violently, take the throne of the criminal underground in a particular city.

mbchills · 01-24-2004, 10:59 PM

GTA = Scarface

Dixie_Wrekked · 01-24-2004, 11:48 PM

whether or not it's been done before, I would be wary of seeing a movie based on GTA

Esoteric · 01-25-2004, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Deflok
Bad idea, GTA is popular because YOU get to cause the anarchy, sure it'll be fun to see some guy run over pedestrians then blow off a mob bosses head but it's still not YOU up on the screen.

Agreed, I don't think it'll work out well. You never know though..

KWSN · 01-26-2004, 04:07 PM

Well i don't know about GTA but Max Payne would be an amazing film... even though the game is already sort of a film itself...

bltzkriegmcanon · 01-26-2004, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KWSN
Well i don't know about GTA but Max Payne would be an amazing film... even though the game is already sort of a film itself...

w3rd. That would make for a pretty good movie. Especially if done right, and if Max doesn't have the constipated developer look on his face at all times. The scripting would be hilarious, because all the narrative aspects that the game has are almost taken to the extreme in their "noirness." But still, MP would make for a really good movie.

Rawrr · 01-26-2004, 07:26 PM

would be tits to see Max Payne as a movie..but I don't think the GTA movie would work

KWSN · 01-28-2004, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bltzkriegmcanon
w3rd. That would make for a pretty good movie. Especially if done right, and if Max doesn't have the constipated developer look on his face at all times. The scripting would be hilarious, because all the narrative aspects that the game has are almost taken to the extreme in their "noirness." But still, MP would make for a really good movie.

yeah and you find out at one point that the noirness isnt taking itself too seriously in MP2... in chapter 4 (of part one i think... or 2) when you're in the sniper who'd been spying on max's apartment, use the 'use' key on the recording device and you hear him narrating while on a phone sex line... it's really funny.

merkerguitars · 01-31-2004, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KWSN
Well i don't know about GTA but Max Payne would be an amazing film... even though the game is already sort of a film itself...

Too bad you couldn't fit the whole game in under 2 hours...you could make it really lengthy and good.

Mastershredder · 02-01-2004, 09:21 PM

Max Payne, I could see. GTA? uhhhhh not really. Unless it was some mobster movie that actually had a decent plot, I doubt i'd even bother.

01-21-2004, 07:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
Kadath Muffled Location: Camazotz	They already made GTA:VC the movie. It was called Scarface. In all seriousness, I can count the number of good video game to movie translations on one hand. If they want to throw money away, let 'em. __________________ it's quiet in here

01-21-2004, 10:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
djflish The Mighty Boosh Location: I mostly come out at night, mostly...	There has already been a film called Grand Theft Auto with Ron Howard in it, i think __________________ Europes two great narcotics, Alcohol and Christianity. I know which one I prefer.

01-24-2004, 04:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
ironchefkorea Insane	For some strange reason, I always felt that True Romance was a movie that had a very "GTA" feel to it. The scene where the rasta kills off the yeyo dealers and takes their shit had me feeling like I was in Liberty City. But then again, I was stoned, so who knows. And I don't think what was said above applies about GTA...granted, a lot of the fun comes from the fact that you're the one doing all the killing, but the series of games, is really about american gangsters. That's all. It's about street trash scum that rise above the petty shit and forcefully, and violently, take the throne of the criminal underground in a particular city. __________________ If it wasn't for microsoft, if we lived in the middle east? Y'all wouldn't have no hands....

01-24-2004, 10:59 PM	#11 (permalink)
mbchills Insane Location: NJ	GTA = Scarface __________________ rawr.

01-26-2004, 04:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
KWSN green	Well i don't know about GTA but Max Payne would be an amazing film... even though the game is already sort of a film itself... __________________ Your arms are broken!

01-21-2004, 10:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mr.Deflok Blood + Fire Location: New Zealand	Bad idea, GTA is popular because YOU get to cause the anarchy, sure it'll be fun to see some guy run over pedestrians then blow off a mob bosses head but it's still not YOU up on the screen.

01-24-2004, 11:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
Dixie_Wrekked Banned Location: Bryan, Tx	whether or not it's been done before, I would be wary of seeing a movie based on GTA

01-26-2004, 07:26 PM	#16 (permalink)
Rawrr Insane Location: Virginia	would be tits to see Max Payne as a movie..but I don't think the GTA movie would work __________________ This revelation is the death of ignorance tangled in a state of suffocation slave to self righteousness damnation is on your lips

02-01-2004, 09:21 PM	#19 (permalink)
Mastershredder Crazy Location: NY	Max Payne, I could see. GTA? uhhhhh not really. Unless it was some mobster movie that actually had a decent plot, I doubt i'd even bother. __________________ We're sorry, this profile is on backorder..