Games from TV shows

[Heather Chaplin]

Hi All, Sorry I haven't been around for a while. Been working on some - nongame related stuff!!

First off, thanks to all of yous who gave me thoughts on my radio story on why games don't get political. I wrapped it up last month and waiting for an airing date. I'll definitely keep you posted

Now, I had an editor ask me about M Ecko's company making a game out of Showtime's Dexter. I'm trying to figure out if this is interesting or not? Have there been any good games made from TV shows? And even if not, is there any particular reason there couldn't be? Or is it just another example of games being used as an ancillary marketing channel? Is Ecko's company the right people to be doing it?

I'd be really curious if you all have any thoughts. Those are the things I'm thinking about.

HC

[Benjamin Ortiz]

The problem, as I see it anyway, with doing something based off a TV show is that this is typically done at the height of the shows popularity meaning that it is still airing and therefore the story hasn't completed in its entirety. Take, for example, the recently released game based on Lost. Lost: Via Domus puts you in the story, but if the show isn't done, how can the game work? Can your character really find a way home without taking anyone else with them? If they got off the island in the game, would you still enjoy the show (probably), but then the game would suffer. So, how do you do it? Episodic content? I don't know. It's an interesting question, but it's hard to say why or how it could work. As I try and think about any good games based on TV shows, all that comes to mind are a bunch of bad ones; CSI, ER, Desperate Housewives, South Park, the Sopranos, American Idol (not the Karaoke Revolution, the first one) etc. The only possible decent ones I can come up with are the Buffy the Vampire Slayer game (I seem to recall good reviews) and maybe X-Files. Does Jeopardy! count?

Even movies suffer from it because you've got a two hour movie that you want to stretch into a 10-20 hour game.

As for the Dexter game, I've never seen the show, so I can't comment. I heard about the game being about a serial killer who kills serial killers. Oooooookay. How does that work in a game? Are you going to beat up random thugs like in other games? I thought these kind of guys worked alone? I don't see Mark Ecko or his company as a legitimate developer until they prove me wrong. Something tells me it'll be overhyped and underwhelming. I'll pass on it.

[Heather Chaplin]

Very interesting points you make. I think if there's a story here it's in the misguided faith in franchises as the answer. Just using the medium to extend knowledge o the central property. Question: any reason to distrust Ecko in particular?

[Pat 'iTZKooPA' Mulhern]

You also have the problem dealing with what is canon if the show is still airing. The Lost game was not considered canon, which basically doomed it IMO. You have an insane fanbase that pride themselves on catching the smallest little hints and you make a game that isn't canon? How would that keep their interest as well as something that is canon....STUPID!

[Sinan Kubba]

I can't say from first-hand experience but from what I've read The Simpsons game might be one of the best games based on a TV show. Like Benjamin, only really bad experiences come to mind... I actually got quite excited about 24: The Game coming out after finding out all the voice actors and directorial staff were involved but I learnt my lesson quickly enough - making a game based on a TV show is most likely a recipe for disaster.

[Heather Chaplin]

Yea, that's what it seems to me too. Thanks for the input! HC

[Brandon Cackowski-Schnell]

Based on Lost: Via Domus, I'd say that "no" there are no good games off of TV shows. I'm also vaguely remembering the X-Files PC game and being disappointed by it. ;)

If you look at aggregate review scores, most prime time show games don't fare well, however my sister is a huge CSI fan, and not a gamer, and I'm pretty sure she'd enjoy all of the CSI games. The best games based on tv shows seem to come from cartoon properties but I'm not sure that's what you're going for.

Personally, I look at games based on tv shows as just a way to get money from fans of the show who aren't interested in games enough to be able to research the game ahead of time.

[Heather Chaplin]

Does seem to be the consensus, don't it.

[Pat 'iTZKooPA' Mulhern]

Considering that the only good games I can remember that are based off TV shows are ancient (Teenage Mutana Ninja Turtles The Arcade Game, The Simpons Arcade Game, etc) I would have to say no, there aren't many good ones, unless you go retro.

Could they be good, certainly, but like all other games they have to be designed well and having the writers from the show onboard creating a story that is CANON with the rest of the show would be a GREAT idea. Although, I would think it would be easier to do this after the show was off the air as a way to keep the fanbase interested with new content (please cancel 24 and just make it a game series, the show blows nowadays) while sticking with canon and not having to mess up future plans.

[Nathan Grayson]

For prime time TV, I'm somewhat enamoured with the idea of weekly episodic content. In order for it to work, though, the game itself would need to be fairly simplistic, and the content would need to be very short. Either that, or the "episodes" could be in development while the actual TV show isn't airing a new season. The end result would hopefully allow fans to interact with their favorite characters during, or even after, the events of an episode of the show.

Now, as far as TV show-based games in general, animation generally converts into videogame form more smoothly than prime time live-action programs. They also tend to be successful in their intended markets for obvious reasons. I don't see prime time shows utilizing similar techniques to achieve success, however. After all, cartoons (aside from anime) tend to be series of "filler" episodes, in prime-time terms; other than a few structural plot points, cartoons can go off in whatever direction they please, even ignoring their own story concepts. A videogame, then, is a natural fit. Unfortunately, prime-time, story-centric shows can't abandon their plots without destroying their appeal. Thus, we get the lame side-stories that are so prevalent in our medium today.

[Branden Barrett]

Judging from the last few TV show games I've played, I'd have to say no. TV shows are based on an ongoing plot that changes over time, which is why it doesn't convert well to the condensed restrictions of a video game. How can one turn a television series that has multiple seasons into a game that is less than 20 hours? The two worlds just don't meld well and is why, with the exception of anime titles like Dragonball Z, that the concept is a colossal failure. Now movies, that's another story (see Chronicles of Riddick).