Let us get the first question out of the way – what are Box Office bombs? The term Box Office Bomb is used to refer to films that have tanked in the box office. Such films are highly unsuccessful. The revenue from such movies does not usually match the production and marketing costs of the film. If one takes a close look at the ratings of films like Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li or Hitman: Agent 47, one is bound to feel a sense of discomfort. Unlike the TrueBlue casino login page, most film adaptations of video games usually do not work. But, to delve into why video game adaptations do not work, we first have to explore why games do.
Why do Video Games Work?
Often the reason video games work is because of their customized approach. Video games are not primarily storytelling mediums. One gets to partake and choose the activities according to their desire and face the consequences of that choice. So, usually, the choice factor is what hooks the players to their screens. Any dramatic value derived from such activities can be termed as a nice bonus to the initial thrill.
Video games demand involvement from the players, unlike movies. Each Video Game experience or narrative is genuinely unique to every player. Also, a lot of it depends on the player’s skills, so the amount of entertainment a player derives from it directly depends on their expertise. Hence, it is better to play some free games instead of pinning their hopes on coming across a mind-blowing game movie. Now that we have covered the basics of why video games do work let us explain why video game films do not. There are some reasons described below.
- the source of the plot,
- improper cast,
- generational lags,
- time restraints,
- wrong target audience.
The Platform or the Nature of the Medium
The mediums of video games and video game films are extensively different. A video game is interactive – it lets the user decide their fate. It often gives them a sense of control, which is one of the winning points in video games. On the other hand, you cannot partake in activities when watching a movie. The storyline or the depth of the character is not the selling point of most games (although some excellent games do so in abundance).
Instead, the game can offer a unique experience and gameplay moments to different players. Another tricky problem that requires addressing is the following: most game adaptations attempt to emulate the video game experience, whereas most games try to replicate the feeling and experience of a film. Initially, most film directors produced films that felt like an afterthought, but no proper planning was involved before. It was only during the 90’s – which is sometimes famously known as the transitional phase – developers started paying more attention to narrative after they realized the hidden potential of the film medium to experiment with the narrative of the game.
Improper Cast
When one plays a video game, one is undertaking the role of the main character. It often becomes an exhilarating experience for the player. One is in control of the player’s life– almost becoming one with the player. This means that there is a lot of personal involvement and dedication involved. However, with most of the video game adaptations, the player’s characteristics do not match the actor’s cast. It is not necessarily in regards to the talent of the actors or their dedication to the films. Instead, this commentary on the casting process and ‘’artistic liberties’’ can lead to the film’s failure at the box office.
The mentioned above do not imply that a video game film has to materially follow the source video game. On the contrary, if a film follows blind adherence to the source material without creative input, it kind of defeats the purpose of an adaptation in the first place. However, there is a problem that usually occurs when such a line of thought is followed. The problem that one faces is that the casting choices and the changes made to the characters are sometimes entirely different from the source material. This stark discrepancy harms not only the storyline but also the spirit of the film. When casting and characters are not at least partly in line with their video game counterparts, the whole point of the film falls apart.
Most Films Suffer from Generational Lags
The Entertainment Software Association published an annual report in 2018 that showed gamers 18 years old and above make up for 70% of the video game base. However, the average age of a gamer is 34. The problem occurs when film production studios consist of members who have not grown up playing video games – most actors, editors, producers, or even directors are usually not familiar with the experience of the usual gamer. It leads to a grave situation. The responsibility of producing and directing the film adaptation falls on individuals who have no idea about the medium. The films, when subject to such problems, may end up becoming a disaster. The producers and directors often end up overcompensating for their lack of knowledge but with films that are nowhere close to the game itself.
Time Restraints
Any pro or beginners who are experienced in gaming will agree that playing a game takes time. They would further agree that it takes hours and hours of planning that goes into deciding the plot and activities of the protagonist. The developers have to dedicate a lot of planning and time to figure out the story and fates of characters. It is, in a nutshell, quite a lengthy process.
When a film tries to capture the plot and the essence of the game in a limited amount of time, it ends up disappointing. It misses out on some core features and attractions. We finish up with a watered-down version of the game – thus, the quality of the film suffers.
Wrong Audience Base
The audience base who are equally interested in films and video games is usually not enough for the movies to aim for profits. To increase revenue and thereby earn profits, most film producers and directors aim for a larger audience. It causes a disparity as most film watchers cannot relate to the game. This practice drastically changes the tone of the film. Games like mortal combat that are famous for their destructive and violent get toned down to a PG-13 version.
Conclusion
It is challenging to come across movies that one falls in love with. And, when it comes to game adaptations, the choice becomes more difficult. As the number of gamers is increasing, more games are being adapted into films. The high expectations paired with a shortage of experience can lead to a disappointing experience. There are, however, a few films that can bring less disappointment you can try watching, such as Mortal Kombat, Super Mario Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog, Streetfighter, Doom, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Far Cry, etc.