Playing the Movies
Andrew Leonard in Salon writes about a topic I was going to blog today anyway: how damn good video games are compared to movies.
I’ve been playing No One Lives Forever 2 which is, more or less, a James Bond movie set in the late ’60s. It “stars” (i.e., you play as) Cate Archer, as cool as James Coburn and as appealing as Diana Rigg. I’ve jumped in fright more times during the game than in any James Bond flick. It’s also funnier. And the graphics kick ass: fighting ninjas in the middle of a tornado in a trailer park was something.
As far as I’m concerned, we’re already at the cross-over point between movies and video games as a popular entertainment. And we can’t be far away from video games developing at least some of the emotional impact of more serious films.
The problem with games vs movies, though, comes back to your post about unfinished items, and the malaise that accompanies them. It takes a long time to be “done” with a game, and it doesn’t happen at one sitting. In addition, you have to be actively involved with it.
When I go to a movie, it’s because I want a passive experience. I want to sit, watch, listen, and not be an active participant. And I want closure at the end. Games give me none of that.
I like movies, too. And I do like their passivity. And the popcorn. But most games like NOLF2 do have closure at least in the form of fighting some mega-monster and being told you’ve saved the world. NOLF and NOLF2 actually have decent if predictable plots. And Half-Life is famous for a plot twist in the middle of it. The shooters and the adventure games are merging…exciting for some of us pathetic creatures!
Cate Archer is the BEST!!! Diana Rigg looks like Cate Archer. I just wish that I could meet Cate Archer or Diana Rigg. NOLF 1,2 are very good games I think you should try playing them!
HI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!