- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
First off I would like to say that I love the Halo books (hadn't read a book in years previous to them). I have had passing thoughts of what a movie based on them and the game itself would be like. I mean the story is an epic and complex, deep and unique telling of mankind's struggle against a menacing and overwhelmingly powerful alien force, hell-bent on our complete and utter annihilation. Perfect movie material, all of this despite the somewhat overused one-man saviour of Earth bit.
More involved thought led me to realize, "No! It just wouldn't be right". Unlike book-to-movie, which has been done many times with great success, once you've been as involved as a game, you just shouldn't take that step back and turn it into a movie. Besides, after all the disappointments of other game-to-movie productions (most ultimately leading to a revulsion towards games I once loved. It just sticks, you know?), I realized that games are just not like movies (big surprise, I know).
Yes they have similarities, as both put you in a situation that you will not, most likely, ever witness, let alone participate in, during the course of your entire life. Then there is a very important difference: Movies, you WATCH them. You grab some popcorn and some coke (or pepsi), sit down, and glare at a screen for about 2 hours or so, only to be led around by your nose through whole thing. Games, you EXPERIENCE them! In a game you are the protagonist (main character), you make the decisions that determine success or failure of... well, YOU. Controlling YOUR own fate, not just some bystander gawking at the action. From a safe distance, I might add. Instead you are right there, in the thick of it all.
Don't get me wrong, I like movies (especially a good suspense/thriller, even though they are really only interesting once), but games should not be translated to movies for the previously mentioned reason. You just lose some of the feel, a "dimension" if you will. It's like going a step down, from say, television to radio. From hockey to golf. From 100% real meat to tofu simulation substitutes (eww). From Half-Life to Halo... J/K, J/K (... although, everyone here agrees Half-Life is great game, right?).
It's the level of interactivity that divides these medias, and is the defining feature of games. In my humbe opinion, I believe that video games will eventually be the dominating entertainment medium. Movies (and all TV shows for that matter) will kind of fade into the abyss, Hollywood will be but a page in history, and video games will continue to advance in ways we cannot yet even imagine. A Halowood, if you will. Heh heh. It's all about evolution, when it comes right down to it.
But I'm probably just stating what everyone here understood all along ;)
Off topic, but since this is closely related, I feel very sorry for anybody who lacks the mental capacity to realize that "reality" TV is just plain moronic and pure crap. "Real" reality TV would require the involved parties to be unaware that they are being filmed, cause lets face it. If YOU were on television being observed by millions of people, would you be your "real" self? AND there is no such thing as scripts, editing and censoring in "real" life.
Just my two cents. Sorry if anyone has been offended, but the truth should be known.
[Edited on 8/22/2004 3:30:54 AM]