The near future is a technological frontier for both gaming and film, one where hybrid games will bridge the gap between the two mediums. The worlds of video games and cinema have never been closer, with titles likeAlan Wake 2,The Last of Us 2, and the recentFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthcreating a gateway for movie buffs to experience gameplay from a narrative standpoint without the challenge of aSoulsborne boss battleor the button-mashing of abeat ‘em up.
Traditionally, since the days of the Nintendo Entertainment System and arcade era, games were presented as competitive, level-based endeavors with catchy, chiptune music and pixelated graphics, often accompanied by a basic plot to add flavour to the gameplay. Addictive, replayable titles like Punch-Out!!, theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfranchise, orMortal Kombat1v1’s were the norm at one point and remain the poster children of gaming for the uninformed. However, story-based games have always been lurking in the catalogs, and they’ve certainly been around a lot longer thanRed Dead RedemptionandThe Last of Us- contrary to what younger generations of gamers believe.
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Immersive Fiction Is Dominating The Industry
Some of the early pioneers of narrative-rich games includeThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the Metal Gear Solid series, and theMax Paynefranchise, with Payne’s face model Sam Lake going on to have a large part to play in the future of immersive fiction in gaming. Also influential were early cRPGs, from Ultima toFallout, that had narrative and worldbuilding at the forefront. Thankfully, current titles are bathed in larger-than-life graphics to either simulate real life or an alien world, down to the last spec of dirt, which is giving games a cinematic link for silver screen aficionados.
The Gen Z uprising cites ‘Social Media Influencer’ as one of the most sought-after jobs in 2024, with millions of pop culture enthusiasts looking to make it big on TikTok, YouTube, and so on through discussing and reporting on the gaming and movie industries. Where there was a clear divide between the gamers and the cinephiles before, now the barrier is not so concrete. It’s a positive development in the gaming industry and a profitable one by attracting more clientele, but ultimately, it’s a fantastic way for film fans to experience escapism within another art form.
Thankfully, current titles are bathed in larger-than-life graphics to either simulate real life or an alien world, down to the last spec of dirt, which is giving games a cinematic link for silver screen aficionados.
Film critics, journalists, and influencers have been weighing in on the likes ofBaldur’s Gate 3andDragon’s Dogma 2because of their charismatic character roster, the abundance of narrative paths on offer, and the eye-widening customization that brought Game of Thrones andStar Warscharacters to life. There is an acknowledgement among movie buffs that video game narratives have caught up with the craft of filmmaking, deserving the attention of movie buffs, and generally a wider audience, who seek out compelling stories and inviting worlds -Red Dead Redemption 2left no dry eye across the board.
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Interactive Narratives And Live-Action Adaptations Aid The Crossover
Another entry point for cinephiles to be transported into video games is through live-action adaptations. The recentFalloutseries on Amazon Prime has inspired a tidal wave of new players to pick up their copies of the Fallout games to experienceBethesda’ssource material. The same goes for HBO’s The Last of Us, which created a backdoor intoNaughty Dog’sIP for non-gamers keen to experience the Cordyceps virus for themselves. While it’s always a thrilling idea - and not so great an outcome thanks to the video game adaption curse - to see your favorite video game come to life in our real-life medium, pretty soon it won’t be needed. Anti-gamers will have already experienced the immersive stories without being locked behind overwhelming gameplay mechanics, since games are becoming more accessible for folk who would rather pick up a bag of popcorn than a controller.
Anti-gamers will have already experienced the immersive stories without being locked behind overwhelming gameplay mechanics since games are becoming more accessible for folk who would rather pick up a bag of popcorn than a controller.
Titles that have harnessed the hybrid element between video games and movies includeTelltale’s The Walking Deadseries andSupermassive Games’acclaimedsurvival horrorcollectionThe Dark Pictures Anthology, both of which carry stunning visuals, riveting narratives, and interactive choices to give you control of the story’s outcome. 2023’s Alan Wake 2 also incorporated live-action material in cutscenes - in addition to Dragon’s Dogma 2’s meat-cooking loading screen - before returning to Remedy’s Northlight engine graphics. These components open up the gaming world to movie lovers and demonstrate how video games have expanded beyond the confines ofSuper Marioplatformers and punishingDark Soulsencounters.
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