Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the start of the glorious MLB season, the start of what should be a painful MLB season for my beloved Yankees, or the worst team in the whole damn league (Houston Astros) kicking things off with a win, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
My friend Paul and I were talking about the large number of 2013 nerd movies that don’t have videogames attached to them (at least, that we could think of). In the past, these games were automatic. If a studio had a superhero, sci-fi, or fantasy movie set for release then there would be a game — usually not a spectacular one — released in conjunction with the movie. The game would help promote the movie and the movie would help drive game sales, at least that’s what the bean counters thought. This year there seems to be lack of videogame-movie symbiosis. Where have all the superhero games gone? Are publishers holding out for a hero?
Off the top of my head, Star Trek: Into the Darkness is the only movie that has a hot game attached to it. Where are the games for Man of Steel, Iron Man 3, Thor 2, and others? One possibility is that movie studios and videogame publishers have learned that mediocre games have few or no symbiotic benefits. History has shown that good movies don’t need mediocre games (Thor, Iron Man) and great games don’t need the rub from movies (Batman: Arkham Asylum). Another possibility is that PC and console games are no longer the best choice for this type of outreach; it’s much cheaper and arguably more effective to promote a movie with a decent Facebook or mobile game.
Still, as a comic-book and videogame nerd, I would love to be playing console games based on this year’s nerd movies. How about you guys and gals? Do you want more videogame-movie tie-ins? What’s your take on why there seem to be less of them this year? Fire off your repulsor rays, blast your arctic breath, and sling your uru hammers in the comments section (please!).
The only movie games I have ever purchased were the Riddick games. Short of a fighting like Street Fighter I don’t see myself buying any comic book games.
You’ve never played Arkham Asylum or Arkham City?
-M
Technically not movie based
I don’t consider those to be movie based. Though Arkham Asylum is better than any batman movie ever made.
You said “… I don’t see myself buying any comic book games”. Arkham Asylum is a comic book game based on the graphic novel “Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth” (I think) published back in ’89. Granted, it’s not a direct adaptation, but the plot is similar enough.
-M
An error on my part.
No I think it’s fine that the industry has gone away from movie based superhero game tie ins.
This article reminds me: I think I want to try that “Amazing Spider-Man” game that came out when the movie was in theaters. I think it’s cheap enough now where it’s worth the risk. Has anybody here played that game?
-M