Susanne Wejp-Olsen - 2/3/2010 - II
Here's a comment that I read in the Hollywood Reporter - it's from a blog "discussion" about whether it's "cooler" to work on movies or video games. Though not particularly well articulated, I thought it was abrasive enough in its tone to perhaps spur a - much nicer - discussion between us wether story really matters in Video Games - or if we're more or less wasting our time because the audience would rather just shoot and score.
Here's the HR blog excerpt:

Video games are disposable, and are generally geared for "the kids". They are also a completely, totally different thing, and deliver a different form of entertainment.

Not even sure the comparison is really valid. I mean, no one is going to *not* see AVATAR because there's no joystick included, and I doubt my old mom would want to sit down with a fresh copy of "Rainbow Six" for her birthday, as opposed to watching, say, a "Little House on the Prairie" re-run on cable.

No harm to ya, don'cha know?

I'm not in the business for any reason other than telling great "non-interactive" stories for the screen, as best I can, whether in a collaborative situation, or not. I have no interest in creating stories for video games, mainly because it's not a discerning audience, therefore not an audience I care to reach.

As an extension of something I've created? Great. No problem. Everything in its place, right?

Video games are like porn: Few care for anything other than the "action". Story? Scenery? A total backseat to mindless shooting, punching, and (if you're lucky) puzzle-solving.

Who talks about the "story" on any of these games? No one. They come for the firearms. Or the swords. Or the race cars.

Not for the story.

Watch any enormous teenager sitting in front of an Xbox for hours on end. Think he's there, shouting into his headset and blasting everything in sight for the STORY?

Nyet.

As for the studios, they are not the only game in town. And, I know of at least one company with plans in the works to become a major, studio-splitting paradigm, a place where unsung talent will be nurtured and allowed to prosper alongside the "old pros".

Somehow, they plan to do this with completely original projects, too. And also have video game spin-offs, where appropriate.

Imagine that.

Posted by: Heigh Ho | January 20, 2010 at 01:12 AM