this makes the movie industry look BAD

[acealive1]

http://us.i1.yimg.com/videogames.yahoo.com/feature/video-game-sales-break-records/1181404




video game industry almost made double what the movie industry did in a year.............this is horrible considering games are $40 at least and dvds are at most $23

[SRP76]

http://us.i1.yimg.com/videogames.yahoo.com/feature/video-game-sales-break-records/1181404




video game industry almost made double what the movie industry did in a year.............this is horrible considering games are $40 at least and dvds are at most $23

That just means that about 4 times the number of movie tickets were sold, than videogame discs. Ticket = $5. Game = $40. Box office took in half the money of games. They would have to sell 4 times the units to do that.

[MinionZombie]

Here in the UK at least - although probably partly down to the constant rain during summer 2007 - people going to the cinemas was at a real high.

The thing with videogames though is that it's a growing market, and with the Wii being for the entire family, it doesn't have to be a past-time for just the teenage boy in the family. Also with games, you don't have to get ready, get in the car, drive to the Xbox and pay damn near £6 or £7 a pop per play...and then you don't have to sit next to a bunch of people, nor pay through the nose for a coke, nor do you have to drive home again.

Games can be played when you want, much like watching a DVD or downloading a TV show.

But cinemas will always be popular. If the movie is good - people will flock in droves to see it, especially if it's a big film - if the weather is sh*te, a family will go to the cinema instead of the zoo and so on.

And it just goes to show that there's more innovation and excitement currently to be had in videogames rather than the movies, where unoriginality and remakes and safe bets at the nasty after-taste cinema is offering at the moment.

[Danny]

http://us.i1.yimg.com/videogames.yahoo.com/feature/video-game-sales-break-records/1181404




video game industry almost made double what the movie industry did in a year.............this is horrible considering games are $40 at least and dvds are at most $23

writers strike anyone?

[MinionZombie]

writers strike anyone?
What do you mean? The strikes hasn't really affected the movie industry as yet, TV is more immediate that film so TV is where the strike hits first where a series has up to 24 scripts, unlike a movie which is just one script that is finished long before production usually.

[acealive1]

writers strike anyone?



they werent on strike a year ago ;)

[Terran]

That just means that about 4 times the number of movie tickets were sold, than videogame discs. Ticket = $5. Game = $40.


Movie theater tickets around here cost $9.50-$11.00....unless you got to one of those really cheap places that show older movies that are close to being released on DVD


So if you saw the movie in theaters...and then still bought the DVD your looking at an average of $29.50-$31.00 for movie prices ....

[PJoseph]

There's no doubt about it, the games business is here to stay and topple other entertainment.

Why do you think I've started making the leap into video game writing? I want to have my skillset nice and wide as game technology progresses and gamers become more demanding (not sure how that's possible)...

pJ

[bassman]

I think it's kind of a good thing even though it costs more. I mean....look at games today. They virtually ARE movies but you get to participate and affect the outcome. One that comes to mind is Bioshock - which i've heard they're now trying to make a movie of.

The new Ghostbusters game is another example. It's essentially the third film, but you get to join the Ghostbusters and be a part of the film. Great idea, imo.

[Danny]

There's no doubt about it, the games business is here to stay and topple other entertainment.

Why do you think I've started making the leap into video game writing? I want to have my skillset nice and wide as game technology progresses and gamers become more demanding (not sure how that's possible)...

pJ

plus videogames dont have the limitations of the real world holding back a plot, imagine some of the locations in halo 3 being done without cgi.....
Before i decided to try film making i was trying to get into games design, but id still love to make games for a living, who knows, my course is as much 3d design and work as much as films and you can add extra pathways for the seonc dyear and games deisgn is one of them and ever since frarenheit (indigo prophecy) ive wanted to do something like that. becuase i was raidsed on videogames and have as fond memories of finally finishing final fantasy 8 as many have leaving reutnr of the jedi.

[PJoseph]

If it was me, I would take some courses. If I was a self sufficient designer as I am television producer (write, direct, shoot, light, and edit!), it would be good for me.

As it is, game design technically is going to elude me - which is fine - but as a videogame writer, it would be nice to have a better working knowledge of technical aspects so I don't ask dumb questions - as I usually do. On Silent Hill 5, which was my first game I've written - I often found that our story was limited by certain gameplay features - and it's stuff I hadn't thought about as a player. Experience will certainly help, but had there been some game design stuff back in the 90's in college, I would have taken it.

pJ

[Danny]

that reasonings pretty much why im taking a foundation degree in digital media production rather than the honours degree in film and tv studies, instead of 4 more years analytical study on the two years i just did i would have those 2 years and now set building, sepcial effects, work with the latst computers and cameras and whatnot, im stonrgly thinking about the games portio next year, but still, if i didnt go the same rout of thinking you mentioned i would have done nothing but maybe an essay or 3 by now, in this degree ive done so far, or am working on:

a website.
a contracted edting of footage to make a teacher training video.
my own first hd short.
a video for british rail about discount cards
an essay on the evolution of technology in the industry.
and a video for the tv channel E4.

though adding some games diesgn to that cv wouldnt hurt.

[Khardis]

writers strike anyone?

Meh, I say let the writers remain on strike and give us some new talent with new ideas. If Hollywoods Writers = the reason for why i'm watching remake after remake etc of my favorite films, then I say let them starve.

[acealive1]

Meh, I say let the writers remain on strike and give us some new talent with new ideas. If Hollywoods Writers = the reason for why i'm watching remake after remake etc of my favorite films, then I say let them starve.

thats why theres so many remakes,make a brand new movie with an old script and a new director at a fraction of the cost and maximize profit by having a new product to sell/rent in stores

[Khardis]

thats why theres so many remakes,make a brand new movie with an old script and a new director at a fraction of the cost and maximize profit by having a new product to sell/rent in stores

The remakes have been going nuts since long before the writers strike. My thought is that its because modern "writers" who work for these companies are just cronie yes men who just shop out consensus ideas to focus groups, which is why we get the films were getting. I say let them stay on strike.

[PJoseph]

"The remakes have been going nuts since long before the writers strike. My thought is that its because modern "writers" who work for these companies are just cronie yes men who just shop out consensus ideas to focus groups, which is why we get the films were getting. I say let them stay on strike."

This is not why there are remakes.

There are remakes because studios already own the rights to a movie or TV series, say "Get Smart". So, for them to develop an idea that they own, they only have to bring on a writer for a take (which, BTW, when you finally hire the writer - they get a paid A LOT OF MONEY to write that script - some into the millions and writers FIGHT to get that gig because it's a sweet gig).

So, from the studio side - they own it and it's proven - they know if they make a movie with a familiar name and a big star, it has less risk then buying some NEW script.

So, in the end, it really has nothing to do with the writers at all.

In fact, writers try all the time to get new material out, but it's hard. So, when studios put a call out for writers to come up with fresh ideas on an old property, writers line up to come up with ideas.

pJ

[MinionZombie]

So, when studios put a call out for writers to come up with fresh ideas on an old property, writers line up to come up with ideas.

Hell, as a guy cracking into the biz myself, I wouldn't half mind the highly unlikely opportunity of a studio saddling up to me and saying - "hey, do us a reboot of Friday 13th"...I'd undercut the other guys, cos an undercut would still gimme a shedload of cash relatively speaking. :D

But that's just a pipe dream for easy cash.

At least I'd try and think about what Friday 13th is and what it should be again, so it wouldn't just be cash. :p

Just day-dreaming here, figured I'd write it down. :p

Ah well, back to my own scripts. :)