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The Matrix: Reloaded is coming out later this year, along with the game Enter The Matrix.
One interesting concept is the way they've constructed the storylines in both the game and the movie to interweave and intertwine with each other, even though they are separate media. In a quote from Shiny Entertainment, the game's developer:
"You have to play the game to get the entire Matrix Reloaded story!"
Now I could be cynical here and say that other developers/film publishers are going to start doing the same kind of thing. Bring out a movie for example with the some sections of the plot unclear, until you complete the game of the film and get all the answers. But having just seen the trailer for the game itself, Enter The Matrix is definitely going to kick butt on all formats as a game in its own right despite the plot dynamics, particularly when you consider that it contains over 1 hour of film footage that won't appear in the film itself; and going by the film trailers you're not going to feel short changed if you don't play the game and just see the movie on its own.
What is most interesting is the way that film companies and games companies are working closer than ever before with each other on their products, something that a few years back was unheard of. They way they're taking actors from the film and using them in the production of the game instead of cheaper voice talent (Lord of the Rings), the way they use famous film characters to create completely new games from scratch (Kingdom Hearts), the way that the film industry is taking more and more interest in games that are being released as sources for new movies (you name it, game to film conversions are starting to approach 100s of titles now).
Looking back nearly exactly 20 years, the first two films that really contemplated the merging of games and films were 'Tron' (1982) and 'Wargames' (1983), films which actively looked at the arcade and online gaming scenes back then. It's amazing to think how far we've come in just 20 years. With the merger of the Matrix film/game tie-in, we're seeing something a bit new, a bit different, and I think it's going to spawn a whole host of unimaginable spin-offs in the future.
Will games publishers start to get so big that they'll be producing their own films of their own games? Squaresoft tried it with 'Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within' and made a huge loss. Maybe they were just ahead of their time, or maybe they made the mistake of assuming that all Final Fantasy game players were film goers too.
Here's an idea. What if a game publisher brought out a sequel to Lord of the Rings? A whole new storyline? All new characters? Would this be classed as sacriledge by the Tolkien fans? Or an opportunity to further explore the world of Middle Earth?
The possibilities are endless. Bet you within the next 5 years Microsoft bring out a movie.
One interesting concept is the way they've constructed the storylines in both the game and the movie to interweave and intertwine with each other, even though they are separate media. In a quote from Shiny Entertainment, the game's developer:
"You have to play the game to get the entire Matrix Reloaded story!"
Now I could be cynical here and say that other developers/film publishers are going to start doing the same kind of thing. Bring out a movie for example with the some sections of the plot unclear, until you complete the game of the film and get all the answers. But having just seen the trailer for the game itself, Enter The Matrix is definitely going to kick butt on all formats as a game in its own right despite the plot dynamics, particularly when you consider that it contains over 1 hour of film footage that won't appear in the film itself; and going by the film trailers you're not going to feel short changed if you don't play the game and just see the movie on its own.
What is most interesting is the way that film companies and games companies are working closer than ever before with each other on their products, something that a few years back was unheard of. They way they're taking actors from the film and using them in the production of the game instead of cheaper voice talent (Lord of the Rings), the way they use famous film characters to create completely new games from scratch (Kingdom Hearts), the way that the film industry is taking more and more interest in games that are being released as sources for new movies (you name it, game to film conversions are starting to approach 100s of titles now).
Looking back nearly exactly 20 years, the first two films that really contemplated the merging of games and films were 'Tron' (1982) and 'Wargames' (1983), films which actively looked at the arcade and online gaming scenes back then. It's amazing to think how far we've come in just 20 years. With the merger of the Matrix film/game tie-in, we're seeing something a bit new, a bit different, and I think it's going to spawn a whole host of unimaginable spin-offs in the future.
Will games publishers start to get so big that they'll be producing their own films of their own games? Squaresoft tried it with 'Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within' and made a huge loss. Maybe they were just ahead of their time, or maybe they made the mistake of assuming that all Final Fantasy game players were film goers too.
Here's an idea. What if a game publisher brought out a sequel to Lord of the Rings? A whole new storyline? All new characters? Would this be classed as sacriledge by the Tolkien fans? Or an opportunity to further explore the world of Middle Earth?
The possibilities are endless. Bet you within the next 5 years Microsoft bring out a movie.
If a game publisher brought out a brand new Lord Of The Rings game then I would see that as just cashing in on the phenomenon.
And I'd guarantee that if the game/movie tie-in's took off then Bill Gates would be the first to make his own movie.
The whole Matrix movie-game thingy is a good idea, but I cant see many movie go'ers buying a console and the game, just to get the whole story.
My mate doesn't own a games console but loves the movies, I doubt she'd buy a console and the game to get the full story for The Matrix:Reloaded or any future movies for that matter.
You'd probably find this extra movie footage and stuff on the DVD once its released.
And I'd guarantee that if the game/movie tie-in's took off then Bill Gates would be the first to make his own movie.
The whole Matrix movie-game thingy is a good idea, but I cant see many movie go'ers buying a console and the game, just to get the whole story.
My mate doesn't own a games console but loves the movies, I doubt she'd buy a console and the game to get the full story for The Matrix:Reloaded or any future movies for that matter.
You'd probably find this extra movie footage and stuff on the DVD once its released.
The Matrix: Reloaded is coming out later this year, along with the game Enter The Matrix.
One interesting concept is the way they've constructed the storylines in both the game and the movie to interweave and intertwine with each other, even though they are separate media. In a quote from Shiny Entertainment, the game's developer:
"You have to play the game to get the entire Matrix Reloaded story!"
Now I could be cynical here and say that other developers/film publishers are going to start doing the same kind of thing. Bring out a movie for example with the some sections of the plot unclear, until you complete the game of the film and get all the answers. But having just seen the trailer for the game itself, Enter The Matrix is definitely going to kick butt on all formats as a game in its own right despite the plot dynamics, particularly when you consider that it contains over 1 hour of film footage that won't appear in the film itself; and going by the film trailers you're not going to feel short changed if you don't play the game and just see the movie on its own.
What is most interesting is the way that film companies and games companies are working closer than ever before with each other on their products, something that a few years back was unheard of. They way they're taking actors from the film and using them in the production of the game instead of cheaper voice talent (Lord of the Rings), the way they use famous film characters to create completely new games from scratch (Kingdom Hearts), the way that the film industry is taking more and more interest in games that are being released as sources for new movies (you name it, game to film conversions are starting to approach 100s of titles now).
Looking back nearly exactly 20 years, the first two films that really contemplated the merging of games and films were 'Tron' (1982) and 'Wargames' (1983), films which actively looked at the arcade and online gaming scenes back then. It's amazing to think how far we've come in just 20 years. With the merger of the Matrix film/game tie-in, we're seeing something a bit new, a bit different, and I think it's going to spawn a whole host of unimaginable spin-offs in the future.
Will games publishers start to get so big that they'll be producing their own films of their own games? Squaresoft tried it with 'Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within' and made a huge loss. Maybe they were just ahead of their time, or maybe they made the mistake of assuming that all Final Fantasy game players were film goers too.
Here's an idea. What if a game publisher brought out a sequel to Lord of the Rings? A whole new storyline? All new characters? Would this be classed as sacriledge by the Tolkien fans? Or an opportunity to further explore the world of Middle Earth?
The possibilities are endless. Bet you within the next 5 years Microsoft bring out a movie.
One interesting concept is the way they've constructed the storylines in both the game and the movie to interweave and intertwine with each other, even though they are separate media. In a quote from Shiny Entertainment, the game's developer:
"You have to play the game to get the entire Matrix Reloaded story!"
Now I could be cynical here and say that other developers/film publishers are going to start doing the same kind of thing. Bring out a movie for example with the some sections of the plot unclear, until you complete the game of the film and get all the answers. But having just seen the trailer for the game itself, Enter The Matrix is definitely going to kick butt on all formats as a game in its own right despite the plot dynamics, particularly when you consider that it contains over 1 hour of film footage that won't appear in the film itself; and going by the film trailers you're not going to feel short changed if you don't play the game and just see the movie on its own.
What is most interesting is the way that film companies and games companies are working closer than ever before with each other on their products, something that a few years back was unheard of. They way they're taking actors from the film and using them in the production of the game instead of cheaper voice talent (Lord of the Rings), the way they use famous film characters to create completely new games from scratch (Kingdom Hearts), the way that the film industry is taking more and more interest in games that are being released as sources for new movies (you name it, game to film conversions are starting to approach 100s of titles now).
Looking back nearly exactly 20 years, the first two films that really contemplated the merging of games and films were 'Tron' (1982) and 'Wargames' (1983), films which actively looked at the arcade and online gaming scenes back then. It's amazing to think how far we've come in just 20 years. With the merger of the Matrix film/game tie-in, we're seeing something a bit new, a bit different, and I think it's going to spawn a whole host of unimaginable spin-offs in the future.
Will games publishers start to get so big that they'll be producing their own films of their own games? Squaresoft tried it with 'Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within' and made a huge loss. Maybe they were just ahead of their time, or maybe they made the mistake of assuming that all Final Fantasy game players were film goers too.
Here's an idea. What if a game publisher brought out a sequel to Lord of the Rings? A whole new storyline? All new characters? Would this be classed as sacriledge by the Tolkien fans? Or an opportunity to further explore the world of Middle Earth?
The possibilities are endless. Bet you within the next 5 years Microsoft bring out a movie.