The Convergence: Film and Video game

Whenever I walk into a videogame store, it is very easy to spot a videogame that is a spin-off of a blockbuster film. In his article regarding the convergence of films into videogames, Brookey suggests that almost all top grossing films are followed by spin-off videogames of the films. "Seven of the top ten grossing films had video games releases [in year 2006], and the same was true of 2007". However, the quality of videogames that are spin-off of movies are often not satisfactory and rarely recieves good critique from both professionals and players of the game. However, even with very poor quality of video game spin-offs, the trend that blockbuster films followed by video game spin offs are continued in the market. Regarding the reason of continuous release of video game spin-offs, Brookey argues that "videogame spin-offs are strongly tied to the most successfuly films in the market and are an important tactic in the larger marketing strategy of establishing a film franchise". Video game spin-off sells mainly due to the reputation of the original film it is based on. Brookey goes into his main arguement that the convergence of film and video game has already occured.


Brookey talks about similarities of film and video game industries that contributed to the convergence film and video game industry. The development of technological aspect played an important role in the convergence. The release of DVD format stands in the center of the convergence. "The DVD format holds a substantial amount of information and can therefore offers features seldom avaliable on VHS tape". The example that The Lord of the Rings film franchise only produced three films, but has multiple DVD porducts such as collector's editios, direcotr's cut, extended editions, etc that features different commentators and aditional features show that DVD format can do more than just recording of films. Also, vido game consoles such as Play Station and XBOX's tansition of game pack to DVD format allowed the factories that produce films DVDs to produce video games as well. This shows that film and video game industries confront similar business conditions and challenges.


Also, film and video game industries share similar business condition where they "must contend with hight up-front costs and a high risk of failure, both try to release titles that carry some promise of success". Thus, film and video game industries both follow popular genereic conventions where they focus on certain genres like the action/adventure for films and FPSs and RPGs for video games. Also, film and videogame industries make succesful film/videogame into sequels in order to maximize the commerical value. They also share same/similar target audience. Brookey also mentions that film spin-offs serve just like a promotional products such as T-shirt or fast-food souvenir cup except video games can carry and offer messages by inclduing "cut scenes" from or connected the film that is based on. In a way, if the film is successful in the market, the game (spin-off)'s success is somewhat guranteed or at least able to grab an attention from the fan of the film. This works as win-win for both film and videogame industries.


I personally hate video game spin-offs because they dissappoint me almost every single time. Of course, there are some exceptions, but most of the time, I can see that the producer of the video game that is spun off of the film didn't put much effort and money in making the game as much as they did in making the film. However, it is ture that the convergence of film and video game has happened or is in a progress of happening. My question would be:

Do you see the convergence of film and video game industries as a good sign in the advancement of media industries? What do you think would be the next step in the convergence of film and video game? possibly two media into one medium that both works as a film and game?