The major studios have increasingly opted to create video games tied to their movies via in-house divisions in recent years. A “Los Angeles Times” article says Universal Pictures is backpedaling, after some poor results.
The movie and video game based on “Wanted: Weapons of Fate” both bombed for Universal Pictures.
“Based on the 2008 movie of the same name starring Angelina Jolie, the video game [‘Wanted: Weapons of Fate’] sold only 100,000 units in the U.S. in its first month, generating under $6 million in retail revenue,” notes the “LA Times” blog by Ben Fritz. “High-quality games like ‘Wanted’ typically cost $20 million or more to produce, before marketing costs. Universal probably wants to be cautious about money-losing ancillary ventures in a year when its movies generally have performed poorly at the box office.”
The major studios’ involvement in video games has a history of twists and turns. If Universal is turning to retreat, it would be no surprise given its parent General Electric is under severe financial pressure – making choppy performance in its film business unwelcome.
Of course, such video game translations of games can always be licensed to third parties, but then studios lose control of the creative process and in some cases may not find a third-party licensee.
In a section devoted to video games, “Marketing to Moviegoers: Second Edition” notes that work on video game adaptations typically begin before the first frame of a film is shot, and sometimes even before the script is even finished.
As for lining up third parties, video game specialist Activision released three movie-related games – “X-Men Origins”, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”, and “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.” Electronics Arts, which is home of the John Madden NFL sports video games, markets “Harry Potter” video games.
Notes the “Los Angeles Times” article, “Other studios are taking differing approaches to video games. While Fox continues to license all of its properties to other publishers, Paramount released a downloadable game based on ‘Star Trek’ in May, and has ones based on “The Warriors”, “Top Gun” and “Days of Thunder” in production. Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros. are producing a variety of games based on movies and TV shows and, in select cases, original ideas.”
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