Spider-Man A Franchising Victim? Alas.
Movie tie-in games…I hate them. A full 99% of the time they’re shoddy, rushed, buggy and so utterly unengaging as to render them fit only as coffee table coasters. I get particularly bitey about the whole concept when its a franchise that I’m fond of.
With regards to Spider-Man, I live with a fan. I live with someone who occasionally has delusional fantasies that they are, in fact, the webbed wonder. Spider-Man makes me smile, and I do think that the trilogy of films made about Peter Parker and his alter-ego have been immensely enjoyable. Two things though, in recent news, have made me very grumpy.
One is that the franchise has been optioned for another four movies…Spider-Man 7?? There is only so much abuse a poor comic book character can take before it begins to look like a hot cash grab by the studios and the license holder. Even Toby Maguire, who at this point is as in-tune with the series and his character as anyone else, has strongly stated that he believes the film series should be halted after three. It just makes good sense to end off on a high point, rather than milking it for all it’s worth and ending up with a totally disgruntled fan base.
Second is that by all accounts, the game that accompanied the release of the Spider-Man 3 movie, is wretched. Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised for a perfectly timed and branded co-release of paraphenalia…but Spidey? For shame. I think this Penny Arcade cartoon, originally posted on May 9th, sums up the general feeling amongst the journalistic gaming community. It pains my poor webby heart, it really does.
The troubles point to a larger issue in the games industry, whereby the development and production of games is being dictated and steered from outside, by the controllers of other forms of media that don’t share gamings unique interaction and relationship with the viewer/player. While the same old characters doing the same old things with a slightly different setting and better special effects can make for a whole new, and entertaining movie, slapping the same characteristics into a video game leaves players wondering why the heck they spent a day’s wages on a carbon copy piece of crap. Seeing a bad movie at the theatre might run you $15, but buying the rotten game that accompanies it will set you back 4 or 5 times more. The ire from gamers is understandable. Where then, is the breaking point? Will there ever be a time when a film is rushed, or delayed, because the game is ready, or are franchised games doomed to forever play second fiddle to their big screen cousins?
1 opinion for Spider-Man A Franchising Victim? Alas.
Matt
May 16, 2007 at 4:54 am
“It just makes good sense to end off on a high point, rather than milking it for all it’s worth and ending up with a totally disgruntled fan base.”
High note?? What spider man 3 movie did you see??
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: