EA Maxis founder says upcoming evolution simulation may surface in other mediums to attract wider audiences.
Now that Electronic Arts has signed on top Hollywood representatives United Talent Agency, it's a safe bet that the megapublisher is sizing up all of its properties for their silver-screen suitability. And if EA Maxis cofounder Will Wright has his way, one of the next games to make that conversion is his studio's hotly anticipated evolution simulation, Spore.
"With Spore, we're looking way outside the game space, such as TV, movies, etc," Wright told international news service Reuters today. "We're basically planting the seeds to spread Spore out to a much wider group of people than would ever play a computer game."
Assuming that Spore germinates in Tinsel Town, Wright's latest game would be the second from the celebrated designer to be destined for celluloid. In 2007, 20th Century Fox picked up the rights to make a film based on EA's massively popular Sims franchise, the first installment of which Wright created in 2000. Although details on The Sims are sparse, it will reportedly be a live-action film, produced by John Davis (Predator, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties) and written by Brian Lynch (who is also working on the Shrek spin-off, Puss in Boots).
"We're going to be much more intelligent about harvesting other market opportunities for Spore than we were with The Sims, which as big as it was in the game space, pretty much remains in the game space," commented Wright.
Released in July for mobile phones, Spore is expected to ship for the PC, Mac, and Nintendo DS on September 5 in Europe, with the North American release following two days later. An as-yet-undated Wii version is also in development, and EA has indicated that the game may surface on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in the future. For the latest on Spore, check out GameSpot's just-published hands-on.
Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.
"This is dumb. Each form of entertainment should stay in it's own format. That means books stay books, movies stay movies, and games stay games." Some of the best films ever made were based on novels, and many great books' original canon lay in film and video games.
"If it does end up on other forms of media then all i will say it will end up on is a stupid kids show where the creatures all speak like idiots and have "wacky" adventures. Like viva pinata." if that happens...
Ok the idea for the movie in 2009 "Warcraft" based on the warcraft universe will work great, but you have to be nuts to make a Spore or Sims movie. We can hope though, the garfield movies sucked :P For all who want to know legendary pictures is making the Warcraft (live-action) movie.
...The game, sure. But...a movie about one of the most open-ended games ever? Won't work, methinks.
"John Davis (Predator, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties) and written by Brian Lynch (who is also working on the Shrek spin-off, Puss in Boots)." So... the Spore movie is going to about sassy orange cats with lots of attitude, am I right? I hate Mondays!
I'm just wondering how Spore (or the Sims for that matter) could possibly be adapted to film or TV. I mean, isn't the whole point of it all to be nonlinear?
Spore is different than most games. I could see it translating into a movie pretty well, so long as it's done right. They just need a team of writers who wouldn't butcher the IP.
This is dumb. Each form of entertainment should stay in it's own format. That means books stay books, movies stay movies, and games stay games.
If it does end up on other forms of media then all i will say it will end up on is a stupid kids show where the creatures all speak like idiots and have "wacky" adventures. Like viva pinata.
That is one of the stupidest thing I have heard since Microsoft said they where going to take the blood and swearing out of Gear of War. Why is it that everyone always takes the games that have almost no story at all and make it into a movie (Super Mario Brothers, Alone in the Dark, Doom). The first thing they jump at is Halo, Gears of War,Spore and Sims? These game have no proper story, characters or plot yet they want to make movies of them.God of War would make a good movie, as would Metroid and Zelda. Ratchet and Clank and Jak and Daxter are just screaming to be made into animated series or movies. Even Little Big Planet could make a cute animated cartoon. But someone just says Halo or Gears of War movie and they fall all over themselves to make it as quickly as possible. And the worst part is these movies usually suck because the story for the game usually sucks too.
It is definitely an interesting concept to turn this game into a movie. I just hope it doesn't suck (like most movies based on video games).
The problem with standard games is that 1) The story-telling in a game is not the same as in a movie. 2) Games usually don't need a story as good as movie need. But Spore is not a standard game. I don't know what idea they have in mind but I hope they didn't involve in a movie if their idea is not prodigious.
Woaa... I wonder how they got this idea to turn it into TV. Honestly, they cannot even turn basic game stuff to films (DOOM). And I cannot imagine turning something as complicated as this to a film...
How do you make these games movies? If they couldn't make a good House of the Dead, Street Fighter (Awesomely Bad), Resident Evil(1st was okay, rest were FAIL), Alone in the Dark, Doom, Blood Rayne, Dead or Alive, or Mortal Kombat (1st one good, 2nd abysmal) movies, which actually have plots and characters, how are they going to make a movie with none of these elements? Then again, if they don't have any of these, they are free to do whatever they want. Interesting...
The shoudn't even be thinking of making a movie/ TV Show of a Simulation game.... WTF!
The Sims movie better be a parody of the Sims. Any other plot would just be stupid. And yes, that includes soiling ones pants trying to get to the bathroom and then mopping it up for +cleaning skill immediately afterwords.
Hmmm, spore is moving from the shadey "Could be!" game to shouting it from the roof tops in some major cheap attention seeking attitude. Thinking theres 5-9yr olds watching it on TV & no doubt getting "toys" based on it, really puts me off playing it at all.
If I watch that Sims movie and none of the characters piss their pants while trying to get to the bathroom, I'm going to be upset.
Hope it does come on on the X-Box because my computer will definitely not be able to play it.
...and here we go. Spore as a game? AWESOME Spore as a movie? CRAP Spore as a TV show? PILE OF CRAP
Okay, this one's really throwing me for a loop. How do you make a movie out of a game that has no definite plot or specified characters? Every game of The Sims or Spore revolves (or will revolve) around different people/creatures doing different things in a different location from every other game. Without any sort of defining characters or locations, I don't see how a Spore or Sims movie will be much but a movie about evolution or a family with the game's name tacked onto the title for publicity. But then again, maybe we'll all be surprised.
Lame. Might as well sell out right? Like a movie, a cartoon and a tv show. The skies the limit. I haven't been into anything Will Wright made since the Sims 2 and he and EA aped that like a money tree which was discouraging with all the overpriced updates they called expansions. Sim Ant and Sim City were awesome and I will even admit I was interested in Spore but now? Not touching it with my iPhone, Xbox 360, PS3 or my computer. Sorry Will Wright, you struck out with me. Oh and EA wants to charge me $10 for Tetris on my iPhone? You have got to be kidding me. Suck on your own miserable greed and may it be your downfall, EA.
I think this would make a real fun kids show myself =) It would be cute and yet us hardcore gamers wouldn't need to watch it or be insulted by how stupid it is. Seems like everyone wins to me. Plus if it becomes popular in other markets then game sales will increase. I think the sims is slightly less marketable though. The games were all about controlling your character and without that interaction they are just hollow AI and animation. Spore is much more about creating a creature and seeing how it can develop and survive. It could be transformed into a thousand good medians if done correctly. I think an educational version of spore for schools would be a great way to market it. Imagine playing spore during biology to learn about how life can evolve or not. Then the obvious animated TV series and movies would work. Everything from comics, custom Halloweens costumes, interactive desktops and screen savers, custom toys, iSPOREs (like iDogs that play music and dance), to card series or board games where you build the ultimate creature. Endless possibilities. I wouldn't buy much of it, but some of it would be kind of neat. And I would love to have little figures of my favorite spore creatures sitting on my desk =) maybe they could even dance for me or interact with my other spore toys? Idk
The problem with capitalistic marketing (is there any other kind?) realized: there will be no lack of profit for said product (SPORE), yet they are capitalizing on its brewed hype and early popularity to throw some money around in the hopes of turning that money into EVEN MORE MONEY. "We're going to be much more [OPPORTUNISTIC] about harvesting other market opportunities for Spore than we were with The Sims, which as big as it was in the game space, pretty much remains in the game space," Most people wait until AFTER the product is a hit, (I guess it already is) or they do *ish like this because they are so BALLS CONFIDENT that they might as well make as much money as possible. Spore movie, 2010, starring Matt Damon as an amoeba with big googly eyes and Jake Glyennhall as as a special cameo --The PRINCE OF PERSIA, SPORE EDITION. Thus ends my rant. game movies blow.
Nice idea if you want to milk the franchise so soon... Shot EA! Also I'm sure those militant atheists will have something to say about this hahaha.
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