We felt it would appropriate to take a look back at video game movies because Ready Player One, which centers on a competition that takes place in virtual reality, is now playing in theaters. Not video game movies, either, since they are often quite awful. However, there are movies that are influenced by the game mechanics, elements, customs, and technology. The following, in chronological order, are some of our favorites…
DEATH RACE 2000 (1975)
This future sports film about a homicidal road race accelerated by producer Roger Corman in an effort to capitalize on the excitement around the upcoming Rollerball. Drivers earned points for running over pedestrians in a blood sport that the government organized to amuse and appease the populace. The arcades were drawn to the straightforwardness of that gloomy notion, and in 1976 a Death Race game that had nothing to do with the movie produced. The controversial 1997 blockbuster Carmageddon drew inspiration from the cult favorite as well.
TRON (1982)
Tron was created by Disney in 1982 as a way to capitalize on the growing popularity of personal computers. Jeff Bridges portrays a programmer who has transferred inside a computer’s mainframe. He takes part in activities here that are similar to those families were doing at home. Most noticeably Pong, the film’s name that first inspired writer-director Steve Lisberger. Tron had a poor reception and had a weak box office, but over time, a cult formed around the movie, and in 2010, a sequel published. On the gaming front, Bally Midway produced an arcade version in 1982, which as followed by a plethora of follow-ups and spin-offs on computers and consoles.
CLOAK & DAGGER (1984)
Henry Thomas plays a young adolescent who is smitten with the Cloak & Dagger video game in this kid-friendly espionage film. With the aid of Jack Flack, the main character in the game, he sets off on a real-world journey. It’s a fantastic film with an interesting behind-the-scenes tale. At the time, Atari was creating an arcade game called Agent X, and when they learned about the movie, they chose to work with the producers. The name of the game has appropriately updated, and it is mentioned in the feature, with both games assisting in cross-promotion. A trick that quickly became the standard in the business.
THE LAST STARFIGHTER (1984)
One of the underrated masterpieces of the 1980s is The Last Starfighter, so if you haven’t watched it, change that right now. And a movie that genuinely centers on a made-up video game. However, The Last Starfighter machine is more of a recruitment tool for gunners in an intergalactic conflict than it is a game. The main character of the movie, Alex Rogan, succeeds and has to engage in space combat with aliens as a result. Atari had planned to release an arcade version of The Last Starfighter, but they gave up when they saw the completed film. That one still has us feeling sore.
THE RUNNING MAN (1987)
The Running Man, a 1982 Stephen King book of the same name (written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman), based on a TV program where murderous “stalkers” pursue condemned felons, known as “runners.” with the moniker Fireball, Dynamo, Buzzsaw, and Subzero. Making them more colorful video game level bosses than classic movie baddies. To get it to the conclusion of the show with his life intact, the movie’s hero, portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, must overcome each of them. Although the movie was entertaining, a severely mediocre Running Man computer game launched in 1989, and Smash TV from 1990 was also obviously influenced by the picture.
DIE HARD (1988)
A rather excellent celluloid adaptation of the side-scrolling platform games that ruled the market in the late 1980s may found in one of the best action films of all time. However, in this instance, the main character moves both side to side and up and down the building. In the movie “John McClane,” played by Bruce Willis, a New York police officer is held hostage in a high-rise office building that night by terrorists and criminals. Before reaching the main antagonist, Hans Gruber, McClane eliminates the terrorists one at a time, as if playing a violent platform game.
Unsurprisingly, the movie and its sequels served as the inspiration for a number of dreadful Die Hard side-scrolling platformers. However, if you’re more into movies, try out The Raid (2011) or Dredd (2012) for additional adrenaline-pumping stories of men taking out bad people while they climb skyscrapers. For a side-scrolling passage that must seen to believed, see Old Boy (2003).
THE GAME (1997)
A video game that is “on rails” is one in which the player’s path and the sights and actions they encounter are predetermined. Technical restrictions in the early days of gaming were partly to blame for this. However, the format is still used today when game developers want the user to have a certain experience. In The Game, Michael Douglas’ character experiences just that. In his role as Nicholas Van Orton, Douglas portrays an investment banker whose brother gives him a “game” produced by the enigmatic Consumer Recreation Services. Nicholas experiences bizarre events quickly, and his life quickly spirals out of control. Nicolas is gradually becoming aware that his own life is now in danger.
EXISTENZ (1999)
The impact of immersive games on human health examined by Existenz. In the near future, when “bio-ports” have surgically implanted into players’ spines, game movies are mainlined into players via these ports. This is the setting of David Cronenberg’s dark and unsettling thriller. The conflict between competing developers Antenna Research and Cortical Systematics is the center of the story, and a group of rebel “realists” are fighting both of them in an attempt to stop “distortions” in the actual world. which take place as a result of the new virtual reality game eXistenZ, where imagination and reality are combined. Being a Cronenberg movie, it has a lot to say about how we use technology and play game movies. Along with copious amounts of nauseating bodily horror.
THE MATRIX (1999)
The ability to instantly gain knowledge, abilities, power, speed, weaponry, and other attributes in video game movies is entertaining. The Matrix brought that dream to life in 1999. Sort of. Computer programmer Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, learns that intelligent computers have fought war against humans, triumphed, and are now harvesting mankind for biometric power. The artificial environment that “The Matrix” creates calms the human world. Neo picks up kung fu and uses it to manipulate the events taking place on this artificial plane. He then defies physics to do some fantastic action movie stunts. He finally gains superhuman strength, stopping bullets in midair before taking off in the ultimate mic-drop.
THE KING OF KONG: A FISTFUL OF QUARTERS (2007)
This is not only a fantastic video game movies documentary. One of the finest documentaries ever produced, it is also. thus a true conflict between good and evil is at its center. Steve Wiebe, a person whose life has not very happy, is the decent guy. But because to Steve’s mastery at Donkey Kong, he now has one last opportunity to achieve fame by setting the record high score. The antagonist of the story is Billy Mitchell. He stands between Steve and success as a gaming icon who has dominated the score rankings ever since records were kept. And to stop him, he will resort to any means. We won’t say much more for fear of giving away the numerous twists and shocks throughout the movie. Simply watch it.
SHOOT ‘EM UP (2007)
The first-person shooter Hardcore Henry from 2015 brought to life by a movie that always takes the first-person vantage point. But the quality wasn’t great. Shoot ‘Em Up from 2007 is a far better celluloid interpretation of the video game genre even if it doesn’t use that idea. In the opening few minutes, Clive Own’s character, a vagrant. Delivers a stranger’s baby and stabs a guy in the face with a carrot. He grabs a gun, and the remainder of the movie spent with him killing evil men and defending the infant. Even though it’s stupid, it nails the sick delight of shoot ’em up games. Check out John Wick (2014) and John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) for more of the same.
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD (2010)
The finest illustration of how video games and game traditions have affected filmmaker Edgar Wright’s work is perhaps Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Being an adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series about a man having to overcome his girlfriend’s demonic ex-boyfriends. The movie is first and foremost a comic book come to life. But there are several video game movies cliches. The Universal logo appears in 8-bit form to start things off. Every ex that Scott beats earns him points. There several video games mentioned or covered, including Tetris, Sonic, Zelda, Double Dragon, and Street Fighter. When Gideon Graves ultimately annihilated, he transforms into millions of coins. When Scott overcomes Kyle and Ken, he even gets a “Extra Life.” But more about more life may found below.
INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE (2012)
Indie Game: The Movie, a different documentary, offers fascinating insight into the creation of indie games. The crux of the movie is on Phil Fish as he develops Fez, Jonathan Blow’s attempts to make Braid popular. And Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes as they complete Super Meat Boy. Indie Game captures the blood, sweat, and tears of this amazing bunch as it traces the highs and lows of creation. Giving an intriguing glimpse into artists for whom gaming is more than a job—a it’s way of life.
WRECK-IT-RALPH (2012)
The animated film Wreck-It-Ralph is very entertaining and both parodies and honors the video gaming industry. The antagonist in the arcade game Fix-It Felix Jr., which is similar to Donkey Kong, voiced by John C. Reilly. Ralph quits the game movies because he is sick of playing the villain and goes to Hero’s Duty and Sugar Rush, two games that parody first-person shooters (where arcade games like Geometry Dash are sent up). It’s an entertaining movie with a meaningful message about being true to yourself. And appearances by Street Fighter characters as well as Pac-Man, Q*bert, Frogger, Sonic the Hedgehog, and many more.
EDGE OF TOMORROW (2014)
In the past, you could simply add additional money to the cabinet to revive your character. If they died in an arcade game movies. encouraging players to take lessons from their errors. Even though it’s not often used in movies, this trend carried over into games for home consoles. Even so, there are a few excellent instances. In the 1993 film Groundhog Day, Bill Murray repeats the same day until he gets it right. In an attempt to rescue her sweetheart, Franka Potente repeatedly plays the same 20 minutes in Run Lola Run (1998).
Jake Gyllenhaal also plays a commuter in Source Code (2011). Reliving his last moments in order to stop a train from bombed. The movie that enjoys the premise the best, though, is Edge of Tomorrow. Tom Cruise stuck in a cycle that takes him back each time he murdered after an extraterrestrial invasion. And that’s a lot. But much like a gamer, Cruise’s character may improve with each play. Becoming the supreme warrior and allowing him to rescue the planet.
