Steven Spielberg: Game Designer
07-10-07, 11:39 AM
#1
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Steven Spielberg: Game Designer
Not sure if this belongs in the E3 thread, the innovation in gaming thread, or its own thread, so I went with option 3. Mods, feel free to merge if I chose wrong (like the mods need my permission 
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6287628.stm
LMNO sounds pretty cool. So does PQRS, but I don't have a Wii, so screw that.
I read the piece in Newsweek last night (it doesn't seem to be on the internet yet) and they point out that Spielberg worked with Lucas Arts on The Dig, a PC Adventure game released in the mid-90s (after half a decade in development). They also point out that Dreamworks had a gaming division when it was founded, but they sold it off to EA after a few years.
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Spielberg's gaming vision emerges
Two video games developed with director Steven Spielberg are to be shown off at the E3 conference in Los Angeles.
The filmmaker has collaborated with Electronic Arts, the world's largest games publisher, on three titles.
The first, codenamed LMNO, is a contemporary action adventure, said Neil Young, general manager of EA's Los Angeles studio.
The second, with the codename PQRS, is a puzzle game designed for Nintendo's Wii console.
In an interview with Newsweek magazine, Spielberg said the puzzle game "seemed like a great thing for the entire family to play together over Christmas; although you don't need the excuse of a holiday to enjoy it."
The game has been described as a mix of Saturday-morning cartoon and Jenga.
'Chemical reaction'
Mr Young said: "Of course just playing with blocks does not a game make.
"Now imagine there are up to 50 different properties that can be associated with them. They can explode or form a chemical reaction."
In LMNO, being designed for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the player partners with a female character who evolves over time depending on how she interacts with other characters in the game.
Newsweek described the title as "North by Northwest meets ET".
Spielberg told Newsweek: "The challenge is, can the game have an emotional impact on players while they are actively manipulating the world?"
In a separate statement about his involvement with EA, he said: "I am truly enjoying the creative collaboration and we hope that gamers will be as excited as we are about what we can bring to the medium through our shared vision."
No details about the third game Spielberg is working on were released.
Two video games developed with director Steven Spielberg are to be shown off at the E3 conference in Los Angeles.
The filmmaker has collaborated with Electronic Arts, the world's largest games publisher, on three titles.
The first, codenamed LMNO, is a contemporary action adventure, said Neil Young, general manager of EA's Los Angeles studio.
The second, with the codename PQRS, is a puzzle game designed for Nintendo's Wii console.
In an interview with Newsweek magazine, Spielberg said the puzzle game "seemed like a great thing for the entire family to play together over Christmas; although you don't need the excuse of a holiday to enjoy it."
The game has been described as a mix of Saturday-morning cartoon and Jenga.
'Chemical reaction'
Mr Young said: "Of course just playing with blocks does not a game make.
"Now imagine there are up to 50 different properties that can be associated with them. They can explode or form a chemical reaction."
In LMNO, being designed for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the player partners with a female character who evolves over time depending on how she interacts with other characters in the game.
Newsweek described the title as "North by Northwest meets ET".
Spielberg told Newsweek: "The challenge is, can the game have an emotional impact on players while they are actively manipulating the world?"
In a separate statement about his involvement with EA, he said: "I am truly enjoying the creative collaboration and we hope that gamers will be as excited as we are about what we can bring to the medium through our shared vision."
No details about the third game Spielberg is working on were released.
LMNO sounds pretty cool. So does PQRS, but I don't have a Wii, so screw that.
I read the piece in Newsweek last night (it doesn't seem to be on the internet yet) and they point out that Spielberg worked with Lucas Arts on The Dig, a PC Adventure game released in the mid-90s (after half a decade in development). They also point out that Dreamworks had a gaming division when it was founded, but they sold it off to EA after a few years.
07-10-07, 12:28 PM
#4
DVD Talk Godfather
Originally Posted by KurrptSenate
But honestly, what the fuck does Spielberg know about video games?
The Dig, early on in the game, is basically Armageddon the game. A team of astronauts head up to blow an asteroid out of orbit that is hurtling towards earth.
07-10-07, 12:31 PM
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Originally Posted by KurrptSenate
The Dig? Not familiar with that
07-10-07, 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
What is the weakest link in gaming? Story. Most games beg for a skip button during cut scenes.
that was ultimately the point I was trying to make. At any event, the fun factor, for me, all comes down to game play and seamless controls. I doubt he has anything to do with that
07-10-07, 02:37 PM
#9
DVD Talk Legend
The part I could most see a filmmaker's involvement would be in helping to create game settings and characters (and basic story elements) and allowing the game designers to work out the actual play details. If you allow the story to overwhelm the process, you'll end up trying to fit the gameplay around the scenarios (when it should be the other way around). That's the problem that plagues most movie-to-game adaptations... they concentrate too much on recreating key scenes and by sticking so closely to the story you limit the gameplay options.
07-10-07, 06:17 PM
#10
DVD Talk Legend
The Dig was supposed to be a short story on the old TV show Amazing Stories... but it was translated via graphic adventure - and pretty good at that.
07-12-07, 03:37 PM
#13
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by KurrptSenate
But honestly, what the fuck does Spielberg know about video games?
