What is a
“Cinematic”
Game?
vs.
Are these art forms compatible?
“Cinematic Game”
Does it mean:
• Lots of cut-scenes?
• Heavily scripted?
• Limited interaction?
• Linear narrative?
“Cinematic Game”
Does it mean:
• Glitzier award ceremonies?
• Hang out with celebrities?
How about a better meaning for “cinematic?”
Cinematic Game Design
(Rouse & Stoltz at GDC ’06)
Slides available at:
http://www.paranoidproductions.com
Another meaning:
•
•
•
•
•
Story driven (pre-written)
Player is part of something important
Highly immersive
Minimum of gamey elements
High production values
Story driven (pre-written)
Metal Gear Solid 3
Player is part of something important
Call of Duty 2
Highly immersive
Half-Life 2
Minimum of gamey elements
The Chronicles of Riddick:
Escape from Butcher Bay
High production values
Resident Evil 4
I want to play a
movie!
I want to play a
movie!
A
Jerry Bruckheimer
Movie
“Does every game have to be
the equivalent of a
Bruckheimer production?”
- Warren Spector
“You guys do power fantasies so
much better than we ever did!”
(paraphrased)
- Scott McCloud
A power fantasy where you’re in
control is fundamentally a
much stronger power fantasy.
Almost all games are power
fantasies, of one type or
another.
Call of Duty 2
Grand Theft Auto III
Civilization III
Guitar Hero
The Sims
Tetris
Tetris
All storytelling games are
power fantasies, of one type or
another.
Yet only a portion would work as
movies.
Yet only a portion would work as
movies.
The Overlap
Game
Stories
Game
or
Movie
Stories
Movie
Stories
Many movies wouldn’t
work as games.
(Particularly ones that aren’t power fantasies.)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Titanic
Three Colors: Red
Citizen Kane
The Overlap is Small
Game Stories
Movie Stories
A supposition:
All art is about eliciting
emotional response from the
audience.
Games can evoke some
emotions that no other art form
can. (At least, not as well.)
• Tension
• Transgression
• Pride
• Nurturing
Tension
Doom
Transgression
Grand Theft Auto III
Pride
Civilization III
Heavy Metal Transcendence
Guitar Hero
Nurturing
The Sims
The best games evoke
emotions exclusive to games.
“One day soon, calling a game
‘cinematic’ will be a
backhanded compliment, like
calling a movie ‘stagy.’”
- Jordan Mechner
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Gilmore Girls
The Bell Jar
Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth
The Sims
The best storytelling
fully embraces the
nature of its medium.
The best storytelling
fully embraces the
nature of its medium.
The best storytelling
fully embraces the
nature of its medium.
The best storytelling
fully embraces the
nature of its medium.
The best storytelling
fully embraces the
nature of its medium.
The best storytelling
fully embraces the
nature of its medium.
Slides available at:
http://www.paranoidproductions.com
Email: [email protected]