Kotick And Co. May Sell Game Scenes As Movies
Video games are closer to movies than ever before in terms of technology and cinematography, so perhaps it isn't a big stretch to see cut-scene collections in theaters.
During a Bank of America Merill Lynch Media, Communications, and Entertainment Conference, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick cited their latest hit, Starcraft II, which has already sold over 3 million copies. The slick movie cut-scenes in the game got a lot of attention, which prompted Kotick and Co. to think about producing full-length feature films. Said Kotick:
"If we were to go to our audience and say we have this great hour-and-a-half of linear video that we would like to make available to you at a $30 price point or $20 price point, you'd have the biggest opening weekend of any film ever. Within the next five years, you are likely to see us do that. Now that may be in partnership with somebody; it may be alone. But there will be a time when we capitalize on the relationship that we have with our audience."
Kotick said Activision is poised to make the leap, as they could "bypass the expenses of standard distribution methods" and after purchasing it, "an extremely high percentage" of company followers would be willing to head to the theater and watch it again. Back in 2001, Sega launched a limited Japanese theatrical run of Shenmue based on various parts of the Dreamcast game. That movie was then included with the Xbox version of Shenmue II. Blizzard has also tried something similar, as they released a three-DVD set boasting cinematics from Starcraft, Starcraft: Brood War, Diablo II and Warcraft III.
Kotick apparently wants to tap into Hollywood; he also spoke about a vision he's had for several years...a vision that has now come true: the audience for video games would broaden to the point where it resembled the fan base of television and films. He mentioned the lip-syncing and facial animations we'll see in the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops, saying it would be a "breakthrough" for the industry. In the end, he said "the ability to have characters with whom players could form an emotional connection - the same way they do with characters in movies - was a 'Holy Grail' in the industry." Well, that sounds about right.
Tags: activision, bobby kotick, activision games
9/15/2010 9:19:06 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (76 posts)
GuernicaReborn
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:42:19 PM
Alienange
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 12:12:42 PM
Jawknee
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:10:47 PM
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Plus we already have full cutscene like movies that are better than most video game cut scenes. Pixar has been doing it for years. Square has tried and failed. Can't imagine much better coming from Activision.
Last edited by Jawknee on 9/15/2010 10:18:37 PM
Underdog15
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 8:53:15 AM
Square failed huge with Spirits Within, but for a straight to DVD movie in Advent Children, they had huge success. They got lots of credit from film festivals around the world, and although sales were only mediocre in NA, the DVD and especially bluray sales in Japan were great! In fact, Square considers Advent Children a success.
But you're right... I don't think it's a good idea for him. Halo had a huge following too, but it's movie/tv episodes haven't been very successful. I just don't think Starcraft or CoD has the emotional or scripted staying power that the FF7 compilation has. Pixar and disney are already producing CG movies, but they're all original titles that typically make crappy versions of video games.
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:18:06 PM
GuernicaReborn
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:22:38 PM
B-RadGfromOV
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 11:56:17 PM
Orvisman
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 9:26:51 AM
That’s what I thought at first He must be talking about DVD/BR sales. But then he talks about the “…biggest opening weekend of any film ever.”
That is movie speak for theatrical releases. Movie studios don’t refer to DVD/BR sales that way.
I agree with Kangasfwa on this. Kotick is insane if he thinks people will pay $20-$30 for a movie ticket to watch his cut scenes.
Fane1024
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 3:57:16 PM
Of course, the skyrocketing prices and plummeting quality are why the movie theater industry is soon to go the way of the dodo.
Sancho
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 6:27:02 PM
GuernicaReborn
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:16:02 PM
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Nerull
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 11:00:13 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:20:17 PM
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No sale Kotex! May your games be pirated and your job be lost.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 9/15/2010 10:20:42 PM
Deleted User
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:25:41 PM
I agree with everybody here. Bobby is again showing everybody that he only cares about money and nothing else. If he cared about the games and playing them, he wouldn't be kissing Microsoft's butt all day and taking their millions.
BTW, that jerk who rips Ben for no reason is e-begging. Who's looking desperate now?
tes37
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:23:14 PM
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His SE style project might not bode well for Activision. A failure might humble him a little.
Kangasfwa
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:36:25 PM
Unless Activision loses tens of millions on this project, Kotick probably wouldn't be humbled by a loss. Hell, even if Activision sees heavy losses from the movie project Kotick would likely just blame the movie makers or brush it off as a failed experiment. Activision's shareholders /might/ rise up against him (in the event), but I doubt they would want him thrown out.
Last edited by Kangasfwa on 9/15/2010 10:38:31 PM
BikerSaint
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:30:22 PM
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"we capitalize on the relationship that we have with our audience's by bending right them over all of our cash-cow machines, and all without the extra expenditure, or messy usage of Vaseline.
And of course his idea of making hour & 1/2 of cut-scenes will probably be taking content away from the game, so he can have his instantly made $30 DLC movies
What a real Kotex you are, Boobie!!!!
Last edited by BikerSaint on 9/15/2010 10:34:01 PM
Deleted User
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:32:02 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:34:49 PM
tes37
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:45:22 PM
LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:46:25 PM
Deleted User
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:50:29 PM
Highlander
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 11:12:07 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:34:08 PM
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TheCrazyMerc
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:36:52 PM
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frylock25
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:46:13 PM
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if i go and pull up all the cut scenes from any of my games, most jump all over and wont make a cohesive story. maybe he meant that 20 30 thing about like a blueray. i dont know how he would even convince movie theaters they all have to raise the price to that. it sounds like he has figured out that he can rip off gamers he wants to move onto the general population and do it in movie theaters.
never before have i wanted anyone to fail at something as much as i want this guy to fail at everything.
A2K78
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:47:33 PM
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Not witih FF7:AC with over 10 million dvd, blu ray and umd sold.....
anyhow Kotick idea isn't new, but he's obviously trying to cash-in the success Square Enix(FF7:AC), Namco(Tales of Visperia) and Capcom(Resident Evil:4D Executor, Resident Evil:Degeneration) had.
Kangasfwa
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 10:55:52 PM
Highlander
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 11:11:00 PM
Jawknee
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 1:25:20 AM
swapnilgyani
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 11:01:23 PM
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BikerSaint
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 11:22:23 PM
BTNwarrior
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 11:08:55 PM
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Highlander
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 11:10:00 PM
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That said, I do have a DVD which assembles the cutscenes from Xenosaga Episode 1 into a continuous feature. But it didn't cost $30, and I don't see anyone but the most hardcore Xenosaga fan buying into it. I got mine in a bundle with an auction.
Geobaldi
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 11:26:44 PM
LimitedVertigo
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 12:01:56 AM
Fane1024
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 4:03:24 PM
BikerSaint
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 11:25:55 PM
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Hezzron
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 11:44:32 PM
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Meh...I'm not crazy about his idea. Blizzard has always produced top notch cut-scenes, but I certainly don't see myself helping him get "the biggest opening weekend of any film ever" by paying his inflated price of $30 for a ticket.
FxTales
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 11:47:22 PM
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MadPowerBomber
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 11:56:46 PM
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And then imagine a live action version of the same film made by a bunch of screen writers and directors that think they can do better than any other medium in the world, chopping the story to the point where it bares no resemblance to the source material whatsoever, and having Vin Diesel play the Ghost of Sparta.
Which is the more pleasing option?
As for the numbers he's throwing out there, this guy loves to talk big and make absurd statements regarding the financial aspects of gaming. I have no idea why he does it, but he continues to do it.
I would prefer this route to Hollywood's Holier-Than-Thou version, but it still would take a lot of work and post-production effort to turn cutscenes into a fully functioning film.
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 12:50:10 AM
MadPowerBomber
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 1:05:32 AM
That's the reason I never want to see a GoW live action film. Ever. I can't see anyone pulling off a convincing Kratos.
Same with Metal Gear. There's not a single actor off the top of my head that could be Snake.
I'd rather they did them like this... but for, y'know, the same price as regular movies. Heh..
Lawless SXE
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 1:52:28 AM
Peace.
556pineapple
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 12:35:25 AM
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In a related subject, wasn't there a super special edition of MGS3 that had a movie made up from all of the game cut scenes plus some new ones to fill the gaps? If so, I'd watch that for sure.
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 12:48:39 AM
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LimitedVertigo
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 1:12:52 AM
Jawknee
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 1:26:40 AM
Geobaldi
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 1:56:35 AM
___________
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 3:39:24 AM
Reply
Jawknee
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 11:37:07 AM
Geobaldi
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 12:50:32 PM
Amazingskillz
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 7:50:32 AM
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Underdog15
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 9:00:01 AM
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Orvisman
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 9:36:24 AM
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Yes, I buy Activision’s games because I’m a completionist and a collector; but I buy them used, not new. So, Kotick and Activision do not, and will not, see any of my money. Furthermore, Activision doesn’t release any DLC that I want to buy.
Kotick is confusing the millions of fans of Activision’s three hit franchises -- COD, Warcraft, and Starcraft -- with them being “fans” of the company. I’m, however, sure that most of the fans of those three franchises also despise Activision and Kotick and are not “fans” of either.
Besides, didn’t most developers include theatrical modes in their games at one point that allowed you to watch the cut scenes from beginning to end like a movie?
Leave it to Activision to figure out a way to monetize and destroy the purity of gaming once again.
Fane1024
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 4:10:03 PM
NiteKrawler
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 10:09:29 AM
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Alienange
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 12:19:21 PM
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The man wants to make a cg movie, not an hour and a half compilation of cut scenes. If Activision released a cg film with the same caliber of animation and action that is found in Starcraft II, everyone and their uncle would go see it.
Underdog15
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 12:48:42 PM
Benzin
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 1:08:12 PM
Charging $30 for cutscenes that you already have and expecting customers to go back and pay to see them again just shows how greedy Activision really is.
Last edited by Benzin on 9/16/2010 1:08:23 PM
Jawknee
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 2:11:12 PM

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swapnilgyani
Reply
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 9:58:22 PM
Maybe I should start charging them for the service...