Video games based on blockbuster movies tend to be little more than neatly packaged piles of steaming hobo vomit. Despite this universally acknowledged fact, publishers keep churning them out, which typically means that fans keep buying the stuff. Well, here’s a truth bomb, fans. At Paramount’s DVD release party for Stark Trek: Into Darkness, director J.J. Abrams expressed nothing but disappointment and deep emotional scarring because of the shoddily prepared video game adaptation of Star Trek. “To me, the video game could have been something that actually really benefited the series,” Abrams said, “It was something that, without question, didn’t help the movie and arguably hurt it.”
Photo: Into Darkness Game Screen Shot
It’s not surprising that games based on movies have traditionally sucked. They’re rushed into production so as to ensure that the game’s release coincides with the film’s in order to maximize profits—much like the cheap plastic choking hazards found within the confines of a McDonald’s Happy Meal. Considering the amount of time that goes into a halfway decent game, it’s no wonder that these hastily produced money pits are terrible and soul crushing.
Other than expressing his utter distaste for the Star Trek video game, Abrams referenced a meeting he had with Valve president Gabe Newell at the DICE (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) summit in Las Vegas. The pair discussed a whole mess of future collaborations between Valve and Bad Robot—including the possibility of Bad Robot helming film adaptations of Half-Life and Portal. Though the argument that video games based on movies always suck can be backed up with a truckload of evidence, the same charges could be leveled against movies based on video games. That being said, I have a feeling that Abrams would treat Half-Life and Portal with the respect they deserve—if the films actually get made, that is. Abrams and Newell also discuss the possibility of Bad Robot collaborating with Valve on a video game project, which is a bit more exciting. It’s good to see that some legitimately accomplished members of the film and video game society are exploring the true potential that exists between movie/video game collaborations. Check out the whole Abrams/Newell discussion here, and enjoy their combined nerdery: