Last summer, they did a reality series for aspiring directors, although I've forgotten the name of the show. A local guy was in it, and used another guy that I know as his talent, so that was one reason I watched it. I was also interested in seeing how the show would work, since I've worked for (done business with) many starting-out filmmakers.
They had Carrie Fisher and Gary Marshall on the judges panel, plus a guest director each week. So the people involved were legit and had impressive credentials. But what absolutely gagged me is that they had a gorgeous babe announcer/hostess who didn't know crap, and in my eyes, destroyed the potential of the show. Within the first couple weeks, they wound up changing the format of how they were going to judge the filmmaker/directors too. I wound up watching about half the episodes. I have no idea if they'll do it again this summer, but I rather doubt it. It could have been kick-ass, if they hadn't tried to marry themselves to the usual contest format.
I might be interested enough to watch the opening episode of this one. Maybe it will have some education value to aspiring game designers, or at least give them an idea on how to get started--not by joining a contest reality show.
Huh. I wonder how many of these happen without anyone ever really knowing about them. I could certainly see Spike TV or G4 having done a show like this one already, just without as much publicity.
The director one actually makes a certain amount of sense, though maybe I just think that because I'm outside the field. But it seems like that field is a lot harder to break into creatively than game development, which is more of an industry, and requires more than just someone with vision at the center. I think that's what bothers me about this; there's already too much of a tendency to think that the game designer fills a "director" role, when the reality in most game development is that truly great games require an entire team. There are parallels in that of course a director needs actors, set designers, composers, etc, but the technology element with games makes a difference, I think. I don't know; maybe I've just convinced myself that there are more parallels than I previously thought.
I think one similarity between game and movie production is that regardless of who has creative vision, the project depends on big money before it can happen. So in the case of large scale projects, the producer or corporation funding it has as much to say as the director or creative team, or whomever.
I'm sure the idea behind the game-creation contest is to indulge the fantasies of all gamers who sit around thinking they have the next great gaming idea, if only someone else would put all the work (and money) into it. As I'm sure you know, all gaming forums are peppered with posts about how gamers would re-design what game, or what they want to see in a game.
Btw, MY idea for the next great game is a Sid Meier's style Zombie Civilization game. Instead of starting with a primitive civilization, you start with a post-apocalyptic scenario, in which you are trying to survive and gradually rebuild a city, as zombies continue to ravage and attack. I am convinced this would be a winner.
They had Carrie Fisher and Gary Marshall on the judges panel, plus a guest director each week. So the people involved were legit and had impressive credentials. But what absolutely gagged me is that they had a gorgeous babe announcer/hostess who didn't know crap, and in my eyes, destroyed the potential of the show. Within the first couple weeks, they wound up changing the format of how they were going to judge the filmmaker/directors too. I wound up watching about half the episodes. I have no idea if they'll do it again this summer, but I rather doubt it. It could have been kick-ass, if they hadn't tried to marry themselves to the usual contest format.
I might be interested enough to watch the opening episode of this one. Maybe it will have some education value to aspiring game designers, or at least give them an idea on how to get started--not by joining a contest reality show.
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The director one actually makes a certain amount of sense, though maybe I just think that because I'm outside the field. But it seems like that field is a lot harder to break into creatively than game development, which is more of an industry, and requires more than just someone with vision at the center. I think that's what bothers me about this; there's already too much of a tendency to think that the game designer fills a "director" role, when the reality in most game development is that truly great games require an entire team. There are parallels in that of course a director needs actors, set designers, composers, etc, but the technology element with games makes a difference, I think. I don't know; maybe I've just convinced myself that there are more parallels than I previously thought.
Reply
I'm sure the idea behind the game-creation contest is to indulge the fantasies of all gamers who sit around thinking they have the next great gaming idea, if only someone else would put all the work (and money) into it. As I'm sure you know, all gaming forums are peppered with posts about how gamers would re-design what game, or what they want to see in a game.
Btw, MY idea for the next great game is a Sid Meier's style Zombie Civilization game. Instead of starting with a primitive civilization, you start with a post-apocalyptic scenario, in which you are trying to survive and gradually rebuild a city, as zombies continue to ravage and attack. I am convinced this would be a winner.
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Such is the woe of all commercial game development, indeed. ;)
I have a similar game pitch, actually, with some extra twists. I could tell you, but then I'd be afraid you'd STEAL IT zomg.
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