The first movie conversions

DRW · 05-24-2008, 05:22 PM

I don't know where to post this since I didn't find a general video game subforum, so I post it here.

Can anybody tell me what were the first movie conversion games that were ever created (no matter if it was for a Nintendo console, another console, a computer or the arcade)?

By the way, I just mean direct conversions.
Games that are only slightly inspired by movies (like "Metroid" which is inspired by "Alien" or "Donkey Kong", inspired by "King Kong") don't count.
It's the same with games that aren't based on a specific film, but more on a whole franchise (like "A Nightmare on Elm Street" for the NES which has generic characters and a new plot (burning Freddy's bones in the high school), so it isn't based on any of the actual films, unlike the PC game that is directly based on part 3).
Games that are based on a whole series of films however (like "Indiana Jones" for the Super Nintendo which is based on part 1, 2 and 3 of the movies), do count.
Games that are based on a game and are just renamed for copyright issues (Wasn't there some "Planet of the Apes"-like game?) also count.

***Cosmonautical*** · 05-25-2008, 05:13 AM

For movies only? Possibly ET, but there might have been something before it. I'd say ET, though.

DRW · 05-25-2008, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serial Miller

For movies only?

Yes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serial Miller

Possibly ET, but there might have been something before it. I'd say ET, though.

That's possible. Do you know some more games? Because I don't just look for the very first movie conversion, but for the first few. Let's say I search all the movie conversion games that came out after "Pong" and before "Super Mario Bros.".

1-up Salesman · 05-26-2008, 07:47 PM

The movie"Legend" inspired some of the things in Legend of Zelda.

Panfan · 05-26-2008, 07:59 PM

Thanks to Wikipedia, the following movie games were on Atari:

Alien, E.T., Flash Gordon, Ghostbusters, Halloween, James Bond, King Kong, M*A*S*H, Porky's, Raiders of the Lost Arc, multiple Star Wars games, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Tron,

1-up Salesman · 05-26-2008, 08:11 PM

millions of zombie movies for resident evil.

Robotazy · 05-26-2008, 10:45 PM

Something's telling me you're not getting this topic. :/

Seriously, I think Porky's because it's the only one I don't really recognize at all

***Booyakasha*** · 05-26-2008, 11:19 PM

My sources tell me that the first games ever made from movies were Atari's 'Shark Jaws', an unlicensed tie-in to 'Jaws', and 'Death Race 2000', an unauthorized adaptation of 'Death Race'. Both hit the arcades in 1976.

DRW · 05-27-2008, 05:54 AM

O.k., thanks for the infos.

So, what would you say: Is there any old movie conversion (let's say in the time range between "Pong" and the last NES game, minus the 16 bit games) that doesn't suck?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1-up salesman

The movie"Legend" inspired some of the things in Legend of Zelda.

I also heard that, but I think it's really just kind of an inspiration (like "Donkey Kong"/"King Kong", "Metroid"/"Alien" and "Castlevania"/"Dracula"+other horror movies), but "Zelda" isn't meant to be a real conversion of that movie, as far as I know. (I still have to see the film though.)

***Booyakasha*** · 05-27-2008, 08:11 AM

Well, 'Kung Fu' (NES) was based on an old Jackie Chan flick called 'Wheels on Meals', and 'Kung Fu' was awesome.

The Commodore 64 had some awesome movie-based games. 'Ghostbusters', 'Conan', and 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' were all winners.

1-up Salesman · 05-28-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRW

O.k., thanks for the infos.

So, what would you say: Is there any old movie conversion (let's say in the time range between "Pong" and the last NES game, minus the 16 bit games) that doesn't suck?

I also heard that, but I think it's really just kind of an inspiration (like "Donkey Kong"/"King Kong", "Metroid"/"Alien" and "Castlevania"/"Dracula"+other horror movies), but "Zelda" isn't meant to be a real conversion of that movie, as far as I know. (I still have to see the film though.)

I know, I meant that it was inspired.

awesomeman500 · 06-01-2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1-up salesman

The movie"Legend" inspired some of the things in Legend of Zelda.

That's a gannon-ban offense:
Go to number 20 on gannon-banned.com

***Cosmonautical*** · 06-05-2008, 09:37 AM

I actually liked the Star Wars vector-based arcade game a lot. That doesn't necessarily mean it was good, but it was an original experience I am unlikely to forget. Even that one is likely to predate ET, now that I think of it. I just couldn't find anything about movie-to-game conversions, although there's plenty info on the web about game-to-movie conversions.

***Ace Mercury*** · 06-05-2008, 09:47 AM

Games based on movies usually have the deck stacked against them in terms of quality. ET is the prime example - given only six weeks to develop the game, it was outrageously sucky.

***Cosmonautical*** · 06-06-2008, 11:15 AM

True, deadlines ruin games with potential. Still, I tend to think any game with the average "6" rating is usually pretty good. People tend to compare everything to the cream of the crop, and just because it's not the best game evar it's mediocre crap.

I think a lot more games would receive more industry recognition if they would still create original franchises instead of movie or television derivatives. The only one I can think of that's been branded classic, ever, is Goldeneye - and it's arguable that it's more closely related to the book than the film. People need to get out of their marketing mindsets, if they want to make any lasting franchises. Mario, Sonic, Mega Man; Kirby, Pacman - none of classic mascots would have made it past marketing in today's industry.

DRW · 07-15-2008, 12:16 PM

O.k., a little variation of the original question:
Can you name me some quite good movie conversions? But only 16 or 8 bit (or less) games. No 3D stuff.

***Marilink*** · 07-15-2008, 12:41 PM

The Star Wars sidescrollers for the SNES kicked ass. Capcom's Aladdin was great.

Unfortunately, that's all I can think of right now.

DRW · 07-15-2008, 12:46 PM

Thanks.
Any other games?

Panfan · 07-15-2008, 01:42 PM

Second the Star Wars games.

Aladdin, Toy Story, Lion King.

I played Aladdin and Toy Story on the Genesis, Lion King on the SNES.

BOWSER102 · 08-01-2008, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tad Venture

The Star Wars sidescrollers for the SNES kicked ass.

Yeah, more like they kicked my ass. Those games are freakin ridiculous. Sometimes it's fun, but mostly it's an exercise in frustration.

Aladdin on Genesis is probably the best Disney game ever, and one of my favorite Genesis games. Smooth animation, cool music directly from the movie, fun swordplay. It's a lot better than Capcom's SNES version. You don't have as sword in that one. You just throw apples. -_-

05-24-2008, 05:22 PM	#1
DRW Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Gender: Posts: 106 Thanks: 16 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	The first movie conversions I don't know where to post this since I didn't find a general video game subforum, so I post it here. Can anybody tell me what were the first movie conversion games that were ever created (no matter if it was for a Nintendo console, another console, a computer or the arcade)? By the way, I just mean direct conversions. Games that are only slightly inspired by movies (like "Metroid" which is inspired by "Alien" or "Donkey Kong", inspired by "King Kong") don't count. It's the same with games that aren't based on a specific film, but more on a whole franchise (like "A Nightmare on Elm Street" for the NES which has generic characters and a new plot (burning Freddy's bones in the high school), so it isn't based on any of the actual films, unlike the PC game that is directly based on part 3). Games that are based on a whole series of films however (like "Indiana Jones" for the Super Nintendo which is based on part 1, 2 and 3 of the movies), do count. Games that are based on a game and are just renamed for copyright issues (Wasn't there some "Planet of the Apes"-like game?) also count.

05-25-2008, 05:13 AM	#2
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,156 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	For movies only? Possibly ET, but there might have been something before it. I'd say ET, though.

05-26-2008, 07:47 PM	#4
1-up Salesman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Letting you guys know that I'm planning on continuing Attack of the Spammers soon. Gender: Posts: 4,095 Thanks: 2,162 Thanked 250 Times in 194 Posts Blog Entries: 9	The movie"Legend" inspired some of the things in Legend of Zelda.

05-26-2008, 07:59 PM	#5
Panfan AND HE PRAYS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grayskull Gender: Posts: 18,806 Thanks: 1,405 Thanked 2,251 Times in 1,339 Posts Blog Entries: 15	Thanks to Wikipedia, the following movie games were on Atari: Alien, E.T., Flash Gordon, Ghostbusters, Halloween, James Bond, King Kong, MAS*H, Porky's, Raiders of the Lost Arc, multiple Star Wars games, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Tron,

05-26-2008, 08:11 PM	#6
1-up Salesman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Letting you guys know that I'm planning on continuing Attack of the Spammers soon. Gender: Posts: 4,095 Thanks: 2,162 Thanked 250 Times in 194 Posts Blog Entries: 9	millions of zombie movies for resident evil.

05-26-2008, 10:45 PM	#7
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	Something's telling me you're not getting this topic. :/ Seriously, I think Porky's because it's the only one I don't really recognize at all

05-26-2008, 11:19 PM	#8
*Booyakasha* SuperMod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 9,945 Thanks: 157 Thanked 1,481 Times in 763 Posts	My sources tell me that the first games ever made from movies were Atari's 'Shark Jaws', an unlicensed tie-in to 'Jaws', and 'Death Race 2000', an unauthorized adaptation of 'Death Race'. Both hit the arcades in 1976.

05-27-2008, 08:11 AM	#10
*Booyakasha* SuperMod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 9,945 Thanks: 157 Thanked 1,481 Times in 763 Posts	Well, 'Kung Fu' (NES) was based on an old Jackie Chan flick called 'Wheels on Meals', and 'Kung Fu' was awesome. The Commodore 64 had some awesome movie-based games. 'Ghostbusters', 'Conan', and 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' were all winners.

06-05-2008, 09:37 AM	#13
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,156 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	I actually liked the Star Wars vector-based arcade game a lot. That doesn't necessarily mean it was good, but it was an original experience I am unlikely to forget. Even that one is likely to predate ET, now that I think of it. I just couldn't find anything about movie-to-game conversions, although there's plenty info on the web about game-to-movie conversions.

06-05-2008, 09:47 AM	#14
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,275 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Games based on movies usually have the deck stacked against them in terms of quality. ET is the prime example - given only six weeks to develop the game, it was outrageously sucky.

06-06-2008, 11:15 AM	#15
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,156 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	True, deadlines ruin games with potential. Still, I tend to think any game with the average "6" rating is usually pretty good. People tend to compare everything to the cream of the crop, and just because it's not the best game evar it's mediocre crap. I think a lot more games would receive more industry recognition if they would still create original franchises instead of movie or television derivatives. The only one I can think of that's been branded classic, ever, is Goldeneye - and it's arguable that it's more closely related to the book than the film. People need to get out of their marketing mindsets, if they want to make any lasting franchises. Mario, Sonic, Mega Man; Kirby, Pacman - none of classic mascots would have made it past marketing in today's industry.

07-15-2008, 12:16 PM	#16
DRW Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Gender: Posts: 106 Thanks: 16 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	O.k., a little variation of the original question: Can you name me some quite good movie conversions? But only 16 or 8 bit (or less) games. No 3D stuff.

07-15-2008, 12:41 PM	#17
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,535 Thanked 1,823 Times in 1,008 Posts	The Star Wars sidescrollers for the SNES kicked ass. Capcom's Aladdin was great. Unfortunately, that's all I can think of right now.

07-15-2008, 12:46 PM	#18
DRW Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Gender: Posts: 106 Thanks: 16 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Thanks. Any other games?

07-15-2008, 01:42 PM	#19
Panfan AND HE PRAYS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grayskull Gender: Posts: 18,806 Thanks: 1,405 Thanked 2,251 Times in 1,339 Posts Blog Entries: 15	Second the Star Wars games. Aladdin, Toy Story, Lion King. I played Aladdin and Toy Story on the Genesis, Lion King on the SNES.