Movie tie-in (video game)

A movie tie-in in video gaming is an authorized product tie-in based on a released film.

Game tie-ins are expensive for a game developer to license, and the game designers have to work within constraints imposed by the film studio, under pressure to finish the game in time for the film's release. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,277135,00.html "Review: Movie Tie-In Games Mostly Disappointing"] retrieved from foxnews.com] The aim for the publishers is to increase hype and revenue as the two industries effectively market one another's releases. [http://www.canada.com/topics/technology/games/story.html?id=2285e0f0-a77a-4536-bec8-6aca99027d7c&k=10775 "Hollywood and video game industry profit from movie tie-ins"] retrieved from Canada.com]

Movie license video games have a reputation for being poor quality. [ [http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/world/ap/movies.htm "Ready For Your Close-Up"] from Amiga Power, May 1995; retrieved from World of Stuart] For example, "Amiga Power" awarding Psygnosis's three movie licenses ("Dracula", "Cliffhanger" and "Last Action Hero", all reviewed in June 1994) 36% "in total"; that magazine being cynical towards licensed games in general, with "The Blues Brothers" being one of few exceptions. One of the first movie tie-in games, Atari's "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982) was deemed so bad, it was blamed for causing a game industry crash.cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/19/AR2006071901865.html?nav=rss_technology |title=Movie and Game Studios Getting the Total Picture |accessdate=2007-11-01 |last=Musgrove |first=Mike |date=10th July, 2006 |work= |publisher=washingtonpost.com] Such poor quality is often due to game developers forced to rush the product in order to meet the movie's release date.

ee also

*Media franchise
*List of computer and video game franchises

References

External links

* [http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/completeguidetofilmtvlicences.htm The YS Complete Guide To Film And TV Licences] from "Your Sinclair" issue 60, December 1990; at The Your Sinclair the Rock 'n' Roll Years
* [http://www.omglists.com/article/56573/the-top-10-movies-that-really-didnt-need-video-games/ The Top 10 Movies That Really Didn't Need Video Games]
* [http://www.fortunecity.co.uk/cinerama/western/129/ Movie Game Database]