Gamers Alliance REPORT
Spring 2007 Vol. 2 No. 22
EDITORIAL
Book to Movie or Movie to Book
It's interesting how this works. You go to the movies and see a film that captures your imagination, thrills you, excites you, gets those juices flowing. Do you leave that darkened theater to rush out to buy the book that served as the basis for that film? If you've just seen The Godfather or Harry Potter, you might. But, more than likely, you don't. (I don't think the sales of the collected works of William Shakespeare soared after Shakespeare in Love won a bunch of Oscars.) Generally, it seems to me that the interactive media river tends to run from book to film rather than from film to book if, sadly, "book" manages to get into the action at all! Which got me thinking about, of all things, Microsoft.
It seems that Microsoft, the computer giant, is getting into BOARD games in a big way. And no, they're not starting up a label to publish the latest version of Monopoly or revving up to import a tidal wave of European strategy games, at least, not exactly. As has been reported in our Information Center and on other gaming news outlets, Microsoft has gotten the rights for an electronic version of Puerto Rico (Spring 2002 GA REPORT), one of the best of the recent crop of Euro strategy games. Reportedly, Microsoft's interest hasn't stopped there with more Euros such as The Princes of Florence (Fall 2000 GA REPORT) reportedly scheduled for similar treatment in the near future. It's an interesting piece of news but what does it mean for gamers such as us?
The initial reaction is that this will reintroduce a whole generation of game players to board games, a genre of play that these gamers haven't explored since their early days of chess, checkers, Monopoly and Clue. The hope is that players who discover Puerto Rico and games of similar quality will like what they see on their screens and seek out the original flesh and blood (or, to be more precise, original cardstock, cardboard and wood) version. I'd like to believe that but I'm far from convinced.
I suspect audiences transfixed by video games, even those based on Euros, have a very different mindset and very different expectations when it comes to their play, expectations board games are not designed to meet. While some (maybe many) gamers will move towards the electronic versions of the boardgames (as has been happening for years with online versions of boardgames), the river will not run in the opposite direction and an influx of electronic/video/computer gamers into boardgames will not materialize. On the other hand...
If Microsoft versions of Puerto Rico or Princes of Florence or other quality Euros are successful (and I certainly think they can be as the basic product is sound), a demand for quality games to make the leap from board to screen will grow. Of course, this could very easily create a flood of copycat releases of inferior quality. (Just think of what happens when a movie or TV show is a hit. You can bet the farm that, next season, a flood of similar - and lesser - entries will magically appear). But cream tends to rise to the top. This, in turn, will encourage the development of more games of originality and exceptional play value - both of the electronic and board variety - with an eye towards the pot of gold at the end of the Microsoft (and other video game developers) rainbow. And encouragement - whether it's in terms of simple recognition or royalties or licensing fees - is something we all can use.
In this issue of GA REPORT, we march into Valhalla, get quirky, explore our murderous intentions and erupt! Meanwhile, Frank Hamrick goes into battle, Chris Kovac struggles in Rome and Pevans does some traveling. Plus the return of Game Classics and "The Gamer's Bookshelf". And, of course, much more.
Until next time, Good Gaming!
Herb Levy, President
BattleLore Catan Histories: Struggle for Rome Doodle Dice
Game Classics: Tycoon Gamer's Bookshelf Hermagor
HeroCard: Rise of the Shogun Kill Doctor Lucky Midgard