'Mass Effect' scifi videogame In Film development deal

[Owain Taggart]

Yeah, I guess so. The only really unique thing about ME was when they went retro with ME1 (something they abandoned in 2, curiously enough) and that's the one thing they probably can't translate to film without turning it into a big gag/parody (and we got that with Galaxy Quest, the best Trek movie ever).

I'm not sure what you mean by retro, but maybe it's just the fact that I'm not seeing it. I felt the aliens were like aliens in B5. Anyway, fact is, ME has a more developed plot and universe than most games, so it should be easier to make something that already has story to begin with. My only concern about a prequel is that we wouldn't get the Normandy on screen. It would have to more or less deal with how Shepard becomes a war hero. If they can tap the original script writers for the game, I could see this one being pretty good.

 

[firehawk12]

^
Mostly the camera filter, the very unnatural camera angles and of course, the soundtrack. Even the awkward sex scene had an 80s vibe to it.

All of which they pretty much removed from/toned down in the sequel game, actually. In fact, if ME1 was 70s/80s scifi, ME2 felt like bland 90s/00s scifi - where people have sex with bras on and music can't have any synth in it.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Oh, you mean the grittiness? That could be turned off in the settings, at least with the PC version. In fact, I had to in order to get more framerate.

I kind of felt the game had a BSG vibe to it. I guess kind of due to the way people would salute in this game and how they ship was layed out.

 

[-Brett-]

The only exceptions are when you take the universe and tell a different story.

Problem with that is that ME3 will be out long before a movie could be.

After destroying the Reapers and stopping their cycle of extinction, whatever conflict driving the movie will seem mundane by comparison.

 

[firehawk12]

Oh, you mean the grittiness? That could be turned off in the settings, at least with the PC version. In fact, I had to in order to get more framerate.

Yeah, the film grain. It broke the game, but it was a nice touch.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

ME3 will be out long before a movie could be.

After destroying the Reapers and stopping their cycle of extinction, whatever conflict driving the movie will seem mundane by comparison.

I haven't played Mass Effect yet.

Reapers are a hyper-advanced machine race and creators of mass relays and the Citadel,

At the end of Mass Effect 2, Harbinger is seen activating the dormant Reaper fleet which appears to consist of hundreds of thousands of ships which share Sovereign's basic cuttlefish-like appearance. The fleet then appears to be moving towards the galaxy thus setting the stage for Mass Effect 3.

Brett that 3rd game sound like The Matrix Revolutions (2003) human city of Zion defending itself against the massive invasion of the machines.
This kind of story cannot and will not be told within a 120-140 minute feature film. A much simpler story is needed for a scifi action genre film. A first feature film has to be made to see if this will become a film franchise...

 

[-Brett-]

Brett that 3rd game sound like The Matrix Revolutions

Let's hope it's at least a little better than that.

 

[Mr Light]

Mass Effect movie would be awesome. I hate the way they spoil the shocking ending plot twist in the description of the damn game, though.

 

[Arrqh]

I'm not sure what you mean by retro, but maybe it's just the fact that I'm not seeing it.

The design ethos of ME has a definite 80's scifi flare to it. IMO, it gives it just enough visual uniqueness without going overboard and I can't think of any reason why this wouldn't translate to film.

The only really unique thing about ME was when they went retro with ME1 (something they abandoned in 2, curiously enough) and that's the one thing they probably can't translate to film without turning it into a big gag/parody (and we got that with Galaxy Quest, the best Trek movie ever).

Uh, it definitely wasn't abandoned in 2 with the exception of the weaker soundtrack (and I don't think that was the intent). In any case, it's no more risky then the design ethos of the new Trek movie and audiences seemed to buy that pretty easily.

 

[firehawk12]

It's risky in so much that if you go too far with it, it turns into camp rather than homage but if you don't emphasize it enough, people won't get the reference.

For example, it's probably why JJ didn't want to invoke the 60s Trek in any real meaningful way because seeing Kirk pull out a communicator the size of a brick or watching Sulu push giant square illuminated blocks on his screen-less console would have made it all seem like a big joke.

Like, Galaxy Quest did it when they had Tim Allen/Taggart take off his shirt to fight that rock monster... and while I think Pine went shirtless in JJ's Trek, it wasn't played for the same effect.

 

[Arrqh]

For example, it's probably why JJ didn't want to invoke the 60s Trek in any real meaningful way because seeing Kirk pull out a communicator the size of a brick or watching Sulu push giant square illuminated blocks on his screen-less console would have made it all seem like a big joke.

Except Abrams did invoke the 60s Trek all over the place. The visual and auditory design of the movie took 60's Trek and combined it with a dollup of retro futurism. Which isn't so far off from ME, which takes 80's scifi and does the same. If the movie looks and sounds like the games, then it isn't a risk at all because it's a very effective and distinctive art direction. The fact that it works in the games pretty much proves it. From a visual design perspective, television and games are close enough that if something works in one it'll work in the other.

 

[firehawk12]

Hrm, maybe it's my memory but in my mind the Enterprise looked neo-modern and I really didn't notice any references to 60s futurism.

And certainly visual design can translate over. I suppose it's just general skepticism/pessimism on my part more than anything else.

The only other thing that comes to mind is the Lost in Space reboot from several years ago and I don't remember that looking good at all.

 

[CommodoreKong]

The Mass Effect universe would work well for a movie. I hope it's an orginal story that doesn't include Commander Shepard. Adapting a 20-30 hour game into a movie is never going to work, and the Mass Effect universe is large enough and rich enough to support an original story and characters.

 

[Blamo]

I'm not a big gamer, but having played both Mass Effects, I think it's one of my favourite sci-fi "franchises". If it was a TV series, for me it would be in my top 3 shows easily.

Not sure about a movie though, for various reasons:-
1. I'm afraid they'd treat it like any other video game adaption.
2. There seems to be just too much to squash into a movie. Without any filler stories, Mass Effect 1 would be enough to do 13 episodes easily for a TV series.
3. I get the feeling EA or whoever was involved with this decision, aren't remotely bothered about the quality of the resultant movie.

Anyway, fingers crossed it isn't a total screw up.

The only exceptions are when you take the universe and tell a different story.

No, those suck too. In fact, those are the ones that suck the most.

Heck, if you read the summary for the King of Fighters movie, you'd think it was Mortal Kombat.

 

[bullethead]

3. I get the feeling EA or whoever was involved with this decision, aren't remotely bothered about the quality of the resultant movie.

Bioware does care, since they picked a studio that has put out well regarded movies for other franchises. However, having heard mixed things about Avi Arad, I'm not sure having him on the project is a good idea.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Re: 'Mass Effect' as TV?

I'm not a big gamer, but having played both Mass Effects, I think it's one of my favourite sci-fi "franchises". If it was a TV series, for me it would be in my top 3 shows easily.

Not sure about a movie though, for various reasons:-
1. I'm afraid they'd treat it like any other video game adaption.
2. There seems to be just too much to squash into a movie.

I agree

This movie screams of another scifi-action movie Starship Troopers (1997) to me though... as well as maybe Aliens (1986) with the Space Marines.

Hmm Blamo as you said Mass Effect as a TV series. I like it. It would allow the whole Trek-type aspect of a war/constant enemy [Romulan/Klingons from TOS] in the background while developing the characters

Mass Effect does a better job being Star Trek than anything Star Trek has put on the screen in more than a decade.

I'm not sure how they could do it for TV without loads of CGI=$$ unless they went all CGI animation ala Star Wars:The Clone Wars CGI animated series.

 

[MarianLH]

I'm not sure what you mean by retro, but maybe it's just the fact that I'm not seeing it.

The design ethos of ME has a definite 80's scifi flare to it. IMO, it gives it just enough visual uniqueness without going overboard and I can't think of any reason why this wouldn't translate to film.

With the sole exception of the "erector set" ground vehicles, I don't see it either. Can you provide some examples?


Marian

 

[Blamo]

Can you provide some examples?


Marian

It's more of the visual style you see in sci-fi movies in the 80's like Blade Runner and Empire Strikes Back - very cyberpunkish. Technology is very over the top, with a feeling it's out of control, bits and bobs added more for artistic purposes then any possible fictional use, huge towering "man"-made structures etc etc.

They even do OCP style jokes in the second game via the ads.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Mass Effect does a better job being Star Trek than anything Star Trek has put on the screen in more than a decade.

When you look at this
Mass Effect 2: opening scene eath of Shepard it it does feel like Trek (with BSG shakycam).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSysCag2BIk&feature=player_embedded
around 3 minutes in.
Great sound design at 5:30 when the airlock opens!

and
Mass Effect 2 The First 12 Minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFajRU4xAVI&feature=fvw

We sit with BioWare producer Adrien Cho down for a sneak peek at some selected highlights around the interior of the Normandy 2.

wow. watching in 720p, love the lighting and camera framing!


this Gamespot video review has some great in-game stuff
Mass Effect 2 Video Review by GameSpot
check out the 4:55 the collectors, creepy-robot-locust things. That makeup just could not be done in Star Trek evne though it looks like a biped and could be attempted but too many hours in the makeup chair...

These 3 videos really show how this could be a feature film as far as universe and type of film.

 

[Brandonv]

Mass Effect 1 and 2 are two of my all time favorite games. I am not sure how to feel about a movie adaptation though. ME takes place in a really cool science fiction universe, and if it is put on the big screen I would want it to be done faithfully to the game.

I still think we have yet to see a truly good film adaptation of a video game. Mortal Kombat and Tomb Raider where okay popcorn entertainment. I had high hopes for Silent Hill, being a fan of the games. The SH film captured the atmosphere and feel of the games, but a poor script resulted in a movie that I thought was mediocre.