Editor's Note: I'm fascinated by the parallels between film and games. Apparently, so is Alex, who examines the evolutional similarities of the two forms of media -- and how games may be poised to take the next step in how they tell their stories and affect their players. -Jason
When we talk about the art of game design, a comparison with movies often follows. It's not a surprise that the two are so frequently talked about in the same breath, as many gamers have a shared interest in movies, and films and games regularly share themes and ideas. Also, and perhaps more important to the wider audience, the media in which we view them is the same. Fortunately for this article, the comparison is also a useful place to look at the evolution of games.
In truth the two forms of entertainment are very different, with the passive nature of film making the experience far easier for the author to sculpt a consistent narrative. The illusion is rarely stretched by the viewer, and no one deliberately tries to break the experience. But both media exist in a similar space in most people’s consciousness, and frequent crossovers exist between the two. Films and games are also very recent forms of entertainment, and as such cinema proves a useful starting point to draw analogies from to help us better visualize the phase of the development games are in.
If we look at cinema’s development (I am not a scholar here, just an enthusiast), we can view how the medium progressed and was put to better use, both in the technology involved and its creative application. The very first examples of cinema were merely tech demos (for want of a better term), a proof of concept of what the medium could do. This new art form inspired people. The lack of sound meant that people had to use workarounds; onscreen text helped progress plot, and live pianists (and later gramophones) produced additional atmosphere for the filmgoer. Despite these limitations people started to produce comedies and romances, drawing heavily on classic storytelling techniques. Filmmakers applied theatrical stage techniques, including mime to great effect, to produce a spellbinding magic for early audiences.
