What could possibly go wrong?
PR after the jump.
El Segundo, Calif. – Mar. 3, 2011 – In advance of the nationwide release of Columbia Pictures’ action film Battle: Los Angeles, in theaters March 11, 2011, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced Battle: Los Angeles, a new first-person shooter game based on the film, coming next month for the PlayStation®Network, Xbox LIVE® Arcade, Windows PC download via Steam and select digital distribution channels.
Players will have the opportunity to relive the thrill of the movie as they assume the role of Corporal Lee Imlay and fight alongside characters from the film and defend the city of Los Angeles from attacks from unknown forces.
“Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. jumped at the opportunity to team up with Columbia Pictures and publish the Battle: Los Angeles video game,” said Careen Yapp, Vice President of Acquisitions and Franchise Development Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. “We love the movie and it was a great experience working with Saber – there were some great ideas about how to expand the story into a game. It’s a great chance for gamers and moviegoers to play out the world of the film.”
“Battle: Los Angeles is a tremendously thrilling game and a perfect complement to our film. Saber and Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. have creatively entered the world of the film and used it as a canvas for a rich, exciting game,” said Mark Caplan, Vice President Consumer Products, Sony Pictures Entertainment. Boy, it took a lot not to break my quote rule…
Developed by Saber Interactive and powered by the Saber 3D Engine, Battle: Los Angeles is a high-end fast and frantic first-person shooter game that will take players through a single player campaign that mirrors the upcoming feature film. Players will assume the role of a Marine fighting against a worldwide alien invasion that has the city of Los Angeles as the major battleground and focal point for the game. Players will battle unique and varied enemies, using an arsenal of weapons throughout the game like an assault rifle, sniper rifle, rocket launcher, frag grenades, and a turret gun as they navigate the streets of Los Angeles avoiding fierce and relentless attacks. Aside from high-caliber fire fighting combat, destructible environments have been included using the Havok Destruction Module, which will allow players to destroy scaffolding structures, vehicles and overpasses to eliminate enemy forces. With unlockable content, trophy support, and 5.1 surround sound, Battle: Los Angeles will pull players deep into the heart of the battle to save mankind. (be available in April.)
You know, I have always wondered what the actual return on a movie tie-in game is compared to the development cost? Does the publisher actually make enough money to cover those costs? Plus I know the studio developing it probably had the smallest amount of time to develop it in order to meet the movie release date. I would like to see a movie studio sit down with developers as they’re creating storyboards and scripts, and have the developers work with them to create one final fluid product. None of this last minute “Oh we should probably make a game with this too.”
A lot of factors at play there, but generally speaking these games are “Wal-Mart”-ers.
The movie tie in game usually:
A: Doesn’t cost much to make
B: Has built in licensing power
C: Parents buy them for their kids, enough so that the costs are worth it.
Now THIS game is different – it’s an XBLA/PSN title not geared to kids. Maybe the XBLA format will work?