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Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
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Blah8
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
Nice.
That's probably the best response any game developer could give at this point in relation to having a film made from their IP, both in wording and in premise. It's nice to see Rockstar not caving into pressure to make low-quality movies for no other reason than profit.
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Gortexfogg
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
Rockstar already borrows from the best crime/gangster movies for influences in their games. To make a GTA movie would be like turning the novelization of a film into a film - or like turning the Harry Potter movies into their own books ...
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amg0D
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
I just don't see how a movie could be done either Rockstar.. Don't get me wrong I love the hours of fun I have had romping through the streets, shooting cops, and then stealing a car and seeing how long I can survive, and with GTA4 I could do it all with a friend, making for some spectacular moments of carnage.

Honestly there is no real story to this game, short of just got out of jail, now get back into crime, do some jobs, shoot some people, no huge story arc, so who cares about a movie? Good thing too, because it would just turn out to be a movie about a dude who works for people only to screw them over when they don't suit him anymore, turning to the next guy he works for, only to screw him over when that guy doesn't suit him anymore. Don't ever do a movie, unless like you said you are just ready to kill the series, because that's exactly what it's going to do!
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heretrix
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
"If we ever decide to do a film, it will be because we have resolved our creative doubts, and while retaining enough control to ensure that if the movie is terrible, at least we will know we ruined the property ourselves."

Bravo. At least somebody gets it. If you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself. And if you screw up it's on you. I like that sentiment very much.

And given how GTA is a pretty cinematic experience in itself, it's kind of pointless.
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Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!!
07/25/09

@heretrix: Agreed, cosigned.
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Rocketknight
07/25/09

@Soldier_CLE: Also cosigned. We need more creators in video games who feel this way about their property.
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ShaggE wants to join the Egg Council.
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
Thank god. A GTA film would just be Rush Hour with more tits, gore, and drugs. And no Jackie Chan. And it wouldn't be about the cops.

Well, it made sense in my head, but now it doesn't. Just disregard this comment.
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Edited by ShaggE wants to join the Egg Council. at 07/25/09 12:17 PM

heretrix
07/25/09

@ShaggE wants to join the Egg Council.: Lol. I was thinking "what the hell is he talking about?" and then I read the end of your post. It gave me a good chuckle though.
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ShaggE wants to join the Egg Council.
07/25/09

@heretrix: Heh, now that we have an edit button, I'm wishing for a deletion button. :P I don't even know how my post was supposed to make sense. I'm actually baffled here.
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heretrix
07/25/09

@ShaggE wants to join the Egg Council.: I'm glad you didn't delete it. I found the whole thing pretty funny.I've often done the exact same thing.
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dry-roasted-peanuts
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
Awwww, but I really want to watch a crime film where just as things are getting really good the main character decides to go bowling with his dipstick cousin or go watch Kat Willams with his current girlfriend.

I mean, how much more awesome would Ronin have been if in the middle of that spectacular car chase through the Paris tunnels, De Niro and Skarsgard decided to go an play darts?
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the7k
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
So, wait, Rockstar doesn't make 'substandard spin-off products'?

Then someone needs to call them and tell them there is a company out there using the Grand Theft Auto name and Rockstar logo without permission. Whoever made 'Liberty City Stories' and 'Vice City Stories' needs to be taken to task.
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Sakilla
07/25/09

@the7k: While I agree with you in that the controls were shit, those games were technically impressive on the PSP, sold well, and pleased many a gamer. That hardly feels like a below average product with no soul just to make money. I think they tried to make a good product from the heart and were only partially successful.
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rookybeats
07/25/09

@the7k:

Eh?

I dunno about VCS but LCS was amazing.
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Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!!
07/25/09

@rookybeats:

I have to agree with you! LCS' storyline wasn't that bad, and served as a good continuing story for GTA III.

Also, some of the story made me laugh, like the missions involving a meat shop and a chainsaw, LOL
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CharlesNelsonReilly
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
The two do no mix well. When are people going to realise this? If they want to make more money from games, rather than making a tie in movie, why not make better games which will be bought by more people?
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timedward
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
"It seems obvious to us that maintaining the long-term integrity of any entertainment property has been dependent on not making substandard spin-off products to people whose primary interest is making a quick buck."

...inspiring

That is the reason why Rockstar creates unique and extremely creative IP--by committing themselves to game development instead of flirting around with Hollywood. It is definitely one of the few companies that really embraces risk by remaining true to its ideals.

Bungie, you could learn a little bit from these guys.

Kudos Mr. Houser!!!
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spikespeigel
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
If they do make a movie, the protagonist should be silent. Imagine the awards at Cannes!
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thesircuddles
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
Wow look at that, a business that understands what everyone outside of business already knows. Fancy that!
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mindf1ow
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
Totaly with rockstar on this. GTA games have stories that are all over the place. They can do that because its a video game, and you have time to enjoy it all. GTA games also make fun of movies that are out now anyway. Not every huge game franchise needs a movie behind it. Hey, I got an idea for the games that could turn into movies. Why not make them CG? That way you don't have to worry about actors that dont look the part of the game characters. Good idea right????
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vonFurious
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
GTA should never be the subject of a live-action film. I tend to run the straight and narrow in my real life (ie. don't run over people) but love the series and am able to justify my aforementioned running over of the people in game with the casual "its only a cartoon" ideal.

GTA is really some challenging stuff, if you take it that way. Its humor is so dark, and the malefeseance present in the game is so well known...We all are a little sociopathic when we play it... but its an interactive dramady cartoon.

Now a movie about this guy playing this game called GTA, that's where the Big Bucks really are!
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Amnesiac85
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
My respect for Rockstar just shot up quite a bit. Good reasoning, indeed. Not every game series needs to be made into a movie. Not every game series can be made into a movie while still being a video game adaptation.
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QualityJeverage
07/25/09

In reply to Rockstar Pretty Much Kiboshes the Idea of GTA Film
No, stop making video games into movies!

Games can be perfectly engrossing and powerful on their own. We need to get rid of this notion that a game hasn't "hit the mainstream" until it gets a movie.
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