1. What is a “Cinematic” Game?

2. Are these art forms compatible? vs.

3. “Cinematic Game” Does it mean: Lots of cut-scenes? Heavily scripted? Limited interaction? Linear narrative?

4. “Cinematic Game” Does it mean: Glitzier award ceremonies? Hang out with celebrities?

5. How about a better meaning for “cinematic?” Cinematic Game Design (Rouse & Stoltz at GDC ’06) Slides available at: http://www.paranoidproductions.com

6. Another meaning: Story driven (pre-written) Player is part of something important Highly immersive Minimum of gamey elements High production values

7. Story driven (pre-written) Metal Gear Solid 3

8. Player is part of something important Call of Duty 2

9. Highly immersive Half-Life 2

10. Minimum of gamey elements The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay

11. High production values Resident Evil 4

12. I want to play a movie!

13. A Jerry Bruckheimer Movie

14. “Does every game have to be the equivalent of a Bruckheimer production?” - Warren Spector

15. “You guys do power fantasies so much better than we ever did!” (paraphrased) - Scott McCloud

16. A power fantasy where you’re in control is fundamentally a much stronger power fantasy.

17. Almost all games are power fantasies, of one type or another.

18. Call of Duty 2

19. Grand Theft Auto III

20. Civilization III

21. Guitar Hero

22. The Sims

23. Tetris

25. All storytelling games are power fantasies, of one type or another.

26. Yet only a portion would work as movies.

28. The Overlap Game Stories Movie Stories Game or Movie Stories

29. Many movies wouldn’t work as games. (Particularly ones that aren’t power fantasies.)

30. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

31. Titanic

32. Three Colors: Red

33. Citizen Kane

34. The Overlap is Small Game Stories Movie Stories

35. A supposition: All art is about eliciting emotional response from the audience.

36. Games can evoke some emotions that no other art form can. (At least, not as well.) Tension Transgression Pride Nurturing

37. Tension Doom

38. Transgression Grand Theft Auto III

39. Pride Civilization III

40. Heavy Metal Transcendence Guitar Hero

41. Nurturing The Sims

42. The best games evoke emotions exclusive to games.

43. “One day soon, calling a game ‘cinematic’ will be a backhanded compliment, like calling a movie ‘stagy.’” - Jordan Mechner

44. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

45. Gilmore Girls

46. The Bell Jar

47. Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth

48. The Sims

49. The best storytelling fully embraces the nature of its medium.

56. Slides available at: http://www.paranoidproductions.com Email: rr3@paranoidproductions.com