Ever since video games became more popular in the 1980s, they have spread into other entertainment areas like songs, movies, and TV shows. Today, video games are more sophisticated and popular than ever, and many have become steeped in popular culture. So, it is no wonder that games are now influencing the entertainment industry even more.
Video Games in Songs
From ABBA and Aerosmith to Green Day and 50 Cent, a wide variety of bands and artists have been immortalized in video games. But did you know various groups have written songs about video games? Here are three of the best:
· British rock band Bring Me the Horizon’s song Shadow Moses reached number 2 in the UK Rock and Metal Singles Chart in 2013. The song is named after the main setting of the 1998 game Metal Gear Solid. The closing theme of the video game is referenced in Shadow Moses’ opening vocal line.
· The song Symphony of the Night appears on the power metal band DragonForce’s 2014 album Maximum Overdrive. Guitarist Herman Li said Japanese video games inspired the song.
· American death metal band The Black Dahlia Murder’s 2007 song What A Horrible Night to Have a Curse describes the plot and gameplay of the classic platform-adventure video game Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest.
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Video Games in Television
From live-action shows to animations, there are a huge amount of TV shows based on video games. However, some have been more successful than others. For instance, the immensely popular puzzle game Candy Crush was turned into an American TV game show in 2017, but it was canceled after just one season. On the other hand, the 2012 military sci-fi web series Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn was a huge success. Based on the famous Halo video game franchise, the 15-minute episodes follow a cadet at a military training academy that is attacked by aliens. Other notable live-action shows based on games include 2016’s Street Fighter: Resurrection, 2013’s The Far Cry Experience, and 2016’s Higurashi When They Cry.
Animated shows based on video games tend to be more successful than live-action shows. Popular shows include:
· Subway Surfers: The Animated Series (2018)
· Angry Birds Toons (2013 – 2016)
· Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures (2013–2015)
Video Games in Movies
The Sonic the Hedgehog movie is currently the second-highest-grossing movie of 2020. Furthermore, the film set the record for the biggest opening weekend success at the box office for a video game-based movie in the US and Canada. Video game movie adaptations have not always been successful. For instance, many consider the 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie to be one of the worst films ever made. But there has been a considerable number of game-inspired movies that have been big successes. Here are some of the best.
Tomb Raider
The two original Tomb Raider movies starring Angelina Jolie helped to put video-game-adapted movies on the map, even if the 2001 and 2003 films were rather cheesy. But when Alicia Vikander took over the role of Lara Croft in the 2018 movie Tomb Raider, the film had a more down-to-earth edge to it and reflected the Tomb Raider games much better. It is undoubtedly one of the best video game-based movies to have been released in recent years.
Rampage
The 2018 movie Rampage may not be worthy of an Oscar. But if you are after unadulterated good fun, Rampage is entertaining from beginning to end. Forget the weak narrative, and instead focus on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson taking on an enormous gorilla, a sea creature, and a strange wolf-like monster who are climbing skyscrapers and destroying the city!
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
The 2010 action fantasy adventure movie Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is based on the game of the same name. At the time of its release, it was the highest-grossing video game film of all time. With a stellar cast, high-flying stunts, and gorgeous visuals, Prince of Persia is one of the most notable blockbuster video game movies ever produced.
