The Movies

[doc_bean]

Anyone played this game ?

I was quite looking forward to it last year, until it received a lot of 'mediocre' reviews and Lionhead cancelled the console versions. Those things made it seem like another failed concept by Lionhead. Now they announced they will only release one expansion and that the development teams are getting 'regrouped', again bad news.
Despite all this I decided to download the demo and look at a few movies made with the game (they're playable in quicktime or mediaplayer). I actually finished the demo, which is quite a feat for me, and more than I can say about BFMEII and Empire at War. Some of the movies are really quite good, even if you're not interested in the game I'd say you should check out the highest rated movies on the charts if you've got some time to kill.

My overall impression of this game is that it's a good, original game that couldn't quite live up to the hype, and now gets completely discarded by the company that made it.But what are the opinions of the people who've actually played the game ? Is movie making hard ? Does the management portion get boring quickly or does it stay interesting ?

[TB666]

Personally I love it.
One of the best games made by Peter Molyneux actually.
You can find my movies here http://movies.lionhead.com/studio/TB666
The management does get boring but that isn't what this game is for.
It is to make movies and that part is outstanding IMO.
It is pretty easy to make movies too IMO.

[doc_bean]

I saw your damned love movie, pretty good :2thumbsup:

It seems like it's hard to get reviews though (not that this is really related to gameplay)

[TB666]

I saw your damned love movie, pretty good :2thumbsup:

It seems like it's hard to get reviews though (not that this is really related to gameplay)
Thank you :bow:
I was pleased with that movie too except for the fact that the sound is out of sync which is a problem quite a few people are having and people haven't found the cause of it yet.
But the music worked out better then expected :2thumbsup: .
And you can advertise on Lionhead's forum.
There is a thread for that.

[Mikeus Caesar]

Critics are always like that, giving good games bad reviews. The Movies is a great game, but i bought it at around the same time i downloaded Garry's Mod for Half Life 2. The lure of sticking rockets up the backside of a main character of HL2 was more alluring than making my own movies.

But yes, The Movies is a great game. Lots of detail, and the graphics are amazing, especially the detail on faces. Very difficult to keep your stars happy though.

[TB666]

But yes, The Movies is a great game. Lots of detail, and the graphics are amazing, especially the detail on faces. Very difficult to keep your stars happy though.Which is why the tycoon part of the game is the weakest link.
But as I said, you play this game to make movies,not the tycoon part.
When I make movies I use the sandbox mode with unlimted funds and star moods turned off.
They don't affect the performance in the actual movie anyway, only the in-game movie reviews so it is a waste of time.

[Taurus]

The Movies is a briliant game. The actual making of movies couldn't be simplier or easier, sure after a while the management part gets a bit boring but the only real use for the main story mode is to unlock extra sets, items, clothing etc.
But once everything is unlocked you can make endless amounts of movies exactly how you want, then add music, subtitles, voice-overs, and much much more, it's awesome.

The only flaw I have found in this game is that after playing for weeks on end you start to run out of scenes. I think it would much better if you could move the camera for shooting the movies anywhere to be able to make any film you wanted but instead you have to choose from a selection of pre-made scenes, however there are thousands of them.

[BDC]

Seemed good. I can't help feeling Lionhead would do better teamed up with a publisher that gives them longer to finish games. Especially the case with B&W2, but The Movies as well.

[doc_bean]

Lionhead seems to have a neck for trying out revolutionary concepts with current (regular) technology. Most of their games are really just a look at what could have been...

But I got The Movies, played it for a while yesterday, and made my first (crappy) movie. I didn't do any of the movie making tutorials so I'm not yet sure how much can be done. Overall, it gives a great first impression. I might write a decent review after I've played it some more. It's a shame that such an original game doesn't get more attention. :no: