'Shindig'
A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.
I don't think anyone was really taking the idea seriously - it was just moronic news filler.
(Because, really, if you want to see the movie opening weekend AND buy GTA IV....you can do that. Sometimes there are even stores that sell video games and movie theatres right in the same mall!!!)
Sometimes there are even stores that sell video games and movie theatres right in the same mall!!!
Truly, these are wonderous times.
The idea was the cost of the video game - in the UK, £40 - would prevent the target audience (which overlaps between the game and the movie) being able to afford to go to the cinema.
It was the biggest video game launch ever, taking (well over) 4 times as much as Iron Man.
I think what it's proved is that people with the income levels to afford a brand new next-gen console game release can also afford a few bucks for the cinema. It probably had *some* impact, but not enough for Hollywood to care.
taking (well over) 4 times as much as Iron Man.
Which isn't terribly surprising, as a video game costs roughly 4 times what a movie ticket does.
I think what it's proved is that people with the income levels to afford a brand new next-gen console game release can also afford a few bucks for the cinema.
Again...not really news. I maintain that this was an entirely made-up story invented by newswriters bored to tears with the US presidential primary.
The idea was the cost of the video game - in the UK, £40 - would prevent the target audience (which overlaps between the game and the movie) being able to afford to go to the cinema.
Okay, see, I was seriously imagining that the "problem" would be that people would be so engrossed in playing the game that they wouldn't leave the house to go to the movies.
(See? I *said* I was totally out of touch when it came to video games...)
taking (well over) 4 times as much as Iron Man.
Which isn't terribly surprising, as a video game costs roughly 4 times what a movie ticket does.
True, but you'd think there would be more people willing to shell out ten bucks for a movie ticket than up to sixty bucks for a video game. So it's still impressive that the game made so much.
Okay, see, I was seriously imagining that the "problem" would be that people would be so engrossed in playing the game that they wouldn't leave the house to go to the movies.
That's the way I read the story. I'm fairly certain the story I read actually said that.
Okay, see, I was seriously imagining that the "problem" would be that people would be so engrossed in playing the game that they wouldn't leave the house to go to the movies.
That's what I thought they meant too -- and seriously? Anyone who's that insane about GTA had it for 3-4 days by then. If they can't take a couple hours' break for something almost as breathlessly anticipated as the game, they're probably not the getting-out-of-the-house-much audience to begin with.
they're probably not the getting-out-of-the-house-much audience to begin with.
t looks askance at Pete
it did fall about $15 million short of predictions.
it did fall about $15 million short of predictions.
Drag.
t edit That doesn't actually seem like that much of a shortfall for a blockbuster movie. Or am I (again) hopelessly clueless?
t edit again Can someone remind me what "GTA" stands for? Because all I'm coming up with is "G____ Transit Authority," and I'm reasonably sure it's not a videogame about how much fun it is to take the subway.