Comic books, movies, and TV shows have become an important source of inspiration for the online gaming industry. Games, commonly created for fans of pop culture, copy visual and interactive elements of existing shows and books. For developers, it is a way to engage with potential audiences and raise sales. And for customers, it’s a new way to enjoy their favorite characters and dive into the imaginary world. See how popular media projects shaped the industry of video gaming.
How Comic Books Are Becoming A Source Of Inspiration For Online Games
The first comic books and games, surprisingly, appeared in the same area. The rise of comics in the 1940th – after the two world wars, the public was fond of superheroes and stories about feats and justice. Meanwhile, in 1958, developers had already crafted the first video game for PCs. However, the industries were far from mutual influence.
The process was quite long, and the first adaptations were not direct copies of comic books. Experts call the Space Invaders title (developed in 1978) an adaptation of the Invaders comic series by Marvel. Yet, we talk about inspiration, not direct adaptation.
Over decades, the practice has gained popularity. Comics readers were a part of the potential audience for video games – people from the same cultural group. Starting in the 1980s, game adaptations of DC and Marvel comic books became a gaming world phenomenon. “Superman: The Game” became the first title, inspired by the DC superhero. It was only the beginning of comics adaptations in video gaming. Now, Marvel and DC heroes are common characters within AAA projects, arcade games, and even educational titles for children.
Movie And TV Series Franchises In Online Gaming
The adaptation of movies into games is also a beneficial idea. Viewers, already familiar with characters, are more likely to pay for a new game and feel a connection with it. Analyzing the market, you’ll find dozens of examples:
- The Star Wars franchise has inspired 10+ titles, including “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor”, “Star Wars Outlaws”, “Lego Star Wars” (a renowned collaboration), “Galaxy of Heroes” and a number of mobile games;
- Among the three-in-a-row genre, you can find titles inspired by the Game of Thrones, Family Guy, Simpsons, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Vikings, and many more. Even with the same game mechanism, such tiles still attract huge audiences;
- The popularity of the John Wick movie series led to the creation of “John Wick Hex” – a PC action game, in 2019;
- Stranger Things series, an adaptation of Stephen King’s Books, inspired several games of different genres, from mobile puzzles to a VR action;
- Among games for children, the Barbie series contains hundreds of games from different settings and Barbie movies;
- Lara Croft movies became a huge source of inspiration for developers. From poor-quality titles from the 2000s, the franchise developed into AAA titles.
The list is eternal. In 2024, mini-games and mobile puzzles appear as a source of promotion for a new series. Fans of classics, meanwhile, adapt forgotten books and movies into indie games. The industry is developing, as well as the number of potential audiences.
Themed Slot Machines: When Media Comes To Life At Online Casinos
Media also becomes a source of inspiration for gambling activities. A famous casino aggregator Citeulike.org reviews and selects the best online casinos on the market. Looking deeply, you’ll see that leading casinos often feature comic books and movie characters. The inspiration comes from classic and new titles:
- Jurassic Park slot by Games Global
- Game of Thrones slot casino
- King Kong by Playtech
- Pompeii by Aristocrat Gaming
- Jumanji by NetEnt
- Lord of the Rings by Microgaming, etc.
Sometimes, the whole casino is inspired by the movie or a movie theater’s aesthetics. This shows how deeply the media influences our daily lives, including gaming and gambling activities.
The Role Of Visual Style And Narrative In The Creation Of Online Games
Emilio Leonardo, a creative consultant, says that comics influence games’ design as well. For instance, developers of Batman: Arkham Asylum were using Batman comic books to recreate dark and atmospheric locations. The team used well-known locations, drawing styles, and particular visual emblems to make their universe relatable.
The use of style elements is also a common thing. In games, you can often see speech balloons when characters are talking. The use of “paper-like” transitions and screen splitting were also inspired by the comics industry. Utilizing elements that are already known to customers developers create relatable games and facilitate the learning process.
Popular Examples And Successful Case Studies
The IMDb’s list of movie-inspired video games features 500+ titles. Adding comics, books, and series, add a few hundred more. Selecting one or two titles is simply impossible. Yet, the statistic shows the huge popularity of Marvel and DC superheroes. The Spider-Man game for PC already has a second part and a DLC. A new game about DC’s Batman is expected on VR devices, which is a new step toward character gamification.
But apart from AAA projects, one can see the influence everywhere. Among casino games, titles inspired by Indiana Jones and Game of Thrones are extremely popular. Games for children also feature favorite cartoon characters.
Conclusion: The Future Of Crossover Media And Online Games
Surprisingly, the impact is mutual. In 2024, not only movies influence games, but the video gaming industry will also shape the movie scene. The 2024 Mario movie shows that fans are ready to pay for their favorite game characters on screen. The Dungeons and Dragons movie completed a more complicated task – shaping a versatile game into one storyline. Over the years, one may expect more movies, turned into games, and games, turned into movies.
