For the past decade or so, some companies have been turning movies into video games and vice-versa.  This usually has varying effects that usually depend on the popularity of the original movie or game (whichever came first).  Some movies have had sequels made (i.e. Final Fantasy), but others have flopped.  Hard.  Are these movies and games-based-on-movies catering to an actual fanbase or are they just another gimmick that is supposed to help the company bring in more money?  I, personally, think it depends age-level of the gamer/viewer of the original product.

I remember, back in the day, playing A Bug's Life on my GameBoy Color.  Of course, I was only about 9 at the time, so I was fascinated by about anything related to gaming by nature.  However, looking back on this game that I spent hours on, it wasn't that great.  Usually when a game is based off of a movie, it is a sales gimick.  There have been exceptions that have made it a long ways, but they've usually been for popular, more mature movies that cater to a teen to adult audience.  Usually, child-orientined movies aren't very successful in the gaming world.  Maybe this is because gamers are usually in their teens.  I know some people start out young, but they are there usually more for the button-poking part then anything.

Movies that are based on games are usually very successful.  Take, for instance, the Final Fantasy movies.  These movies have been some of the most popular out there for years.  Again, these cater to an older audience.  The upcoming Halo movie is another good example, as many people are excited about it already.

These have been just some of the examples of age and popularity of a game/movie being connected.  I'm sure there are many others out there.  This just seems to be the trend that sticks out to me as I'm sitting here getting my thoughts together.  I'm also sure there are many other things you could relate to it besides age.

Now, back to the topic of sales gimicks and catering to a fanbase.  It seems like the spin-off games that are generated by movie companies are usually just a sales gimick.  On the other hand, movies based on games are usually catering to the fanbase.

This is jamjam17 signing off for now!

As a musician, I am personally pleased to see that Guitar Heroes has been such a hit.  Guitar is one of the most popular instruments among beginner musicians and is growing in popularity thanks to this game.  However, Guitar Heoes has also had a slightly negative effect on the music community.

After seeing the guitar controller sitting out there to the side of the PS2 at my local Wal-Mart, I thought, "Wow!  That looks really pathetic for a guitar!"  Of course, I realize that it's only a video game and not an actual rock concert.  It just seems to me like the buttons down the side of the guitar controller don't do justice for what the real thing is like.  Then again, I guess it would make things too hard for the average gamer if it were designed exactly like a real guitar.

It's all fine and well that Guitar Heroes is on the market, and I'm personally thrilled.  I do want to say this: GUITAR HEROES WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR GUITAR SKILLS!  Don't rely on it just for the intent of learning guitar.  They are nothing alike.

I think that music and gaming should be brought together in this way more often, though.  It seems to me that games like this are becoming more and more common.  When you think about it, it's these kinds of games that keep the doctors from having to complain about obessity.  Then again, you can get repeptitive strain injuries from them all the same as sitting there using a regular controller.  Of course, you can also get RSIs from typing too long...

Over the past few years, one of my favorite past-times while online has been to listen to various video game music files that I've come across.  After listening to ones from both old and new games, I've paid a little more attention to the already-significant changes in the quality of the music.  Don't get me wrong!  Older video game songs had their own type of good quality, but the bar has definitely been raised.

It seems like the instrumentations have gotten a lot better and there is a lot more variety in the overall sound of things.  Instruments blend a lot more and the sound is louder, more brilliant, and just overall astounding.

These songs have become the product of departments within game publishing companies that are dedicated to writing, orchastrating, and arranging these songs around the clock.  These departments are becoming more and more important to these companies and are nothing to be taken for granted.  They truely make a big difference in games.

So, from the pings of Atari to the orchestras of the current generation, things have gone in the upward direction and will continue to.  Here's to the future of these wonderful compositions.