There are some bright spots, but many of the upcoming network TV Shows looks like a line-up running on the Hell Network from Stay Tuned. But straight-faced. (A cross-dressing work place comedy called Work It!? That's a real thing? That exists?)
Can't we do better? We think video games are a good place to go for potentially great TV content. And aside from various animated children's shows, there haven't been many serious attempts to adapt popular games for TV.
Here are nine shows we hope to someday set a Season Pass for.
Where it should air: AMC or FOX. Can't we do better? We think video games are a good place to go for potentially great TV content. And aside from various animated children's shows, there haven't been many serious attempts to adapt popular games for TV.
Here are nine shows we hope to someday set a Season Pass for.
Thanks to its unique use of motion capture and actor performances, L.A. Noire is one of the most convincingly cinematic games in the industry to date. It's not hard to imagine the look and story of L.A. Noire translating easily to TV. Viewers still love their crime procedurals. L.A. Noire adds an extra touch of class to the familiar formula, with its 1940s setting and mature presentation. Noir is something we see too rarely on TV these days. And the moody visuals and distinctive soundtrack could really set L.A. Noire apart.
As in the game, the show could benefit from offering more of a running conflict than the Law & Order crowd tends to do, slowly exploring the past and family life of Detective Cole Phelps. Speaking of which, Phelps is played by Aaron Staton, whom Mad Men fans will instantly recognize as Ken Cosgrove. Why not hire Staton to bring Phelps to live-action? He's been all but written out of Mad Men these days, so he needs something meatier to sink his teeth into. Not to mention he's pretty good at playing the career-obsessed alcoholic type by now.
Rainbow Six
Where it should air: FX or HBO. Taking the popular gaming franchise based on Tom Clancy's work and filtering it through a lens that's very much "24 Meets The Unit" sounds like a show that would connect with tons of viewers.
We're always looking for strong, procedural action shows set in arenas different from the usual medical or cop genre. It worked for 24, setting a show in the daily operations of the Counter Terrorism Unit. So it can work for a Rainbow Six series - a "Mission of the Week" show centered on a unit of international counter-terrorist agents called "Rainbow" and their effort to save the world from threats both foreign and domestic.
The show would have to globe trot, which sounds expensive. But if Alias can pull off as many exotic locales as it did without actually leaving Los Angeles, Rainbow Six can do the same. It can also give us a hero as iconic and badass as Jack Bauer, but hopefully a bit more dynamic and flawed. If it runs on cable, then the team's more R-rated adventures can get the treatment it deserves, as counter-terrorism is not for the TV-PG crowd.
Bioshock
Where it should air: FX, as they grow into featuring more genre television. HBO would be cool. Maybe ABC... The Bioshock movie has been slowly burning in Development Hell for quite some time, due to budgetary and creative issues. A TV show could be what the franchise needs to have it's unique world reach an audience outside of the gaming sphere.
The show would be expensive - you'd have to come up with a TV-budget version of Big Daddy - but the cost would be lessened if you take a more Lost approach to adapting the game. Our take? A Lost-type set-up confined to the
We're pretty sure the above makes for the type of show that provides reasons for living.Where it should air: Starz
Shows like Camelot and especially Game of Thrones are proving high fantasy has its place on TV. So if these shows can work, why not Warcraft? Despite being one of the biggest franchises in gaming, Warcraft hasn't had any luck making it to the big screen. Maybe a change of focus is in order.
The best part about Warcraft is that the mythology is incredibly rich and full of potential. The games began as a tale of continuing warfare between men and orcs, but over time more races and supernatural creatures have joined the fray. We picture a series that can show the sort of character and species diversity that would rival Game of Thrones. Warcraft also stands out because of its emphasis on humor. Despite the dark nature of the conflicts in the games, Blizzard's writers are always packing them with sly jokes and pop culture references.
No doubt a Warcraft series would be incredibly expensive. But given the current fantasy craze and the popularity of the games, that cost shouldn't be enough to dissuade a channel like Starz from giving the residents of Azeroth a chance. Warcraft would be right at home next to the exaggerated violence and sexuality of Spartacus.
Halo: ODST
Where it should air: All-CG series? On Cartoon Network. A live-action show? HBO. It may not yet be in the realm of annual sequels like Call of Duty, but the Halo franchise remains one of the biggest names in gaming. For that reason alone we feel a TV adaptation could prove very successful. The challenge is to do it with a reasonable budget.
We don't feel Master Chief is the character to base a show around. Chief may be the big hero of the series, but he's also bland and faceless. We'd rather follow the exploits of the ODST troopers fromHalo 3: ODST.
For one thing, this approach would allow for a mini-Firefly reunion as Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin and Alan Tudyk could reprise their voice acting roles from the game. But more importantly, the ODST focus would allow viewers to latch onto characters that aren't superhuman warriors and guaranteed to survive whatever dramatic conflicts arise.
An ODST series could focus on the wider war against the Covenant, not unlike Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and go all CG. The show can jump from battle to battle and occasionally shift to lesser-known characters, all with the goal of expanding and enriching the Halo mythology in the same way Clone Wars is doing for Star Wars. And to those who think a live-action series would be impossible, check the embeded video below. It strongly disagrees.
Where it should air: AMC
Back in the land of '50s television, Westerns were big business. Recently, HBO's Deadwood proved Westerns still have their place on the small screen. The more an adaptation of Red Dead Redemption can borrow from Deadwood, the better. That means viewers will need a stellar cast bringing reluctant lawman John Marston's world to life. But perhaps Red Dead should find its home on AMC rather than HBO. It doesn't require the same foul language that characterized Deadwood, and we'd sooner trust AMC to give Red Dead the lifespan it deserves.
Yeah, AMC does have its own Western in place, the upcoming Hell on Wheels, but this could be a strong companion piece. Red Dead would have an ensemble cast at least as wide as Deadwood's, but with a heavier focus on the main character. We'd also like to see the setting of the show change to reflect the rambling nature of Marston's in-game travels. Imagine a modern, serialized version of The Searchers.
What's most important is that the show present Marston as a conflicted and morally ambiguous figure, allowing viewers to slowly learn about his quest and the danger facing his family as the series draws on. And the final season can reflect the twist that develops late in the game's narrative.Where it should air: Syfy
With shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Alias off the air, our TV diet is lacking in kick-ass heroines. Faith from Mirror's Edge could fill that void.
This game presented a dystopian city where crime was a thing of the past but free will and expression were stamped out. Faith is an acrobatic rebel who chooses to challenge the system. We picture something akin to the District 13 movies, with an unusual cityscape, dangerous villains, and a lead character with impressive parkour skills. The real challenge with casting Faith is finding an actress with both the charisma and physical skill necessary to pull off the role.
The tone and setting of the story make Mirror's Edge a good fit for Syfy, a network that could stand to include a few more actual science fiction shows in its lineup. And with EA apparently in no rush to continue the game series, TV may be the best option for fans to get their continued fix.
We've seen several animated Final Fantasy projects in the past, but the only one worth acknowledging is Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Coincidentally, this is the only project to rely on preexisting characters and conflicts. Rather than subject viewers to another Final Fantasy Unlimited or Spirits Within, why not offer a lengthy, animated adaptation of one of the more popular games?
Final Fantasy VII is the most obvious choice given its enduring popularity. We'd be happy with either a CG show that mimics the style of Advent Children or a more traditional anime style. The producers would have plenty of options with the adaptation – adapting the main events of the game, the flashback period seen in Crisis Core, or even the period after Advent Children. Or, the series can keep it simple, stupid, and loosely adapt the game into a show centered on Cloud against the evil forces of Sephiroth.
Final Fantasy VIII is another entry that seems well suited to TV. The cast of misanthropic teens in a near-future sci-fi setting would be a nice change to the familiar CW teen drama formula. But any Final Fantasy game that emphasizes story and characters -- IV, VI, IX, X -- would be ripe for an adaptation or spinoff on the small screen.Where it should air: Cable, maybe Spike?
Everyone loves zombies, and now TV viewers are in on the zombie craze, thanks to The Walking Dead. It's inevitable that hot new shows inspire a slew of imitators. So if zombies are destined to become the hot new thing on TV, why not at least adapt a franchise that can offer something different from Walking Dead.
The Left 4 Dead series emphasizes cooperation and teamwork as gamers work to navigate levels and escape the zombie hordes. The show would need to focus on making viewers care deeply about Francis, Zoey and Bill. The cast would be smaller and more intimate than in Walking Dead, but with a similar sense that anything can and might happen to our heroes.
One of the benefits of Left 4 Dead is that the zombies don't just come in your average, shambling variety. Boomers, Hunters, Tanks, and Witches can liven up the action and keep the scares coming as the series unfolds.
Back in the land of '50s television, Westerns were big business. Recently, HBO's Deadwood proved Westerns still have their place on the small screen. The more an adaptation of Red Dead Redemption can borrow from Deadwood, the better. That means viewers will need a stellar cast bringing reluctant lawman John Marston's world to life. But perhaps Red Dead should find its home on AMC rather than HBO. It doesn't require the same foul language that characterized Deadwood, and we'd sooner trust AMC to give Red Dead the lifespan it deserves.
Yeah, AMC does have its own Western in place, the upcoming Hell on Wheels, but this could be a strong companion piece. Red Dead would have an ensemble cast at least as wide as Deadwood's, but with a heavier focus on the main character. We'd also like to see the setting of the show change to reflect the rambling nature of Marston's in-game travels. Imagine a modern, serialized version of The Searchers.
What's most important is that the show present Marston as a conflicted and morally ambiguous figure, allowing viewers to slowly learn about his quest and the danger facing his family as the series draws on. And the final season can reflect the twist that develops late in the game's narrative.Where it should air: Syfy
With shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Alias off the air, our TV diet is lacking in kick-ass heroines. Faith from Mirror's Edge could fill that void.
This game presented a dystopian city where crime was a thing of the past but free will and expression were stamped out. Faith is an acrobatic rebel who chooses to challenge the system. We picture something akin to the District 13 movies, with an unusual cityscape, dangerous villains, and a lead character with impressive parkour skills. The real challenge with casting Faith is finding an actress with both the charisma and physical skill necessary to pull off the role.
The tone and setting of the story make Mirror's Edge a good fit for Syfy, a network that could stand to include a few more actual science fiction shows in its lineup. And with EA apparently in no rush to continue the game series, TV may be the best option for fans to get their continued fix.
Final Fantasy
Where it should air: Adult SwimWe've seen several animated Final Fantasy projects in the past, but the only one worth acknowledging is Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Coincidentally, this is the only project to rely on preexisting characters and conflicts. Rather than subject viewers to another Final Fantasy Unlimited or Spirits Within, why not offer a lengthy, animated adaptation of one of the more popular games?
Final Fantasy VII is the most obvious choice given its enduring popularity. We'd be happy with either a CG show that mimics the style of Advent Children or a more traditional anime style. The producers would have plenty of options with the adaptation – adapting the main events of the game, the flashback period seen in Crisis Core, or even the period after Advent Children. Or, the series can keep it simple, stupid, and loosely adapt the game into a show centered on Cloud against the evil forces of Sephiroth.
Final Fantasy VIII is another entry that seems well suited to TV. The cast of misanthropic teens in a near-future sci-fi setting would be a nice change to the familiar CW teen drama formula. But any Final Fantasy game that emphasizes story and characters -- IV, VI, IX, X -- would be ripe for an adaptation or spinoff on the small screen.Where it should air: Cable, maybe Spike?
Everyone loves zombies, and now TV viewers are in on the zombie craze, thanks to The Walking Dead. It's inevitable that hot new shows inspire a slew of imitators. So if zombies are destined to become the hot new thing on TV, why not at least adapt a franchise that can offer something different from Walking Dead.
The Left 4 Dead series emphasizes cooperation and teamwork as gamers work to navigate levels and escape the zombie hordes. The show would need to focus on making viewers care deeply about Francis, Zoey and Bill. The cast would be smaller and more intimate than in Walking Dead, but with a similar sense that anything can and might happen to our heroes.
One of the benefits of Left 4 Dead is that the zombies don't just come in your average, shambling variety. Boomers, Hunters, Tanks, and Witches can liven up the action and keep the scares coming as the series unfolds.
you shouldve put your own thoughts on which games youd think should be tv shows or put you thoughts on each of them
ReplyDeleteGood point. I'm lazy though.
ReplyDelete