It's no secret in the entertainment industry that video games see themselves increasingly as competition for movies — and so does everyone else. They're beginning to get big-name casts like movies; they have big budgets, heavy roll-out dates, and a rigorous seasonal competition like movies; and as storytelling becomes more immersive and graphics become more realistic, they begin to resemble the moviegoing experience more and more — only when you play a game, you're in the movie in a way you can't be with an actual movie.
Beyond that, video games are starting to make money like movies — or even better. With less overhead cost, fewer production headaches, and no filming locations, a video game costs less to make; the industry hasn't yet been crippled by high-cost front-loaded deals for big-name actors and directors; and a very successful video game rollout can produce as much revenue or more than a blockbuster film. It's no surprise that, after years of dithering about whether or not to make a third Ghostbusters movie, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis decided that the third installment of the franchise would in fact be in video game form: it would be cheaper to make, they noted, and allow them a lot more freedom for character development and a longer, funner script while at the same time making the fancy special effects magic better and cheaper.
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