On a particularly lazy Tuesday a small collection of wealthy media Executives were to be found sitting in plush leather in deep conversation on how they may waste shareholder money. Predictably, one happens to comment “Hey, video game movies, those are usually shit, right?” Bemused, another declares “I wager we can fund the worst video game movie of all!”
Grins and chuckles murmer through the room. Someone mentions Mario.
The original retorts “But which game? Which game holds the premise least likely to meld into a movie?”
“Hmm, well it needs to have a fixed setting, without much variation. There should be no identifiable characters whatsoever. Any emotional attachment should be solely to activities that the player undertakes, rather than to what they observe.”
“Ah, so a god-game or some such.”
“Yes, but without battles or heroes. There should be no opportunity to generate or appeal to myth.”
The room became silent, with each exec furrowing their brow in deep contemplation. Furtive looks dart around, as each clambers to recall such a game. One without characters, one without observable heroes, one without any decent attachment. The smallest at the table raises his head with a start, blurting “I’ve got it!”