Movies vs Video Games for a Global Audience

The entertainment industry has grown rapidly in the last decade. Two sectors that stand out in the entertainment industry are the movie industry and the video game industry. Both of them revolutionized the way we spend time and offer different experiences for a global audience. This article will discuss the difference between the video game industry and the movie industry, starting from market potential, target audience, and global cultural impact.

Continuously Growing Market Potential

In the last year, the video game industry has shown very rapid growth. Report based on several sources indicated that the video game industry’s global income in 2023 achieved more than $200 billion, surpassing movie industry income of around $100 billion in the same year. This shows that video games have become one of the main forms of entertainment, especially for the younger generation that has grown up in the digital era. On the contrary, although the movie industry’s income is lower than that of the video game industry’s, movies remain a highly influential entertainment medium. Movie theatres, streaming platforms, and international movie festivals attract millions of people worldwide. Movies have a very broad appeal, encompassing both Hollywood blockbusters and independent productions with unique themes.

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Different Audiences: Interactive vs Passive

One of the fundamental differences between the video game industry and the movie industry is how audiences interact with content. Movies offer a passive experience, where the audience sits and enjoys the story presented by the filmmaker. The audience becomes the recipient of the narrative without having control over the storyline.

On the contrary, video games give an interactive experience. The audience not only enjoys the story but also becomes a part of it. They make decisions that influence the course of the game, leading to higher engagement compared to watching movies. This interactive element makes video games particularly appealing to the younger generation seeking a personal and active experience.

Narration and Emotional Experience

The movie industry has long been recognized as one of the best mediums for portraying deep and emotional stories. Movies like The Godfather and Titanic are examples of how movies can evocatively engage audiences on an emotional level. With an average duration of around 2 hours, movies have the capacity to convey the story effectively.

However, the video game industry is also advancing rapidly in narrative storytelling. Games like The Last of Us and Red Dead Redemption 2 have proven that video games tell the stories that are just as immersive as movies, if not more so. This is because the gamers experience the story interactively, allowing them to connect emotionally in a way that traditional films cannot offer.

Global Cultural Impact

The movie industry has long played a significant role in shaping global culture. Hollywood movies have had a major impact on cultural perceptions worldwide. Movies like Avengers or Frozen are known to most of the public, from children until adults. International cinema and streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+ also help the film reach the largest audience.

Technology and Innovation

Technology plays a key role in the growth of the movie industry. This industry has adopted technology like CGI (computer-generated imagery) and advanced visual effects to create cinematic and spectacular experiences. For example, Avatar uses advanced 3D technology to present the fascinating world of Pandora.

Meanwhile, the video game industry uses technology to create deep experiences. Games like Half-Life: Alyx demonstrate VR potential to provide immersive gameplay. Beside that, artificial intelligence in games creates more realistic and dynamic characters, adding depth to the overall playing experience.

Monetization: Different Approach

Monetization is an important aspect of both the video game and movie industries. Movies create income through cinema ticket sales, broadcast rights, and merchandise. A movie’s success is often measured by its box office earnings or performance on streaming platforms.

On the other hand, the video game industry employs a variety of monetization strategies. Many games rely on microtransactions, such as in-game item sales, subscriptions, and battle passes. The freemium model, where gameplay is free but in-game purchases are offered, has become particularly popular, especially in mobile games like Candy Crush or Clash of Clans.

Movie and Game Collaboration

The movie and video game industries often intersect. Many movies adapted from video games, such as Tomb Raider or Sonic the Hedgehog, have attracted the attention of fans from both sides. Conversely, a lot of games are also adapted from movies, such as Star Wars Jedi: Survivor or Spider-Man. This cooperation shows how the two industries complement each other. Movies and video games can expand upon the narrative of shared worlds, giving more experience for their audience.

List of Films About Virtual Games and Best Story Plot

1. Alice in Borderland

• Year of Release: 2020
• Duration: 16 episodes (41-80 minutes/episode)
• Production: Robot Communications Inc.
• Stream: Netflix, Prime Video
• Cast: Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, Yūki Morinaga, Keita Machida, Ayame Misaki, Nijirō Murakami, Yūtarō Watanabe, Sho Aoyagi, Ayaka Miyoshi, Dori Sakurada, Aya Asahina
• Rating: 7.7 Alice in Borderland is a Japanese TV series adapted from the manga with the same title by Haro Aso. This series was first broadcast on December 10, 2020, on Netflix and became popular quickly. It took inspiration from a few elements in the survival genre and games, featuring a setting reminiscent of a video game world. The story is about Ryohei Arisu, a young man that is bored with his monotonous life and feels not satisfied with daily routine. One day, Arisu and two of his close friends, Yuzuha Usagi and Karube, are suddenly trapped in a seemingly deserted Tokyo. They immediately realized that the city is a dystopian version of real life that is filled with various types of deadly games that they must win to survive.

2. Squid Game

• Year of Release: 2021
• Duration: 9 episodes (32-63 minutes/episode)
• Production: Siren Pictures Inc.
• Stream: Netflix
• Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, Jung Ho-yeon, O Yeong-su, Heo Seong-tae, Anupam Tripathi, Kim Joo-ryoung
• Rating: 8.0 This film was released on Netflix on September 17th, 2021, and quickly gained global popularity. It explores various types of traditional Korean games but with a horrifying twist. Squid Game tells a story about Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung Jae), a man trapped in debt, poverty, and familial breakdown. One day, he is invited to participate in a series of seemingly harmless traditional Korean children's games, with large cash prizes for those who win. However, he soon discovers that the games are far deadlier than they appear. If a participant fails a game, they will die.

3. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

• Year of Release: 2017
• Duration: 119 minutes
• Production: Columbia Pictures, Matt Tolmach Productions, Seven Bucks Productions
• Stream: Prime Video, Apple TV, Netflix, Vidio, Google Play Movie
• Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Bobby Cannavale, Rhys Darby
• Rating: 7.0

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is an adventure comedy film directed by Jake Kasdan. This film is a sequel to the classic film “Jumanji” that was released in 1995. The film begins with a premise similar to the original but features a modern twist. This time, the Jumanji game is not a board game as before but a video game that transports the cast into an exotic and dangerous world.

Challenge and Future

These two industries face their own challenges. The movie industry, for example, must compete with streaming platforms and adapt to changes, as more people prefer watching at home rather than in cinemas. Beside that, the video game industry must face critical issues like addiction, violence in games, and exploitation through microtransaction.

Despite the challenges, the future of both industries remains promising. With technology development like AI, VR, and AR, the experience of watching movies and playing games will be immersive. Collaboration between the movie and video game industries is also expected to increase, creating an integrated entertainment world. In the video game and movie industries, both of them have strengths and offer unique experiences to global audiences. The movie industry excels in delivering emotional and universal narratives, while the video game industry offers interactive experiences that are deeply personal. As consumers, we can enjoy the two forms of entertainment. Movies and video games are not competitors but partners in creating rich and diverse entertainment experiences. Technology development and creativity—both of them will continue to play the main role in shaping the future of the entertainment world.

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