Ron Maxwell Negotiating Deal for Video Games Based on "Gods and Generals" Movies
Oct. 24, 2002--Ron Maxwell has formed a new company with the developer whose firm turned Tom Clancy's book "Red Storm Rising" into a video game to do the same with some of Maxwell's Civil War films, including the soon to be released "Gods and Generals."
Mark Baric, whose computer graphics company Virtus developed games based on books or movies by Clancy, Michael Crichton and others, said the project may include games for platforms other than computers, such as **** ***********, Microsoft's X-box, and ********'s GameCube.
"The goal after the initial release of the PC version of the game is to create a community where interested people, whether they're reenactors, Civil War buffs or those who just enjoy shooter-type games, will be able to get fresh content every month or every quarter based on battles that took place in that time period," Baric told an interviewer for the news service LocalTechWire.com.
"For example, we will do something in July to commemorate the battle of Gettysburg. We will have that as part of the content, and you will have the ability to go on and subscribe on a monthly basis and actually be a part of these battles," Baric continued.
Baric said he and Maxwell have formed a company with plans to release the games at around the same time that the movies see theatrical release.
" You'll be able to go in and be part of the battles you've seen," Baric said. "It's very similar to what Medal of Honor did with “Saving Private Ryan.”
He declined to name the company that is doing the actual production of the "Gods and Generals" game except to say that they are "a PC gaming company with experience in this area. It's a strong team that has been working on it now for some time."
Baric described himself as "a technologist" who is not a Hollywood type. He said he made contact with Maxwell through a friend.
"Mark is doing some things on the computer gaming side," Baric said the friend told Maxwell. "You're doing things on the movie side. Your movie products would probably lend very well to interactive properties. You two ought to get together."
As is typical in the entertainment business, a sequel is already under discussion before the first venture is even released.
"There is a third book in the trilogy, "The Last Full Measure." If that is turned into a movie," Baric said, "which hopefully it will be, we will look to have a major release of an interactive game most likely on the ***********2 platform, as well as continuing the PC monthly/quarterly subscription package.
Baric said that the expanding numbers and types of game platforms is having a strong effect on what used to just be the "computer game" industry.
"***********2 by ****, Microsoft's ****
to a lesser extent, but it's still starting to get
market share, and ********’s Game Cube is
doing very well," he said. "You now have tens of millions, soon to be over a hundred million, people on these various platforms. A good game that used to sell 500,000 units can now sell two-, three-, four-, five-, 10 million units because you have the platforms out there.
Oh heck, as if I didn't spend ENOUGH time gaming...
PS, when I went in to check on some new games for my son's Gameboy, the clerk (about 19) asked me how much I knew about gaming. I told him I was one of the originals, started with Pong in the 1970s. He got this awestruck look on his face and said, "Dude, that's historic!"
"Zou said Pong, HU, HU, HU, HU, Yeah!"
"Yeah, MHMM, Pongs cools!!"
"Shut up Beavis!"
I to fondly remember pong and then along came Atari! I bet you have Sid Meier's Antietam and Gettysburg along with CWG2 for the pc. I know I still due!
Yeah, I have a goodly number of those CW games, but I stink at them, since I'm not willing to devote the time to learning the strategy. I'm afraid that I'm only good at things like the old Hoyle Classic Board Games. And my PC is such a dinosaur that it won't run the new games! Time for an upgrade, I guess.
I just read that article on CWI and came here to see if anything was mentioned. All I have to say is, how cool would that be! I don't have any Civil War related games and am looking forward to the release of this. The movie, now this, times are looking up.
Ok, I just saw some screens for the G&G video game! Now that you are all salavating all I can say is Waaa? To say it is Medal of Honor is a long shot! This game looks like crap and is tragedy for the game community! I would suggest Pong or Frogger as an alternative. From what i saw it looks like someone is trying to make a quick dollar on our love of the War.
Might I suggest waiting for its arrival for a few more months! I think you will be able to purchase it at all Best Buy, Dollar Store, Funco Land, dollar bends by August!
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