Video gaming is one of the most popular forms of entertainment today, with around one-third of the global population enjoying the pastime. Given that there are several billion gamers around the world, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that there is a diverse range of titles covering every conceivable genre.
From farming simulators to arcade racers, game developers have taken inspiration from just about every possible source to create their content. Movies are no exception to this rule, with hundreds of officially-licensed titles released in conjunction with the film itself whilst others simply borrow ideas from the big screen to create something entirely new.
Among this titanic collection of titles, here are some of the greatest games inspired by movies.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
The Grand Theft Auto series is one of the most successful in history, with every major release since 2001 receiving critical acclaim and enjoying earth-shattering sales figures. In almost every way, GTA games have been pioneering. The first release in the series pushed the boundaries of what an open world meant while Grand Theft Auto III took this to an entirely new level by adding 3D graphics and a multi-faceted storyline.
Since then, Grand Theft Auto’s creator, Rockstar Games, has continued this trend by making more immersive and developed games with bigger maps, deeper stories, and a more realistic feel.
Much of what we see in GTA games is inspired by the real world as Rockstar has a penchant for making satirical comments on the state of modern society, commerce, and politics. However, the developers also take inspiration from other sources, particularly movies. Nowhere is this more evident than in Grand Theft Auto Vice City which is set in a fictional version of Miami during the 1980s.
Throughout the game, there are subtle (and not-so-subtle) hints at movies from the era, including Scarface, The Godfather, and Miami Vice.
James Bond Roulette
Roulette is a game that we all know. Its famous red and black wheel is instantly recognisable because it is unique, helping it to stand out from other casino games. It’s also one of the most prevalent, with almost every casino on the planet offering it to its players. This includes online casinos which often create multiple variants of roulette, like American and high roller versions, to give their customers more choice and to help them stand out in a crowded market.
That’s not all though, because many players have adopted special strategies that allow them to mix up the gameplay and spice up their playing. There are many of these strategies, including the Fibonacci strategy, the Martingale strategy, and the reverse Martingale.
Another, the James Bond roulette strategy, is inspired by 007 himself. It is designed to cover most possible outcomes, with different wager sizes used for different types of bets. To do it, you place the following:
- 14 chips on the 19-36 outside bet
- 5 chips on the 13-18 inside bet
- 1 chip oh the single 0
While this system does cover most outcomes, there are some that are left out, meaning there are no guarantees. Instead, players use it because it adds structure and is a fun way to enjoy the game.
Why is it called the James Bond system? You might think it’s because 007 used it in a film, but that is not the case. It is simply because the famous character has a penchant for having a flutter and is known for covering all his bases.
Dead Rising
Gamers are no strangers to zombie titles. In fact, developers have embraced the mythology around the undead and their flesh-eating ways for decades. During the late 2000s and into the 2010s, zombie modes were incredibly common additions to video games.
One of the best examples of this was Call of Duty, which used the idea of 1940s military personnel rising up from the dead to create a new and fun set of game modes. Many video game developers copied this idea, adding their own takes on a zombie apocalypse within their own fictional worlds.
Others, like the creators of Dead Rising, went all in, producing a hit game based entirely around zombies. The game’s premise of a zombie uprising in a shopping mall may seem very familiar if you have watched the Dawn of the Dead movie.
Of course, there are some big differences between the two, but there is a clear overlap in ideas that shows the game’s developers took a lot of inspiration from it.
