How To Bait a VG Bait

Yep, I bet you are all excited about VG baits now because of the post Bryce just put up (By the way, it was excellent). But now I bet you're wondering "What now?" Well, here are the basic rules of baiting a VG bait I follow when I write them.

1. Choose your source material carefully- There are many video games that people say can make good movies, but there are only so many that actually can BE good movies. So when picking the game to adapt, be sure it is one you know you can adapt and one that can be realistically made as a movie.

2. Don't repeat the same old story the same old way- While many people on the site haven't played the games other authors and I write, they can tell if the story feels uninspired. Look carefully at your bait and try to find something to make it standout. Make the story feel fresh and original. Character development often helps here.

3. If the source story won't work, make your own- I've experienced this one several times in writing VG baits. Many games have great potential for movie adaptations, but the story of the game just doesn't fit the criteria. This is where creative liscense comes in. Feel free to experiment and tinker with the original story until you can format it correctly. This was my tactic with both Fallout and Criminal Origins (with Fallout being an entirely re-written story while C.O. is a toned down version of the original story). More often than not this works.

4. Experiment a little- The wonderful thing about originality is that it has almost no bounds. Be unique with how you write the format of the synopsis or the press section. Type actors against cast if possible. Do something that others are too afraid to do.

5. Pick cast and director wisely- This has been a fatal flaw for many real life VG movies. People just assume that if you pick a popular actor or an actor looks tough, he will fit the part. You have to keep a sense of prestige and quality in mind here. Pick actors who are talented but not too popular or you will oversaturate the bait. Many a project has sunk because of too many big names (Bloodrayne, but that's also because it sucked; also my failed VG bait Half-Life). Director is even more important. The director is the essential part of the storytelling because it shows the audience how the story will be handled. Let's look at Criminal Origins for example. If I had put anyone other than David Fincher as the director, the bait would not have had the same atmosphere around it. So because Fincher was assigned as director, the audience could familiarize themselves with his style of filmmaking. This is SO important when doing a VG bait, so choose wisely. Also, never go the safe route with directors on their previous work (Peter Jackson, Steven Speilberg) unless you know it will work.

6. Press section is your friend- I cannot stress enough how important a press section is to any bait, especially VG baits. Everything that can't be said in the plot must be present here or the story will feel incomplete. This is the place you must use to convey the storytelling, mood, technicals, acting, writing and pretty much everything that makes the bait great. I doubt many of my VG baits would have been successful if I didn't put the effort into the press section. Also, remember that since VG baits are considered "unbaity", you never want to overpraise the bait or it will make it unrealistic. So choose your words carefully and give it just enough praise it needs to be considered a hit.

7. Make it fun- This part is important for both the reader and the bait. Because the story is based on a medium almost completely dedicated to fun, this part needs to be considered when writing the story. Enjoy writing it and make the audience want to read it. It is based on a video game after all.

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So yeah, I think this is essentially everything you need to write a good VG bait. If anyone is interested at all, at least now you know how I approach it. I will leave you now with a clip from the original Fallout game. Remember, this is the original version, so the details will be different than the version I wrote, but the essense of the story is still the same. If the narration for the video sounds familiar, it's because it is Ron Perlman. He did the original voiceover for the game, which led me to pick him for the bait. Enjoy!

Ever Wanted to Bait a Video Game Bait?

Have you ever wanted to bait a video game bait? Well here are a few ideas that could end up being your next Bait of the month winning bait, all of which have come out this year! (so it be easier to find them and play them for research) Don't worry I promise not to recommend any bad games to adapt....>.<

Portal



Story: Set in the Half Life universe, "Portal" focuses on a "lab rat" who is given a gun able to create portal in order to complete a series of organized test by a supposedly evil corporation. Eventually, the lab rat escapes, with the intention of trying to escape the complex all together, but he/she soon finds out that won't be easy, and will have to use the portal gun in order to try and find a way out.

Suggested Cast/Crew: You definitely got to get someone with an unorthodox and surreal style. I'm not really sure who could fit in this category, however, to give you some sort of idea, I think if Stanley Kubrick were alive he be perfect, with the only flaw being he would need to have more humor in the movie than he usually had with his other movies.

Award Potential (Out of 10; 1 being the lowest, 10 being the highest): 6-8, depending on how you deliver it. I'd suggest writing it in an unorthodox style in order to give bait a fitting atmosphere. I guess in the end it all depends on who the director is, and a great press section, since the cast would only be consisted of one person (unless you add characters)



Bioshock


Story: Jack (the character controlled by the player) is a passenger on a plane that crashes over the Atlantic Ocean in 1960, after ordered society in Rapture has collapsed. After surfacing, Jack swims to a nearby lighthouse, where he finds a bathysphere in which descends into the ocean and enters the failed "paradise" of Rapture. Atlas assists Jack via radio in making his way to safety, while Ryan, believing Jack to be a government agent, uses Rapture's automated systems and his pheromone-controlled Splicers against him.

Suggested Cast/Crew: Hmm...This is hard lol. You have to get someone that does dark, and gritty, but also isn't afraid to venture into horror territory. David Fincher may be the obvious choice, but others might not agree. Tim Burton might work, but he would probably make it his own thing. Honestly, I'd go with either an unknown director and focus more on a powerful cast, or go with a famous TV director of a great TV series. (maybe CSI, or Dexter)

Award's Potential: 8. People are going to either see this as a horror bait or a experimental bait. If it's the latter, you'll have more against you since most experimental baits don't do all that well at the Oscars (It usually does great at the precursors), but horror does have a comrade that has been nominated (The Vampire Lestat) and many past BOTM winners have said they would love to see a baity horror bait in the past. Is Bioshock baity? hmm maybe. It does have some great themes to work on (If you play the game you'll see what I'm saying) and one hell of a twist. Overall, I think if your able to capture the twist, the essence, the atmosphere, and the dramatic themes you can have a winner on your hands.


Halo


Story: Mankind is being destroyed by a conglomerate of alien races all under the flag of the Covenant. A human starship is under attack and has no chance to survive, and now the only hope for Mankind is for the Spartan-II forged Master Chief to make sure the Covenant forces do not get a hold of the ship's AI, and thus find the location of Earth. But the survivors of the Pillar of Autumn are stranded on a bizarre alien planet mankind calls Halo, and everything is stacked against them. It becomes a desperate battle as the brave crew, lead by the Master Chief and the AI Cortana, try to survive the Covenant's assault.

Suggested Cast/Crew: I know what your saying "There already making a halo movie" but Neil Blomkip (SP?) has already stated the studio's are STILL uninterested in making a Halo movie with him and Peter Jackson, even after Halo sales equaled that of a 80 million box office weekend in it's first weekend out. So, as far as I'm concerned, your safe....for now. The obvious choice is Peter Jackson as director, but I would get an unknown to play master chief. Someone with a great voice and body, but unknown (so the bait could make him a star :), a la 300)

Award's Potential: 5-10. What can I say? People love Halo, and that could work in your favor (that is if the forum users play the game, and if Johnny Alba also plays it) Otherwise, your chances are low. IMO, Halo has all the visuals and epic-ness to make a great movie, but award wise, it's story leaves more to be desired. You can obviously spazz it up (especially if you read the books) but I think it might actually be a good idea to stay away from this idea.


Mass Effect


Story: In a future time, you play an emotionally scarred soldier who must stop a plot to exterminate humanity throughout the galaxy. (You got to play the game to actually get a grip on the story, it's pretty huge)

Suggested Cast/Crew: The great thing about Mass Effect, is the fact that it feels like something straight out of the 50s but with today's great visuals. The atmosphere, and music, of the game is straight out of a 50s sci-fi flick, so you definitely got to get someone brave enough to want to do something like that, but also take advantage of today's visuals. (Paul Thomas Anderson maybe?) One thing's for sure, this isn't Star Wars, so please don't get Steven Spielberg or George Lucas. This is a mature game, and thus, I feel, the bait should be aiming for an R-rating without hesitation. In the end, you really have to play the game to get an idea about cast and crew, but I think it's safe to say Edward Burns for Kaiden.

Award's Potential: 7-9. This all comes down to one thing, the story. The story may be layered with some great political analogy, but it's basically the "evil dude trying to kill everyone" plot. Honestly, I would just trash that story for a more unique and daring story, that still uses Mass Effect's characters and universe. Just make sure to keep the 50s sci-fi style and atmosphere and you could do good.


Well those are all for now, (or at least all I have played so far). Here are a few others I haven't played but are worth checking out to see if you want to adapt them into a bait:

Assassin's Creed
Kane and Lynch
Tabula Rasa (you might have to change title lol)
Final Fantasy 7
Crackdown
Elder Scrolls : Oblivion
Dead rising
Saint's Row
Grand Theft Auto (3, Vice City, San Andreas)

So many games to play, so little times. But I hope this help those who may have been curious about adapting a video game. Feel free to leave comments and suggestions. Good luck in the december competition, and PARTICIPATE IN THE FESTIVAL!