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!