In a world where films play a significant part in shaping public consciousness, it’s only natural that their reach would extend beyond the silver screen. Chances are, you heard the opening words of this article in Don LaFontaine’s legendary grisly tone, as this modern cinematic trope has become so pronounced in the English zeitgeist - and this is just one example.

Don LaFontaine, the instantly recognizable voice artist who recorded more than 5,000 film trailers, was born on this day in 1940.

Credit — New Beverly Cinema (@newbeverly) August 26, 2019

Aiding in this ubiquity of film properties is a part played by supporting franchise merchandise and media. What we want to look at here is the importance of gaming within this section of entertainment. How exactly does it commonly relate to film, and what makes a great example of a crossover relationship?

The common examples

Many of the most common examples of games based on films are direct adaptions of the biggest releases. As licensed games, these run the gambit of quality. Generally, the idea here is to generate additional buzz and draw sales based on current trends.

Often, like with the Goldeneye 007 video game, these are fantastic worldwide hits which positively influence the entire industry going forward. Franchises like Spider-Man have famously expanded into the gaming world, with their popular PlayStation titles outselling their predecessors most years. Other times, like with the gaming adaptation of E.T The Extra-Terrestrial, they play a major part in hurting both gaming and the base product's legacy.

Typically, however, the biggest success stories are those which go in a slightly different direction with the story, while still leaning on a film’s base premise, world, or theme. 

Alien: Isolation is one of the strongest examples of this in recent years. As a first-person survival game, this isn't based directly on a film, but rather tells the tale of Ellen Ripley's daughter between the timeframe of Alien and Aliens.

As an experience available over consoles, PC, and VR, Isolation has players experience first-hand the fear which a single Xenomorph can inspire. No big machine guns, no team to back you up, just you and a few other desperate survivors doing their best to make it through a terrifying and isolating experience.

Inspiration, not emulation

While we tend to think of Hollywood blockbusters when we consider entries related to film, it should be noted that these are not the only important and successful examples available. Other than traditional console and PC releases, there have been many successful spinoffs which turn to films for inspiration, not direct emulation, which still obtain mass popularity.

Take, for example, movie-inspired slot games found on online casinos. Websites such as Slotsia list dozens of these casinos, most of which offer bonuses like deposit matches and/or free spins to get players interested. Getting players to stay, however, means offering content which appeals to players of all backgrounds.

By basing slots on films, from comedies like Ted to horrors like Halloween, these themes draw interest to both film fans and slot newcomers alike.

A realm of growth

With gaming having recently overtaken even the film box office when it comes to profit, expect the marriage of these two forms of entertainment to only grow in the future. Rather than seeing only token efforts, the future relationship between these two industry goliaths might just be poised for a revolution in quality and attention.

Whatever the case, we look forward to being able to experience a different view on our favorite properties, even if they can’t quite measure up to the brilliance of the original.