The Silicon Valley 01.27.10: Top 10 Video Games That Should Be Television Shows!

Posted by Steve Gustafson on 01.27.2010

From Devil May Cry and Zelda to Metal Gear Solid and evenThe Oregon Trail, 411’s Steve Gustafson lists the games he thinks should be TV shows! Check out the full column to see which games made the list and why!



Hello and welcome to The Silicon Valley 10 & 1!. My name is Steve Gustafson and you might remember me from such columns and reports such as The Hollywood 5 & 1 and The Big Screen Bulletin. I stay busy and this past weekend was no different with me being bounced out of the NBC Facebook page, speaking with Nigella Lawson's PR people about interview, working on a special Bollywood project, and teaming up with rappers John Public and Complex for a little diddy. But that's not why we're here today.

So what in the green lantern am I doing penning a gaming column? Simple. Like most of you, my interests are wide. I love movies. I love MMA. I love wrestling. I hate politics. So you can guess what section you won't find me in. But more importantly, I love gaming. I own, and play, a range of systems. From the original Atari all the way down to the Wii. Am I an expert? Of course not. But I know my way around an arcade and love to talk game with fellow mates.

So what's the purpose of The Silicon Valley 10 & 1? Like much of 411mania, a place to express opinion and ideas. A place to debate. Like most of my contributions here, expect some bleed over as I mix games and movies. Or MMA. Or...you get the picture. I'm always open for suggestions or even hate mail so you can zip that over to me at [e-mail]. I try to cast a wide net when it comes to subjects so let's get right into it!



You're always hearing about rumors of a video game making the transition to the big screen. You also can visit a number of message boards and debate which franchise should get the film treatment. One thing that is pretty obvious: Hollywood hasn't discovered the formula of a great video game. Yet. Sure, they've given us a few solid ones, but haven't come close to tapping into the potential a video game movie offers. Give it a little time and they will. Remember, it took then decades to get into a rhythm with comic books and look where we are now.

Now let's shift our attention to television. Network television is in turmoil right now. Same for cable. It's a matter of quantity over quality. But the medium of television is perfect for storytelling. And outside of playability, storytelling is a huge factor when it comes to a games success. What's stopping them from taking a few ideas from the console world and planting a few video game shows out there? Built in audience? Check. Marketing tie-ins? Check. Merchandising opportunities? Check. For this Top 10, it's not in any order. No one game is more important than the other. But I'm numbering them anyway. So let's take a look at...

Top 10 Video Games That Should be Television Shows!



10. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
Think: Lords of Dogtown meets My So-Called Life

In a way I'm surprised this hasn't happened yet, especially given the popularity of skateboarding. You don't even have to have Tony Hawk in the show on a regular basis. Flip the title to Searching for Tony Hawk, Pro Skater and make it a teenage, coming of age drama about a kid struggling at school and home, who find solace on the ramps. His dream: Turn pro and meet Tony Hawk. Throw in some cameo appearances by some skating names and you have a show. His mom and dad don't understand his hobby, his younger sister annoys him, the police chase him when he hops the fence for a session, and the girl he crushes on doesn't even know he exists. Give him a couple of friends, one being the girl who has feelings for him but he doesn't see it. Does he fulfill his dreams? What setbacks does he encounter? People will tune in for these answers.



9. Gun
Think: Gunsmoke...if it was written by Quentin Tarantino. With a side of Deadwood.

This is tailor made for HBO. The game focuses on Colton White. In 1880 he sets out to avenge the death of his father and gets caught up in the search for Quivira, a city of gold. Give that a little tweak and you're on your way to reinventing the television western. I loved Deadwood, but this would take it to the next level. Keep the focus on White and the characters he meets week-to-week. Plenty of action and an opportunity to get some of those cool characters from the game onto the small screen. Soapy Jennings? Tom Magruder? Fights-at-Dawn? This show would write itself! Give me a cast of unknowns and throw in some celebrity cameos like Kris Kristofferson (who did voice work for the game), Josh Brolin, and Sam Elliott to keep the ratings up and you're back in the saddle.



8. Asteroid
Think: Apollo 13 mixed with Crimson Tide.

I'm lifting this from a Top 5 I participated in a while back in Movies/TV. I really need to find out who has the rights and get this in production. From the Top 5:
Take the hand-wringing, clenched fist suspense of Apollo 13, mix the claustrophobic, thrill of Crimson Tide and put it in the asteroid scene from Empire Strikes Back times one thousand! Need a storyline? Set it in the not so far future where businesses gain contracts to "weed" asteroid storms in space inside small, 4-man pod ships called Vectors. While one old vessel is a little too far out doing their job, they get word that the mother of all asteroid storms is headed toward Earth. At the same time a rival company is trying to sabotage their job to gain the contract, and kill them if necessary. Then, while taking on the asteroid storm and battling their rivals, a light starts flashing...seems like their outdated Vector is shutting down on them. Can they fix it in time? Can they destroy their enemies before they destroy them? Will they be able to save Earth? ASTEROIDS Starring Danny Glover, Ryan Reynolds, Clint Howard, Steve Zahn, and Edward Norton (as the bad guy...wearing the same hairstyle Tom Hanks did in The DaVinci Code). Folks, it doesn't get any better than this!
Have the above be a mini-series, then spin it off to a weekly action packed drama! Of course you won't be able to draw those names for a TV show...well, maybe Danny Glover...and Clint Howard, but the this has huge appeal across the board.



7. Grand Theft Auto
Think: The Wire meets The Shield.

I know everyone thinks this should be a movie but it's better suited for television. Liberty City would host a color cast of cops and robbers who operate inside and outside the law. Cable would be the only place you could do this justice. I would grab a writer or two from The Wire and The Shield to make just the right vibe is met. Have this be a parallel show with attention on a police office and the other on a criminal. Use the game for background characters, with fans of the game tuning in to see who turns up. Sprinkle the story with various game elements to keep it interesting. Pull in some of the actors who did voices like Michael Madsen, Ray Liotta, Burt Reynolds, Dennis Hopper, Gary Busey, Samuel L. Jackson, James Woods, Joe Pantoliano, Frank Vincent, Kyle MacLachlan and Peter Fonda. See who stays around and you have a pretty good cast and I'd try to build on continuity already established from the game. Expect parent groups to have a field day with this one. But you know what they say: Controversy equals cash!



6. The Oregon Trail
Think: Little House on the Prarie and The Fantastic Four. OK, I'm kidding. Little House on the Prarie with a twist of Carnivale.

As much as I want this to be edgy, this would end up on the Disney channel. We'd follow a family whose father is a wagon leader guiding his party of settlers from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon's Willamette Valley by way of the Oregon Trail! Along the way they'd handle disease, wild animals, hunting, and a number of other trials. Add in the usual friendship, love, loyalty, and family bonding. You could stretch this show out for 3 or 4 years. All I ask is at the end of the first season you kill off one main character. Have some of the characters leave to hunt, get lost, overcome hardship and then return. As they get closer to camp they see a number of people huddled together, weeping at a funeral. The father turns to greet them and tells them another character has died. When they inquire why, he responds, 'He died of dysentery." Fade to black.



5. Call of Duty
Think: Band of Brothers and M*A*S*H.

"But Steve, Call of Duty would be exactly like Band of Brothers!" Eh. I see that point but I'm a sucker for military shows. This franchise has some serious legs with all the different campaigns you could base a show on. Get some celebrity directors for some smaller arcs during the season and you'd get the ratings. To insure proper funding I'd get Tom Hanks on board as an executive producer.



4. Assassin's Creed
Think: Heroes and Wanted without the powers. And they kill people. But this is TV so not too graphically.

The plot to Assassin's Creed would work...with a few changes. Keep the struggle between the two factions, the Knights Templar and the Assassins. The season would focus on one overall goal, like the Piece of Eden, with each episode working towards that while balancing smaller subplots. I'm thinking this is more of an ensemble piece with shades of gray when it comes to characterization. The show could also flesh out the back story of the Assassin's and add to the games lore. Unfortunately, I'd do away with Desmond Miles and his story. While it works for the game, for a show you need to be a little more flexible. But can't you imagine the beginning of every show? Black screen to start, then white text with a short history and then this: "The order follows a code of honor called the Assassin's Creed. The Creed is as follows: 1) Do not harm the innocent; 2) Be discreet; and 3) Do not compromise the brotherhood." Fade to black then the words: "Nothing is true; everything is permitted". Boom. Someone fast track this for me.



3. Devil May Cry
Think: I have no idea. How about the Fugitive and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Times 1000!

I have a feeling this would be a cult hit! It would get a lot of critical acclaim but not find its audience. The series centers on Dante's goal of avenging his mother's murder by exterminating demons. I wouldn't mess with that. Inject some fantasy and I can see the Buffy crowd accepting this with open arms. Add in some zombies, vampires, and other supernatural shenanigans, and you have a winner right here! I know this will piss off a few of you but this show would come off with more of a Twilight vibe. Sorry, that's where we are at today and we have to accept it. It's called "making money". And it makes the world go-a-round.



2. Metal Gear Solid
Think: Mix Alias, Jason Bourne, and the vibe of Smokin' Aces. (and 100 times better than the Hitman movie!)

I'd spin this to be Solid Snake: Year One. Sad to say, I wouldn't stick to the game and start with a clean slate. He's recruited by FOXHOUND and go from there. Sent out on various missions, deals with intrigue, spies, assassin's. James Bond type stuff. Keep it hard edged. Add in a few side characters in there for Snake to play off of and you're ready to go. Television is aching for for a show that can tap into the Bond/Bourne dynamic. I bet if I could get J.J. Abrams to look at my treatment, he'd be all over it.



1. The Legend of Zelda
Think: Lord of the Rings with a pinch of LOST.

The only problem I foresee with this one is the budget. To do it right you gotta spend the dough! What's the last good fantasy television show on a network station? Seriously. This has a huge audience to tap into. I caught the cartoon back in the day and it was...OK. This live-action show would blow that away. The series would center on Link (and a merry band of friends) on a quest for the Triforce. Halfway through the season have him gain a second mission to rescue Princess Zelda. The bad guy? Ganon of course! While he's the main baddie, have some well designed minions make trouble for Link on a weekly basis. Throw some twists in there, add in some Robin Hood elements (like stealing from the rich to help a town), I would have to have a Orlando Bloom appearance. I think it's mandatory.


That's that. I know that an argument can be made for just about ANY video game out there. What about you? What video game do you think should make the transition to television? And make it interesting and giv



Gaming isn't male exclusive as it used to be. Even in the world of Hollywood, there are plenty of babes who like to rock out on the joystick. To give you a little taste, let's take a look at Mila Kunis!

She's building up her career nicely. You probably know her best from That 70's Show. But she's also works on Family Guy and was a good reason to catch Forgetting Sarah Marshall. While you may think she's being featured because she starred in a video game movie, Max Payne and for her voice work for the Family Guy video game, Saints Row, and others, you'd be wrong.

She's made no secret in interviews that she is a World of Warcraft fanatic. Can you imagine kicking back with her? I don't think I would be able to play WofW for very long.







So if you ever meet Mila, you have your topic of conversation. Currently she's sexing up cinema screens in Book of Eli so check it out!

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Finally, if you have some down time and are looking for a great place for great fun, check out Tiger Flash Games!

Thanks for reading and see you next time!