Sierra: The Movie

[Semi-Happy Partygoer]

Which Sierra games do you think could potentially lend themselves to film and/or TV adaptations? Obviously a great deal of creative liberties would need to be taken, and no adaptation could ever fully capture the gaming experience, but which ones do you feel are strong enough to work in another medium?

[DeadPoolX]

I think the problem with turning any Sierra property into a movie (or at least, the classic adventures) is that those games were heavily influenced by other genre-related media, often taking bits and pieces themselves.

Then there's the concern a studio would change everything about the story and just use the characters. It's happened before in shows like Riverdale, which took the characters from the Archie comics and plopped them into a Twin Peaks knockoff.

Also, there's a good chance that they'd do something stupid like change characters' race, ethnicity, sex, gender, etc, all in the name of "diversity."

For instance, if Netflix got control over a Laura Bow TV show (or movie), they'd probably turn her into a non-binary gendered black lesbian albino with an hispanic surname who's constantly ranting about civil rights issues. Yeah, that's nuts, that's Netflix's idea of "diversity."

[Tawmis]

Which Sierra games do you think could potentially lend themselves to film and/or TV adaptations? Obviously a great deal of creative liberties would need to be taken, and no adaptation could ever fully capture the gaming experience, but which ones do you feel are strong enough to work in another medium?

Gabriel Knight, for sure. Any of them, really. But I certainly feel like (and it might because it was live actors/film), GK2 seems the closest to be "film ready."

And I think the (first) Phantasmagoria definitely could make for a great horror / suspense movie.

Gold Rush might make for a fun multi-part show on Hulu (or to DPX's nightmare, Netflix).

[Tawmis]

I think your anger at the "diversity push" is blinding you to SHP's hypothetical question.

Then there's the concern a studio would change everything about the story and just use the characters. It's happened before in shows like Riverdale, which took the characters from the Archie comics and plopped them into a Twin Peaks knockoff.

Isn't Riverdale actually doing well, though? (I've never watched it myself)
That said, I don't think they could ever do an Archie's live action show based on the comic and ever hope for it to succeed.

Also, there's a good chance that they'd do something stupid like change characters' race, ethnicity, sex, gender, etc, all in the name of "diversity."
For instance, if Netflix got control over a Laura Bow TV show (or movie), they'd probably turn her into a non-binary gendered black lesbian albino with an hispanic surname who's constantly ranting about civil rights issues. Yeah, that's nuts, that's Netflix's idea of "diversity."

Man, I must not watch the same shows you do. All of the Daredevil, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Punisher, Defenders, Jessica Jones were all pretty spot on. Sure, Marvel had a hand in it (which is now owned by Disney, and if you know anything about the state of Marvel Comics and their "diversity" push - you'd think they would have changed the shows too) - but all of them are on par to their classic versions. Watership Down was a Netflix show, based on the Richard Adams book, and it stayed pretty damn close to the books without changing it up for a diversity push (granted, it's about rabbits, but still).

[Rath Darkblade]

I wonder what Netflix would do if it got its hands on Police Quest. Or - even worse - Quest for Glory.

[DeadPoolX]

I think your anger at the "diversity push" is blinding you to SHP's hypothetical question.

That may be true. I'm just annoyed at people taking intellectual property and twisting it to fit whatever image or goal they have in mind. If you want something like that, make a new IP, don't take something and pervert it.

Isn't Riverdale actually doing well, though? (I've never watched it myself)
That said, I don't think they could ever do an Archie's live action show based on the comic and ever hope for it to succeed.

Yes, Riverdale is doing well, but that's not the point. They took well-established characters and changed many of them to fit a storyline that would never be part of the normal Archie comics.

And maybe a true-to-the-comics show wouldn't have worked, but in that case, they could've just made a new show.

I was never a fan of Archie comics (except that one time the Punisher tried to kill him), but Maia was and she couldn't watch the show. She tried and was more or less disgusted with it.

Man, I must not watch the same shows you do. All of the Daredevil, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Punisher, Defenders, Jessica Jones were all pretty spot on.

The Marvel shows have been, for the most part, pretty good. Maia and I couldn't get into Daredevil (the main character just lacked personality) and Iron Fist was pathetic, but we liked Luke Cage and really liked Jessica Jones. The Defenders was good as they all worked well together as a team.

One thing that bugged me about Luke Cage was that practically every character refers to important historical figures by their first names, as if they were good buddies. Unless someone's a friend of mine or they've given me prior permission, I don't call them by their first name. That's rude, and in the case listed above, fairly egocentric as well.

Then again, I still feel awkward calling Maia's parents by their first names (they told me to do so years ago) and although I do, it feels weird. Maybe this is just an odd issue I have.

[Semi-Happy Partygoer]

Executive meddling would no doubt be an issue, and I agree that turning beloved properties into political mouthpieces is ill advised. Let's assume for hypothetical purposes, however, that the properties wind up in the hands of a producer who respects them and isn't going to make changes just for the sake of changing things.

DPX is right that the games which borrow a lot from other tales wouldn't really work. The first two King's Quest games would make absolutely boring films as is. There, changes would absolutely be necessary to flesh the story out and make it more original.

Having seen Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries in Australia, a Laura Bow TV show could follow a similar line. The period female detective genre is popular, at least internationally.

[Collector]

Every time I see "SHP" here when it does not refer to this site throws me. From now on Semi-Happy Partygoer's nickname is "SP".

[MusicallyInspired]

Then there's the concern a studio would change everything about the story and just use the characters. It's happened before in shows like Riverdale, which took the characters from the Archie comics and plopped them into a Twin Peaks knockoff.

I thought that was so stupid. But yeah, apparently it's doing well. *sigh*

Also, there's a good chance that they'd do something stupid like change characters' race, ethnicity, sex, gender, etc, all in the name of "diversity."

For instance, if Netflix got control over a Laura Bow TV show (or movie), they'd probably turn her into a non-binary gendered black lesbian albino with an hispanic surname who's constantly ranting about civil rights issues. Yeah, that's nuts, that's Netflix's idea of "diversity."

I haven't renewed my Netflix subscription in two years.

Though, I hear the new Lost In Space is very good. Saw half of the pilot and I was impressed. I do want to catch up on that one.

That may be true. I'm just annoyed at people taking intellectual property and twisting it to fit whatever image or goal they have in mind. If you want something like that, make a new IP, don't take something and pervert it.

YES!

[Tawmis]

I wonder what Netflix would do if it got its hands on Police Quest. Or - even worse - Quest for Glory.

Well, I know if Netflix got a hold of it [Police Quest], they probably wouldn't follow what Daryl Gates did.
As for Quest for Glory, I think they'd stick close to it, because it was already a pretty diverse game. So naturally to make it movie/series like, they'd amp up the characters you encounter rather than shallow conversations (say with the centaur who sells apples in the first one).

That may be true. I'm just annoyed at people taking intellectual property and twisting it to fit whatever image or goal they have in mind. If you want something like that, make a new IP, don't take something and pervert it.

Did you ever watch the Ben Afflick Daredevil? (If so, I do apologize - that was before Marvel was making good movies). But how did you feel about Michael Clark Duncan (I think that's his name?) playing Kingpin (since the character in comics is white)? That was before "diversity" pushes were "a thing."

Yes, Riverdale is doing well, but that's not the point. They took well-established characters and changed many of them to fit a storyline that would never be part of the normal Archie comics.

I can definitely understand where you're coming from. But I do think because of this risk they took to change it around, and it has paid off - has put new revenue probably in the pockets of the folks who created/own the Archie franchise, as I am sure they get a cut of the money it makes.

Then again, I still feel awkward calling Maia's parents by their first names (they told me to do so years ago) and although I do, it feels weird. Maybe this is just an odd issue I have.

I doubt it. It's a "proper" thing to address them the way you do. I still refer to people I chat with on IM at work by "Sir" - (like "Let me check that for you, sir.")

Executive meddling would no doubt be an issue, and I agree that turning beloved properties into political mouthpieces is ill advised. Let's assume for hypothetical purposes, however, that the properties wind up in the hands of a producer who respects them and isn't going to make changes just for the sake of changing things.

Or just pretend you're the producer with the money.

DPX is right that the games which borrow a lot from other tales wouldn't really work. The first two King's Quest games would make absolutely boring films as is. There, changes would absolutely be necessary to flesh the story out and make it more original.

Not entirely true though. Imagine making an animated series, where children are the target. They'd probably love that stuff.

Every time I see "SHP" here when it does not refer to this site throws me. From now on Semi-Happy Partygoer's nickname is "SP".

So we're going to think it's a spelling issue? (SP?)

I thought that was so stupid. But yeah, apparently it's doing well. *sigh*

Yeah, I know nothing of it other than the characters were based on the Archie comic character; but had like a whole murder/mystery vibe to it.

I haven't renewed my Netflix subscription in two years.
Though, I hear the new Lost In Space is very good. Saw half of the pilot and I was impressed. I do want to catch up on that one.

It's ridiculously good.

[DeadPoolX]

NOTE: If I write something that doesn't make sense or seems weird (not as in "normal weird"), it's because I'm currently operating on four hours of sleep at best.

Having seen Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries in Australia, a Laura Bow TV show could follow a similar line. The period female detective genre is popular, at least internationally.

Maia and I have been watching Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and although it's not something I'd normally be interested in, the attention to detail, characters, and mysteries the viewer is given enough evidence to solve (as opposed to mysteries where the detective pulls some weird — and yet completely accurate — theory out of his ass without the audience having any chance of figuring it out) made it something interesting, at least to me. I think Maia was already interested as she likes the time period and the main character being a "lady detective" held appeal for her.

Well, I know if Netflix got a hold of it [Police Quest], they probably wouldn't follow what Daryl Gates did.

Given how TV shows work, I imagine they'd make some combination of the PQ adventure games and the SWAT titles. Regardless, cop shows usually follow a fairly established formula, so it's unlikely they'd stray too far from it.

As for Quest for Glory, I think they'd stick close to it, because it was already a pretty diverse game. So naturally to make it movie/series like, they'd amp up the characters you encounter rather than shallow conversations (say with the centaur who sells apples in the first one).

Unfortunately, I have a feeling the QFG show or movie wouldn't feel right due to lack of humor or non-QFG-like humor.

Did you ever watch the Ben Afflick Daredevil? (If so, I do apologize - that was before Marvel was making good movies). But how did you feel about Michael Clark Duncan (I think that's his name?) playing Kingpin (since the character in comics is white)? That was before "diversity" pushes were "a thing."

Honestly, I didn't even remember that, but I don't have an issue with tertiary characters being changed. For instance, the TV show The Flash changed Iris and Wally into African Americans, They even added a new character (Joe West, Iris and Wally's father, who's also African American) just for the show. For the most part, Joe is my favorite character in the entire show.

To be fair, I think changing the race of these characters was so the audience didn't get confused. In the show, Barry is adopted by the Wests and grows up with them, but he and Iris fall in love, get married, etc. If Joe and Iris had been white, you can bet there would've been morons who would've yelled "incest!" despite the fact that Barry and Iris aren't genetically related in the slightest. Sure, it's a little weird that two people who grow up in the same house end up together romantically, but it's certainly not an incestuous relationship.

I can definitely understand where you're coming from. But I do think because of this risk they took to change it around, and it has paid off - has put new revenue probably in the pockets of the folks who created/own the Archie franchise, as I am sure they get a cut of the money it makes.

Oh, I agree that financially it probably made sense, but that doesn't mean it sits well with long-time fans, like Maia. For me, I didn't watch it because it looked like "Archie 90210" so there's no way I'd waste my time on that.

Not entirely true though. Imagine making an animated series, where children are the target. They'd probably love that stuff.

Maybe, but I think I'd rather not see KQ turned into something for children. We're still fighting the stigma that "gaming is for kids" and that likely wouldn't help matters.

It's ridiculously good.

Considering the original Lost in Space (from the mid-1960s) was by all accounts horrendous, even for the time, I was pleasently surprised to see how good the 2018 version of LiS was. It had its faults, of course, and I think someone who worked on set design and created the robot played a lot of Mass Effect (seriously, look at their suits and the robot!), but overall it was entertaining. I hope they make a second season.

[MusicallyInspired]

The problem I have nowadays is that they're shoving the whole diversity crusade down our throats every chance they get. In your face. On purpose. Gender-bending here, race-swapping there. All over the road. Like, it's not because the actors are any better suited or not. That's not what it's about. It's just for the sake of disrupting the norm. They're not even trying to hide it. I can't abide that. It just puts me off. It's not the same thing as the Kingpin scenario.

As for Riverdale, to me it's the same thing as the ridiculous Teen Titans live action crap.

I loved the original Lost In Space, personally. The first season, anyway, before it turned into a mostly-comedy. I was on the edge of my seat as a kid. There's even a place in the nostalgic recesses of my heart for the 90s feature film with Gary Oldman (which was arguably worse). I'm curious, did anyone happen to see the Lost in Space series reboot unaired pilot that was made in the early 2000's called The Robinsons? Also, I heard that there was supposed to be a new Lost In Space TV movie with all the remaining original cast but then the actor for Dr. Smith died and it was scrapped. It's nice to see Lost In Space living again after so many attempts to revitalize it.

How about a Flight of the Navigator reboot though? Or The Cat From Outer Space?

[Tawmis]

How about a Flight of the Navigator reboot though? Or The Cat From Outer Space?

They were going to do a remake of The Cat From Outer Space, but there was this uproar that they changed him from a grey tabby to an orange tabby. People complaining about forcing diversity down everyone's throat and changing things up for no good reason.

[Semi-Happy Partygoer]

The problem I have nowadays is that they're shoving the whole diversity crusade down our throats every chance they get. In your face. On purpose. Gender-bending here, race-swapping there. All over the road. Like, it's not because the actors are any better suited or not. That's not what it's about. It's just for the sake of disrupting the norm. They're not even trying to hide it. I can't abide that. It just puts me off. It's not the same thing as the Kingpin scenario.

That's the reason I gave up on Hannibal. Nothing more than televised fan-fiction. Utter dreck.

[Semi-Happy Partygoer]

Whenever I listen to Quest for Glory music, I stage the scenes cinematically in my head. I know an adaptation would be limited in terms of character class, but so much of those stories would make great films if done correctly (and yes, that is a big if!).