Can Video Games Make Movies Obsolete?

LOS ANGELES, May 12, 2006 — -- The exciting technology that's on display at E3 -- the biggest video game expo in the world -- tells only half the story. Without the amazing games that push the envelope and blur the line between what's real and what's game, the next video game machines are just high-tech paperweights.

Some of the games on display at this year's show are, simply put, amazing. In-game characters wear their emotions on their faces with dynamic expressions, and the clothes they wear look more and more like they are made of fabric rather than pixels.

Enemies are smarter, too, applying tactics like flanking and operating in groups to better keep players from achieving their goals.

In "Splinter Cell: Double Agent" from Ubisoft -- the next in a hugely popular game franchise, which is based on the writings of espionage author Tom Clancy -- the look and feel of the game are so real you might think you're watching a movie.

Just don't tell that to Julian Gerighty, senior producer on the new "Splinter Cell" game.

"I hope we never play a movie, I think they're two separate things," he said. "I think in terms of graphics, in terms of immersion. Games have gone so far ahead of movies, you're actually in the movie, it's so much better than being passive and watching."

"I think Hollywood is jealous of us," Gerighty said.

Considering the number of film and television stars who are doing voice acting in games and even having their likenesses appear in them, or the number of music composers who work on Hollywood blockbusters who are also lending their talent to more and more games, he may be right.

Vin Diesel, 50 Cent, Paris Hilton, Tony Hawk and so many more even have their own games already out or on the way.

"Digital interactive entertainment is the future of the entertainment," said Tony Key, vice president of marketing for Ubisoft. "Those industries are coming to us, we're not going to them."

The attitude, money, glitz and glam of what most traditionally think of as the entertainment industry -- movies, music, television, etc. -- is being replicated in the video game industry and on the floor of E3.