In gaming, YOU are the star. Aren't you?
When celebrities affix their names to games, the result is rarely a hit. RYAN PEARSON finds out why.
Masi Oka is on hiatus from "World of Warcraft." His reason? A little show called "Heroes." (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Time to pimp his video game. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Video games are not about stars.
When we play quality games, we are the star. We don't need to be wowed by chart-topping singers or studly actors. But game companies insist, with superhuman persistence, on thrusting titles upon us featuring Superman, 50 Cent or SpongeBob.
For most seasoned gamers, the touch of a movie or music star on a new game is like a kiss of death. It's a sign that producers invested more in a big name -- or a big licensing deal -- than in developing actual entertaining gameplay.
This is why non-celebrity-focused games like "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess," "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" and "Gears of War" rack up the most raves and respect.
"Oblivion" beat all other games with five awards and "Gears" took four at last Friday's Spike TV Video Game Awards, the industry's most high-profile honors show. (It airs Wednesday at 10 p.m. EST.)
A celeb, TV or movie tie-in certainly doesn't automatically lead to big sales. For the key holiday buying month of November, just five of the 20 top-selling games across all consoles had such a link, according to the NPD Group, which tracks the game industry.
I've been playing the Wii for several weeks now, and by far the weakest, most unimaginative games on Nintendo's next-gen console are those where I can pop out the game, then see more of the same characters at the theater or on TV. (Yes, Spongebob, I'm talking to you. Also you, Mumbles the tap-dancing penguin from "Happy Feet.")
So it's odd that famous people are front-and-center at the Video Game Awards, where innovative game producers went slinking down the red carpet unnoticed as everyone from Xzibit to MySpace vixen Tila Tequila -- neither of whom seemed much interested in their own games -- hogged camera time.
Ms. Tequila appears in "Street Racing Syndicate." You can win her as a prize, at which point she rides with you and tells you that "You suck." Asked if she gives any productive tips to the player, she responded, "Not really. I just distract."
Xzibit, so charismatic as host of the "Pimp My Ride" TV show, appears in its just-released game iteration. He explains it thusly: "Basically it's a racing game, driving game, whatever. You get to do something to the cars. I had to be involved because I didn't want them to portray me in a light I don't want to be portrayed in." He appeared not to have played the game.
Not all fame-touched folks are so blase about games, though. Daniel Dae Kim of "Lost" plays "Guitar Hero" and now "Guitar Hero 2" constantly with his kids, aged 10 and 4.
"That's my absolute favorite. I got it the first week it came out. I'm a big fan," he said. "One of us will play bass, the other will play lead. It works out. Our favorite is 'Sweet Child of Mine.'"
And Masi Oka, Hiro on "Heroes," cops to being a "World of Warcraft" junkie before his acting gig took off in June. With a sheepish grin, he says he had three Level-60 characters and played four hours a day -- eventually leading his own guild, where he found out several members had been in jail.
He recounts one member telling him: "Oh, I sell drugs, by the way. Do you want any heroin? If you're ever in Vegas, and you need some heroin, give me a call."
Oka's response: "I'm like, 'Wow. I'm sorry, I don't do drugs. I play games, but I don't do drugs.'"
Backstage, Oka chatted with "Superman" actor Brandon Routh, an admitted "WoW" junkie who introduced the game's new "Burning Crusade" promo at the show. Overheard during their conversation: Oka tossing out the idea of a "celebrity guild."
The nice thing about that, though, is "WoW's" level playing field. So all you rogues, mages and shamans out there: Go pwn a star.
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asap staff reporter Ryan Pearson's Wii number is 6133 6910 2667 7698.
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