Board Games Re-imagined into Video Games
By, M. Hauschel
The recent release of Battleship, the Hollywood interpretation of the childhood game, stirs up the nostalgia of other childhood board game classics. If Battleship can be turned into a blockbuster film, what if other board games were turned into blockbuster video games? And not just an electronic version of game, but a reimagining of what the game is, just how extraterrestrial beings are now part a of Battleship. What could possibly go wrong?
The classic childhood board game, Candyland, filled with gumdrops and rainbows would make an excellent transition into the world of video games. Keep the world as the same, but make into a world that can be explored by “The Kids”. Instead of the Candy Land characters helping The Kids along the way to King Kandy’s Candy Castle, the Candy Landians are merely obstacles. The Kids are equipped with Candy Cane Shotguns, leaving behind a trail of wreckage through Candy Land. Once at Candy Castle, The Kids take out King Kandy is order to free themselves and the world from cavities. Naturally, the game will have a sponsorship from the American Dental Association to help promote healthy teeth. As the board game is already in the works of becoming a movie, creation of this game needs to happen quickly.
Maniacal tycoon in the early 20th century, the William Randolph Hearst type, taking over metropolis to fulfill a desire unknown to most. Rather than viewing properties as static cards, you would view the properties with the people occupying them as well. Each property you rent out could charge outrageous prices; as a player you can view the look on a single mother’s face when she realizes that month she doesn’t have the $1200 to make rent. Following the objective of the game, you of course have to hire security to escort delinquent renters from the property. Being a tycoon obsessed with appearance, you have to find means of making your buildings look attractive while also disposing the homeless problem you yourself have caused. As a maniacal tycoon, you of course have to quietly put these people somewhere. Some may call you heartless, evil, selfish, but in the end you’re just playing the game of Monopoly.
Already an excellent movie, and mediocre board game, Jumanji could become a fantastic video game to bind the film and board game correctly. The problem with the board game is that we all saw the movie, and expected the board game to be just as exciting as the movie (But it clearly wasn’t.). But a video game could capture the adventure of the movie and put it on the small screen. I know what you’re thinking, you’re saying, “Hey! They already made it into a videogame, and it sucked!” Yes, that’s true, but there’s so much potential in a Jumanji game, if done correctly. First off, Robin Williams has to be in the game, there’s no way around it. No Robin Williams, no deal. Not having him involved will doom any chance of the game being successful. Secondly, it has to be set in the ‘90s, landlines, dial-up modems, terrible haircuts, and dorky catchphrases. Just like in the movie, the game can infiltrate reality, having wildlife wreck havoc on suburbia. Sure, the older and younger generation will think this is a terrible idea, but they’re just not a true believer of the dream of the ‘90s.
If used correctly, nostalgia is a powerful tool that could create amazing video games based on the memories of our childhood. By our childhood, I mean my childhood. Sure, these ideas are amazing, but they’re just that, ideas. In no way would any of these games be made in this fashion. But if they were, it would be so rad. I’d surround myself with Lisa Frank, Spice Girls, and Pokémon, and relive my childhood to no end.