Rollercoaster Tycoon taking on big screen
By
Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor
Sony Pictures Animation picks up the rights to make a live-action film with CG elements based on Atari's PC theme park simulation series.
To date, game-based films have inconsistent track records when it comes to critical and commercial success, but that could change with the wealth of gaming licenses optioned for the big screen lately. The Hollywood Reporter has said the latest game to get picked up for a feature film is Atari's PC line of theme park simulators, Rollercoaster Tycoon.
According to the trade paper, Sony Pictures Animation has secured the rights to turn the franchise into a film and is currently developing it as a hybrid of live-action and computer-generated imagery. Harald Zwart has been named as the executive producer of the project, though it's possible he would direct it as well. The filmmaker has previously directed movies like Agent Cody Banks, The Pink Panther II, and the upcoming Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith remake of The Karate Kid. His credits as producer are slightly slimmer, most notably featuring last year's Nazi zombie horror film Dead Snow.
Since their debut in 1999, the Rollercoaster Tycoon games have challenged players to balance the various tasks of creating and running a theme park, from designing particularly thrilling rides to hiring employees and planning pedestrian paths to ensure guests can get where they want to go. Although it has spawned a number of expansion packs and compilations, the last full installment in the Rollercoaster Tycoon series was 2004's Rollercoaster Tycoon 3.
Rollercoaster Tycoon is not the only Atari-related movie in the works. Last year, news broke that Universal Pictures had won a bidding war to make a movie out of Atari's 1980 arcade hit Asteroids. And in 2008,Leonardo DiCaprio signed on to play Nolan Bushnell in a biopic about the company founder.
By
Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor
Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.
193 comments
well, look at the bright side! It's proof that Microsoft don't waste there money on crap. like halo the movie coming out in 2011 or 2012.
What a stupid movie idea. Fun game, yes. But a movie about building a theme park and cleaing up barf? I'll pass.
It will probably be one of those intro things to show off 3D, maybe this one wont be a load of **** like the others...
I still dont belive that this will be made, is the most ilogical thing I heard from long time. What will be next a Sim City 2000 movie? But a Roller Coaster Tycon 4 would be great, cancel the movie and do the game!
hollywood is sinking down with this horrible lack of creativity. I love the game and was personally hoping on announcements of a new game, but we get crap on how they some how will make a movie out of this!?!?!?! oh and let me guess it will be in 3d.
not sure if this would be good to watch. unless they have coaster cams aimed at the girls sweet spots
lol Voodz! how about Donald Trump's Real Estate Tycoon, starring Danny Devito as Donald Trump, and we go 50/50 on the rights?:P
i actually had a dream about this last night (the game, not to movie). i think im going to reinstall in on my computer. i LOVED it when i was younger. i spent so much time perfect parks.
I just don't see how it would work. Is it actually gonna be a movie about a amusement park owner and how he improves the park? or are they gonna add in a separate storyline about crap like betrayal and competing against a rival amusement park? They can't even do video game to movie adaptations about games that have solid storylines so they go and try to do one with a game that has no real storyline...... Well.... at least Uwe isn't directing.
One thing they did right was not hire Uwe Boll for it. (knock on wood) I can see them blaming the lack of sales on Piracy regardless.
The only place I would consider using this license would be to make a live action/CG advert for Alton Towers or Thorpe Park. Not exactly the grounds for the next Charlie and Theme Park.
This is why we get stupid video game movies, there's a horrible logical problem. Studio exec thinks: Video game = success, therefore film = success. They use no further thought beyond that.
Who could possibly enjoy this? Like roller coaster junkies? I think they rather go on the ride than watch an animation about either riding them or building them..this is such a horrible idea and then later Sony will complain their porfits are low for the year and you wonder why...
F the big screen, give us a new game. Can you say another Play, Create, Share title for the PS3?
i hope they didnt have to PAY that much for the "rights" for the movie because seriously a movie can have this theme already without paying for the rights from the game. Its really a stupid idea "omg a movie based on roller coaster tycoon is coming out i GOT to see it!!!!!!" lol. Sure. Fail.
Ummm... I love the Rollercoaster series and think it is a great game, but a movie? Have video game movies ever really made up the money that they cost on release? And a movie about THIS? I'd rather watch a movie based on "Lemmings"
If that fails they can always make a Yar's Revenge movie... ...and for the kiddies out there, No, that game is not about pirates.
Sony Pictures Animation if your reading ; Donald Trump's Real Estate Tycoon World Darts Cycling Manager or Pet Vet 3D: Animal Hospital All starring Chevy Chase or Bob Hoskins. Email me for production rights and a deal
I don't get it? I love RollerCoaster Tycoon but how can it be made into a movie? It would be interesting to see how it turns out I guess...
Games to Film barly work as it is, RCT to film? Were they on acid when they came up with the film? infact they cant have been, good films come from acid!!:P
why waist the time and money to make this if you want to make a good game movie have a fall out movie that at least has a good back story and plot.
Well it's about freaking time. This movie is going to be one helluva ride. I'm expecting alot of plot twists and maybe some loopholes.
LOL And what exactly would this film be about? Roller coasters? Shesh, this makes The Sims movie idea seem like gold
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Related Game
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3
- Publisher(s): Atari
- Developer(s): Frontier Developments
- Genre: Strategy
- Release:
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