Midway's Next-Gen Stranglehold
They've got Chow Yun-Fat, and they aren't giving him up.
Published: May 18, 2005
Action movies and video games will likely be the first and last point of convergence between the two mediums. Sure, we'll see more epic attempts (and probably a couple of successes) at blending more heady, deep genres together in some kind of unholy film/game hybrid that will make the licensed games of yesteryear look like pop-up books, but action games are where it's at.
After all, action movies are usually thin on plot, have a basic storyline that makes the transition to the interactive medium relatively easy, and if Sony and their behemoth of a next-gen system have anything to do with things, the sharing of real assets between, say, a special effects studio and the 60-man development team on the next big blockbuster game tie in will mean the visuals are far more in line with what you're likely to see these days.
Hollywood has already started to see the potential here, and a couple of big-name acts have begun forging partnerships that help bridge the gap between silver and small screens with big-name talent to bolster new properties. It just so happens that Midway is on the receiving end of another Hollywood/Videogame partnership starring a big name like John Woo.
The master of Hong Kong slo-mo gunfights has teamed up with long-time leading man Chow Yun-Fat in the kind of megadeal that will get HK action film buffs positively moist with anticipation. Reprising the role he made famous in Woo's Hard Boiled, Chow Yun-Fat will grab a pair of pistols and lend his face and performance to the role of Inspector Tequila for the upcoming Stranglehold. Expect a lot of slo-mo doves and guns with clips that never seem to run out.
The best part is that Midway's Psi-Ops is working on the project, a good sign if their first game is any indication of the potential the development team has.
"The video game industry continues to push the envelope, bridging the worlds of games and movies to produce revolutionary entertainment for consumers," gushed Steve Allison, Midway's chief marketing officer. "To have John Woo creatively involved in Stranglehold and Chow Yun-Fat reprising his role as Inspector Tequila is truly a dream come true for fans of Hong Kong action movies. This game is the first pure example of the convergence of entertainment. Stranglehold is an example of what is possible in the next generation of video games as a viable approach to building a new IP as a gaming franchise that speaks to a fan base through its star and director, in the same way a film does."
"Creating, developing and producing original content for various facets of the entertainment industry is the mantra of Tiger Hill Entertainment and Stranglehold is one of our most ambitious projects yet," added John Woo, co-CEO and co-founder of Tiger Hill Entertainment. "We are excited to work with Midway to create an interactive entertainment experience that filmgoers and gamers alike will appreciate and enjoy."
"After so many years of working with John Woo as a movie director, I'm thrilled to venture into the world of video games with Woo and Midway at the creative helm," beamed Chow Yun-Fat before chomping down on a toothpick or slo-mo diving out from behind an overturned table (or so we imagine in our heads). "Being able to bring [movie]-like action where people can watch and enjoy, to the world of video games where they can experience the adrenaline-filled action first hand is a great experience to be a part of."
We're keeping our fingers crossed that the partnership turns out less like Jet Li's involvement with Sony's Foster City studio in Rise to Honor, and more like the partnership between Vin Diesel and developer Starbreeze Studios for Chronicles of Riddick. We'll let you know when we learn more.
After all, action movies are usually thin on plot, have a basic storyline that makes the transition to the interactive medium relatively easy, and if Sony and their behemoth of a next-gen system have anything to do with things, the sharing of real assets between, say, a special effects studio and the 60-man development team on the next big blockbuster game tie in will mean the visuals are far more in line with what you're likely to see these days.
Hollywood has already started to see the potential here, and a couple of big-name acts have begun forging partnerships that help bridge the gap between silver and small screens with big-name talent to bolster new properties. It just so happens that Midway is on the receiving end of another Hollywood/Videogame partnership starring a big name like John Woo.
The master of Hong Kong slo-mo gunfights has teamed up with long-time leading man Chow Yun-Fat in the kind of megadeal that will get HK action film buffs positively moist with anticipation. Reprising the role he made famous in Woo's Hard Boiled, Chow Yun-Fat will grab a pair of pistols and lend his face and performance to the role of Inspector Tequila for the upcoming Stranglehold. Expect a lot of slo-mo doves and guns with clips that never seem to run out.
The best part is that Midway's Psi-Ops is working on the project, a good sign if their first game is any indication of the potential the development team has.
"The video game industry continues to push the envelope, bridging the worlds of games and movies to produce revolutionary entertainment for consumers," gushed Steve Allison, Midway's chief marketing officer. "To have John Woo creatively involved in Stranglehold and Chow Yun-Fat reprising his role as Inspector Tequila is truly a dream come true for fans of Hong Kong action movies. This game is the first pure example of the convergence of entertainment. Stranglehold is an example of what is possible in the next generation of video games as a viable approach to building a new IP as a gaming franchise that speaks to a fan base through its star and director, in the same way a film does."
"Creating, developing and producing original content for various facets of the entertainment industry is the mantra of Tiger Hill Entertainment and Stranglehold is one of our most ambitious projects yet," added John Woo, co-CEO and co-founder of Tiger Hill Entertainment. "We are excited to work with Midway to create an interactive entertainment experience that filmgoers and gamers alike will appreciate and enjoy."
"After so many years of working with John Woo as a movie director, I'm thrilled to venture into the world of video games with Woo and Midway at the creative helm," beamed Chow Yun-Fat before chomping down on a toothpick or slo-mo diving out from behind an overturned table (or so we imagine in our heads). "Being able to bring [movie]-like action where people can watch and enjoy, to the world of video games where they can experience the adrenaline-filled action first hand is a great experience to be a part of."
We're keeping our fingers crossed that the partnership turns out less like Jet Li's involvement with Sony's Foster City studio in Rise to Honor, and more like the partnership between Vin Diesel and developer Starbreeze Studios for Chronicles of Riddick. We'll let you know when we learn more.
