50 Cent Making Saint's Row Film

[DoctorFinger]

Some days, the job of writing gaming news for my adoring public can be a bit of a chore. Then there are stories like this one (http://kotaku.com/5159640/50-cent-optioning-saints-row-rights-for-possible-movie), which make me smile while at the same time force me to question my sanity. 50 Cent, rapper extraordinaire, has revealed that he has optioned the rights to Saint's Row from THQ, and is in the process of developing the screenplay.

In the context of being asked about whether his own video games will ever make it to the big screen, he had this to say:
With my relationship with THQ, they'll actually see me develop Saint's Row into an actual screeplay [sic] and into a film project. I'm optioning the rights for that right now, so they'll see that before they see me do it from my own perspective for my game.For now, he only says he's producing it. But I think we can all envision Mr. Cent playing key role in the film. I wonder if Keith David is available for the film...?

Source - Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/5159640/50-cent-optioning-saints-row-rights-for-possible-movie).

[violent]

Nice things. We can't have them.

[Xerxes]

Why doesn't he just make a movie based off his games. O_o

His answer doesn't really tell me why he must drag another franchise through his mud.

[tombofsoldier]

Oh... my head

[Sandman]

I haven't laughed this hard since I heard Fred Durst was directing a movie.

[Nura]

I don't really care for 50 cent, but he seems like he's a genuine gamer, who just happends to have the cash / connections to get his own game made. Which i would do too if i had the chance. I'd be doing all sort of crazy shit too with games if i was given the chance :P

[Telefrog]

Holy shit, that's hilarious. If I were making a Saint's Row movie, I would totally cast 50 Cent as the star.

[violent]

Holy shit, that's hilarious. If I were making a Saint's Row movie, I would totally cast 50 Cent as the star.

If I were making a movie, I'd cast 50 and have him killed off in the first 5 minutes.

[muddi900]

Why are you guys acting like its a holy grail of video game franchises? It's a San Andreas clone with half-assed side-missions and it's mission pack.

[violent]

Why are you guys acting like its a holy grail of video game franchises? It's a San Andreas clone with half-assed side-missions and it's mission pack.

Saint's Row already did a good job of making fun of itself. There is no need to make this a movie and something tells me the humor might be lost in 50's rendition of the story.

[Drayven]

Why doesn't he just make a movie based off his games. O_o

He wants the movie to be based on content more than 10 people are familiar with?

[bean]

Why doesn't he just make a movie based off his games. O_o
His games star him in fictional adventures. If put on the big screen, he'd need to change his video game character (a fictional version of himself) into a different fictional character or people might mistake it as biographical.

Also, his games have been shit. He would probably lose money on a movie based off them.

[ThievesAmongUs]

His games star him in fictional adventures. If put on the big screen, he'd need to change his video game character (a fictional version of himself) into a different fictional character or people might mistake it as biographical.

Also, his games have been shit. He would probably lose money on a movie based off them.
Fuck, Uwe Boll has been pulling shit like that for years, hasn't stopped him from making more shit [movies]. (Although, that's partly due to some German tax loophole, I think.

[Xerxes]

His games star him in fictional adventures. If put on the big screen, he'd need to change his video game character (a fictional version of himself) into a different fictional character or people might mistake it as biographical.

Also, his games have been shit. He would probably lose money on a movie based off them.

I wouldn't count this second game out. While it's stupid in premise reviewers seem to be having fun with it. Reading their words and not the scores that is. Seems like they give middling scores because they don't want to be the weird kid.

[TrackZero]

Why doesn't he just make a movie based off his games. O_o

His answer doesn't really tell me why he must drag another franchise through his mud.

Saints Row is a franchise? I thought it was just a GTA sand-box ripoff at this point. I mean, is there a story in it we care about? Could someone else not just make a game called Row Saints and do the exact same type of gameplay with no one noticing? That's the impression I've got.

[Xerxes]

Saints Row is a franchise? I thought it was just a GTA sand-box ripoff at this point. I mean, is there a story in it we care about? Could someone else not just make a game called Row Saints and do the exact same type of gameplay with no one noticing? That's the impression I've got.

And the people who like it more would probably tell you wrong wrong wrong. I haven't played it but I've seen enough people sing it's praise over GTA. Hell, let's call any sand box game a GTA clone.

[Sandman]

The only thing worth remembering about Saint's Row 1 was the multiplayer lobby. That game had the best multiplayer lobby ever and no game has topped it since. I haven't played SRII.

[Johan]

The guy can turn water into money...I'll bet he can turn celluloid into shit, too! :D

[bean]

Saints Row is a franchise? I thought it was just a GTA sand-box ripoff at this point. I mean, is there a story in it we care about? Could someone else not just make a game called Row Saints and do the exact same type of gameplay with no one noticing? That's the impression I've got.
Have you not played them? They are extremely good games in their own right with distinct differences from GTA 4 that make them fun in different ways. For instance, the two biggest differences are probably the highly varied and fun activities and the ability to play the game cooperatively.

GTA 4 is a lot like Saint's Row 1, but Saint's Row came out over a year before GTA 4 with many improvements over the last-gen versions of GTA including better aiming, hand-to-hand fighting, physics, PDA directions instead of just a blip at the edge of the map, the ability to have another character drive for you (important as it opens up new gameplay modes), and the cellphone used as an innovative GUI (though GTA 4 took this further and better than Saint's Row).

It started out as GTA 4's less fun little brother that you only play with while the elder friend is away at camp, but it grew into a game with it's own set of attractions that make it a different, but worthwhile, experience.

[Jason]

Isn't this one of the signs of the apocalypse?

[Khrymsyn]

Saints Row is a franchise? I thought it was just a GTA sand-box ripoff at this point. I mean, is there a story in it we care about? Could someone else not just make a game called Row Saints and do the exact same type of gameplay with no one noticing? That's the impression I've got.

I actually liked the story...

=P

[ThievesAmongUs]

Isn't this one of the signs of the apocalypse?

Nope, that would be Uwe Boll making two decent movies.

[Wilkz07]

As long as Terrance Howard isn't in it I'll go see it.

[ElektroDragon]

SPARE ME..... please..... I'd like to pull a "This is Sparta!" on 50 Cent. As in, kick him down a bottomless well.

[Xerxes]

SPARE ME..... please..... I'd like to pull a "This is Sparta!" on 50 Cent. As in, kick him down a bottomless well.
lol... I don't like 50 much, but I'd rather kick those Mall Bitches on mtv down a well first. ^_^

[Sandman]

SPARE ME..... please..... I'd like to pull a "This is Sparta!" on 50 Cent. As in, kick him down a bottomless well.

Stop kicking people into the pit of death....really.

[TrackZero]

And the people who like it more would probably tell you wrong wrong wrong. I haven't played it but I've seen enough people sing it's praise over GTA. Hell, let's call any sand box game a GTA clone.

I'm aware of a lot of the modes and other stuff they've added to it. But as far as character and story, it's always looked about as empty as the original GTA III to me. I guess it's the same reaction I'd have if Serious Sam was called a franchise. It just doesn't feel like an IP per se, more than an engine with stuff to do in it.

Edit: I mean, Mass Effect, Half-Life 2. Those are what I think when I hear Intellectual Property. Some games are totally great games, but they don't come across as a creative license so to speak.

[Maskatron]

As much as I love both SR games (a lot, really), the stories were pretty bare and silly. Anything Fiddy shits out will likely be an improvement.

[Xerxes]

I'm aware of a lot of the modes and other stuff they've added to it. But as far as character and story, it's always looked about as empty as the original GTA III to me. I guess it's the same reaction I'd have if Serious Sam was called a franchise. It just doesn't feel like an IP per se, more than an engine with stuff to do in it.

Edit: I mean, Mass Effect, Half-Life 2. Those are what I think when I hear Intellectual Property. Some games are totally great games, but they don't come across as a creative license so to speak.

<shrug>
Expand your mind.

[Disgustipated]

I'll take you to the candy shop, I'll let you lick da lollipop...

[Sandman]

<shrug>
Expand your mind.

50 Cent shrinks your mind.

</shrug>

[Xerxes]

50 Cent shrinks your mind.

</shrug>

He's talking about Saints Row.

[Widgetcraft]

Saints Row is a franchise? I thought it was just a GTA sand-box ripoff at this point. I mean, is there a story in it we care about? Could someone else not just make a game called Row Saints and do the exact same type of gameplay with no one noticing? That's the impression I've got.

It has two games, thus it is a franchise. I don't know why you'd think that story has anything to do with it. Also, from what I've heard, Saints Row 2 sounds a hell of a lot better than GTA IV.

[Johan]

Saints Row 2 sounds a hell of a lot better than GTA IV.

That's what I've heard/read myself...

[TrackZero]

<shrug>
Expand your mind.

No expanding needed. Like I said, I've heard nothing but great things about the SR series. But as an "IP" being turned into a movie, there's not much they need to stick to. Little more than they had to for Postal.

[TrackZero]

It has two games, thus it is a franchise. I don't know why you'd think that story has anything to do with it. Also, from what I've heard, Saints Row 2 sounds a hell of a lot better than GTA IV.

I think you're mixing up it as a property versus it as a game.

[bean]

No expanding needed. Like I said, I've heard nothing but great things about the SR series. But as an "IP" being turned into a movie, there's not much they need to stick to. Little more than they had to for Postal.
There is a fairly well developed story in both games. You just don't know what you are talking about (as you've admitted).

The gameplay far outstrips the story in both games, but that is a tribute to the gameplay rather than an insult to the story. The plot is very much like one you would find in a GTA game so there aren't any surprises, but (also like GTA) the dialogue is cleverly written. It feels like a game where the overall story was written by game designers who have never studied writing and then the dialogue was written by a professional.

The point is that the story in both games isn't bad at all. In fact, it is above average.

[TrackZero]

There is a fairly well developed story in both games. You just don't know what you are talking about (as you've admitted).

Really? There's a movie worthy storyline to be found in Saints Row? Honestly?

The gameplay far outstrips the story in both games, but that is a tribute to the gameplay rather than an insult to the story. The plot is very much like one you would find in a GTA game so there aren't any surprises, but (also like GTA) the dialogue is cleverly written. It feels like a game where the overall story was written by game designers who have never studied writing and then the dialogue was written by a professional.

The point is that the story in both games isn't bad at all. In fact, it is above average.

If you say so chief.

[bean]

Really? There's a movie worthy storyline to be found in Saints Row? Honestly?
This wasn't the assertion I took issue with and you know that. Maybe you are that dumb (though I think you are merely playing dumb), but I think it is far more probable that you know that the subject I disagree with you about is your assertion that the Saint's Row franchise barely has a storyline.

Playing dumb and acting dismissive isn't classy. If you are so sure of your opinions then simply ignore other people's opposing views instead of replying with contempt.

[DoctorFinger]

I'm playing Saints Row 2 now, and while the story is pretty generic, the presentation is a blast. It's a lot goofier than GTA, and doesn't take itself so seriously. But that humor likely wouldn't translate to a film, and it definitely wouldn't to a 50 Cent film.

[Xerxes]

Track have you played either game?