For something a little more light hearted amidst the global turmoil why not try watching – or more appropriately, playing – The Complex, an interactive film which was released globally this month.
The Complex is “the very first live-action interactive sci-fi film”, tells the story of the aftermath of a bio-weapon attack in London. The choose-your-own-adventure style film focuses on Dr. Amy Tenant, a nano-scientist who, along with a fellow scientist, has been locked in a lab that contains a perilous secret.
Not only was it produced by my super talented sister, Jade Alexander, but it’s also now the highest selling interactive film of all time for week-1 sales. Pretty awesome!
What’s an interactive film? Well, essentially a game that tracks your decisions which influences the outcome as you progress through the story. It’s been tried over the years but I now think is coming of age with the advent of ubiquitous gaming platforms, broadband internet and TVs which are all essentially mini-Android PCs that just run apps anyway.
I’m big fan of media-tech and the crossover of media and startups in general (in another life I studied cinematography rather than doing Computer Science) so the release of this film is a combination of a few trends I’m seeing and especially true for ‘game-movies’:
- Global distribution over tech/game platforms means don’t need cinema’s to launch (pandemic proof, immediate revenue, bigger cut for film makers too with game distribution, less geo-restrictions)
- Using influencers and live-streaming to promo the films, not just film critics – The Complex has had a few big Twitch live streams to promo it (gamers/influencers play a bigger role in promotion)
- Linear-film as a minor part, not a major role in the film i.e. this is more of a game that happens to use film as opposed to a film that happens to have a game
- Gaming platforms, like Steam, becoming far more mainstream – from casual games to other forms of interactive media
From a returns perspective games can make far more money than traditional film. While this doesn’t necessarily apply to blockbusters to the same degree it does make a huge difference for independent films, like The Complex.
Will we see more independent films being being made as interactive films in the coming decade? Will films and games merge far more closely? Will there be dedicated film-game platforms?! I’m not sure but theres lots exciting questions to be asked with this emerging medium.
