Gaming for Primetime – Six Video Games That Would Conquer TV

A few months back, we posted an article called “Gaming for Primetime,” which outlined six video games we thought would fare well on the small screen. The article was a great success, so now we’re back for the less-than-creatively-titled “Part 2: Six More Video Games That Would Conquer TV.” Because, let’s face it: there are way more than six games that would be viable as network fodder. And with respectable cable networks adapting comic books into Emmy fodder, video games are a logical next step.

We’ve highlighted, as the title suggests, six more video games that we think would be perfect for the small screen. As with the last article, we’re not factoring in the practicalities of the television production system: we’re only looking at the merits of the games themselves. Keeping that in mind, let’s take a look at what we were able to cook up? Think you can do better? Let us know in the comments section or head on over to our forums to comment on the discussion there.

Assassin’s Creed

What it’s about: Assassin’s Creed, as a franchise, has become almost ubiquitous in the gaming world. For the uninitiated: the plot concerns Desmond Miles, a former assassin-turned-bartender who is captured by a mysterious organization that forces him to relive the “genetic memories” of his assassin ancestors by entering a machine known as the Animus. As Desmond struggles to solve mysteries of mysterious artifacts while succeeding as an assassin in the twelfth century Middle East (and later the renaissance-era Italy), he must also spend his resting moments from the Animus struggling to discover what exactly the mysterious Abstergo Industries wants from him.

Who should play who: The lead role is obviously on that’s going to be complicated. After all, the series so far has three protagonists, all of whom have the same consciousness. For the purposes of TV continuity, it would probably be best for all three characters to be portrayed by the same actor, with mild makeup variations (they all have the same genetic lineage, after all). I nominate Jensen Ackles, who most of you know as Dean Winchester from the CW’s Supernatural, to portray the triple role of Desmond, Altair, and Ezio. Not only does he look similar, but he has both Altair’s stoicism and Ezio’s sense of humor. As for his love interest/fellow assassin Lucy, she’s voiced so well by Kristen Bell (who is also the basis for the character’s appearance), that I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing her.

Why it’s good TV: The series has an episodic enough nature that it seems perfectly fitted for a television adaptation. Story will have to be fleshed out a bit, though — watching Altair or Ezio kill person after person could turn the series into another Hitman movie. That shouldn’t be too hard for a group of competent writers to accomplish, though, and after that the series could just become one of corporate intrigue, ancient mystery, and yes, a body count.

– Sam McPherson

Mass Effect

What it’s about: In Bioware’s magnificent space opera Mass Effect, you play as Commander Shepard. Shepard is a soldier for the Human Alliance and a relative newcomer to the galactic stage (as all of humanity is). Throughout the first two games (and the third and final game, which is due out this time next year), you are tasked with combating a race of sentient machines that return from beyond the galaxy and eliminate all organic life every 50,000 years or so. Along the way, you recruit a team of fellow soldiers and mercenaries of varying species and face nearly insurmountable odds against humans and aliens alike.

Who should play who: Since the Mass Effect series is all about choice, I’m not all that sure that making the show about Shepard would be all that wise. A movie was recently announced and players everywhere took to the internet to air their grievances, presumably because they might feel that the film may “invalidate” their version of Commander Shepard. Luckily, Mass Effect is a Bioware series and Bioware is a studio known for creating vast universes for their games to exist in. My ideal Mass Effect series would take place before the games, during the First Contact War between the humans and the Turians.

Michael Ealy (Derrick from The Good Wife) would play a great Lt. David Anderson (who is played by Keith David in the games), on whom the series would focus. Renowned human space explorer Jon Grissom would be played by John Terry (Christian Shephard from Lost). With the advances in CGI, the Turians could easily be animated. Turian soldier (and future Mass Effect villain) would be played by Fred Tatasciore, who played him in the first game.

Why it’s good for TV: Fans of sci-fi series like Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek or Firefly would love the action and the vast, detailed universe. The First Contact War only lasted three months but the series could expand the time before the war, when the humans discovered the galaxy-spanning Mass Relays, to after the war, when humanity is granted an embassy on the Citadel, the galactic political hub. The series would be a perfect fit on the Sci-Fi (er, “Syfy.” Ugh.) channel, just as long as the show has better production values than Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus.

– Ian McDonald

Dragon Age

What it’s about: Like Mass Effect, the developers at Bioware created another vast universe for Dragon Age. For this series, the games take place in a country called Ferelden, which exists in the Tolkien-esque world of Thedas. The citizens of Ferelden are under the constant threat of the Darkspawn, a demonic race of monsters under the control of a vicious dragon called the Archdemon. You take control of a new human, elf or dwarf recruit in the Grey Wardens, an elite group of soldiers who are given the power to defeat the Darkspawn.

Who would play who: The series would ideally focus on Duncan, the Obi-Wan Kenobi of the Grey Wardens, years before the game begins. Duncan would be played by Henry Cavill (Charles from The Tudors). Cavill has already proven he has great acting chops and demonstrated the ability to grow a fantastic beard.

Why it’s good for TV: Cable networks with higher production values like HBO or Showtime (or even AMC who seem to enjoy taking risks and not mind a little gore) would suit a series like Dragon Age pretty well. In fact, HBO is readying to debut a Game of Thrones series, based on the fantasy novel by George R.R. Martin. I think viewers are ready for a great fantasy series, complete with lots of over the top gore that the game is known for.

– Ian McDonald

Borderlands

What it’s about: It didn’t take very long for this 2009 title, which was released for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC, to become one of my favorite games. The cell-shaded graphics are enough to fall in love with, but what’s really catchy about this game is its off-beat humor. It takes place on a planet called Pandora. No, that’s not the lush green Pandora from James Cameron’s Avatar, but instead a dusty, dirty, dystopian wasteland that feels like an out-of-use trailer park. Inhabitants are scarce, dangerously nasty wildlife abounds, and everything is in a state of dreadful disrepair.

The most fun, though, comes from the markedly southern twang that the game has. NPCs sit on their front porches, speak in a deep southern accent, and, like I said, the world looks like one of the broken down trailer parks that you stumble upon every once in awhile down South. The four playable characters, who have come to Pandora in search of a legendary “Vault,” stick out like sore thumbs in their environment. They meet many unsavory characters in their travels in search of the vaults, including some pretty nasty gangs composed of stark-raving mad “psychos” (who are also available in the “midget” and “badass” variety). The entire game seems to play like a perfect season one of a TV show, and with the game’s creative director calling the idea of a sequel”a no-brainer,” a show would have plenty of material to built upon.

Who should play who: The game is full of absolutely rich characters, but the four protagonists are mostly blank slates for players to project themselves upon. Basted on looks alone, I would say that Leonard Roberts (D.L. from Heroes) would be perfect in the role of Roland, the game’s “soldier” character (above, left). The very sexy Lillith would be very well-portrayed by Emily Browning, who shows the same bad-assery in trailers for next year’s film Sucker Punch. The skinny hunter Mordecai may be too similar to Human Target’s Guererro, but Jackie Earle Haley would do a damn fine job as the character, while the bulky Brick could be portrayed by anyone from LOST’s Kevin Durand to The Cape’s Vinnie Jones.

Why it’s good TV: Well, there’s the fact that the game has an absolutely unique setting in it’s southernesque offworld location, which means there can be a healthy clash of Mad Max and Battlestar Galactica amidst all the gunfire. There’s the fact that the game tells a start-to-finish story, which leaves enough room for a TV series to flesh it out in its own way. It has an unforgettable supporting cast, enough zany strangeness for a million Tarantino movies, and lots and lots of explosions. What’s not to like?

– Sam McPherson

Red Dead Redemption

What It’s About: Red Dead Redemption takes place in the turn of the century American Wild West centering on the exploits of John Marston, a former outlaw conscripted into the service of the American Government to hunt down his former gang. What’s motivating Marston to work on the side of law and order? They have his wife and son hostage. That’s what. One of the more interesting aspects of Red Dead’s plot is, in fact, the ‘Redemption’ part as Marston edges his way towards a more respectable view of justice in the wild west. Well, sort of. There is plenty of ‘true grit’ to keep Red Dead from lapsing into some ‘transformative’ tale; Marston aint no comic book super here, no sir.

Taking on the ‘open world’ model, Red Dead Redemption allows players to spend time away from the primary plot coil and enjoy hundreds of hours of game play pursuing the various missions scattered across the Red Dead Redemption map. With the various DLC (Down-Loadable Content) packs available for Red Dead, players can spend even more time exploring new locales, and even battling the undead.

Who Should Play Who: Former Felicity hunk Scott Speedman has all the right angles in his profile to make a great cowboy, and the acting chops to make a believable Bounty Hunter with a heart of gold and a fist full of lead.

Why It’s Good TV: The overarching element of Marston’s family hanging in the balance of his actions makes for a good story garden, and the rounding up of his former gang members could easily turn Red Dead Redemption the series into a multi-season arc. Sticking with the game’s ‘open world’ trappings, Read Dead the series could pace out the season long ‘hunt’ with various episodic adventures that serve the overall theme of John Marston discovering his moral center.

– Jon Lachonis

Battlefield: Bad Company

What It’s About: War, baby – only no war you’ve ever heard of. Taking a cue from the alternate landscapes of Japanese mech games, Battlefield: Bad Company brings gritty Call of Duty-esque combat scenarios to countries you’ve never heard of – because they don’t exist. In the game, the United States is at war with the Russian Federation. The ‘Bad Company’ is a not-so-elite special ops unit assigned to covert operations by the virtue of their skills, and their status as rebel rousers and non-conformists. The gang is trying to earn back their standing, and their freedom – along the way being tempted by scattered treasure and the allure of a set-for-life boon. Along the way to earning their legit honorable discharge, the gang gets the idea that they might appropriate a treasure and devise their own discharge under the radar.

The ‘Bad Company’ of the title is comprised of of four colorful military misfits: Private Preston Marlowe, the affable everyman and main protagonist; Private Terrence Sweetwater, the brains; Private George Gordon Haggard, pyromaniac and explosives expert; and Sergeant Samuel D. Redford, the tough as nails leader of the company.

Who Should Play Who: Newly unemployed Stargate: Universe star Brian J. Smith would make a great Preston Marlowe. Dominic Monaghan could be a terrific Sweetwater, while Zachary Knighton as Haggard and Lennie James as Redford would cap a perfect cast.

Why It’s Good TV: Military drama does well in general, the prospect of an entirely invented saga seems ripe for the times. Historical accuracy while making many of these attempts all that much more admirable also demands sort of a somber mood. Bad Company could essentially be an A-Team for war nuts with bigger explosions, and bigger stakes. Plus, given that most of the enemies are completely fictitious, Bad Company could portray the enemy in any way they want without worrying about offending anyone.