The Movies- Lionshead Sim Game

Advantages: Original and Deep Involving Gameplay
Disadvantages: Frustrating at Times

Released by Lionhead Studios, the same company who brought us the weird but wonderful Black and White series, brings us a new style of simulation game that will appeal to many of the genres fans. The Movies received critical acclaim from reviewers and gamers alike and to be honest brought us a stimulating game that was ultimately inevitable. Ever since the early classics such as Theme Hospital and Theme Park were released well back in roughly 1995 ...
...of Tycoon style games where the player assumes the role of building and running a certain faction whether it be a hospital, theme park, zoo or shopping centre. And so in 2005, The Movies, was released. Graphically, many players will see a resemblance to The Sims with characters all looking reasonably realistic with detailed faces and body parts. The game has its own time line moving up through the era's starting from the 1920's which means a whole ... Read review

Advantages: Amazing movie making package.
Disadvantages: Game itself is less fun.

Introduction = The Movies is a computer game for the PC made by Lionhead Studios. The game sees you create a studio and direct films while trying to keep your stars happy. The game also contains a comprehensive movie making package which is in effect a game in itself. The Game The main game sees you building up a studio, very much in the vein of Theme Park or Zoo Tycoon. Buildings You start with an almost empty plot ...
...need to trek all over the place. Forward planning is essential as you open up more and more sets and space can get very tight. Sets start off very basic, eg a stage but open up to huge sci-fi sets later in the game. There are several different genres including, western, horror, city, WWII and Sci-Fi. Stars and Staff This is where the game starts to get interesting. People will start coming to your studio looking fro jobs, each of ... Read review

Advantages: easy to play, novel idea
Disadvantages: unlockables gone too quickly

CONCENPT: The Movies is a simulation game produced by Lionhead Studios. At the start of the game it is 1920 and the movie business is just starting out. You play the manager of a brand new movie production company. As the game progresses you studio produces films, makes movie starts and wins awards. The goal of the game is to become the best at everything and have a No.1 Studio, Star and Film all at the same time. Once you have achieved this however ...
...produce and later on in the game you can even make the entire thing, choosing who stars in it where they stand what they do, absolutely everything. If you have a microphone you can even put voices into the film. This is not an essential part of the game and so does not have to be done. To make things simpler you can just choose the genre. After a script has been produced you then have to assign directors, actors, extras and crew members to the film. ... Read review

Advantages: Make film's and money
Disadvantages: addictive

...this game to see what The Movies was about. I played this game for day's on end to get the most out of a good modern game. Beat's The Sims anyday. The game is great to make Movies, Star's and lot's of money! The thing I liked the most was the make your own star, I usually put myself and hubby on the movies! The game is good and very addictive to play, I found that trying to get the best studio was quite good as you compeated for award's based on ...
...new set's. You can design the studio layout and put all the different places anywhere that takes your fancy. I personally liked the rehab and cosmetic surgery building's you caould buy and use for the Star's, it saw them do the intense rehab programme and have cosmetic surgery all with in a day! You can decorate the studio with statue's, bench's, flower's, car's etc that are all included in the game but to gain more better ones you have to win award's. ... Read review

Advantages: different game
Disadvantages: gets rather repetitive

The Movies by Lionhead Studios, looks promising from the outside, from the nice design and the eye-catching screenshots on the back, as well as the description, which makes this game sound fantastic. Unfortunately, this isnt the full story, and making your "Own Movie" does seem to be a " box office flop" When you launch 'The Movies' for the first time, you have the choice to go from early on to 2000, onwards. The timescale is rather slow, which ...
...being easily bored. As the game focusses time ( year) on the quality, and actions available in your movies, the limited features in say the 1930's are poor, and really make the game dull. So, maybe I am being too harsh, on The Movies? I am not! MOVIE MAKING: So, I will agree here, the sound of making your own movies sounds exciting. Shame the gameplay cannot be up to the same standard. You will notice that as you make several more films, the ... Read review