Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 Vietnam War epic Apocalypse could very well be getting a video game. Oh dear.
Earlier this January, Killspace Entertainment, a new developer with designers from an array of studios like Pandemic, Obsidian and EALA, licensed web domains apocalypsenowgame.com and warisnotagame.net.
The studio is currently working on an original title as well as a licensed game. Could that licensed title be an Apocalypse Now video game?
Based on the Conrad novella Heart of Darkness, Coppola’s film was a troubled production from the start. Star Harvey Keitel ended up getting replaced by Martin Sheen, who suffered a heart attack during filming. An overweight Marlon Brando showed up, and brought filming to a halt. Coppola faced writer’s block and didn’t know how to end the picture.
Apocalypse Now took top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, but Coppola (and his films) were never quite the same. (Yes, the man who made this film also make Jack.)
Ultimately, the film’s mythos and production troubles end up overshadowing the film itself. This is not necessarily a bad thing! And the documentary on the film’s making Hearts of Darkness is compelling viewing and actually makes you appreciate the power and impact of the final film so much more.
But if Killspace Entertainment is actually making an Apocalypse Now video game, attempting to replicate the moody performances, Vittorio Storaro’s gorgeous cinematography, John Milius’ hard-nosed one-liners and Francis Ford Coppola’s passion and energy, well, good luck with that. And if it has nothing to do with the Coppola film, perhaps a title change is in order?
I have a feeling this is not a good idea. [superannuation via IncGamers]
omygjaswitch
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 11:30 PMoh god.. take full metal jacket or something if you want to use a war classic as a vehicle for your crappy fps
Braaains
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 11:49 PMAt least we can hope it’s an FPS. Maybe it’s a kart racing game. Now THAT would be wrong…
ripperhugme
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 12:16 AMWhat a twist!
Being on the boat turret would be a pretty good on rails section, if done right of course.
Heath K
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 2:03 AMBattlefield Vietnam was good enugh!..
Ridley200
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 5:21 PMSomeone actually made a really good Apocalypse Now level for BF: Vietnam.
It was just the Vin Drin Dop assault, but it was perfectly done. Sucked playing as Charlie though…
Eugene
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 2:32 AMSimulator with boats and helicopters??
David
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 4:40 AMIt could be cool if they packaged it with a device to emit napalm smells.
gill bates
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 9:33 AMA Little Big Planet style platformer – I’ll get started on the playboy bunnies stage
Jimu_Hsien
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:12 AMI hope it inclues all the reux stuff…like boobs (HA).
Jimu_Hsien
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:13 AMRedux..redux.
Nato
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:23 AMI can’t see this working. No-one likes Vietnam based FPSs and I don’t see how you could base a game on Apocolypse Now.
Is Tim Schafer in charge? He should be.
Ridley200
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 5:23 PMMaybe everyone loves them, and we’re yet to find out, since i can name all the Vietnam era games on one hand. They’ve all been good, but with the problem of being cheaply made (apart from BF Vietnam). A proper blockbuster title from a big company could very well get us off this horrid “modern warfare” binge.
Jon Polti
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:32 AMThe game will either have bugger all to do with the film…
OR
It will be exactly like the film, with one entertaining bit at the beginning, then be a dull plod down a river in Vietnam.
Joshy206
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 5:05 PMI love the smell of bad ideas in the morning.
It smells like… failure.
Nevertheless, it does have the oppurtunity to be okay.
Warlok
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 7:06 PMNo one likes Vietnam games because no one have made a good one. I hope Treyarch makes a good Vietnam CoD Game.