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What Killed the The Dark Knight Videogame?

Posted on Friday, January 16th, 2009 by Brendon Connelly

Some years ago the Brisbane wing of software developer Pandemic began working on a Batman videogame to be published by EA.  It was some months into development that they were instructed it had to be revised and that it now had to be based upon the then-upcoming The Dark Knight movie.  There were minor restrictions attached to this - adherence to the style and, to some extent at least, the narrative of the feature film; and also a major limitation - they would have to have it ready for the film’s launch

You probably noticed you don’t have a Dark Knight game in your collection.  After the break, I’ll tell you some of the reasons why.

A full autopsy into the collapse of the game’s development has been published by an Autralian gaming site, being more local to the Brisbane team in question.  The article offers up plenty of juicy details and fully divulged scandal, but here are the key bullet points:

- They decided to skip the cinema launch and coincide with the DVD, but EA’s rights to the Batman license also had a time limit, and a short one: just 18 months.

- The game engine selected wasn’t appropriate for Gotham City style free-roaming environs.

- The management prioritsed graphical excellence, but this crippled the game.  It would often crash within minutes and only managed 5 frames per second.

- No level design facilities were available to the team until the project had been in development for six months.

- EA’s management structure made the easiest move in situations like this to just cut the developer free.

The whole article is fascinating stuff, and most definitely worth a read even if, like me, you didn’t much care for the movie at all.  This is a study in bad project management, and a sad one too - not to mention one that cost EA many millions in lost sales.  I’m slightly scared to think how many Dark Knight games they could have shifted.

After the Dark Knight retrogame post of a few days ago and now this, I’m curious as to high the interest in a good Batman videogame runs. Tell me in the comments.

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  • Its hard to make a good video game based on movies...and when they do decide to make them, most usually come out mediocre....some have been ok tho...
  • Completely agree. Movie video games usually turn out bad. I wonder why that is. Maybe it's the restriction to an established storyline? Maybe its the rush to get the game out at the same time as the movie? Seems like it wouldn't be that hard to make a cool video game out of a movie with a good plot and some good action. Of course, I'm not a game developer.
  • Yeah, I'm not either but, my best guess is the rush for the game to come out the same time as the movie...its the easiest way for the game companies to make big bucks off the hype of the movies...
  • Will
    the other thing about developing movie/tv/ip games is that after paying for the trademark rights, you have no more money to make a decent game
  • Spider Man 2 is the only movie I can think of that had a good game.
  • Then that settles it; you CAN make a good game out of a bad movie. TDK the Game, here we come!
  • Well at least it seems like EA has continued their trend of doing things right again...
  • Jeff Morris
    A video game based on a movie just doesn't do it for me. I want an original story instead of replaying what I've seen in live action. There are exceptions (Goldeneye - mostly because of its multiplayer though - and Lego Star Wars - mostly because, well, it's with Legos) but generally it seems like a cash grab.

    Going vice versa, I typically don't enjoy video games that turn into movies. They do the reverse: limit my ability to choose how it plays out. This is why I'm glad they've never come through on a Wolfenstein or Grand Theft Auto movie.
  • I feel like such a heifer. I had two bowls of Special K, 3 pieces of turkey bacon, a handful of popcorn, 5 peanut butter M&M's and like 3 pieces of licorice.
  • It probably would have sucked balls anyway, plus there's still Batman: Arkham Asylum for all your Batgame needs.

    The one I'm sad about getting canned is Star Wars Battlefront 3, Free Radical were making it and it looked friggin' awesome: http://kotaku.com/5131846/leaked-star-wars-battle...
  • Will B
    Batman Begins had a cool game that wen along with it.... It was very "Splinter Cell" Steatlthy Combat, sticking to the sahdows, etc.

    I think a Dark KNgioht Game would be pretty easy to make/fun to play. SLap it on the PS2 (easy graphics) Get the major scenes in there (car chases, find the sniper, China Extraction) and you could sell it for $30 a pop and make another billion or so.
  • The Batman Begins game had a script by filmmaker J T Petty. if you don't know Petty yet, check out his stuff.
  • Did everyone notice that Brendon Connelly said that he "didn’t much care for [The Dark Knight] at all."?? I bet he liked "Batman & Robin."
  • Rick
    that was the main thing i took away from post. i'd like to know why though... is there a Brendon Connelly review for TDK anywhere? i'm also wondering if he liked batman begins.
  • I'm thinking now how great it would be to drive the Tumbler around a free roaming Gotham City.
  • That would be pretty sweet.
  • Agreed.
  • I've done it. It's great. But George Clooney yelled at me.
  • Amit
    lol
  • kentonsam
    A small glimmer of hope is the Batman Arkham Asylum game, looks pretty awesome, but yes it would've been sweet to dive off of buildings and activate the glider, or just die from the impact. Driving the Bat pod would've been awesome too. Oh well, at least the Watchmen fiasco is over.
  • Hahha, I just read this one on Kotaku before coming here.

    I'm glad the game did die in fear that it would of became a Spider-Man the game clone, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but not really a good one either. I rather play games that have heavy thought-provoking development over rushed garble. (Although, the Batman Begins one wasn't half bad). Here's to Arkum Asylum
  • Arkham Asylum will be great in my opinion. Just the plot itself has a very dark comic feel to it. I'm actually pretty excited to play it. As for TDK, good choice on EA for not goin with it. props.
  • Too bad it cost those people their jobs.
  • GWGumby
    This story is way too familiar to me, and not a singular one in the least. Bad management and ridiculous development schedules have killed many potential game ideas.
  • I'm not sure how much they would have made but they definitely missed out on tons of money. This is so dumb on someones part but it is nice to see a movie not care about what merchandise they can sale in order to profit even more on the highest grossing film of the year.
  • "nice to see a movie not care about what merchandise they can sale in order to profit even more..." Guess you haven't been in the toy section of many stores lately?
  • Yeah I noticed the toys and what not but they didn't even waste time thinking about a game and made a great movie. I like the fact that they didn't even think about a video game.
  • The new Batman game looks and sounds better than some shitty tie in, also do you really need to mention your distaste for the movie in what seems like every post?
  • I remember Gary Oldmans video interview about this game.
  • Did I read that right, at the end? A /Film writer who didn't care for Dark Knight? Praise be.
  • starscream9289
    Well, at least we have Arkham Asylum to look forward too. I hope they don't screw up the Watchmen game.
  • O, there are SO many reasons why the Watchmen game will turn out junk. Too many characters, strict story, rushed production... it's going to be ugly.
  • Oh, there are SO many reasons why the Watchmen game will turn out junk. Too many characters, strict story, rushed production... it's going to be ugly.
  • megatron
  • That video was sent out a few days ago...
  • yournumber1fan
    who cares about a dark knight video game? honestly? now ghostbusters, thats a game that needs to come out already. i'm tired of waiting for it.
  • Man this sucks! I was reading the Full Article and it just pisses me off how EA screwed over this production...and nto this one! Its probbaly the reason all the other movie-game adaptions suck! Because they give the developers no time...make all these changes and just screw them over.

    I now have a different view on movie-game adaptions...that it probably wasnt even their fault they sucked so much
  • [quote]even if, like me, you didn’t much care for the movie at all.[/quote]

    But you managed to read a lengthy article about a video game development related to a movie you don't care about and blog about it?
  • Danny
    I'm ready for a good batmant game. Arkham looks pretty good from what I've seen, but I still like the idea of roaming around all of Gotham, jumping from rooftops and all. What I wish for is a kind of Assassins Creed meets Splinter Cell.
  • Aw, damn. I've always been a sucker for Batman games. No matter how shitty they may be.

    Well, here's hoping for Arkham Asylum.
  • Slashfan
    I didn't see anyone mention this, so I'll state the obvious-Goldeneye was a good movie-based game. Is it too late to release a Dark Knight video game? If it's well-made, it'll sell.
  • Josh
    Yeah, I'm all for bloggers having an opinion, but at least explain why you don't like the film and why in god's name you would post an article about a video game based on one of the greatest films of 2008, not to mention the greatest comic book film of all time. And then, you slam the movie with no explanation.

    I think it's time /Film finds a new writer...at least one with some skill.
  • I think you are mistaking a lack of love for The Dark Knight for a lack of skill.
  • OK, I know you're new, but you've got to proofread before you post. I'm not perfect, but I consider this site to be a legitimate news/opinion site. This is the second article of yours where my eyes are drawn to spelling and grammatical errors. It's "Australian" not "Autralian".
  • I'll tke you rcoments on boa rd. Don'tt want the neees to be renderedd illegitimat by a feww tpoys.
  • I would think that when someone starts something new, even freelance blogging, a person would take pride and care into their work before releasing it. Clearly, this isn't the case with you. Wether or not you realize it, you are engaging in journalism. Crazy, right? So take some care into what you write. And try not to piss readers off with stupid comments.

    Here's an example of a great response, "Thanks for the heads up toorandom, little mistake which I'll look out for next time."
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