Top 10 TV Shows that Should be Made into a Major Game
2. The Wire
Reality is enough for some programs to become memorable. Few have done that to the sobering degree The Wire represented the city of Baltimore. What made it pervasive is that it shone a different light on an otherwise known location. While people know of Baltimore, fewer knew about its dark sides that hid drug trade, murders and corruption in plain sight. It's considered one of the best shows ever made.
In The Wire, we get to see both sides of the underground life; one for the criminals and the other for the justice department that tries to track them. Instead of a strictly cop-show angle, however, officers are shown as greedy, power hungry brutes, while those involved in illegal activities have more human qualities. There's an intricate look at how drug runs are done, how the hierarchy of a gang works, what efforts are made to avoid getting caught and how the justice system really works or, actually, doesn't work at all.
Putting this in a game requires some thinking. What genre should The Wire use? The answer: god game. Hear this one out: There's this title, called Skyward Collapse. In it, two factions are at constant war. As the god, the goal is to strike a balance between factions, regulating the destruction from both ends, so that one isn't completely eviscerated. This could work here as well, but with a slight tweak that alters the design dramatically. Take away some of the control factor. Instead, players are free to choose to build up and destroy any side. In turn, outcomes may differ from the original intention. For instance, a gang could be helped to become a lot more successful, but it would lead to outside attention, bringing in rivals or sending down media attention or even military control. On the other side, added resources to the police force could lead to plentiful arrests, but take a toll on the citizens terrorized by restless criminals. Building a custom Baltimore would become more about where the players thinks their actions are taking the city, anticipating the grand finale, rather than making it there.
"officers are shown as greedy, power hungry brutes, while those involved in illegal activities have more human qualities"
Love that you included The Wire but I would have to disagree with this. Both sides are even-handedly presented.
yes breaking bad . I would buy
Love all the games but when are you going to get knews does are already old for me and my kids...
Where is Firefly? I'm sorry but this list is way too limited in scope and I don't see how it could be labeled as a Top 10. Breaking Bad, Boardwalk, and I guess American Horror Story, but AHS shouldn't count b/c you could just do anything and label it "American Horror Story" since every season is a completely different story.
SOA
Where is Magnum PI?
I gotta say a lot of these are just dumb. Orange is the new black,really? Good show dumb game even as a knock off prison sim. I'm not British but the british guys in here are right. Where's misfits or Luther. Even Inbetweeners could be a good game. I would buy Rick and Morty tho no matter what kinda game it is.
American TV is LOL NO
Really now, no British shows? Why did you pick 10 shows all from the states and about people who live there? Their shows are fine, but kind of overrated at this point.
Not breaking Bad. That has a pretty poignant and structured narrative. Its more of a character study than anything else anyway.