The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 279

THEi tSUSTUN SUINUAK Aftillt 13, IWt THE MOVIE SECTION "A of action and comedy! You've seen the movie, now play the game Cusack is brutally funny!" Pittr Travsri, ROLLING STONE Pointe Blank's' sham wit to slap licences on existing games and you were seeing less-than-stel-lar product coming out," says Richmond, a former executive at Disney. "We've had to battle back a little bit from the rather negative impression left in the past years in the cartridge market. We know that we have to put out great-quality multimedia ics that are compelling. The game-play is more important than the name you put on the box." Big games can sell from anywhere between 500,000 and 1 million copies, says Jeff Green, associate editor of Computer Gaming World. "The guys who are running these companies are all millionaires in hit!" Chriitint Joimi, I0I0FFICE HUGAZINE "A true Wonderfully inventive!" Dane Wtbtr, SONY WORLDWIDE RADIO "A zingy, deadpan-hilarious omedy!" Uio Sihwanboua, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY JOHN MINNIE ALAN DAN'! CUSACK DRIVER ARKINAYKROYO.

bright burst atr. mm ffitli VIA "'Grosse GROSSE POINTE Big games based on popular movies can sell from anywhere between 500,000 and 1 million copies, said Jeff Green, associate editor of Computer Gaming World. "The guys who are nmning these companies are all millionaires in their late 20s. The successful games are the ones that don't try to be the movie they try to be their own game by using the movie." MOW PLAYING AT THESE SELECTED THEATRES! lONY THEaTIM NICKELODEON U.C0MJ0NWULtMAVL 333-FILM IOQS CfNFRAL CINEMA CHESTNUT HILL in. haaukwc a.

277-2500 10 NT THE ATM! FRESH POND JUiH POND 'LaIA 333-FILM IQ27 DEDHAM BU NTREE 0 BURUNGTON 10 FRAMINGHAM 14 S0MERVIILI SSs 316-4955 229-9200 1 1 5Q 62t 4J04 1 1 333-FILM JOl 1 1 1 I amSSut NO PASSES OR DISCOUNT COUPONS ACCEPTED FOR THIS ENGAGEMENT. www.GrossePointeBlank.com I BCD Continued from Page Nil brain and big on brawn.) And though plenty of Hollywood movies feature both, the actual creation of games is left to the folks up the coast. The Silicon Valley types have a distinct mission: take the excitement generated in a two-hour film and extend it into the 40 to 60 hours needed to finish a game. Far fewer people will buy the game, of course, but at $40 to $50 per unit there's still a nice bit of change to be made. LucasArts has milked the "Star Wars" cash cow repeatedly in the last decade, especially pow that home computers have developed the processing muscle to move the hefty data flow needed for fast graphics.

The firm's latest and most complex game, "X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter," will be released on April 29 for PC, joining a slew of "Star Wars" titles already packing shelves. If done properly, the adaptation from film to game is rarely easy. Most games have a two-year development cycle from concept to consumer-ready copy. It took three years to create the lush PC version of "The City of Lost Children," a game based on the visually arresting 1995 French art-house film of the same name.

'The audience in the theater has a static interaction. The gamer has to have something to compel them to keep moving through the game. It had to immerse the gamer in this new world," saysLaura McLeod, product manager at Psygnosis, a software subsidiary of Sony. The film was chosen because of its surreal visual content: bizarre and foreboding cityscapes that lost little emotional impact when shrunk to monitor size. The main character, Miette, walks and runs like the 10-year-old girl she is.

She picks up objects, puts them in her pockets, and uses her wits to outsmart the cellar-dwellers who would see her come to a bad end. This game is very much like the best-selling "Myst," but is not recommended for children. "That was what the game designers wanted to capture," McLeod says. "They sought out the film because of the creative vision. There's a move away frori acquiring movie licences just to make a quick buck off a video game.

You have to have content and graph- NOW SONY THEATIIS HARVARD SQ. ID CHUICM SI UMIIiOGf 333-FILM 007 PLAYING! ll I SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT NO PASSES OR DljEaJNTTlCTETS CCPTH) mm A C0SMIC MYSTERY -w- LET'S KILL ALL THE iNOW PLAYING! C00UDGE CORNER Daily 4:00, 6:00,8:00 410:00 2VU HAKVAKU alum IROOKUNI 734-2500 4HRS VALIDATED PARKING $1 KEtlDALL SQUARE ONE KENDALL SQUARE CAMBRIDGE 494-9800 Call 333-FILM 061 lor Tickets Showtime! LOVE li OTHER CATASTROPHES A no pirns 12 00.4:00.6 00, 00.10 10 MANDELA HR 7:30. 10 05 SLINQ BLADE (1:10) 4 05.7:00.9:5! WAITING FOR OUFFMAN w.Mort 'The Dlle" (1:201.3:25.5:30.7:40.9:50 THE DAYTRIPPERS NR AC SECRETS LlfcS (1:001. 6:50.0:46 HAMLET PCM (2:25) JERUSALEM AM 4:10 UIUE BtlH 119. nnt 7- 0-111 KOLYA TOIJ KAMA SUTRAi A TALE OF LOVE HR 3a UPI" mmm outwit at ike snat linn, of laurufNiwr JtFfSHLVOttS.WWKSW MM M(1 lite fi mm press a game: One is currently in development for the PC platform.

It's a live-action CD-ROM adventure starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson that is due to be released next spring. Dauterman says that over the past five years studios have tried to find a "synergy of film and games." "When Hollywood started taking an interest in Silicon Valley, it became apparent that it makes sense to cross-promote things. What studio execs didn't realize is what a complicated process this is. You can turn out a piece of software, but it has to appeal to the tastes of hard-core gamers, who can make or break a game," Dauterman says. The software based on "Johnny Mnemonic" is "a good example of a game that completely failed," Green says.

"There was absolutely no gameplay there. That was the case of Hollywood people who didn't know what they were doing trying to fit a game into a film." And having a popular game is no guarantee of a film's success. "Doom," one of the best-selling games, had its film plans shot down when Universal scrapped plans for a full-length feature. "REASON TO REJOICE! ra hMi iirriu iiKMHIIIMI I IMC ADilCTT A Dl CI" -su ttuaa osmai, im a SONY THEATRES LANDMARK'S IMtCT UCUTnU NICKELODEON KENDALL SQ. ftPAKii? UMCOMMOHWEAUHAVL ONI HWDAU SQ, (AlUitlDGE MUTE I 333 FILM 005 494-9800 964-6060 BARGAIN MATINEES UNTIL 6 PM DAILY LATE SHOWS FRIDAY SATURDAY CLEVELAND CIRCLE 566-4040 ANACONDA (ON 2 SCREENS) PO-13 1: 1130 145 410 710930 12: 1215 230 500 7451005 THAT OLD FEELING 11 40 206 440 720 955 PO-13 THE SIXTH MAN 1135 155 420 700 PO-13 THE DEVIL'S OWN 1150 220 460 740 1015 LIAR LIAR 1200 215 430 730 945 ENOITAL PO-13 JERRY MAGUIRE 1230 330 650 940 214 HARVARD AVE 277-2140 PRIVATE PARTS 1230 250 510 730 950 CATS DON'T DANCE 100 300 P.M.

DONNIE BRASCO 445 720 955 1589 HANCOCK ST 773-S700 ANACONDA 1 130 145 430 720 945 PO-13 SCREAM 720 1000 P.M. DOUBLE TEAM 1215 230 445 740 1005 THAT OLD FEELING 1 120 1 55 430 700 925 PO-13 THESAINT1115 150 420 715 955 PO-13 TURBO; POWER RANGERS 2 1100 120 400 PG THE DEVIL'S OWN 1105 130 425 735 1015 CATS DON'T DANCE 1200200 P.M. LIAR LIAR 1145 215440 725 940 PO-13 JERRY MAGUIRE 400 650 950 -a Bf mil BP Rte 1 a 128 tlt ISA 326-495S GROSSE POINTE BLANK 1205 235 505 745 1015DHMTAL ANACONDA ION 2 SCREENS) PO-13 1: 1115 145 400 640 910 12: 1200 215445 7301000 SCREAM 940 P.M. THAT OLD FEELING 1100 125 345 630 920 PO-13' DOUBLE TEAM 1125 140 410 645 900 fl INVENTING THEABBOTTS1110150435735 1010 THE SAINT (ON 2 SCREENS) PO-13 1: 1100 135 420 710 950DtorrAL4: 1130 210450740 lOZODIOITAt THESIXTHMAN1105 130 415 700 PO-13 THEDEVIL'SOWN11352104507501025 fl SELENA 935 po LIAR LIAR 1145230500720930WOrTAL PO-13 JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE 1120 200 430 700 PO lVMl IB. I T't'S-.

Rte 128 fait 85Rte 38 933-5330 GROSSE POINTE BLANK 1125 150430725 1005W.ITAL ANACONDA (ON 2 SCREENS) PO-13 tV. 1115 135 4O5 650 92O2: 1200 220 500 745 10100IGITAL SCREAM 940 P.M. INVENTING THE ABBOTTS 1100 125 355 635 910 THAT OLD FEELING 1 120 145 410 645 925 PO-13 DOUBLE TEAM 1225 240 450 750 1025 THE SAINT (ON 2 SCREENS) PO-13 1: 1105 140 415710 950OIOITALI2: 1140 215450740 1020DKSrTAL THE SIXTH MAN 1105 130400700 PO-13 THE DEVIL'S OWN 1110 150 425 720 1015 CATS DON'T DANCE 1100 A.M. LIAR LIAR (ON 2 SCREENS) PO-13 1: 1130 200 420 640 900DHSITJU.I2: 1245 300 510 730 1000 M6ITM. RETURN OF THE JED1 1230 330 630 930 PO 1 1 xzzzzssimimBmmia Rts 1 A SQUIRE Rd 286-1660 ANACONDA (ON 2 SCREENS) PO-13 1: 1140 200 415 650910112: 1210 240 500 750 1000 GROSSE POINTE BLANK1150 225 445 720 955 OIOITAL THE SAINT (ON 2 SCREENS) PO-13 llUUl41UWWDIGITU.n: THAT OLD FEELING 11 15 145 420 710 940 PO-13 DOUBLE TEAM 1215 230 455 740 1020 INVENTING THE ABBOTTS 1 120 155 425 735 1010 THE SIXTH MAN 1145 215 450 725 1005 PO-13 TURBOlPOWERRANaERS 21110 1 35 350 PO THE DEVIL'S OWN 1105 130 410 745 1025 LIAR LIAR (ON 2 SCREENS) PO-13 1: 11301404006409000IO.I2: 1200 210 430715 950 SELENA 1230 310 630 915 DIGITAL pa JERRY MAGUIRE 635 935 PM.

Rte 114468 1508) 686-21 21 ANACONDA1145210 430 720 935 PO-13 GROSSE POINTE BLANK 1145 215445730 lOOODWrrAL THESAINT1110 145420 710 955 PO-13 THATOLDFEELINO1100 130 400 720 945 PO-13 INVENTING THE ABBOTTS 1120 150 430 740 1015 DOUBLE TEAM 11 15 145 415 7501010 THE SIXTH MAN 1 130 200 420 700 PO-13 THE DEVIL'S OWN 1120 155445740 1015 SELENA 1230 330 710 950 PO LIAR LIAR 1200 230 500 730 945 DIOITAL PO-13 HOWARD STERN'S PRIVATE PARTS 930PM 11111 Rt 28 8lm 1603) 893-1614 RETURN OF THE JEDI 330 720 955 ICDDVUAm HlFWnPH TURBO: POWER RANGERS 2 300 500 P.M. Pa THE ENGLISH PATIENT BOO M. JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE 220 440 700 1st iaiHli.iw aauauaisMiata if lOSEJ MJOS FOtlK 'I GENUAL C1HIKA PEABODY WITH utott WM (1. SQ8-332-UOO fHOWCAir CINEMA REVERE CASE OKI MAS 1 Meet Tommy .1 He's got two dayst io Denver wis oag, or more heads are gonna roll. PESCI and DAVID SPADE IV I IIIliaililffllllllTaill mm titnra widoih ibm ra mm id mi mm i .1 IIIII1MU1 illllflyHiillJIJIlU JlfWLLD JU.il MM Iwww nrinnnlrhiriMi nnml ws-v7i PKniHtsammwH SHOWCASI CINEMAS DEDHAM RTE.

1 1 111 EXIT ISA 326-4955 SHOWCASE CINEMAS WOBURN in. in mi ist ix. ill yjJ-5330 i their late 20s. The successful games are the ones that don't try to be the movie they try to be their own game by using the movie." One of the biggest challenges facing software developers is the coordination of a game's debut with the release of the film. In the race to enter the market, clocks seem to tick faster for developers.

Once the basic programming work is combined with design elements, the inevitable bugs have to be worked out, and early versions need thorough testing to uncover any hidden glitches. Only then should a game be considered finished, but the discount racks at software stores are filled with red-tagged copies of poorly produced games. "We'll seek out licences as long as there's a compelling reason to do so. It has to add value not for us, but for the gamer," McLeod says. Only within the last few years have developers gotten a handle on this industrywide problem, says Jon Richmond, president of Fox Interactive, the gaming division of 20th Century Fox.

"Game companies were tending General Cinema 721. ALL CINEMAS EQUIPPED BARGAIN MATINEES TILL 6 PM DAILY ACADEMY AWARD WINNER EHTTTTTTO 277-2500 CHASING AMY 1:30 4:30 7:10 9:50 I OROSSE POINTE BLANK 12:00 2:30 5:00 7:40 10:00 II DIGITAL INVENTING THE ABBOTTS 12:10 2:35 5:10 7:3010:0511 THE SAINT 1:15 4:10 7:00 7:45 PG13 DIGITAL DOUBLE TEAM 1:00 3:15 5:30 7:50 10:10 a ALL FiUTil PASS-SHOPPERS WOULD 508-628-4404 1 STEREO GROSSE POINTE BLANK 11:45 1:15 4:45 7:30 10:15 DIOITU ANACONDA ON TWO SCREENS) PG13 12:15 2:45 5:15 7:45 10:15 DISflAl 10:30 1:15 3:45 4:15 8:45 HPSWOO KOLYA 10:45 1:15 4 00 4:45 9:30 PG13 HM4000 INVENTING THE ABBOTTS 1:30 4:00 7:00 9:55 1 THAT OLD FEELING 12:00 2:30 5:00 7:30 10:00 PG13 DIGITAL THE SAINT (ON TWO SCREENS) PG13 DIGITAL 11:00 12:45 2:00 3:45 4:45 8:15 9:45 THE DEVIL'S OWN 11:45 2:15 4:45 7:45 10:30 HM4000 LIAR LIAR (ON TWO SCREENS) PG13 DIGITAL 10:00 11:45 12:302:15 3:00 4:45 5:30 7:15 6:009:45 10:30 RETURN Of THE JEM 10:00 1:00 4:00 7:00 10:00 PGMBlll JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE 10:30 1:00 3:45 7:00 PG THE ENGLISH PATIENT 12:00 4:30 JERRY MAGUIRE 9:45 PM II PRIVATE PARTS 1:15 PM II TTWrv) SELENA 9:30 PG VtMV HI HI? 1.02242001 GROSSE POINTE BLANK 11:00 1:35 4:10 7:00 9:40 DIGITAL ANACONDA 10:30 1:10 3:50 7:30 10:05 PG13 OIOITAL INVENTING THE ABBOTTS 10:45 1:25 4:00 4:50 9:30 THAT OLD FEELING 10:50 1:40 4:30 7:05 9:45 PG13 DIGITAL DOUBLE TEAM 11:30 1:55 4:15 7:20 9:35 DIGITAL THE SAINT 10:40 1:304:20 7:10 10:00 PG13 DIGITAL 1H1 LIAR LIAR 10:35 1:00 3:20 5:35 7:45 10:10 PG13 DIGITAL RETURN OF THE JEDI 12:30 3:40 6:55 9:55 PG DIGITAL JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE 11:10 1:50 4:35 7:15 PG SCREAM 9:50 PM DIGITAL I S08-S32-14O0 GROSSE POINTE BLANK 1:30 4:15 7:00 9:30 THE Slh MAN 1:15 4:00 7:00 PG13 THE ENGLISH PATIENT 1:00 4:30 8:00 SELENA 9:20 PM PG OROSSE POINTE BLANK 12:35 3:15 7:30 10:00 DIGITAL ANACONDA 12:00 2:15 4:55 7:15 9:45 PG13 DIGITAL INVENTING THE ABBOTTS 12:45 3:30 6:35 9:15 THAT OLD FEELING 1:30 4:20 7:15 9:45 PG13 THE SAINT 1:00 4.00 7:00 9:50 PG13 DIGITAL DOUBLE TEAM 12:15 2:25 4:50 7:40 9:50 THE DEVIL'S OWN 12:40 3:10 6:35 9:05 DIGITAL LIAR LIAR 12:15 2:35 4:50 7:00 9:35 PG13 DIOITAl THE 6th MAN 1:20 4:10 7:00 PG13 PRIVATE PARTS 9:30 PM (lrwo) SCREAM 9:15 PM LIAR LIAR 1:15 4:00 7:30 10:15 PG13 SCREAM 12:30 3:30 7:00 9:55 THE SAINT 12:45 3:45 7:15 10:05 PG13 JUNOLE 2 JUNGLE 1:00 4:15 7:15 PG PRIVATE PARTS 9:45 PM GROSSE POINTE BLANK 11:05 1:40 4:40 7:35 10:05 ANACONDA 11:40 2:00 4:35 7:15 9:45 PGI3 INVENTING THE ABBOTTS 11:15 1:504:30 7:109:55 THAT OLD FEELING 11:10 1:35 4:10 6:35 9:15 PG13 THE DEVIL'S OWN 11:30 1:55 4:25 6:55 9 40 LIAR LIAR 11:25 1:45 4 05 6:50 9:20 PGI3 DIGITAL RETURN OF THE JEDI 1:05 4:00 7:05 10:00 PG JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE 11:00 1:15 3:45 7:00 PG THE SAINT 11:10 1:30 4:20 7:25 10:10 PG13 DOUBLE TEAM 11:50 2:05 4:45 7:10 9 50 THE lh MAN 11 00 1:20 3:50 7:00 PG13 JERRY MAQUIRE 1 00 6:40 PRIVATE PARTS 3:55 9:35 a SCREAM 9:30 9:40 PM pieces. Now we build the games from the ground up, so that the game speaks for itself." It is for this reason that the "Alien Trilogy" game doesn't follow the film story line, but has the creepy look and feel of the original. "Independence Day" the game has the rat-a-tat-tat, arcade style of the film without being wedded to the plot, Richmond says. "You don't immediately say that "The X-Files' would make a great console game.

We try to tailor the individual property to the best kind of medium for it," continues Richmond. But "X-Files" fans can be sure that there's no conspiracy to sup- mm 15 INFORMATION VALID FOR 41397 ONLY BARGAIN TIMES IN (PARENTHESIS) For SHOWTIMES and TICKETS CALL 333-FILM and Enter Code next to theater below Telephone Ticketing 100 HUNTINGTON AVE. 2ttj-13UU S3 PARKING AT COPLEY PLACE GARAGE WITH VALIDATION ENTER AFTER 5PM SLEAVE BEFORE 2AM I KEYS TO TULSA (1:50) (R) RETURN OF THE JEDI (12:20) (PG) TURBO: POWER RANGERS (PG) SCREAM (R) THAT OLD FEELING (1:10) (PG-13) DOUBLE TEAM (1:00) (R) JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE (1:40) (PG) DONN1E BRASCO 9:30 (R) PRIVATE PARTS (1 :30) (R) THE SIXTH MAN (12:40) (PG-13) SELENA (12:50) (PG) THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (12: 10) (PG) JERRY MAGUIRE (1:20) (R) I i ai 606 COMM AVE. NR KENMURE SQ. 424-1500 GROSSE POINTE (R) CHASING AMY (1:10) (R) INVENTING THE ABBOTTS (1:20) (R) SLING BLADE (1:30) (R) ENGLISH Alien I CM IMJ EE ALTON ST.

OPP SHERATON BOS. 536-2870 DISC. PARKING AVAIL AT PILGRIM GARAGE ADJ CHERI ANACONDA (12:15) (PG-13) THE SAINT (1:45) (PG-13) THE DEVIL'S OWN (1 :20) (R) LIAR LIAR (12:45) (PG-13) 10 CHURCH ST. CAMBHILKifc DAS BOOT 5 (R) THE GODFATHER (12:15) A. (R) CRASH (NC-17) PINK FLAMINGOS (1:15) 4 (NC-17) CHASING AMY (12:30) A.

(R) WHEN WE WERE 10-9 20 A (R) 57 JFK ST. NEAR HARVARD SQ. 661-373' ENGLISH (R) FRESH POND PLAZA 661-2900 Free Kids Film Series MATILDA (PG) ANACONDA (PG-13) GROSSE POINTE BLANK (R) THAT OLD FEELING (PG-13) THE SAINT (PG-13) INVENTING THE ABBOTTS 10) (R) DOUBLE TEAM (R) JERRY MAGUIRE 50 (R) THE DEVIL'S OWN (H) LIAR LIAR (PG-13) RETURN OF THE JEDI (1 (PG) RTE. 93 AT ASSEMBLY SQ. Free Kids Film Series MATILDA (PG) ANACONDA (PG-13) GROSSE POINTE BLANK (R) SCREAM (2:40) 9:30 (R) THAT OLD FEELING (PG-13) INVENTING THE ABBOTTS 1 1 0) (H uuublc t.W-IV.ZV THE SAINT (1:1 0-4: 10) THE SIXTH MAN 6:20 THE DEVIL'S OWN (PG-13 (PG-13 (PG-13 (R (PG PG (PG-13 LIAR LIAR JERRY MAGUIRE 9:00 SELENA JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE 7:20 B.A.P.S.

MB: RTE 9 OPP SHOPPERS WORLD 653-5005237-5840 Free Kids Film Series MATILDA (1 (PG) SCREAM DOUBLE TEAM CM 5-5 (10) 7 (R TURBO: POWER RANGERS 6.45 (PG CATS DON'T DANCE (1 (G B.A.P.S.9 20 (PG-13 the sixth MAN (PG-1 3 SHINE 7-15-9 Id iPQ-13 DONNIE BRASCO 40 (Ft) LIBERTY TREE MALL 777-1616599-312? THE DEVIL'S OWN (1 LIAR LIAR 7-30-10 00 (R) (PG-13) RTH 128 EXIT 24 AN ACONDA 1 1 5) 6: 1 6-9: 1 5 (PG-1 3 THE SAINT (PG-13 THAT OLD FEELING (PG-13 INVENTING THE (R PRIVATE PARTS 9:30 (R RETURN OF THE JEDI (PG JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE (1 7:00 (PG JOE KRISTY SWAIMS0N III KEIIII III mi, vwt. IRfelaiaarl Kail Ml 111 uYHBOUIOUUIHIilAlllllllMfc HEADS WILL ROLL ON FRIDAY! SONY THEATRES FRESH POND HUH POND pu; 333-FILM 027 SONY THf AIRES COPLEY PLACE lHI.Klm. ICl'C 333-FILM 0O6 SHOWCASi CINEMAS CIRCLE CLEVELAND CIHCLI 566-4040 SONY THEATRES NATICK on womu void 333-FILM 017 SHOWCASE CINEMAS REVERE IT! CI A SQUIRE ID. 286-1660 AND AT AN ADDITIONAL THEATRE NEAR YOU! Al ASSWIII M. III.

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