Neglecting a genre...

[[Cameron]]

Not long ago I hired Red Dea Revolver the fast paced western by Rockstar San Diego. It seems to me that there are very few western games around. The western is a great genre but is totally neglected. Why the hell is this?

[Privateer Puddin']

Seen it all in the movies? i dunno..

however, since drawing this image, i have had an urge to do one..

[DGMacphee]

Remember the movie Toy Story (and Toy Story 2)?

Notice how Buzz became a more popular toy than Woody?

You see, the whole Western genre died out when man visited the moon. Like Stinky Pete says in the second film, everybody became more focused on space exploration (Westerns were more focused upon land exploration and land frontiers and we've pretty much mapped our entire world). As evidence, notice the decline of western films and the rise of sci-fi films. It's very rare you get profitable Western films, mainly because there's no interest in them anymore.

It sucks because some of my favourite films are Westerns.

[ScottDoom]

I also think it's a good genre that should have more games. Especially FPS, but also adventure games. After the contest I held, I was hoping to see some western-style games to emerge.

[[Cameron]]

You see, the whole Western genre died out when man visited the moon. Like Stinky Pete says in the second film, everybody became more focused on space exploration (Westerns were more focused upon land exploration and land frontiers and we've pretty much mapped our entire world). As evidence, notice the decline of western films and the rise of sci-fi films. It's very rare you get profitable Western films, mainly because there's no interest in them anymore.

Would combining the two work well or fail miserably? Mars landscape resemble the desert (ever see that episode of Futurama). Anyway, I understand what your saying and sadly what you say is true. Although the idea of drifting from town to town picking up bounties still retains some intrigue.

[Redwall]

I suppose you've heard of Rise of the Hidden Sun, right?

[[Cameron]]

I'll put that on my download list. Thanks Red.

[DGMacphee]

Would combining the two work well or fail miserably?

It can work, but you have to be careful how you do it or else no one will take it seriously (even if you're doing it as a joke). Attempts at modernising Westerns have worked in the past. For example, look at Easy Rider. However, while some ideals of Westerns and Sci-Fi are the same, keep in mind that there are just as many that are different.

[Migs]

There was a Futurama episode which combined the two genres.

[edmundito]

I agree with what DG said about westerns. Whoah, dude, I never thought that Toy Story was that deep (with a Bill and Ted/Keanu Reeves sort of voice).

There seems to be a confusion of the word genre in games, though. There's a mix between the game type and the genre (theme)? in a movie sort of way. Western is a genre, but it's not necessarily one type of game. Red Dead Revolver is just an action adventure with a Western theme. You could also have a Western FPSs, like LucasArts' Outlaws and whatnot. I think the more important question is, which one is more important for a video game? I would think it's the game type, since this is what commonly games are talked about. The "style" (movie-like genre in other words) is usually a secondary category.

I really liked the style in Dead Red Revolver a lot, but I thought the game could have been a lot better. Then again, I've only played it in multiplayer mode.

[BerserkerTails]

The show Firefly was a mixture of sci-fi and western, I do believe. But it's just further proof of the decline of westerns as the show only lasted a season.

I think if we want to see some more western adventure games, perhaps the next AGS Team Challenge theme could be Western.

[evenwolf]

The show Silver Hawks had a character who wore a cowboy hat..

[Sutebi]

Plus, Fox didn't even show about half the episodes of Firefly, including the pilot which made the series even more confusing.

I think there are a lot of "mixtures" of a sci-fi western. I think Anime does it a lot and other shows have as well. The spirit of western can be translated to many different things, but I think the setting of the "ol' west" has just become more of a joke, so people tend to avoid it.

[m0ds]

The western is certainly coming back to adventure gaming. I've seen several western projects on the go, like chapter 11 studios and one recently previewed at Adventure Gamers. They all look really good, very interesting to see some point and click westerns.

[Dart]

Have you ever heard of this Sierra game called Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist? If so, I suggest you buy the game; it's one of my favorites, and it's Western, too. For more information:

http://www.freddypharkas.com/

[evilchimpo]

Mixing Genres...

Consider the following:Ã,  Dashiell Hammett wrote the 40's detective novel "Red Harvest", which was adapted by Akira Kurosawa into the 19th century period samurai film "Yojimbo", which was adapted by Sergio Leone into the 19th century period western "A Fistful of Dollars", which was adapted by Walter Hill into the 40's detective film "Last Man Standing".Ã,  Everything starts with a good story.

That said...

I think the western/sci-fi genre crossover has been tried several times with typically tepid results- mostly in films, mind you.Ã,  The one success that comes to mind would be Yul Brenner's menacing android gunslinger in "Westworld".Ã,  George Peppard played the space-hopping Cowboy in "Battle Beyond the Stars" and several sci-fi's have lifted entire imageries from classic westerns (desert planets, frontier lawmen and villans).Ã,  Heck, even the post-apocolyptic genre that sprouted out of the 80's finds it's roots and flavor in the likes of John Ford and, John Sturges and Howard Hawkes (who also brought us the sci-fi classic, "The Thing" btw).Ã,  If you took the film "Star Wars" (1977), slapped a cowboy hat on all the actors, then replaced blasters and light sabers with six-shooters and Winchester rifles... well, then, you'd have yourself a classic Western.

The Western/Sci-Fi crossover is a totally "do-able" formula- it always has been; it's just waiting for the right person to do it.

Sorry, btw, as this is my first post.Ã,  I'm new here and have been perusing this board for a couple of weeks and have been learning a lot from many of you.Ã,  Thanks.

-chimpo

[[Cameron]]

Welcome to the forum and thank you for making your first post in my thread. BTW your sig needs to be changed to

Code: ags

[img]http://blah.com[/img]

[evilchimpo]

Welcome to the forum and thank you for making your first post in my thread. BTW your sig needs to be changed to

Code: ags

[img]http://blah.com[/img]

Thanks.  Still working this part out.

[DGMacphee]

There was a Futurama episode which combined the two genres.

Yes, I own it on DVD.

Keep in mind that the creators of Futurama have had A LOT experience in writing for animated TV series. Plus, most of them have Ph.Ds proving they're totally ultra-smart and can do things no ordinary men can do. 

Mel Brooks also combined Comedy and Western genres. But keep in mind, he's Mel Brooks.

[MillsJROSS]

Speaking of which, Blazing Saddles had it's 30th anniversary a week or two ago. My roomate got the DVD.

Firefly was interesting, but I don't think it was the greatest mix of western/sci-fi. Yes, they were on the fringe of the known worlds, but it wasn't believable that the colonist would be good ol' country boys/girls, instead of a multitude of intelligent differently skilled people. They are attempting to make a movie, though, and get the series back on the air...so don't give up, it had it's enjoyable aspects to it. And I think it has a strong fan base, for a show that only lasted as long as it did...I personally only saw it because a friend bought the DVD's. I did get hooked, never got into the western thing, though.

I think Western and Sci-fi are almost the same genre...that of exploration. Instead of harsh deserts you have the cold of space. Indians (Native Americans) are replaced by aliens. Six shooter is replaced by a laser (as noted before).

But let's be serious. Who cares what genre of adventure games come out, as long as a few come our way.

-MillsJROSS