Movie Theaters Realizing They Don't Need To Just Show Movies; Experiment With Video Games As Well
from the about-time dept
Every time we hear movie theater owners complaining about how they can't compete with DVDs these days, we wonder why they don't recognize the advantages of having a big room with a giant screen, a good sound system and lots of (hopefully) comfy seats. There are plenty of other things you can do with such a room -- and in the past we've seen movie theaters try showing sporting events or live concerts. Now, apparently, a few European theaters are experimenting with turning their theaters into video game rooms. From the article, it's not entirely clear how the theaters are set up, but apparently people can sit and play against each other at individual screens or watch the action on the big screen, displaying highlights from the individual screens while also keeping track of the scoring. While it's not clear how well such experiments will do overall, it is good to see theater owners realizing that their future doesn't just need to be with showing movies.
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rwod blsrcmae
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Interactive Movie
You could go to that same movie 50 times and never see exactly the same show. One choice might lead the characters through a gut busting funny scene and the other through a dramatic and scary one, but on the other side one would end up out of breath saying "whew, my heart's racing.. we need to get going" and continuing along the main plot.
Imagine the discussions between friends about the scenes they'd seen and all the people going back again to try and see all the scenes they missed.
Or maybe the plot does change dramatically... even better.
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Re: Interactive Movie
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Agreed, but...
How many movies must we sit through w/people talking, answering cell phones and other BS before these theatres get a clue they are shooting themselves in the foot.
My suggestion? A PREMIUM-theatre, charge $15+ a ticket, offer reasonably priced refreshments in a nice cinema-friendly environment, and don't put up with any BS (no talking, no cellphone answering, noisey kids removed, etc. etc.).
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Re: Agreed, but...
As for the branching out I think thats a good idea. Everything has had to innovate in some way and I don't see why a movie theater (espcially at the prices they charge) should be different. If they want to keep their crowds coming in they need to come up with new ways to do so. Especially since prices have only been going up while movie quality has been going down. Video games could easily be incorporated into the smaller screens (the closest theater to me has 20 screens, so like 14 or 15 of the biggest ones could be for movies and then the 5 or 6 smaller ones could be video game rooms or something). The multiple story line movie would be cool but in a big room with lots of people it might not work...say you have 100 people in the movie and there are 4 choices for the next scene...if 30 want option a 20 want option b 15 want option c and option d wins with 35 votes, you still have 65 people who arent satisfied with their movie. And yes this would definitely make me want to go see a movie may times to get all the options, but this would probably drive costs (way) up, and again I think prices are much to high to begin with.
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Re: Re: Agreed, but...
I think a premium theatre done CORRECTLY could be successful, but it wouldn't be if offering the same thing as the other guys. It would have to return a PREMIUM movie going experience, and (dare i state the obvious), might appeal less to those who are concerned that $9 is too much for a movie ticket.
It might help to think of this in the same vien as a high-end retailer, not everyone shops there, but there are those who can and do.
There are ways they could do this, and since the current system appears to be broke its certainly worth a try.
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Re: Agreed, but...
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LANing on a Movie Screen...
That'd be the best/most expensive LAN ever.
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I'm not sure how much of what was described here is so different from a typical LAN. Grab a projector and you've basically got the same setup? Maybe it's better than the comments make it sound.
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Hm.
See a premium theater would still suffer the same problems as a normal one. Enforcment is the issue. (Well that and manners in general.)
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I'll see that and raise you. I've never been in a theatre where the people were near as annoying as that pimply kid with the orange light saber walking the isles at least 3 times per showing!
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Just the start...
Even so with the business model, it was providing only films...secure. But now with fiberglass-Internet-connections it is possible to use the Internet for live or download-views.
Why only think about gaming, shows and sports? Why not make the cinema a entertainment hotspot, by in the morning opening it up for students following international (streaming) presentations from high-profile professors/content, in the afternoon movies for kids and in the evening just docus and films. If a sport-event is happening, show it in the cinema or show (for the women) some alternative tv-series (sex in the city)...so you and your girlfriend can go 'together' to the cinema.
I already investigated this, during a studyproject 3 years ago, but the thing is...if you don't have money and a big brand name...you are shouting in the empty valley.
So, why not start implementing solutions and maybe connect multiple cinemas together for live-interaction or live-discussions worldwide?
The technology is available, now the content suppliers (Warner Bros, Paramount,...) need to open up their protective ideas that security cannot cope with these kind of applications all together, they can!!!
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Funniest thing was a week later we went to see it again with some other friends and he got pulled AGAIN for the same crap at a different theatre. He didnt see the first 30 minutes of the movie until it came out on DVD.
I agree with an early poster, improve the quality of what you ahve before you expand. Most movie going experiences are 2nd rate now.
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How about no kids and more alcohol
If the industry doesn't change I'll wait for it to come out on one of the many movie channels to which I subscribe. I'm an adult, I have patience, I don't have to see a movie on the day it comes out in order to be one of the cool kids. I can wait for a year or two, if necessary.
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Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse
They also have other events, like live music and comedy shows.
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they linked a tv where a guy was playing in the theatre, and and another guy playing a arizona or something and displayed those simul on the big screen.
its a pretty cool thought, playing on such a big screen, but im pretty sure that you won't be able to see the finer details, like the look of bewilderment on the guys face right befoer you blow his head off.
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Everyone knows you can get awesome quality movies at home by whatever means you prefer, but no one goes to a movie theatre "just" to watch a movie, after all. Otherwise they would be out of business. It's a social and entertaining environment on more than one level. There's a reason you don't go to the movie theatre alone, and it's not just because if you do you have no friends and are uncool - but also, it's just no fun alone.
Movie theatres ain't going anywhere, and if you prefer to spend several thousand dollars to replicate the experience at your home and invite everyone in your community to join you whenever you want to watch a movie, then feel free - as for me, I'd rather call up a friend, catch the $5 matinee, and have a good time.
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Alone is good...
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Do you folks get out much?
1. Premium theaters already exist. When I lived down in Ft. Lauderdale I went to a small chain called muvico:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muvico_Theaters
They went so far as to have valet parking, reserved seating, seat-side service, a full scale restaurant on the second floor, and a couple of other nice amenities. Nice place, but very pricey and I only went their went I wanted something "special", but didn't feel like getting dressed up. I don't this will be the norm for theaters.
2. Back when I was in grad school the local theater had "gamers" night where they had various PS2 games shown on the big screen Very popular but I think it was discontinued because they realized that they made more money on the movies than on the gaming (think lots of teenagers coming in at $5.00 and spending hours there, but not spending much money. In the same timespan they could have shown 2 or 3 movies and probably made more.)
In general, sure diversification is good, but as it was pointed out it may not be fiscally worth the risk. I agree with those that believe that capital improvements like better sound systems, seats, concessioins, and ushers to control the crowd is the best way to improve attendance. All the other stuff, that's nice too, but I don't think PS3 parties are going to be AMCs saving grace as much as investing in the latest dolby. I have a nice home-theater but there's still something about seeing a movie in a theater that has an enduring charm that shouldn't be given up on just yet.
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Interactive Movies and Premium Theaters
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This exists in the US
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Been there, done that
Quite comfy, and when you play in a tournament via the provided servers they can put the action on the bigscreen, if they have a video compositing machine they can even switch between several games or use picture-in-picture.
The air conditioning is quite taxed by all the heat generated by the pcs though.
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No children under 16 allowed without parent
I would love to hear more info or experiences with this concept.
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i hate you
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