"Blockbuster Inc." played: Not a box office hit
In the business simulation "Blockbuster Inc.", players become movie tycoons. A nice idea, poorly implemented.
(Image: Super Sly Fox)
And action! The development studio Super Sly Fox has created an easily accessible business simulation in the style of the cult hit "The Movies" and classic "Tycoon" management games. In the "Sims" look, players build their own movie empire so that the cash registers ring at the end.
From B-picture to blockbuster
In "Blockbuster Inc.", players work their way up from producer of cheap action films to Hollywood tycoon. From the 1920s to the 2010s, players have to manage the budget, stage crisp action scenes and tame annoying stars along the way. As the game progresses, players unlock new genres and techniques for their films, which are rewarded not only at the box office but also at the annual film awards.
First, the up-and-coming tycoons must select their employees in the fictional metropolis "Filmwood" and construct buildings on the studio lot. Offices for producers and writers are just as important as a marketing department or the janitor. Employees can relax in the lounge, work out in the training room and improve their skills with a teacher. The studio will later be expanded to include departments for sound and special effects. The studio also has its research department to unlock new genres, techniques or buildings. Players can also set the staff's working hours, negotiate their salary or place them in a fancy apartment in the city.
Film away!
The action takes place on the movie set. After selecting the genre, staff and later post-production, players can either shoot the movie automatically or direct it themselves. The creative options are very limited: an action scene, a few fog effects or a camera pan on the actors. Each take is given a certain rating to assess the chances of success. Players can also expand their movie set with new cameras or props. All of this has an impact on the movie or TV series at the end.
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Together with an advertising campaign and the corresponding star power, the film quickly becomes a hit. Sarcastic film reviews provide a little humor and players can evaluate the data for success in detailed statistics. The money is then invested in even more staff and larger productions. But success comes at a price: the staff start to grumble, the stars have their airs and graces and have to go to therapy. Daring players can also invest in other studios. But beware: this devours huge amounts of financial resources.
Business sim light
The exciting idea of having your studio empire quickly loses its appeal due to the loveless presentation. The visual style is reminiscent of a mobile game, there are hardly any details and the finished movie scenes are unspectacular. Much of this is excusable due to the presumably low budget, but one thing is unforgivable: regardless of what year we are in – the look remains the same. Without the period coloring, much of the atmosphere is lost. There are also a few satirical sideswipes at the film industry and its stars. Too bad.
The gameplay also remains the same: producing films and managing staff. The flow of the game repeatedly comes to a standstill when the staff go to sleep. It takes a long time before there is any variety in the work, but it never became challenging during the play sessions. We quickly built up several sets on the medium difficulty level and occupied all the buildings without going bankrupt. Some players may find this relaxing, but anyone looking for a challenging economic simulation will be disappointed.
Intermediate conclusion
"Blockbuster Inc." is an easily accessible business simulation that disappoints with its lack of variety in gameplay and loveless presentation. Countless menus feign complexity without realizing it. Instead, players repeat the same steps over and over again to achieve success. Especially, players who spend a long time shooting their scenes will be disappointed by the unspectacular result in the end. "Blockbuster Inc." is a missed opportunity. Only movie fans who want to get a relaxed taste of the tough movie business will be entertained for a few hours.
"Blockbuster Inc." was released on June 6 for Windows. It costs 24 euros. USK not tested.
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