Welcome to NShooters, if we feel that you as a shooters fan will be interested in a game or peripheral, we will give it coverage right here on NShooters. If you enjoy other genres of games in addition to shooters, then be sure to visit NAdventures and NSports in order to get your fill of gaming content. Check out http://hub.ngenres.com for the highlight stories from each genre.

Editorials   Uncharted Waters
- By Brett Fulesday

“[Popular television show] has captivated and attracted legions of viewers around the world, and we’re excited…in bringing this phenomenally popular series to a new medium for fans to enjoy. We’re confident that we can meld all of the key aspects of the [television show’s] concept with the latest technology to create immersive and compelling games with broad appeal to a huge gaming audience.” – Paul Rinde, senior v-p and general manager of WizardWorks.

If I were to ask readers (quite the feedback question, no?) which television program they most wanted to see made into a video game (that which has not already been made into a game), I assume that I’d see shows from two good ol’ standby genres: game shows and cartoons.

After all, look at any Nintendo platform (save Virtual Boy) and tell me that you cannot find Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!.

After all, look at Nintendo platforms – past and present – and tell me that you cannot find the presence of such classic ‘toon characters as Fred and Barney, Scooby and Shaggy, Bart and Homer, or Mickey and Friends, among others.

But, one genre not often represented (and, when represented, represented in a most dreadful manner) is the drama genre – you know, those hour-long shows that make you – gasp – think. Granted, The X-Files made an appearance, however unfortunate. Granted, Buffy the Vampire Slayer made a cameo, however painful. Yet, where were (are?) the “smart” programs?

NYPD Blue?

Homicide: Life on the Street?

The drama show: Law & Order?

Personally, this mystery flabbergasts me, particularly when discussing L & O. Given that the show is currently airing in its 11th season (a lengthy enough period of time to make the program the current longest-running drama series on television), one might think that the show nears the end of its run (which, given that the peacock renewed the program through 2005, indicates that it most certainly is not). Yet, to illustrate a point, say that the show has coasted on rehashed plotlines for several years, and that the characters no longer have room to develop (think X-Files or Friends). Moreover, say that because of the declining quality, the show no longer “wins” its time slot and that a WB program threatens to draw higher ratings. Thus, if you were Dick (Wolf, the creator and executive producer of the series), you would probably try anything to rejuvenate the program and increase ratings.

Let’s see…

Death of a character? Not unless the show’s at season’s end.

Birth or marriage? Too personal of a story for the program.

Special guest star? Perhaps, but too common of a remedy.

3-D presentation? Next.

End the series? Yep, and here is why…

Extending the life of a dying program does more harm than good because viewers click elsewhere and the value of the “brand” diminishes over time – definitely a no-win situation. Although ending the series would disappoint the diehard fans, the L & O brand would not bruise deeply, for fans would not remember the series for the increasingly inane or tired plots; instead, the fans would remember the show’s high points and glory days.

So, effective immediately, Wolf should plan to conclude the television series at season’s end and focus on a heretofore-untapped medium…

Interactive media. Video games. The Internet. Whatever nomenclature you desire, run for the technology.

Given Wolf’s stature in the entertainment industry, he should negotiate with such heavyweight third-party publishers as Electronic Arts or, perhaps, Sega to launch a series of L & O titles that would be marketed to the “older” (the 18 +) audience. Most importantly, Wolf himself should maintain complete creative control over the production process – no video game magnate should have any say in creating the storylines. Wolf should utilize current L & O writers (or personally hire new writers) because they would best “understand” the titles.

In terms of actual gameplay, so as not to alienate fans of the television program by introducing content not found in the typical program (in other words, incorporating Miami Vice-like shootouts or Knight Rider-esque car chases in every third scene), Wolf would be wise to borrow elements found in other titles and genres:

Emphasize strategy and intellect; no shoot ‘em-ups on the show, no shoot ‘em-ups in the game – GE/MGS/PD.

Employ the one-shot, one-kill system (unless, of course, a bullet strikes a character in his heel or some other meaningless body part) – Rainbow Six.

Use cut-scenes to progress the storyline or to “cover” for areas in which player control would prove tedious – Ninja Gaiden.

Weigh the costs and the benefits of the point-and-click method – Shadowgate.

Use real NYC locales as they currently exist; in other words, strive for geographical accuracy – Shenmue.

And so forth. Granted, this laundry list is far from complete; yet, for a Law & Order video game to be remotely successful, such a title would probably have to contain each of these elements (except for, in all likelihood, the point-and-click aspect).

So, what does this mumbo-jumbo mean? Proba—absolutely nothing. After all, Law & Order is still a flourishing series that serves as NBC’s cornerstone on Wednesday nights. Moreover, the thought of Dick Wolf canceling the series to focus on a video game borders on – no, surpasses – the absurd. Yet, if the concept is so absurd, then why did I bother to waste countless hours writing?

Good question. I suppose that a likely explanation would involve a tasty combo of Survivor backlash, armless-chair quarterbacking, and the desire to just rant instead of slapping together an editorial that would be more fitting for an English Comp class – not that my opinion matters or anything.

By the way, Survivor.