Cinemas Choose Games Over Films? Halo Takes Control of Entire Movie Theatre
Weekly videogame tournaments in cinemas? Yes please!
A couple of months ago, we excitedly reported a video games tournament that was being held on a giant IMAX screen in the US. We’re quite partial to the idea of playing games on massive projectors, and now it seems that this plainly fantastic idea is beginning to take off.
A branch of Cinefour Movie Theatres in Logan, Utah, has elected to replace its Friday midnight late-showings with something altogether more exciting – Halo tournaments. On a weekly basis, four of the main screens are taken over by Xboxes, and multiplayer Halo tournaments ensue. It’s a scheme that has proved immediately popular with locals. The cinema’s co-owner, Calvin Timothy, said of their first tourney, “Tonight blew our minds. We’re definitely going to keep doing this.” Indeed, as long as Cinefour can charge entry fees of $60 for four-player teams, and even $3 for spectators, then there would be obvious reasons to do so.
Reports from the players involved were also glowing with positivity… obviously, because they’d just been playing a cool videogame on a gigantic screen. Timothy had explained that “...according to the gal [that’s American for 'bird' BTW] at the licensing company, we’re the first theater [sic] ever to license Xbox with them”. If the results are as consistently positive as the Logan cinema had proved, it’s an idea that could spread quicker than butter-substitute on hot popcorn.
Cinemas would benefit by making use of time-slots that can’t handle a full movie-showing, and uniquely, customers would often re-visit for the same event - something that even the best films in the world struggle to do. As for gamers, the joyous rewards are fairly obvious: and if they didn’t want to shell out $15 each, they can always stay at home. And, of course, Microsoft would probably be quite keen on the idea too… cinema Halo tournaments would act as awesome marketing gimmicks, and would thoroughly elevate the Xbox brand in general. In fact, MS would be wise to subsidise such projects before Sony spots the opening.
As soon as there is any news of this scheme being introduced by European cinemas, or if Cinefour’s scheme grows beyond Halo in setting up its tournaments, we shall be on it immediately, wide-eyed with our hands firmly in the air. “Bagsy me next!”
A branch of Cinefour Movie Theatres in Logan, Utah, has elected to replace its Friday midnight late-showings with something altogether more exciting – Halo tournaments. On a weekly basis, four of the main screens are taken over by Xboxes, and multiplayer Halo tournaments ensue. It’s a scheme that has proved immediately popular with locals. The cinema’s co-owner, Calvin Timothy, said of their first tourney, “Tonight blew our minds. We’re definitely going to keep doing this.” Indeed, as long as Cinefour can charge entry fees of $60 for four-player teams, and even $3 for spectators, then there would be obvious reasons to do so.
Reports from the players involved were also glowing with positivity… obviously, because they’d just been playing a cool videogame on a gigantic screen. Timothy had explained that “...according to the gal [that’s American for 'bird' BTW] at the licensing company, we’re the first theater [sic] ever to license Xbox with them”. If the results are as consistently positive as the Logan cinema had proved, it’s an idea that could spread quicker than butter-substitute on hot popcorn.
Cinemas would benefit by making use of time-slots that can’t handle a full movie-showing, and uniquely, customers would often re-visit for the same event - something that even the best films in the world struggle to do. As for gamers, the joyous rewards are fairly obvious: and if they didn’t want to shell out $15 each, they can always stay at home. And, of course, Microsoft would probably be quite keen on the idea too… cinema Halo tournaments would act as awesome marketing gimmicks, and would thoroughly elevate the Xbox brand in general. In fact, MS would be wise to subsidise such projects before Sony spots the opening.
As soon as there is any news of this scheme being introduced by European cinemas, or if Cinefour’s scheme grows beyond Halo in setting up its tournaments, we shall be on it immediately, wide-eyed with our hands firmly in the air. “Bagsy me next!”
Games:
Halo: Combat Evolved
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Comments
Deviluck 20 Aug 2004 16:12
1/6
Ah this sounds just so much fun, it would good for other games too, going over all consoles. Hope they bring it to england, but there aren't many IMAXs over here.
Mecha Ghandi 20 Aug 2004 16:19
2/6
Deviluck wrote:
>Ah this sounds just so much fun, it would good
>for other games too, going over all consoles.
>Hope they bring it to england, but there aren't
>many IMAXs over here.
Don't worry dude, it doesn't need an IMAX, any cinema would do.
C'mon Odeon... do your thing.
>Ah this sounds just so much fun, it would good
>for other games too, going over all consoles.
>Hope they bring it to england, but there aren't
>many IMAXs over here.
Don't worry dude, it doesn't need an IMAX, any cinema would do.
C'mon Odeon... do your thing.
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Joji 20 Aug 2004 16:51
3/6
Excellent idea. The very thought of it is enough to get questions asked at your local cinema, some that would surely welcome the extra income.
It would be nice if this moved onto other games etc, because game tournaments need more exposure to get people interested, especially in the u.k. Going to a local cinema to take part is easy as pie, and the incentive is there to walk away with some cool loot for your team.
FIFA and PES would take on a whole new level on a large screen too.
It would be nice if this moved onto other games etc, because game tournaments need more exposure to get people interested, especially in the u.k. Going to a local cinema to take part is easy as pie, and the incentive is there to walk away with some cool loot for your team.
FIFA and PES would take on a whole new level on a large screen too.
config 21 Aug 2004 09:02
4/6
Mecha Ghandi wrote:
>Don't worry dude, it doesn't need an IMAX, any
>cinema would do.
I doubt this is actually the case. I would imagine that the cinema would at least have to have digital projector technology in place, rather than bad old fashioned reel-to-reel celluloid.
Every cinema in the world should be persuaded/manipulated/forced to move to digital delivery. Not least for these gaming events, but also to realise worldwide simultaneous release dates on movies. Then I wouldn't be "forced" to download a crummy telecine of "I, Robert" or "Crapwoman" to see it weeks or months ahead of the UK release. <thinks: can't...keep...myself...from..downloading...AvP....must...see...argh>
>Don't worry dude, it doesn't need an IMAX, any
>cinema would do.
I doubt this is actually the case. I would imagine that the cinema would at least have to have digital projector technology in place, rather than bad old fashioned reel-to-reel celluloid.
Every cinema in the world should be persuaded/manipulated/forced to move to digital delivery. Not least for these gaming events, but also to realise worldwide simultaneous release dates on movies. Then I wouldn't be "forced" to download a crummy telecine of "I, Robert" or "Crapwoman" to see it weeks or months ahead of the UK release. <thinks: can't...keep...myself...from..downloading...AvP....must...see...argh>
Kierydon 22 Aug 2004 19:43
5/6
Living in Utah has finally paid off for me, looks like I know what I'm doing next weekend.
Newtynho 23 Aug 2004 07:48
6/6
I've been dreaming of playing on Cinema screens since the first time I've played Street Fighter 2 on Arcades! It's just a brilliant idea! Imagine playing Pro Evolution Soccer on one of those screens! Beautiful! :)