Game Rant's most anticipated game of 2011 isn't even releasing in 2011 anymore, but we're still just as excited. Of course, that game is Mass Effect 3 and we've been loving every bit of it, from the first screenshot and trailer to our E3 demo and Comic-Con 2011 hands-on. But that's not what we're going to discuss here and instead, we're going to step into the dreaded territory of video game movie adaptations...

As our own Christian Spicer put it in the latest edition of Game Rant Minute, there's a good argument for why movie tie-ins and other licensed games shouldn't exist, but there's perhaps an even stronger argument for why movies based on video games also shouldn't exist.

From Doom and Max Payne to Prince of Persia and Wing Commander, studios and the creative minds taking on the script writing and directorial duties behind some of the biggest video game adaptations consistently fail at delivering quality films. Worse, many of the adaptations don't even stay true to key elements of the games, so what's the point?

Because of this disastrous trend, video game publishers and film studios have learned and are not jumping as quickly or blindly into the easy cash grab. We saw the Halo and Gears of War films both stalled, and the developers behind Metal Gear Solid won't dare let a studio tarnish their brand name. Even Valve admitted recently that if there's a movie to be made off of their works (see: Half-Life), they'll do it themselves.

Mass Effect Movie News

More recently, the Uncharted film saw its director David O. Russell and star Mark Wahlberg part ways from the project due to the fan uproar against their non-Uncharted ideas for the film and while all of this is happening, major publishers have begun to start their own film studios. Ubisoft Motion Pictures and Rockstar Films are just the beginning as video game developers and publishers seek to take creative control of their own intellectual property.

What does this all mean? I've been saying for a few years, but the reality is that sooner rather than later, the bubble will burst and an amazing, true-to-the-source video game movie will hit theaters, become a box office success and most importantly, fans will love it. When that day comes, the film industry will push full steam ahead into the video game genre and many hot video game franchises will see their brands greenlighted into feature film projects. Video game movies will become the new comic book movie and it's only a matter of time.

Mass Effect 3 Comic Con Demo Impressions

A film that could kickstart this trend is that of Mass Effect and Legendary Pictures came to Comic-Con to let everyone know their intentions to make that a reality. At their first ever Comic-Con presentation, they held an early preview of four high concept science fiction/fantasy epics all in early preproduction and one of those was of course, the Mass Effect movie.

Before the panel began, a moderator for Legendary acknowledged the "elephant in the room' in that video game movies are essentially crap. It is their goal by working intimately with the creative minds at BioWare, that they'll be able to appropriately adapt the core of what makes Mass Effect so special to the films.

Mass Effect creator and producer Casey Hudson, joined by screenwriter Mark Protosevich, ran the panel and while they had no concept art, test footage for casting announcements to share, they explained why Legendary is the right studio to work with for this type of project.

Hudson explained that unlike most games, Mass Effect and its sequels contain the key elements a film needs to be successful, emphasizing story and characters, built into a rich universe. He revealed that the Mass Effect film would be based on the first game and Protosevich followed up by explaining that his script will be "following and honoring story" of the series.

The long term goal is to create a major film franchise based on the property and Hudson appreciates Legendary for making the big movies "unapologetically."

If any video game would make for an incredible cinematic experience on the silver screen, no one can deny that Mass Effect is it. Our fear is that it'll go the way most adaptations go but like always, we'll have to wait and see on who gets involved with the project, both in front and behind the cameras.

There's been interest from Hollywood in Mass Effect since 2006, the year before the game even released. In 2008, producer Avi Arad picked up the rights to film and since then we've all been patiently waiting. Even here at Comic-Con, nothing breaking was revealed. With Mass Effect 3 now representing one of next year's biggest releases, expect movement on the film in the near future.

Who would you like to see direct and star in the Mass Effect movie?

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