You're in the Movies
A party game that puts players into movie trailers.
You're in the Movies is a party video game for Xbox 360 that uses the Xbox Live Vision camera to film players and insert them into movie scenarios. Developed by Zoë Mode and published by Codemasters, it was released in 2008 in North America and PAL territories, and in 2009 in Australia and Japan. The game includes 30 movie scenarios for up to four players, with videos that can be stored and shared via email.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Zoë Mode
- Publisher
- Codemasters
- Composer
- Richard Jacques
- Released
- November 18, 2008 (NA)
- November 28, 2008 (EU)
- March 26, 2009 (AUS)
- April 16, 2009 (JP)
- Genre
- Party
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Xbox 360
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Players use the bundled Xbox Live Vision camera to complete mini-games by mimicking actions for movie trailers in science fiction, thriller, and adventure stories. Scores depend on how closely each player replicates the required action. After the mini-games, players perform pick-up shots by making facial expressions like an evil grin or intense concentration. Videos can be shared with others via email links sent through Xbox.
Development
Zoë Mode conceived You're in the Movies from virtual green screen technology used in their earlier camera games, believing a movie game would suit it well. Lead designer Andy Trowers explained that the team first filmed one movie and designed games matching the characters' actions as a proof-of-concept. The creative design team chose movie themes and mini-games to evoke a B-movie atmosphere. Trowers described designing mini-games as an organic process that worked both ways: sometimes starting with a movie and needing a game for a scene's action, other times starting with a game idea and finding a movie to fit. Some movie ideas were ultimately left out of the final game.
Release and promotion
The developers initially targeted adults but, after testing with various age groups, concluded the game was accessible to anyone. At Microsoft's E3 2008 press conference in July, Shane Kim announced the game alongside Scene It: Box Office Smash, showcasing a trailer for a fake movie called Cold Blooded about a giant radioactive salamander. The game also appeared at the Games Convention a month later. Burt Reynolds fronted TV and magazine advertising spots in 2008, premiering in North America on VH1 on November 18 and in major European markets from November 28.
Critical reception
You're in the Movies received generally mixed to negative reviews, holding a 55.92% score on GameRankings and a 55 out of 100 on Metacritic from 19 reviews. Critics mainly criticized the bundled Xbox Live Vision Camera. Before release, EyeToy's Sandy Spangler predicted technical difficulties with the background subtraction used to place players in movies. Nate Ahearn of IGN gave the game 4.2/10, calling the camera an annoyance that handcuffs the experience and the activities boring. Don Francis of GameSpot called it a box-office bust, criticizing the annoying voice acting and the high $60 price tag. 1UP.com's Tyler Barber gave a C+, describing it as a video game rather than an acting studio. Eurogamer's Dan Whitehead was harshest with a 2/10, stating that typical home lighting does not meet the technical requirements of the aging webcam, and advised buying a digital camcorder instead.
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