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The Godfather: Success or Failure Beckons News
Chris Leyton
20/03/2006
This week finally sees the release of EA's adaptation, but can it reinforce confidence amidst reports of $800 million cost...
Differing opinions highlighted on both the FT and The Mercury News serve one common purpose in highlighting just how much faith EA has placed behind its adaptation of The Godfather.
Due for release this week (current-gen at least) after a costly delay reported to have wiped close to $800 million from EA's share value, the publishing giant has reportedly spent between $10-20 million funding the adaptation; a figure that rises to nearer $30-40 million when taking into account all formats according to Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities.
In what amounts to a pre-emptive strike to avoid comparisons to Coppola's masterpiece, both the game's executive producer, David DeMartini, and Sandi Isaacs, vice president of interactive for Viacom Consumer Products, believe the game adaptation should be compared to the likes of GTA rather then a "straightforward re-creation of the film." Perhaps they just want to distance themselves away from comments made last year by Francis Ford Coppola.
With intention to develop The Godfather into yet another heavyweight EA franchise with future adaptations, it's crucial that the first game gets off to a good start, not only to secure the franchise's videogame future, but also to recoup the development costs and bolster confidence in EA's share price during a tumultuous time.
More significantly the success or failure of The Godfather will provide an apt status on the current situation of the videogame industry, a time when development costs and times are rising, but many question the lack of real innovation shown in "me-too" clones.
Proven masters of handling such powerful franchises, if anybody can convince gamers to look past the initially mediocre review scores and yet another title that draws heavy inspiration from GTA, then it's EA.
