How British Cinema and Television May Inspire Future Video Games

Posted Filed under

Throughout the years, British television has provided viewers with an array of iconic developments. In turn, there’s been a belief that Britain’s creative thinking regarding TV shows has led the way in global entertainment. Even though traditional on-screen viewership has suffered during the rise of on-demand services, British creations have been able to branch out into other forms of entertainment. Fundamentally, this has been evident in the gaming sector. So, let’s take a look at how British cinema and television may be the inspiration behind future video game concepts.

A History in the Gaming Industry

Written by British author, J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter has grown into one of Britain’s most iconic pieces of cinema. Back in 2001, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – the very first big-screen creation in the series – was released. Although it didn’t gain the same recognition as the movie, a video game spin-off of the film also hit the shelves in the very same year. Following that, a further seven film-based gaming titles were made, with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 being the last in 2011.

Furthermore, this long-standing involvement in gaming since the turn of the 21st century doesn’t just stop at the Harry Potter franchise. In addition to the fantasy creation, Sherlock Holmes – who has been dubbed as a British icon by the Museum of London – has also been the inspiration behind numerous gaming releases. While Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy was the first in the series dating back to 2002, Sherlock Holmes Chapter One looks set to continue the trend of the upcoming next-gen consoles in 2021. Interestingly, this is indicative of how fictional British characters have not only had a role in gaming’s history but are also central to future developments.

Overcoming the Obstacle of Changing Gamer Trends

Although the Harry Potter series has seemingly reached its conclusion, Sherlock Holmes demonstrates have British developments still have their place in other forms of entertainment. However, in seeking to rise to the forefront of gaming in the 2020s, local pieces of iconic cinema and TV will be faced with heightened competition.

Over the next decade, there is undoubtedly scope for the Sherlock Holmes Chapter One, for example, to enjoy success on both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. That said, gaming trends have somewhat changed since British crossovers initially hit the market during the early 2000s. At the time of writing, gamers immerse themselves in casual, pick-up-and-play style developments on mainstream consoles, such as Fall Guys, which sold seven million units on Steam upon its release back in August 2020.

This lighthearted style is also taking the online casino industry by storm, particularly when coupled with retro-inspired themes. Because of that, Starburst has become of the UK’s favourite games across numerous operators. Fundamentally, Starburst is so popular a lot of UK sites offer a no deposit welcome offer to entice you, such as those listed at BonusFinder. The five-reel slot’s visual effects and excitement-building sounds centre around adopting an old-school aesthetic that rejects over-the-top graphics.

The Potential to Inspire

While, of course, there’s no guarantee that on-screen crossovers will be successful, it’s clear that British productions have the iconic status to make themselves a gaming triumph once again. Ultimately, should Sherlock Homes Chapter One flourish on next-gen consoles, then it could prove to the catalyst in the recreation of more British-themed titles.