[Jason]

Seth Rogen is making a movie about Sega vs. Nintendo, and it's being optioned by Sony.

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Sony Pictures and Scott Rudin (Moneyball, The Social Network) are developing Console Wars as a feature film to be directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (Knocked Up, Superbad). Rogen and Goldberg are also writing the screenplay. Harris is serving as Executive Producer, and is also co-directing a documentary on the same subject, with Rudin, Rogen and Goldberg producing as well.

It's based on this upcoming book, which he foreworded.

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Following the success of The Accidental Billionaires and Moneyball comes Console Wars—a mesmerizing, behind-the-scenes business thriller that chronicles how Sega, a small, scrappy gaming company led by an unlikely visionary and a team of rebels, took on the juggernaut Nintendo and revolutionized the video game industry.

In 1990, Nintendo had a virtual monopoly on the video game industry. Sega, on the other hand, was just a faltering arcade company with big aspirations and even bigger personalities. But that would all change with the arrival of Tom Kalinske, a man who knew nothing about videogames and everything about fighting uphill battles. His unconventional tactics, combined with the blood, sweat and bold ideas of his renegade employees, transformed Sega and eventually led to a ruthless David-and-Goliath showdown with rival Nintendo.

The battle was vicious, relentless, and highly profitable, eventually sparking a global corporate war that would be fought on several fronts: from living rooms and schoolyards to boardrooms and Congress. It was a once-in-a-lifetime, no-holds-barred conflict that pitted brother against brother, kid against adult, Sonic against Mario, and the US against Japan.

Based on over two hundred interviews with former Sega and Nintendo employees, Console Wars is the underdog tale of how Kalinske miraculously turned an industry punchline into a market leader. It's the story of how a humble family man, with an extraordinary imagination and a gift for turning problems into competitive advantages, inspired a team of underdogs to slay a giant and, as a result, birth a $60 billion dollar industry.

I am so confused.

This post has been edited by Jason: 24 February 2014 - 10:32 AM

[LordOfSquad]

This is going to be great. This Is The End had me roaring, so more movies directed by these guys is fine by me.

[Jason]

By the way, I too did not check SEGAbits, who had this story covered a few days ago, and instead found out via Reddit. Sorry Barry .

This post has been edited by Jason: 24 February 2014 - 11:31 AM

[Overlord]

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In 1990, Nintendo had a virtual monopoly on the video game industry. Sega, on the other hand, was just a faltering arcade company with big aspirations and even bigger personalities.

I assume this is just going to focus on the USA then, as this line is only true for that territory.

[JaxTH]

I wonder how much misinformation is in this movie then. I was thinking this was a documentary before reading that summary.

I mean, that summary already says that the Genrsis came out in 1990 (apparently) and that it was "US vs. Japan" (I don't get this line).

[Jason]

That's the weird part. If what the press release says is accurate, there is a movie, which Rogen is directing and the book writer is producing, and a documentary, which their roles are reversed. So it sounds like there's going to be a dramatization of the events version, kind of like that Jobs movie, and a more informative version based on the same material. Strange approach, but the "over two hundred" interviews the writer conducted can't be too far off base.

[Black Squirrel]

I wish they wouldn't.

There's already too much misinformation already - an entire generation of schoolkids think that Nintendo was relevant in the UK, and it means as a nation we're sleepwalking into forgetting our entire home computing heritage!



Also even in the US, events after 1993 get a bit muddled. The Super Nintendo starts throwing some punches but some don't land until after the Sega Saturn. So it's really difficult to judge success and discover which console "won". Except in non-US, non-Japanese regions where it was a Sega walkover.

[TheKazeblade]

Black Squirrel, on 25 February 2014 - 11:58 AM, said:

I wish they wouldn't.

There's already too much misinformation already - an entire generation of schoolkids think that Nintendo was relevant in the UK, and it means as a nation we're sleepwalking into forgetting our entire home computing heritage!

Welcome to every biopic/movie based on true events movie ever made.

I think nothing but good can come from this. I know that personally, I always fact-check after seeing a "true story," and I know many others do too. If anything, this will help people get more educated, and maybe boost some Sega sales in the meantime.

[Epsilonsama]

Get ready for the price of the Genesis to increase exponentially. All the kids that weren't part of this will buy a Genesis because its hip and cool.

[Overlord]

I'm fine with that, I have more than enough spare MDs to make a killing on eBay

[Dark Sonic]

Epsilonsama, on 28 February 2014 - 02:06 PM, said:

Get ready for the price of the Genesis to increase exponentially. All the kids that weren't part of this will buy a Genesis because its hip and cool.

Phhhppt what are you talking about. Those 80 in 1 things at Urban Outfitters are good enough.

This post has been edited by Dark Sonic: 28 February 2014 - 02:31 PM