Whenever I see an announcement for a game based on a movie, TV show or book I love, I sit up and take notice. Most of you do too, admit it.
We look forward to its release with great anticipation. We worry that it will disappoint us. Some of us even pre-order the game based on next to no information other than the title and a few tidbits in the publisher's description.
And most of these games do disappoint, but we will defend a flawed game if it even makes the slightest attempt at capturing the feel of the material or characters that inspired it.
And why do very good games that are clearly based on an IP that was too costly to obtain always seem to fall a little short? Why is Dune better than Rex? What makes the Star Wars X-Wing and Armada succeed, where generic space ship battle games might fail?
Right now I am resisting the impulse to purchase the Wacky Races game, despite the buzz that it is not very good, because WACKY RACES! On the other hand, Betrayal Legacy has gotten nothing but good buzz, but I haven't paid it much attention. However, I know that if it had been Betrayal Legacy: Buffy it would have had it in my hands and ripping the shrink off the day it was released.
Is it just that I have a demanding inner child? A nostalgic longing for my youth? A desire to escape to some familiar fantasy world?
I just don't know. But at least I know that I am not alone.