The majority of video games – and all types of creative ideas – were influenced by something. Every thought and vision you’ve had of a fantasy world or your own storyline for a book, movie, or video game has been influenced by something you’ve already seen. Maybe an artist, photographer, sculpture, or a place you’ve been to. Here are some video games that have clearly been influenced by art, artists, and photographers:
L.A. Noire clearly has a 30s/40s film noir theme. Both characters are dressed similarly, in 40’s suits, waistcoats, and fedoras. The camera looks up to the characters and half of their faces are casted in shadow by the brim of their hats which indicates that these are both intimidating characters. Also, the night time street scene behind them could hint that they are involved in something dark going on in the city, or trying to stop it. The photo on the right is a still from the gangster movie “The Crooked Way” from 1949, the height of film noir.
Fallout’s Nuka Cola advertisement posters closely resemble the 50’s Coca Cola adverts. The style of illustration used to draw the female model is similar in both pictures. Both models are also dressed in some kind of working uniform, each poster features a simple tagline, and they also have the same colour scheme.
Ori and the Blind Forest (a platform-adventure game made by independent developers Moon Studios) has a clear link to Hayao Miyazaki’s Totoro – in story and in character design. In My Neighbor Totoro (1988), two little girls with a sick mother and a busy father come across some big, cuddly, friendly forest spirits in the nearby woods. Totoro takes the girls on wonderful adventures and protects them, likewise, Ori and the Blind Forest tells the story of Ori, a fox-like Kodama who falls from a tree as a newborn. Naru, a big, round, optimistic creature from the forest, takes him in and protects him and raises him as her own. As for looks, both Totoro and Naru are round, fuzzy forest creatures with an urge to protect those more innocent/endangered. Both characters are tall, with simplistic facial expressions and are really just big teddy bears.
Cuphead is a classic run and gun game, inspired heavily by old school animation from Disney (Mikey Mouse ^) and Fleischer Studios (Betty Boop/KoKo the Clown). The style of clothing the characters wear are similar – shorts, gloves, and giant shoes, and the characters’ happy go lucky personalities are clearly shown through their over-exaggerated facial expressions and poses. Both characters look 100% ready for their respective adventures.
Next Gen Games 