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There are so many games that make their way to store shelves, it’s not very surprising that most fly under the radar. For example, I wouldn’t have even given The Movies a serious look, if only because the packaging isn’t particularly spectacular, and the fact that simulation games ala Rollercoaster Tycoon have never appealed to me.

The Movies, beyond being simply a simulation of a movie studio, is also recognized for its other uses, particularly in what some have named the niche filmmaking field of “machinima”. While movies made with computer graphics is nothing new, the concept of using computer games to make movies has apparenly turned some heads, despite the fact that the idea is hardly new. John Carmack of Quake fame, for example, suggested that his engines would be used for precisely this purpose in the future, when gaming engines coule be used to create realistic-looking graphics with scripting utilities easy enough for the non-hacker to use.

For those unaware, The Movies has an online component, which is nothing more than a way to transfer content to Lionhead’s website. Lionhead is the developer of the game, known for employing gaming genius Peter Molyneux, who brought the world Populas and the ill-received (and unrightly so) Black & White. Molyneux has pushed the envelope in the gaming world numerous times, and The Movies is no exception.

Rather than be just a simulation game, The Movies lets players make short films. In the single-player version of the game, the option to take a creative role in these films is available, but not necessary. Playing through the single-player game unlocks new movie sets, movie technologies, etc, that can be used in “sandbox mode”. In this feature, the player is able to write and direct their own movie, using pre-scripted events. Players can add captions, voice-overs, music, etc to their creations, without ever having to model a person in a 3D graphics utility.

The videos created in The Movies can be exported, and through Lionhead, can be uploaded to their web site for dissemination to the public. Such movies are rated, and become a great outlet for amateur filmmakers around the world.

When a French gamer used The Movies to distribute a political film about the recent riots in France, word about The Movies got out, and I couldn’t help but pick a copy up. Indeed, the game is very addicting, and that’s without even getting fully immersed into the filmmaking components of the game.

Like many simulation games, The Movies is not without its annoyances and quirks. The micromanagements necessary to keep one’s studio financially secure is an absolute pain, but fortunately I only intend to hammer through the game once to unlock all the buildings, sets, etc. Thereafter, I hope to dabble in the making-of-films, starting with a collaborative project with Bones Wiley, to use The Movies as a cheap way to script music videos.

Interestingly, a $50 PC game has the potential for far more than just entertainment. If anything, it’s a perfect example of how games can have a good influence on society. Bravo, Molyneux!

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