A FMV (Full Motion Video) is a pre-recorded video that can display full video images and sound.
On that note, FMV games use game narration techniques that rely upon pre-recorded video files to display a game’s various scenarios. Made with numerous cutscenes, this game genre, also called interactive motion video, lets the player’s choices determine how the game will progress.
For various reasons, FMV games have long been considered a non-mainstream game genre that is exclusive to fans of its kind. In this type of games, players do not control the game characters as per usual and, in addition, they lack stylish action or visually stunning graphics. However, they also have strong points such as realistic cinematography and dramatic stories that carefully unfold through in-game hints and clues.
Numerous FMV games have been released so far, and thanks to the advancement of technology, many game developers have taken advantage of the improvement in memory limitations to focus on making a breakthrough in user interactivity alongside high-quality movie-like graphics. Today, we at Latis Global, experts in game localization and various game operation services for game developers aiming towards the global market, will introduce you to some of the best FMV games.
1. The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story
A Shijima Story, published by Square Enix, is a murder mystery game in which players need to solve the mystery that has haunted the Shijima family for a century. The game keeps players immersed with its branching narrative where players’ choices determine each event, and each choice leads to different clues. If you are into solving mysteries, The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story will be a good choice for you.
2. Five Dates
Among the many FMV games in the horror or thriller genre, Five Dates stands out as an online dating simulation game created during the COVID-19 pandemic. How about diving into a digital dating world that allows you to interact and go on dates with 5 possible matches in order to find your soulmate?
3. Night Book
Loralyn, an online interpreter, gets caught up in a mystery while working on her night shift. This FMV game offers players intensified thrills as they uncover the mysterious stories behind Loralyn’s husband being far away, her mentally unbalanced father, and her desperate attempts to protect her family. If you fancy a horror movie night, Night Book is the game for you.
4. The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker
GameSpew, a British game review website, declared The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker as an innovation that surpasses the current development of FMV games. In this game, players do not have to choose between previously provided options. Rather, they can interact freely with NPCs by directly typing questions. Players have to interview the late Doctor Dekker’s patients and, aside from delving into their own individual problems, deduce which of the suspects murdered him. The numerous endings that await for the player at the end of the playthrough, plus the fact that there are side quest stories waiting to be unlocked, make this a game that stands up to multiple replays.
5. Her Story
A game where players have to search the police video database and explore hundreds of authentic clips to discover a female suspect’s true story in the 1990s. The game provides great player immersion thanks to the actress’s acting talent that breathes life into the game. Since the interview video clips are not provided in a timeline, players need to thoroughly check every interview and proceed with the investigation. In this detective game, players get closer to the truth by finding clues and can have a taste of what criminal profiling really is like.
6. The Shapeshifting Detective
Detective Sam can shapeshift into people whom he has met before. In this game, gamers play as Sam, interact with eight suspects, use Sam’s psychic abilities at the right times, and shapeshift into the suspects’ relatives and acquaintances to find clues as they progress. The Shapeshifting Detective is produced by Wales Interactive, UK, which also released the game The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker we introduced to you earlier. The game may seem unrealistic, but it was praised by many gamers for its immersiveness because of the actors’ acting talents and the first-person camerawork. The story’s development, as well as the culprit’s final identity, are all subjected to the players’ choices.
7. Contradiction
It is a detective FMV game that will make players feel like they have entered the world of Sherlock Holmes.
Thanks to its high-quality graphics, the beautiful British countryside is perfectly reproduced in this mystery game that makes players feel like they have entered the world of Sherlock Homes. Its seamless frame changes and camerawork allow players to freely roam around in each scene. In this game, players must interview a variety of people they encounter and reach the truth by using the pieces of evidence they collect.
The Success of Interactive Games – Localization
The debate on whether to categorize FMVs as games or interactive video content is still ongoing. However, clarifying their genre seems to be pointless. As we are at the 4th Industrial Revolution, boundaries between different genres are slowly getting vaguer due to the Big Blur effect. It is expected that new genres, formats, and types of content will continue to appear to satisfy consumers’ heightened bars.
FMV is still a genre that receives polarizing critiques depending on cultures and regions and, at the moment, it seems to be loved only by a minority. Because of this, localization would be the most critical factor for FMV games since, like in movies or dramas, making its context clear and understandable is their top priority.
This means that taking the preferences of international gamers into consideration and being prepared for localization will definitely improve sales.
In addition to offering our expertise in game localization, game sound, game testing, and game operation services, Latis Global provides regular updates on the latest news and relevant issues within the gaming industry. For any comments or additional questions, please email us at contact@latisglobal.com.
