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’#WarGames’ Is a Unique, Interactive Revival of the ’80s Movie

LuellaGames2025-07-039359

The FMV videogame emerged in the late 1980s, and then died an ignoble death in the early 1990s. (Remember Night Trap?) Intended as a way to blend interactivity and live-action entertainment, FMV games (the acronym stands for "full motion video") were mostly awkward, stitched-together messes that, while fascinating, didn't have any sort of staying power. But in the past few years the genre has gotten a small, unlikely revival—one that unlocks its potential in a way the first wave never did.

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Indeed, what's emerged now is something very different, a format more playful and more thoughtful than anything that surfaced back then. Case in point: #WarGames, an "interactive television" revival of Matthew Broderick's 1983 movie of (almost) same name. Created by Sam Barlow, an FMV pioneer and the developer behind 2015's mystifying Her Story, the game stars completely unknown talent and is just as odd, and just as promising, as you would expect.

In #WarGames, which you can stream online, Kelly's mother is a soldier killed in the line of duty, inspiring Kelly and a fellow group of hackers to engage in a crusade that takes them up against the military industrial complex, ensnaring them in a sprawling conspiracy world that ranges from broadcast news to drone warfare. To tell this story, #WarGames makes excellent use of diegetic video; cell phone cameras, webcams, surveillance footage, anything hackable with a lens becomes the eyes and ears of the viewer.

This, too, is where the interactivity comes in. As the story flows, different screens appear, and the viewer, watching on their computer, can choose which screen they want to focus on. Occasionally, these amount to clear binary choices that affect the plot, but more often than not they're simply a choice of attention. Will you center Kelly, the frustrated, idealistic protagonist? Her edgelord hacker friend? Her spiraling brother? The choices you make, as a viewer, are choices of interest. #WarGames wants to know who you care about.

What it does with this information is less clear. A line graph occupies the top of the monitor, changing based on what screen the player/viewer focuses on. This simple visual is meant to communicate #WarGames' central mechanical conceit, which is that these subjective choices of viewpoint subtly alter the story, changing Kelly's personality, shifting her own allegiances and interests to match your own.

[#video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/a4qWuTOOW2I

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Miles

'#WarGames' - An exhilarating, uniquely interactive revival of the iconic '80s cyber-thriller that revitalizes memories and aficionados alike for its futuristic twists on modern gaming realities.

2025-07-04 22:21:36 reply
Eden

'WarGames,' a masterpiece of double-entendre in modern media, redefines the 80s classic not just as an era reboot but also through irresistibly engaging interactive design.

2025-07-04 22:21:50 reply
Nehemiah

'#WarGames' reinvents the 1980s classic as a unique, immersive experience that transcends time and technological advancements to offer thrilling gameplay.

2025-07-06 09:18:03 reply
Mackenzie

Among the pleasures of '#WarGames' lies its unique blend, reviving a classic 1980s thriller through modern interactive storytelling. Fans will relive their era’sbond and joy as Artificial Intelligence faces off against humanity with cinematic finesse.

2025-07-06 09:18:19 reply
Brody

The reboot of 'WarGames' is a thrilling and unique addition to the 80s movie scene, offering engaging gameplay aspects that keep viewers on edge while paying homage to its groundbreaking original.

2025-07-11 20:26:04 reply
Simone

An entertaining, immersive recreation of the '80s classic featured in '#WarGames', blending nostalgia with modern interactive dynamics for a truly unique experience.

2025-07-13 12:14:19 reply
Ximena

'#WarGames' rejuvenates the 1980s classic with its unique, immersive interactive format that brings a fresh perspective to an era-defining thriller.

2025-07-14 06:05:27 reply
Marlowe

Relive the thrills of 'WarGames' with this unique, interactive revival that captures both nostalgia and modern engagement for fans old and new alike.

2025-07-16 22:54:50 reply
Edward

'#WarGames', a captivating revival of the 80s classic, implodes with its unique blend for interactive storytelling that redefines nostalgic entertainment in modern times.

2025-07-24 17:16:56 reply

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