Classical Styles

A Comparison of Classical Hollywood Cinema and Modern AAA Video Games

Abstract

The aim of this article is to conceptualize the term “Classic Video Game” by employing the methodology used by David Bordwell, Janet Staiger, and Kristin Thompson to delineate the “Classical Hollywood Style.” To conduct the research, several video games produced by Rockstar Games between 2000 and 2013 were analyzed using the categories outlined by Bordwell, Staiger, and Thompson in the first part of Classical Hollywood Cinema: pro- duction, narrative, soundtrack, and advertising practices. The application of this method revealed numerous shared elements between classic Hollywood productions and certain AAA video games, allowing the category of “classic” to be applied not only in a temporal sense but also in a stylistic one. Furthermore, the research confirms that Bordwell’s robust analytical framework can also be effectively applied to other forms of popular culture, even across different time periods.