Game Details

• Title: You’re in the Movies
• Developer: Codemasters (Zoe Mode)
• Released (UK): 28/11/2008
• Age Rating: 3+
• Genre: Xbox Vision Camera Mini Games/Party Games
• Multi-player: Offline only up to 4 players

Background

The Xbox Live Vision Camera has been around for a couple of years but until You’re in the Movies there has been no game that has taken advantage of it to its full potential. The game is essentially an Xbox 360 version of Eye Toy games for the PS2, and the “movies” or more accurately trailers are normally created by playing a series of mini-games and poses for the camera that are then put into scripted scenes, as can be seen below in the videos I have uploaded onto Youtube.

The first video is of a Lips microphone starring having “played” through in the single player mode with the other actors being the “generic defaults”.

As well as being able to create trailers in the default mode through mini games, you can also edit all snippets together using the Director mode once you have unlocked this by completing a few scenes (I think its 5). In this mode you just have to do the correct action and poses, and you can also add your own voice over to the “film” using an Xbox 360 headset. The second video was made using this mode and has a generic B movie soundtrack and “stars” cheap and nasty Lord of the Rings action figures!! in all the roles.

Finally all the mini games can be played individually outside of “movie” creation.

Main Reasons to Buy

Its a good party game, and you have the ability to embarrass people by saving the scene then uploading to youtube, or some other video sharing site. You can also edit scenes together and put in your own voice over with the only additional accessory needed being an Xbox 360 headset and some patience. It is also bundled together with the Vision Camera allowing you to pick one up relatively cheaply and currently in some shops the bundle is cheaper than the stand alone camera.

Main Reasons to Avoid

It is a party game and is therefore for full enjoyment you need when other people playing at the same time. For the “actors” to be fully in shot also requires you to have somewhere with some space available (ideally at least a few metres) and a decent light source. There are also relatively few other games that use the Vision Camera and it is not a necessity for any of them that I am aware of.

My Recommendation

CONSIDER – 6/10

Its a fun party game and the ability to upload personalised videos to the web is a definite plus. Even so I would only really recommend it if you are likely to frequently use it as a party game and have the space available to use it to its fullest.  The only other reason is if you want to pick up a Vision Camera then buying it bundled with You’re in the Movies may provide the best value for money.