Iron Man 2 is going to be a major focus at SDCC this week, both the movie and the videogame tie-in. Gamers don't generally have reason to cheer at the announcement of a new movie game, but that might change this time. Fraction has been brought in as one of the writers for the Iron Man 2 game.
We're happy to talk to Fraction whenever possible, so of course we took the opportunity to chat with the writer over the phone about this new gig. While he wasn't able to reveal much about the game's plot – other than the fact that Iron Man is in it – but he was able to discuss the plot thematically and also the challenges involved in transitioning from the medium of comics to games.
[Editor's Note: The below pictures are from the Iron Man 2 movie and are not meant to indicate any particular details about the game. We just wanted to break up the big blocks of text.]
IGN Comics: What brought you onto this project in the first place? Was it based on your work with Invincible Iron Man?
Fraction: Yeah, I think. Sega asked. I suppose it was because of the work on Iron Man. That makes the most sense. I think they were fans of the book and they knew I had consulted some on the film. It was just a natural fit.
IGN Comics: So this didn't have anything to do directly with you going to the film set last year? It was a separate thing?
Fraction: No, I don't think so. You'd have to ask Sega. I think it was writing the book and working on the film, what little I contributed to the second picture, was what brought me in. But again, Sega would be the ones to answer that question.
IGN Comics: As far as the plot of the game goes, does it follow the movie like the first Iron Man game did, or does it tell an original story this time?
Fraction: It shares some elements from the film, but really it's been crafted uniquely and specifically for the game. It's a sister story that works in parallel to the movie.
IGN Comics: Movie games have a reputation for being pretty lousy most of the time. Was that part of their plan this time, to distance the game from the movie a little and try to strike into unique territory?
Fraction: Not so much, ultimately. I never proposed or suggested that adapting the film was a great idea, because if you've seen the film you'll know there's a sort of narrative surprise in store. If you play the game you'll probably have seen the film. I don't think that was ever really the issue. It was rather to create a story specifically for the game that wouldn't necessarily work as a film or couldn't be made as a film because it's so big and expensive. The goal was really to create a satisfying game that hopefully feels like the book and feels like the film but also stands as its own intriguing gaming experience.
IGN Comics: Were there any particular movie games from the past that you used as inspiration when you started working?
Fraction: No. I've actually heard the new Wolverine game is great. I haven't had a chance to play it to see if it's a lot of fun. Nobody could ever name a movie game that was particularly worth researching and investigating. So no, just my own kind of thoughts and experiences as a gamer and the writer of Iron Man to work with Sega and make a story that felt like something I'd want to play, both as a fan of the character and of gaming. I just tried to write the game I would want to play. But I'm not the sole writer on the game, either.
IGN Comics: I can vouch for the Wolverine game. I played it, and it was interesting because the parts where it followed the movie were usually the worst elements of the game, whereas whenever it went off and did it's own thing the game was at its best.
Fraction: Right, right. And I wasn't a huge fan of the film. I don't think it would be too tough to make a game better than that movie.
IGN Comics: [laughs]
Fraction: But with the book and the film, I think the book kind of feels like the films and the films feel like the book. Whichever way you look at it, it was a chance to make a game that at least felt of a kind with the rest, and it was too good a chance to pass up.
IGN Comics: I imagine there must have been a learning process coming into this project as you went from scripting comics to scripting a game, especially since you said you weren't the only writer on the game.
Fraction: The good part was, having not written a game before, I needed somebody who could show me what worked and didn't work within the game world and could kind of keep me focused and walk me through what that was like. That was the learning curve – sort of what can and can't be done in a game. And besides having good content and good collaborators it was nice to have someone with a little bit of experience that could help walk me through some of the stickier parts.
IGN Comics: How different would you say it was to write the movie version of Tony Stark compared to the one you write in the comic? Are they very different?
Fraction: I started the comic before I saw the film, but I knew the casting information. So I was just trying to write a book that would correspond with the movie I hoped they were making. And I think I got pretty lucky on that score. The Stanley Kubrick/2001 in-helmet shots I've taken, and I really loved the idea of the suit's A.I. being named Jarvis. And since I couldn't use Jarvis in the book it was a way for me to get his presence into the book. Which is a lot of fun.
And they wanted their Tony in the game to sound like my Tony, me having worked on both the comic and and "worked" on the film. The dialogue and character of Tony and the other characters was really my primary objective. It needs to sound and fell like the Iron Man world and keep people engaged and excited throughout. What if you play a game where the cut-scenes are actually good? Instead of just mashing the buttons to get to the next level you're able to listen to Iron Man being Iron Man, instead of some guy's interpretation of Iron Man. Hopefully we got the tone of the character right, and if you're a fan of the film or a fan of the book it'll be of a piece.
IGN Comics: I know you can't reveal much about the actual plot, but how would you describe Tony's struggle in this game?
Fraction: It's Tony dealing with what it means to be Tony Stark, especially post-Iron Man Tony Stark, who kind of announced to the world, "Hey, I'm Iron Man!". He's dealing with both foes of Iron Man and Tony Stark. He's come up with this kind of philanthropic act and it gets perverted. He's trying to think and act and lead his way into the next century while dealing with these ghosts of the past – these ghostly old world terms that won't let him help us expand into the 21st Century. There are these three specific tech pieces to the game, and their original purposes are being perverted and turned inside out. And it all builds toward a really big end boss that Tony has to fight.
IGN Comics: Thematically, it sounds like there's some inspiration being taken from the "Armor Wars" storyline...?
Fraction: No, not really. Not exactly. This is a story about Tony cleaning up his messes, so that kind of works. It's not quite Armor Wars, though. It's about Tony trying to give the world these gifts and facing these old-world foes perverting those gifts and trying to turn them against Tony. People who aren't thrilled with Tony's behavior and who he is and the way he lives his life.
IGN Comics: How many of the other movie characters are going to be in this game?
Fraction: Some. Iron Man's in it, I can tell you that much.
IGN Comics: Well, thanks for the scoop.
Fraction: [laughs] Breaking news. Everybody you'd want to see. And some new folks.
IGN Comics: The two biggest additions to the movie seem to be Black Widow and Whiplash or Backlash or whatever they're calling him. Can you say whether those two are going to be in the game?
Fraction: I am not allowed to. But again, it's not a straight-up adaptation of the film experience. It's a standalone piece.
[Editor's Note: Sega has revealed that Crimson Dynamo, a villain not present in the movie, will appear in the Iron Man 2 videogame.]
IGN Comics: You mentioned some new characters. A lot of these movie games tend to throw in a few extra villain characters to spice up the action a bit. Is that something you're doing here?
Fraction: In a way that makes sense with the story being told. It's not just "Aha! And then this guy shows up, and then this guy shows up!". There's an ebb and a flow to who's there, and it all ties into the bigger story.
IGN Comics: Do you happen to know if they're bringing in the movie actors to do the voice-overs like they did with the first game?
Fraction: I believe Sega can confirm or deny that for you.
[Editor's Note: Sega reps had nothing to announce at this time.]
IGN Comics: I imagine this has been a pretty good learning experience for you overall, so do you think we'll be seeing more videogame work from you in the future?
Fraction: I hope so. I, like everybody else, have bought my embarrassing share of s***ty games. Comic book movie games don't tend to be the most successful. I like to think we're making something fun to play and not just a $60 coaster. And I'd like to get better and give it another shot. It's a different set of muscles than the comics.
IGN Comics: As long as we're talking videogames, have you been playing anything else in your spare time lately?
Fraction: Nazi Zombies in Call of Duty: World at War. The new Japanese swamp zombies level is fun. But between convention season, all my deadlines, and us moving I haven't really been able to play too much of anything. I'm looking forward to Red Dead Redemption, the sequel to Red Dead Revolver that Rockstar is putting out. I think that's going to be my next buy.
IGN Comics: I think they delayed that until next year now, so I guess you have some time to get caught up now.
Fraction: Oh, really? That's a bummer.
IGN Comics: Yeah, they've been delaying a lot of games until next year lately.
Fraction: That's too bad. The idea of an open-world, Grand Theft Auto game in a Western setting kind of appealed to me.
IGN Comics: I was looking forward to that, too. It seems like everyone's too afraid of the new Call of Duty, so they're pushing games into next year.
Fraction: Yeah, well. We'll see. I'll figure something out.
IGN Comics: I'm sure you can keep yourself busy until then. Thanks for your time, Matt.
Fraction: Thanks a lot, Jesse.