The Movies

We'll resist the obvious "lights, camera, action" reference for this guide. That is an old, tired cliché, completely unbefitting for this excellent game.

That is mostly because The Movies is in fact more than a game: it's also a software tool for exhibiting your creative side, something that is thankfully becoming more and more challenged as games evolve. Although it appears (and plays) in the style of The Sims, there's a lot more room for fun and a lot more control over your subjects' specific actions.

This guide will do its best not to make comments on what makes a "good" movie, because there is no such universal concept. Instead, we will bring you the most information and advice as anywhere else on the Internet to assist you in creating your masterpiece, from choosing the right set to setting up subtitles.

So, pull up your director's chair, grab a bucket of popcorn topped with a half-pound of "butter," slurp that soda, and enjoy the ride. You're about to get a crash-course in movie making and catering to stars. And when it's over, there will be nothing left to do but compose your own blockbuster and screaming "lights, camera, action!" to your stars.

…Wait, what'd we just say? Aw, crap.

In this IGN Strategy Guide for The Movies, you'll find:

• Stars: A step-by-step guide on how your actors and directors tick, what keeps their little virtual selves happy, and how to kiss their butts without getting germs.
• Other People: It takes more than stars to get things accomplished. This section will list the other people involved in making movie magic.
• The Studio Lot: Your lot is your machine, and it must be maintained well to keep the good movies coming out.
• Making Movies: A somewhat general essay about how to create movies for the game.
• Advanced Movie-Maker: The Advanced Movie-Maker is where you go to make your own movie, and this section will give you a list of every function at your disposal.
• Post Production: To touch up and perfect your movie, this section will be essential.