PixelJunk Eden Gives Hollywood Pair Déjà Vu

August 1st, 2008 at 2:00 pm · 3 Comments

Sony’s PSN lineup, which was arguably the most impressive part of its E3 media briefing, has come under fire in recent weeks. Last week, angry feminists used their right of free speech to lash out against the violent, yet adorable “Fat Princess.” In the wake of that controversy, it seems that yet another has sprouted legs. However, this time the battle won’t be waged through angry blog posts. No. This time, the afflicted party is looking to take Sony to court.

Hit the jump to get the details.

Children of the 1980s will no doubt remember the family-friendly classic, “Honey I Shrunk the Kids.” The film starred Rick Moranis (alongside no one of any consequence) and chronicled the epic journey undertaken by two sets of siblings as they attempt to navigate the dangers of the backyard. That premise probably sounds incredibly stupid to the two of you that have never heard of the film. Does it help if I mention that the kids were shrunken to an incredibly small size after screwing around with Moranis’ newest invention? No. That is disappointing, but completely expected.

Moranis and director Joe Johnston, who apparently still hang out from time to time, recently stumbled upon “PixelJunk Eden” after reading Yamster’s impressions of the demo. After spending some time with the game, Johnston said he experienced that absolute worst case of déjà vu ever recorded…in his mind.

“It is like someone at Sony was watching the film during a family night and decided that the concept needed to be re-hashed after more than a decade of dormancy.”

While he admitted that the game was not a carbon copy of the film – mainly due to its lack of giant insects, lego pieces, lawnmowers, a crazy shrink ray and Rick Moranis – he did notice that the two were eerily similar.

As a result, Moranis and Johnston have decided to sue Sony’s for “lifting the film’s premise without proper monetary compensation.” Apparently, Johnston and Moranis are hoping to net a cool $50 million from the litigation.

Moranis, who recently declined the opportunity to reprise the role of Louis Tulley in the now publisher-less “Ghostbusters: The Video Game,” said he had to check his Swatch watch to make sure he hadn’t been transported back to 1989.

“For a long time I thought I was watching the original film,” Moranis said. “I felt pretty stupid when the scorpion failed to show up.”

When contacted for comment, SCEA President Jack Tretton expressed minimal concern regarding the possibility of litigation.

Rick Moranis? Didn’t he play Ed O’Neill’s brother in a football movie? Man, I can’t tell you how much I loved ‘Married with Children.’ I hear the show is still on in late-night syndication, but I can never catch an episode due to my responsibilities at Sony. What was this about again?

When asked what he would do with the money, Moranis said he would use it to buy a reverse shrink ray and create an army of giant soldier ants.

“I have always had this dream of creating a society where humans and insects create a super race of beings through interspecies mating,” Moranis said. “This money would be a step toward that goal.”

“PixelJunk Eden” puts players in control of a grimp (a small, insect/shrimp-like character) who must collect spectra scattered throughout various levels (gardens) in order to grow their own virtual Eden. Within each garden, players are tasked with collecting pollen, which is used to bloom surrounding vegetation. The grimp can then use these plants to climb vertically to reach the highest spectra and the exit for each garden.

Unfortunately for Moranis and Johnston, no attorneys have stepped up to take the case. Most lawyers contacted for commented deemed the pair “bat-shit crazy” due to the fact that the game and movie are in fact not very similar at all. Also, some find the thought of a race of insect people to be “quite disturbing.”

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    Categories: Parody News

    3 responses so far ↓

    • ShortHairedOffender says:

      I thought this was real until I read the quote then I was like, “TODAY IS FRIDAY!”

    • Noob_Gamer says:

      Great article Havok, totally fell for it! LOL

      GOT TO LOVE FRIDAYS!

    • ueatifulraven says:

      I fell for it! I was reading along thinking how much of a dick Moranis was for suing over a very small similarity, then I read the quote and it came to me. haha, I love friction friday.

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