Celebrities tapping into other industries to make a profit is not unusual these days. We see many who like to try new opportunities, whether it is a reality star creating a clothing brand, an actor endorsing a fragrance or a YouTuber becoming a boxer. There are many different examples of this. But what we don’t usually tend to see is musicians creating video games!
Musicians have many different ways to market themselves and make more money. They stream their music on different platforms, they perform at different events, delve into sponsorships and advertisements, but rarely do they take it upon themselves to produce video games, one of the most competitive industries. We are used to seeing video games based on musicians, for example, at a casino, you can find many different slot games based on singers such as Elvis or Jimi Hendrix. Players love these kinds of online slots, it gives them a more enjoyable experience when spinning the slot reels and picking up bonuses.
Naturally, music and gaming go hand in hand; since the early arcade days many games have featured music from prominent artists to add value or even give the user the experience of playing live from the comfort of their living room – as is such with Guitar Hero. Although many musicians themselves have expressed their interest in gaming, some have taken a step further and developed their own virtual realities where players can play alongside or as their favourite musical icons themselves. In this article, we are going to look at some of the strangest and best video games that have been created by musicians, old and new.
50 Cent: Bulletproof
Multi award-winning, American rapper 50 Cent released his first video game 50 Cent: Bulletproof in 2005 on Playstation and Xbox consoles. Although this might appear an odd choice, this third-person shooter video game based on the rapper is action-packed as he seeks revenge after being shot by a mystery character. Although critics and serious game enthusiasts have expressed flaws with the game, it is made up by the artist’s superb soundtrack featuring, at the time, 13 new 50 Cent songs. The sequel to the crime thriller was released in 2009 Blood on the Sand – in which reviews have been a lot better.
Iron Maiden: Ed Hunter
Going back a bit further is a sequence of video games developed by Iron Maiden which cleverly accompany the release of certain albums. Their first game Ed Hunter was the same name as their album at the time. The game’s main character, Eddie, works through levels of the game based on past album covers. There were two other games released by the band, one in 2015 Speed of Light accompanying their album The Book of Souls; another in 2016, Legacy of the Beast.
Queen: The eYe
Next up is the action-adventure, futuristic game Queen: The eYe released by the band in 1998. Think of a world where individualism is banned and free expression must be obliterated by the all-seeing ‘eYe’, creativity is the devil and you – as the player – are responsible for the discovery of old-school rock music. Whilst the game was not a huge hit, the soundtrack did win some fans over as it featured remixes of Queen songs.
Michael Jackson: Moonwalker
One of the more peculiar game creations was Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker – released in 1989 by Sega which was based on his film at the time. Players can play as the legend himself and use magical powers to move through the multiple levels of the game saving children from the evil villain – Mr. Big. The player can use multiple variations of dance moves to fight enemies across each level whilst listening to classics such as Smooth Criminal and Thriller. Whilst the plot of the game left some with questions, it received great reviews and was ridiculously addictive.
Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child
Lastly, a game players either love or detest is by the band Kiss. Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child is a first-person shooter game based on a comic book series created by Todd McFarlane. Surprisingly, the game isn’t centred around the band themselves, but a tribute band who suddenly gains superpowers. The game can be single or multiplayer and was originally released on PC. There were due-to-be follow-up versions available on Playstation and Game Boy – yet these were never released.
As you can see it was not uncommon for musicians to pair their passion for music with their other love of gaming, whether it be for their own enjoyment or to endorse their next album. From quests that centred some reality to the weird and honestly outlandish, fans were more often than not intrigued. And whilst some releases could have been better received, the main commonality they all shared was the artists’ unforgettable soundtracks that won over the most.