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With the release of Bulletstorm, the fact that video games really are immature has slapped me in the face. It should be obvious for anyone who has picked up a video game at just about any point in there life that games have an intellectual low barrier to entry. I'm talking about story here so you puzzle gamers can cool your jets. Games like Bulletstorm, the Gears of War franchise and other shooters with burly meat heads are way more permanent than titles with more depth like Mass Effect or Heavy Rain.
In recent years titles like Uncharted 2 and Call of Duty titles have topped game of the year lists (including my own). With those titles specifically, they were positively called "summer movie blockbuster" like. Refresh my memory but was Die Hard up for best picture? Not to say some summer blockbusters aren't great, entertaining films but is that really what the best games should be compared to?
I don't think games will ever reach the narrative or emotional heights of a film like the Social Network but giving it a try couldn't hurt.
Interactivity in the gaming medium is inherent so a singular realized vision for a story is harder to achieve. With the right direction I believe that games could reach a separate but equal emotional impact as movies. With your own choices guiding the morality and pace, even deeper connections could be made and already have started in games like Mass Effect and Fallout 3.
It's sad to see a medium I grew up on be so close to what people think of it. Excessive cursing, violence, "dude broing", and general nonsense. If there is a market for such experiences is another post entirely however. I think the industry can eventually reach the level to put our experiences that transcend the medium. As long as developers wants to emulate a "movie like" experience I'm going to keep saying you're not reaching the bar.