Topic: Horror Movies vs. Horror Games

I've always thought that horror-based video games were scarier than horror movies. Movies aren't as immersive as games. In a horror game, your actions depict what outcomes occur, and the fact that you caused them can send shivers up your spine. A horror movie just shows the decisions of others, and you're left explaining to your friends how you would've done things differently.
Also, horror games create a 3D environment in which the player can explore. This adds to the sense of an eerie environment that allows the scare-factor to be present. While creepy environments are abundant in movies, it just doesn't feel as though you're there, because you can't explore anything...

That's just my opinion. What do you guys think?
_{Yeah, I'm pretty much just killing time before Calling comes out...}

depends on the games or movies. i like both, and both can be equally immersive with the right setup(like seeing a good horror movie at a movie theater).

I actually find horror games more immersive, and therefore far more terrifying. Horror movies don't even scare me anymore, and can actually be kinda fun, where as most horror games are simply too tense and frightening for me.

I haven't seen a good horror movie in a while, anyone have a recommendation?
Anyhow, I think horror games are scarier. A movie goes on, and the course is already set out, but with a game, you have to maneuver your character past something you know is going to freak you out. You're forced to do the actions, whereas a movie lets you watch the actions.

Horror games can freak you out with the smallest details...
I found this as proof!
_{There's plenty of other examples that I personally think are way better, but this was the one that was most free of...Ehm...language}
[youtube:gY_hV5Iu-is&feature=related]
This will most likely be me throughout all of Calling...

Old horror movies are classics, while newer ones are...meh.

Seconded, for the most part. I can't think of a good Horror movie that's come out in over a decade.

Actually, I recently saw a movie called Pandorum. It was actually very good. Kind of a horror-scifi thing. I really enjoyed it and recommend you to check it out. Other than that, my fav is probably Aliens, although Predator also has a special place in my heart.

Does Metroid Prime count as a horror game? I was freaked out numerous times by creatures coming seemingly out of no-where, or by their hideous shrieks. "shudder"

@MickeyMac and Ravage: You might want to watch "The Others", made in 2001. It was excellent horror movie. >: D It's kind of old-fashioned, but it's incredibly effective at scaring the audience. It has a haunting soundtrack too, which was stuck in my head for a few days.

IMO, horror games are more effective at scaring people, at least if they have an immersive and creepy environment. I think horror movies (arguably) can tell a better story though.

I have seen The Others, it had a nice little twist, but I thought it was kind of boring and not that scary.

I think you need to check this out! It's a bunch of guys playing Fatal Frame 3.
WARNING! EXTREME LANGUAGE!
This is both scary AND hilarious!

I find horror games to be more frightening then movies mostly because they allow you explore the nightmare style worlds and environments.

@Ravage Pandorum was amazing, gave me flashbacks to Aliens and Event Horizon, and the makers of that movie must have played Dead Space.

As of good horror movies this decade, there are some good just not as many as before. I happened to find El Orfanato quite creepy at the theater, same with [REC], and while it's not the most popular movie around I enjoyed the movie adaptation of Silent Hill.

El orfanato: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464141/
[REC]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1038988/
Pandorum: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1188729/

Games can be scary because of the fact that you're actually in there, but a good movie can emulate those fears quite well, as I said the setup is of outmost importance for horror movies, you can't just watch it at a small tv with low sound and bright room if you know what I mean. Going to the movies with good seats is prefferable.

If you haven't seen any of those 4 movies, you should go and do it right now if you're one of those who says there's no good horror movies anymore or that they don't scare you. Start with [REC] =)

I can't see how a horror game can be scary when you can pretty much save at any time, have extra lives etc. I'm playing that new Silent Hill game at the moment - great atmosphere but I don't feel any fear as I usually just save the game before entering a new area.

Now THAT was scary. That game looks 10x more horrifying than Metroid Prime, although Prime still has its shocking moments. The video was hilarious, though! I can just imagine me and my friends pausing the game multiple times just to get ourselves ready for those creepy attacks.

1408 is great and I found "Films to Keep You Awake: The Baby's Room" (aka Películas para no dormir: La habitación del niño) to be very scary.

At one point, horror movies and horror games were equally good. Now they both equally stink! In regards to the topic, horror movies are scarier.

Yeah, sometimes Prime creeps me out, particuarly when I'm around the Space Pirates.

1408 actually is pretty good, and fairly faithful to the short story. There is also 28 Days Later and arguably Saw (just the original for me).

In regards to horror games, I've never played a single scary video game. Never. Some have great atmosphere (Dead Space, Silent Hill, Fatal Frame), but they're simply not scary.

@Firkraag: I should check out [REC].
1408 was pretty good, but really confused me with the two different endings. The second time I saw it, I was like what the...isn't he supposed to be dead by now?