I just read the Ender's Game novel and kept thinking of this movie. The parallels are using games to find and train people with special abilities, a secret weapon that can take out a large number of enemies, and the tactic of beating impossible odds by taking out the control center. The novel did come out after this movie but the story itself was published in Analog in 1977. I haven't seen the Ender's Game movie, so I don't know what they did with it in there.
shareIt's definitely possible, but I've never read or heard writer Jonathan Betuel mention it as an influence before. He's cited Star Wars ('natch), the legend of King Arthur (the video game being equivalent to the sword in the stone) and the arcade video game phenomenon of the early 80s, but never Ender's Game that I recall.
He went to Bespin Luke Skywalker, but he left Hand Solo
the legend of King Arthur (the video game being equivalent to the sword in the stone)
Nice little bit of dialogue in the film that references it's origins as well, when Grigg chastises Centauri for being up to his old Excalibur tricks again.
Give me a hedgehog and I'll show you.
Ahhh, that's right I'd forgotten about that. "Up to your old Excalibur tricks again, eh, Centauri?".
He went to Bespin Luke Skywalker, but he left Hand Solo
And this was so much better than ender's game. Not being sarcastic - eg was just boring to me and I liked the character of The Last Starfighter.
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