The X-Files Episode Delayed By A Video Game
The X-Files isn’t a show with many video game crossovers…sure, Byers’ buddy is really into Dig Dug in a flashback episode, and “First Person Shooter” features a killer game, but we never see things like Mulder delaying an investigation because he’s too busy playing GoldenEye.
That’s because, for all his quirkiness, this FBI agent is a consummate professional who would never let a digital simulation get in the way of him doing his job. However, that can’t be said for The X-Files crew: while working on the episode “Space,” production was delayed so that director William Graham and crew could have fun on a jet simulator.
NASA’s Shuttle Program
This is a weird tale even by the standards of The X-Files, so we need to quickly recap what “Space” is all about. This is the episode where an astronaut haunted by a creepy face from Mars may be the key to figuring out who–or what–is sabotaging NASA’s space shuttle launches. Mulder and Scully arrive to help unravel this mystery, but the answer may lay in a cosmic mystery that will forever change how Mulder views his childhood hero.
Filmed On Location In Canada
Now, where does the video game-related delay come into play? In this X-Files episode, the J.S.C. Simulator Corridor and Hangar played a crucial role in “Space” and was located at the Canadian Airlines Operation Center. This added some much-needed verisimilitude because the center had a real simulator in it, but this was the game that would ultimately impact episode production.
Offered To Use Simulators
In a show of true hospitality, the Canadian Airlines Operation Center offered The X-Files crew the chance to use the simulator and virtually fly either a 737 or 747 while filming “Space.” At first, location manager Louisa Gradnitzer thought the operations manager who made the offer was merely joking. Eventually, though, the entire crew realized that he was serious, and that led to many people wanting to put down the cameras and microphones and pick up a joystick.
The Director Wanted His Turn
Apparently, even X-Files director William Graham couldn’t pass up this opportunity, and his desire to be a true game boy ended up delaying production of “Space.” By the time he decided to fly the virtual skies, the episode was scheduled to move to a new shooting location altogether. That didn’t matter to Graham, though: he actually kept the entire crew waiting at their new shooting location while he took his own turn on this advanced video game.
Production Was Delayed
While she didn’t say anything overtly negative about the incident, Gradnitzer later noted that “Approximately one hour of production time was lost due to ‘trips abroad.'” Based on her phrasing, it sounds like this included delays from all of the X-Files crew who were interested in taking time out of their “Space” shooting schedule to fly the jet. In retrospect, though, it’s hilarious that Graham decided against setting a good example for everyone else, instead contributing to delays through his own desire to get his game on.
The Game Was Probably Better Than The Episode
It’s not clear if the X-Files crew members working on this episode had any inkling that “Space” would be considered the worst episode of Season 1. If they did know, however, it makes sense they’d want to stop filming the adventures of Mulder and Scully in order to take to the simulated skies. We can only hope the simulated flights went well, considering that the episode itself was destined to crash and burn.
