AN Thread of Sequelitis

Menos · June 28th, 2011, 09:06 PM

In the next 18 months the majority of video games released will be sequels to existing franchises. The end of 2011 is full of 3's: Mass Effect 3, Gears of War 3, CoD Modern Warfare 3 ect.... What is everybody's thoughts and opinions on the overwhelming amount of sequels on the horizon? Is it good or bad?

tenshi_a · June 28th, 2011, 09:41 PM

Oh god, 3's are soooo passé.

Why just the other year the fashion was all 4's : Devil May Cry 4, PGR 4, Dead Or Alive 4... etc...

I almost always am more excited about a new title than a sequel. A lot of the time, I'll say "I really love that game!" and someone goes "I hope they make a sequel!" and I reply "I hope they don't!".... and that confuses them.

But the thing is, if a mind is so creative and fertile it came up with all these wonderful ideas.... it'd be nice if it was allowed to go away for a bit and come up with some different wonderful new ideas rather than be forcibly tied to what it already started for business reasons.

It seems to help keep them sharp, as well.

Reven · June 28th, 2011, 09:47 PM

Still waiting for Prototype 2...

Schadenfreude · June 29th, 2011, 03:24 AM

At least those games made it to 3, Valve apparently can't count that high:

**Gibb** · June 29th, 2011, 06:30 AM

Hmmm, I wonder if The Last Guardian is considered a sequel, cause it's technically the 3rd ICO game (by code name: ICO, NICO, TRICO), tho I'd consider it a standalone new game.

My opinion is people find it a lot easier to grasp hold of sequels and anticipate them, moreso than new IPs. When people look through game websites, they're more likely to see a name they recognize and get excited, then some new name.

Also, are reboots considered sequels essentially? We've had a lot of those recently, some good, some bad. The Castlevania reboot was quite awesome IMHO. The Mortal Kombat reboot is incredible. The Prince of Persia reboot (if you can call it that, the one with Elika or whatever her name was) was pretty bad. The Tomb Raider reboot looks like it'll be great.

The biggest sequel I'm waiting for this year is Disgaea 4 (the US release anyway). I've put 80 or so hours into the Japanese import version, but my Japanese skills are sub par, so I'd like to understand the story and events better.

Uncharted 3 will be spectacular as expected.

It's too early, this post is just a pile of unconnected thoughts.

ryushe · June 29th, 2011, 08:00 AM

Kind of hard to bet millions of dollars on unproven IP.

Soluzar · June 29th, 2011, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenshi_a

I almost always am more excited about a new title than a sequel. A lot of the time, I'll say "I really love that game!" and someone goes "I hope they make a sequel!" and I reply "I hope they don't!".... and that confuses them.

I don't always feel that way but I can certainly understand the sentiment. In particular I've vowed never to play Bioshock 2 because I'm convinced it can only detract from the perfection of the game.

Vaikyuko · June 29th, 2011, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryushe

Kind of hard to bet millions of dollars on unproven IP.

This is the main reason we see so many sequels and reboots of older titles. EA was previously trying to introduce more new IPs in order to make money. They had planned for numerous ones after Dead Space and Mirror's Edge. Then the actual sales came in.

Both underperformed (esp. Mirror's Edge) according to EA's expectations. Dead Space sold significantly more and with the inclusion of a multiplayer mode (which is pretty tacked on) EA greenlit DS2 which sold significantly more and performed more in line with expectations, sealing the deal for DS3. Notably, EA did pour a good bit of money into DS tie-ins so that may have something to do with it. Mirror's Edge, on the other hand, has a "port" (if you can call it that) for iOS and that's about it, in the way of additions to the franchise.

The same thing sells. Everything being streamlined and "pick up and play" is part of this phenomenon. That's why you don't see new IPs. People trust names they know, big names which they played before, etc. It's why Nintendo isn't long-dead.

MechaFan · June 29th, 2011, 07:23 PM

ME3 actually got pushed back to earlie/mid 2012..

That was my most anticipated sequel..

I'm still pretty excited for Battlefield 3, MW3 (might not buy if BF3 is entertaining enough), Gears Of War 3, and as someone mentioned Disgaea 4 + Catharine look like they will fill my japanese niche.

MechaFan · June 29th, 2011, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaikyuko

This is the main reason we see so many sequels and reboots of older titles. EA was previously trying to introduce more new IPs in order to make money. They had planned for numerous ones after Dead Space and Mirror's Edge. Then the actual sales came in.

Both underperformed (esp. Mirror's Edge) according to EA's expectations. Dead Space sold significantly more and with the inclusion of a multiplayer mode (which is pretty tacked on) EA greenlit DS2 which sold significantly more and performed more in line with expectations, sealing the deal for DS3. Notably, EA did pour a good bit of money into DS tie-ins so that may have something to do with it. Mirror's Edge, on the other hand, has a "port" (if you can call it that) for iOS and that's about it, in the way of additions to the franchise.

The same thing sells. Everything being streamlined and "pick up and play" is part of this phenomenon. That's why you don't see new IPs. People trust names they know, big names which they played before, etc. It's why Nintendo isn't long-dead.

Mirror's Edge was awsome.. Such a unique game it's sad that it underperformed.. I was looking forward to a sequel for a long time but i've come to tearm's it isn't happening anytime soon.. Then again i never thought i'd see Dead Space 2 and it came out and sold well.. I myself spent more time on the mutliplayer (got to chpt 10 on the single player then jus couldnt get into it) and eventually sold it a few weeks later.. But i had fun with it.. Spent a good 20+ hrs jus running through the MP lol.. I'll defiantly buy/support Dead Space 3..

EA isn't known to take many risks on unproven IP's.. I'am REALLY wondering how Dragon Age 2 faired, i know it had bad reviews (anything below 9 for Bioware is bad) and I never saw any big announcements on its sales so i assume it undersold.. I loved DA

+ DA2 so i really hope DA3 is somewhere on the horizon.

edit: just used google and i guess its been pretty much confirmed DA3 is on the way.. didn't think they'd let an IP like that slide but it is EA.

Schadenfreude · June 29th, 2011, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MechaFan

ME3 actually got pushed back to earlie/mid 2012..

That was my most anticipated sequel..

BioWare probably learned their lesson about rushing things with Dragon Age 2. People won't mind the wait on ME3 as long as it turns out well and doesn't go all Duke Nukem Forever.

tenshi_a · June 29th, 2011, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryushe

Kind of hard to bet millions of dollars on unproven IP.

I'm quite lucky in that multi-million dollar budgets don't excite me.

Indie innovation FTW!

[she says, while replaying a port of a game she already had...]

Schadenfreude · June 30th, 2011, 03:04 AM

Budgets don't excited, but they're nice when the devs can afford a decent voice acting cast and a philharmonic orchestra for a soundtrack.

MechaFan · June 30th, 2011, 06:29 AM

Yeah honestly i don't play many indie games.. The only games i've downloaded on the market have been AAA titles.. I think i'll be getting Torchlight soon and i know that's not really a indy game lol..

And yeah I'am pretty sure ME3 need's the polish.. People will be in a OUTRAGE if the last part of the Mass Effect series is anything less but perfect (10/10.) I'am excited for Bio Ware to get ME's single player series over with because i read in a interview on Game Informer asking them what they were gonna do with the mass effect IP when this third and final game released and Bio Ware replied they'd love to make a MMO out of it! I'd imagine if SWTOR sales well and ME3 sales well then a ME MMORPG would defiantly be in the works.

If you can't tell Mass Effect is my favorite game series of all time; and i say this with certainty and proudly!

Vaikyuko · June 30th, 2011, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenshi_a

I'm quite lucky in that multi-million dollar budgets don't excite me.

Indie innovation FTW!

[she says, while replaying a port of a game she already had...]

That's something I wanna touch on, though. Indie games have a tendency to focus on gameplay (which is great and all, I mean it is a game) but unlike big budget games they focus on gameplay at the expense of story. If there is story it's usually shoehorned in or poorly written, based on the games I've played, or more often than not is just a small bit of explanation regarding the mechanics of the game and such. One of the few games I didn't have that experience with (and one of the better games I played recently) was Amnesia, which was based around the story, but on the flipside the gameplay was somewhat mediocre in that once you figured out the spawning and light mechanics it was child's play to completely abuse them.

I even ended the game with 40+ tinderboxes for lighting things, assuming I'd need them at some point where absolutely everything is dark, but evidently not. So while indie games exist with the whole originality angle, not many (if any, in my experience) seem to be able to balance story and gameplay. You usually get one or the other. I'd love examples to the contrary, since I'd be able to play more good stuff, but you get what I mean, I'm sure.

June 28th, 2011, 09:06 PM	#1
Menos Banned Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: your mom's bedroom Posts: 481	AN Thread of Sequelitis In the next 18 months the majority of video games released will be sequels to existing franchises. The end of 2011 is full of 3's: Mass Effect 3, Gears of War 3, CoD Modern Warfare 3 ect.... What is everybody's thoughts and opinions on the overwhelming amount of sequels on the horizon? Is it good or bad?

June 28th, 2011, 09:41 PM	#2
tenshi_a The beginning of a fantastic story! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cave of Monsters, England Posts: 8,668	Oh god, 3's are soooo passé. Why just the other year the fashion was all 4's : Devil May Cry 4, PGR 4, Dead Or Alive 4... etc... I almost always am more excited about a new title than a sequel. A lot of the time, I'll say "I really love that game!" and someone goes "I hope they make a sequel!" and I reply "I hope they don't!".... and that confuses them. But the thing is, if a mind is so creative and fertile it came up with all these wonderful ideas.... it'd be nice if it was allowed to go away for a bit and come up with some different wonderful new ideas rather than be forcibly tied to what it already started for business reasons. It seems to help keep them sharp, as well. __________________ "We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing." Blog! \| 360voice blog! \| Gaming network tags \| Current Avatar \| Visit Tenshire Seiyuu database! <-- not just anime roles, lots more videogame data than ANN

June 28th, 2011, 09:47 PM	#3
Reven The Smoking Gun Join Date: May 2010 Location: Nirvana Posts: 5,744 Blog Entries: 8	Still waiting for Prototype 2... __________________ "Here I Wander Empty Hearted, Looked Up Into The Cloudy Skies As I Appeared And Departed. In Flashes I Came And Went As Fast As Lightning, Now I Vanish As I Am All But Part Of The Past At Long Last."

June 29th, 2011, 03:24 AM	#4
Schadenfreude Schadenfreudian slip. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Among the peanut gallery Posts: 7,755	At least those games made it to 3, Valve apparently can't count that high: __________________ When I go to the bathroom, I aim for the water to maximize noise and assert my dominance. Steam ID: Chuchuchrain Origin: Choochoochrain

June 29th, 2011, 06:30 AM	#5
Gibb アサギ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 12,326 Blog Entries: 1	Hmmm, I wonder if The Last Guardian is considered a sequel, cause it's technically the 3rd ICO game (by code name: ICO, NICO, TRICO), tho I'd consider it a standalone new game. My opinion is people find it a lot easier to grasp hold of sequels and anticipate them, moreso than new IPs. When people look through game websites, they're more likely to see a name they recognize and get excited, then some new name. Also, are reboots considered sequels essentially? We've had a lot of those recently, some good, some bad. The Castlevania reboot was quite awesome IMHO. The Mortal Kombat reboot is incredible. The Prince of Persia reboot (if you can call it that, the one with Elika or whatever her name was) was pretty bad. The Tomb Raider reboot looks like it'll be great. The biggest sequel I'm waiting for this year is Disgaea 4 (the US release anyway). I've put 80 or so hours into the Japanese import version, but my Japanese skills are sub par, so I'd like to understand the story and events better. Uncharted 3 will be spectacular as expected. It's too early, this post is just a pile of unconnected thoughts. __________________ Currently playing Disgaea Dimension 2 (PS3), Dead Island Riptide (Steam), Torchlight 2 (Steam) Current Avatar: Asagi from Disgaea Dimension 2

June 29th, 2011, 08:00 AM	#6
ryushe The Answer... Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 11,331	Kind of hard to bet millions of dollars on unproven IP. __________________ My Art Thread/deviantART/Playfire

June 29th, 2011, 07:23 PM	#9
MechaFan Fan of Mecha Join Date: May 2011 Location: Video Games sub-forum Posts: 3,416	ME3 actually got pushed back to earlie/mid 2012.. That was my most anticipated sequel.. I'm still pretty excited for Battlefield 3, MW3 (might not buy if BF3 is entertaining enough), Gears Of War 3, and as someone mentioned Disgaea 4 + Catharine look like they will fill my japanese niche.

June 30th, 2011, 03:04 AM	#13
Schadenfreude Schadenfreudian slip. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Among the peanut gallery Posts: 7,755	Budgets don't excited, but they're nice when the devs can afford a decent voice acting cast and a philharmonic orchestra for a soundtrack. __________________ When I go to the bathroom, I aim for the water to maximize noise and assert my dominance. Steam ID: Chuchuchrain Origin: Choochoochrain

June 30th, 2011, 06:29 AM	#14
MechaFan Fan of Mecha Join Date: May 2011 Location: Video Games sub-forum Posts: 3,416	Yeah honestly i don't play many indie games.. The only games i've downloaded on the market have been AAA titles.. I think i'll be getting Torchlight soon and i know that's not really a indy game lol.. And yeah I'am pretty sure ME3 need's the polish.. People will be in a OUTRAGE if the last part of the Mass Effect series is anything less but perfect (10/10.) I'am excited for Bio Ware to get ME's single player series over with because i read in a interview on Game Informer asking them what they were gonna do with the mass effect IP when this third and final game released and Bio Ware replied they'd love to make a MMO out of it! I'd imagine if SWTOR sales well and ME3 sales well then a ME MMORPG would defiantly be in the works. If you can't tell Mass Effect is my favorite game series of all time; and i say this with certainty and proudly!