http://bytenow.net/2012/05/29/developers-should-make-new-games-not-reboot-old-ones/
This article is right. Why not make a new game/serie? And as always i know why publishers don't do that.
I respect that Ubisoft made AC, because it's spiritual successor to Prince of Persia. Both series are different story wise but the gameplay has many similarities.
E3 is only one week away, and I’ve been looking through the big companies to see what they have in store for us. During this venture, I noticed a trend that I’m not sure I feel happy with: a lot of companies are rebooting old franchises. Sometimes a series simply gets old, and the same formula doesn’t work. So, why not start the franchise over, pumping in some fresh story and gameplay ideas?
My problem with this is that a lot of these games vary so greatly from the original material that I wonder why the developers won’t simply make a new game. As an example, take a look at DmC, Ninja Theory’s upcoming Devil May Cry reboot. The game looks like it’ll be fun enough to play, but reading through interviews and seeing other trailers makes this game look less and less like a Devil May Cry title. The only thing from previous games we’ll be seeing is Dante himself (with quite the makeover), some of his iconic weapons, and the potential return of other characters from the series…maybe.
The developers of DmC have assured us that the game’s story will be great, and what I’ve seen of the gameplay looks at least passable, but with all of the changes they’ve made, why didn’t they just make a new game? They keep assuring us that the game will live up to Devil May Cry, when in reality they could’ve made their own game without having to live up to anything. The worst part about it is that Ninja Theory keeps talking about the story and how amazing it will be without actually showing us anything, which is almost always a red flag. All of this could be avoided if they had simply made something original.
Another big reboot coming out is Tomb Raider, which will have a new, darker take on Lara Croft’s origins. She will be as strong and nimble as ever, but she will now also have weaknesses and fears. I really like where Crystal Dynamics are going with this game, and seeing as they’ve taken up the Tomb Raider mantle before, I have faith that the game will be good. However, the same issue presents itself.
It’s clear to me that they want to make a completely new story, so why does it have to be Tomb Raider? No one would be offended if they made a game about jumping puzzles and survival starring a completely new woman. Crystal Dynamics have already made a name for themselves with the recent Tomb Raider games, so why not use their creative freedom to make something genuinely new and unique? They are limiting themselves by sticking to what they know.
I’d like to say that I’m not against the idea of reboots. I will be playing DmC and Tomb Raider when they come out, and will probably enjoy them. I just wish they’d put more time into making something unique without having to live up to a fanbase. I think the same feeling can apply to sequels, too. How often have you played a game that left you saying, “Well, if it wasn’t a _____ game, I’d have liked it more?” But that’s another story.
Of course, starting a new franchise is risky. I do think that developers should make a name for themselves on smaller projects before trying to bring something new to the table. Part of the comfort of releasing endless sequels and reboots is that the game will sell on brand name alone. However, there are many other ways to make new games sell. Press has a lot to do with that, which some companies cannot afford. But there is one other way, one that has worked quite well in the past and one that I think we should see more of.
Who here remembers a little game called Portal? Alright, alright, put your hands down. Portal was originally a one-off, low-effort title made to fill up the Orange Box. Unexpectedly, though, the game’s popularity skyrocketed. More people were talking about Portal than the highly anticipated Half-Life 2: Episode 2 it shipped with. Portal was different; it was an FPS game that focused on solving puzzles with a nonlethal gun, coupled with some pitch black comedy that somehow made the atmosphere even heavier. For science. Eventually, demand was high enough for a sequel, and Valve had more money and time to make the idea into something amazing.
I bring Portal up because I think Valve was on to something with this. If you have an idea that’s new and interesting, but don’t want to devote too much time and money into it (just in case it flops), why not make a small game and ship it with one of the big ones? Many consumers will give the game a shot, and you’ll receive feedback. If there is demand for more, you can put some more elbow grease into it and release a full-fledged title with no worries. Developers used to do this all the time in the form of demo discs, which is another way to get a new game out there. Hell, the only reason I played the original Devil May Cry was because a demo disc for it came with Resident Evil: Code Veronica X.
This is just one title that proves new ideas can take off if it catches enough attention. Games like Prototype and Assassin’s Creed did well because they took familiar concepts (sandbox gameplay with missions throwing you through the storyline), but added a twist that caught the eyes of consumers. Also, indie sales have been on the rise lately, and I think it’s because they’re coming up with new ideas; they also put a lot of time, money and love into their personal projects, which only adds to the charm. I don’t see a reason why more big game companies cannot do this as well.
On the subject of independent developers, another way to get some new ideas into your game is to find a small indie company and offer them the time of day to make their idea really shine. Some indie developers will undoubtedly be against this—rightfully so, as it could potentially dampen their original idea and label them as sellouts—but, once again, Valve has already done this and the results turned out great.
Do you have any ideas on how a developer can make a new franchise? Let us know.
This article is right. Why not make a new game/serie? And as always i know why publishers don't do that.
I respect that Ubisoft made AC, because it's spiritual successor to Prince of Persia. Both series are different story wise but the gameplay has many similarities.
And wash´t there a big margin of years until they decided to reboot the series?
