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Unlike Movie-Goers, Gamers Love Sequels?

Posted by simoniker on from the bring-it-on dept.

Thanks to EvilAvatar for pointing to a Seattle Post-Intelligencer article discussing how gaming sequels tower above most movie sequels in terms of desirability and quality. The piece argues of movies: "Sequels suck, right? For every 'Godfather 2' and 'Aliens' there are hundreds of horrendous rehashes clogging the video store shelves. Hollywood wants your money; quality control be damned", before contrasting them with games: "Fans chomp at the bit for a few screenshots from the next installment of beloved games such as 'Half-Life' and 'Halo.' When the games arrive they rarely disappoint. Gaming franchises get better and better while their celluloid cousins go straight to video." Valve's Gabe Newell also comments on feedback for sequels: "We are super-involved in the community that has sprung up around our games. Whether through e-mail, the forums, the fan sites, or calling my house at 3 a.m. in the morning, we have a pretty good idea what they are thinking. And it absolutely factors into our decisions."

8 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. "Aliens" WAS a weak sequel by AtariAmarok · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "Aliens" (Alien 2) was one of those weak sequels. The first one was a masterpiece of horror and the Giger set design really sets it apart. Compared to this, the second one was a pallid echo that turned into a rehash of "Terminator" at the end. Based on "Aliens", I steered totally clear of the 3rd and 4th movies.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  2. That's largely relative by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I think first of all it depends entirely on the sequel in question.

    Personally, however, I really do not like sequels at all. Unless the studio in question can create a unique addition to the franchise instead of more of the same, I will always shy away from repeated outings under a single title. If I detect that the developer or publisher is being cheap and trying to cash in, they can kiss my money good bye

    Like I said at first though, depends on what it is; "Tomb Raider" (and the more recent addition: "Hitman" series) being the worst case scenario, while, say Halflife 2, which is obviously an honest attempt to reach new heights, is an example of a sequel I might buy (too bad about the steam technology).

    1. Re:That's largely relative by Goldberg's+Pants · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I hate sequels in forms of entertainment. It shows a dirth of creativity and originality. I couldn't care less about Half Life 2. Just like I don't care about Doom 3. Been there, done that. How about having some original ideas instead of just churning out more of the same?

      Say what you will, when you get right down to it, Half Life 2 is a first person shooter with a good story, and it's the sequel to a first person shooter with a good story.

      This is why I'm rapidly losing interest in games. I've been a gamer for over 20 years now... But I'm just losing interest when all that's coming down the pike is more of the same. Don't get me wrong, the games aren't BAD... But when you get fed apples all the time, you really long for an orange or too...

  3. HUGE difference with movie/game sequels... by BTWR · · Score: 4, Interesting
    The huge difference between movie & game sequels is that, for the most part, gamers will accept (and very often WANT) basically more-of-the-same, often with simple graphical or other updates. Myself included.

    Take a look at these sequels. They were very similar to their predesessors, with graphical updates or other updates and changes that keep it very similar in overall feel to the winning original's formula. And in doing so, they were hugely fun and entertaining:

    Doom 2

    Madden Football series (and most other "annual" sports games)

    Mortal Kombat 2,3

    Warcraft II

    Commander Keen games

    King's Quest games

    Battlefield: Vietnam

    Super Mario Bros to SMB: The Lost Levels ("SMB2" in japan - almost identical game but new maps)

    1. Re:HUGE difference with movie/game sequels... by Mattintosh · · Score: 3, Interesting

      There's a flipside to this. Some games are changed drastically in the sequel and the fanbase evaporates and/or complains very loudly. For example, Unreal Tournament 2003 didn't go over well because most UT players wanted UT with updated graphics. I know I did.

      You'd think they'd learn. Don't use sequels just to slap a high-selling name on something that isn't proven. It's the same problem Hollywood has. They raise expectations by namedropping, then let the fans down by making something inferior or just plain off-target.

  4. He speaks the truth by Jorkapp · · Score: 2, Interesting

    We are super-involved in the community that has sprung up around our games. Whether through e-mail, the forums, the fan sites, or calling my house at 3 a.m. in the morning...

    I have emailed Game several times, and recieved a reply almost every time (1 didnt get a reply). He's a really funny guy who delivers information straight out with a good amount of wit. Here's a sample:

    Me:
    I've noticed lately that you (read: Valve Software) are affiliating with 2 canadian based businesses (Softimage in Quebec and ATI in Ontario). Not to generate a conspiracy, but could this be a sign of things to come (Valve software moving to Canada?), or do canadians just kick ass with the technology playground?

    Gabe:
    Where do you think the G-Man is from?

    Not exactly the information I was seeking - but it made me laugh for a few minutes.

    As for calling him at 3am - Its on my todo list.

    --
    Frink: Nice try floyd, but you were designed for scrubbing, and scrubbing is what you shall do.
  5. Games cost more by Colazar · · Score: 2, Interesting
    A game is a larger investment of time and money for the consumer, so you should expect that they would be less willing to take a chance on an unknown quantity. That has to be at least part of the equation. You just lose more from buying a bad game than from seeing a bad movie.

    Of course, it is arguable that a game sequel is really a "known quantity," but that's a different discussion...

    --
    He decided to just watch the government, and kind of scale it down to size, and run his life that way. --Laurie Anderson
  6. Two exceptions by Have+Blue · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Two pairs of works that are exceptions to the rule:
    • The original The Thing From Another World and John Carpenter's The Thing. The two movies tell essentially the same story, but they are very different from each other (and indeed the latter is usually classified as a remake or "reimagining" rather than a sequel). This is the current state of sequeling in games, where the sequel has to balance the right amounts of "familiar" and "evolutionary" even if everything about the games is totally different.
    • The games Marathon 2 and Marathon Infinity, from Bungie. The two games use exactly the same engine, which is rare among game sequels (and which is why I didn't start with Marathon 1), and share a great deal of content, but their experiences are quite different and each can stand on its own merits. This is the current state of sequeling in film- the underlying special effects technology is virtually unchanged between movies, but how it's used differentiates them.