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Unlike Movie-Goers, Gamers Love Sequels?
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."
"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.
I considered the matrix 2 and 3, as well the star wars prequels to be borderline blasphemous. All the while I'm waiting for the next Legend of Zelda to be released...I'm just finishing up the windwaker now. This will make me sad when the game ends...what will I get?
/* oops I accidentally made a comment, sorry */
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).
Now, where can I get Pong 101, the final brain death.
And if you thought that was boring you obviously havn't read my Journal ;-)
When you've got the first game, a lot of the effort can be reused for the sequel - especially the engine and graphics / sound. You've read reviews of the first title and got feedback, so you know exactly what people liked and what they hated. Even just fixing a few hundred lines of code (say, changing the way the player chooses the active weapon) can make the game dramatically better. And it's probably a good game, if a sequel is considered. You know what you need to do to make it at least as good as the first one, and you probably will.
With a movie, you want the same characters in a different setting, with the same feel and a different plot twist. You want it fresh enough so that viewers aren't bored. You can't let them carry over their saved games from the first title.
Bottom line: sequels make more sense for media that relies far more on technology than on artistic merit.
You are probably going to buy Halo 2 because you enjoyed Halo 1 and are expecting a better version of "more of the same". In contrast, you don't go to "Batman 5" expecting a version of "Batman 1" to see the same battle between Bats and the Joker with the latest new effects added that they didn't have in 1989.
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
Sequels are a great way for developers to take a great existing game and make it even greater - as long as the game itself evolves and doesn't feel like an expansion pack ie. GTA:VC, Advance Wars 2. A sequel needs to bring a lot more to the table than just more missions, and it must fix the most common complaints/bugs from the previous game.
That's not how it goes. The second game diverges greatly from the first, then the third goes back to the original formula.
Look at all the old NES games that followed that model. Super Mario Bros and The Legend of Zelda are the most glaring series to do it.
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)
When you make a sequal to a program, you can take all the original code and either leave it, or make it better (no programmer purpously makes it worse) (any effing trolls even think of suggesting MS does can go impale themselves on an iron poker) thus making the minimum quality the same as the original. Movie making, you have to start from scratch on the sequal for the story (games in general dont require a story to be good, coughMiyamoto) So the quality can go down unlike programs/games
In an interactive situation(like a game), being in a familiar setting/knowing familiar characters/objects is an advantage, as it reinforces the "I can do this" feeling, important as you start a game. This is especially visible in games with online communities, where each player can build something, either his reputation(most combat games), or some sort of character(Diablo II), or a collection of objects(The Sims and similar games).
Most sequels/expansion packs allow you to improve what you've already built. And since expansion packs reuse game engines, your investment in the expansion usually comes either a little cheaper(you pay less for an expansion) or you get more game for your money(you get the game, AND the expansion, which is less than two games, usually)
Watching a movie isn't a "challenge" except for the odd movie about investigation(where the plot is the challenge, but your actions aren't as much your responsability as in a game(you connect plot elements you're given, but you can't see them in more detail, etc...), and your investment is always a full movie ticket... You don't get a "frequent movie fan" type ticket that costs less if you went to see the other movie. Games also get played longer(not many people still go to a movie that came out the time diablo ii was released, yet the online us east item trading is still doing brisk business)
So basically, it's easier to make a quality game sequel from the point of view of the consumer(who gets value from owning two games) than from the producer(who gets a little bit less from an expansion than a truly new game, but also can find ways to invest less).
The SMB2 in America isn't an SMB at all, but rather a hack of Doki Doki Panic. The real SMB2 is almost exactly like the first one (which, incidentally, is why Nintendo was afraid of releasing it over here).
Rob
I'm looking at you, Ninja Gaiden...
I reckon people avoid sequel movies because in general they're by a new director, and hence the style and substance will be quite different.
I think the point with video games is that *most* of the time, sequels are produced by the same company / team. You can be fairly sure that if the first game was really good, then the follow-up will be good too.
I think that if Valve decided to produce a game that wasn't called "half-life 2" but with the same gameplay emphasis, then people would be just as eager to play it.
We don't like game sequels, we like good games.
We don't hate movie sequels, we hate bad movies.
When game sequels become nothing more than milking a cash-cow name, we won't like them.
When movie sequels stop being nothing more than milking a cash-cow name, we'll like them.
How much money do these people get paid to give us this "enlightenment?"
It would appear that the relatively small game development houses know something that the film industry giants don't.
The Hollywood behemoths can't compete with the gaming company guerrillas because they've forgotten who pays their bills. Fans get a nod at test screenings, but the movie already has been made. The most that's going to happen is a new edit.
Is the author honestly suggesting that movies be made with the same degree of consumer feedback as games? Movies are bad enough when the script has passed through five sets of hands who all think they know best. How could 500 or 5000 possibly be better?
The author misses the point that the vast majority of community feedback on games is about gameplay, not plot or character development. I doubt many people on the WoW boards are upset because the Horde backstory isn't fleshed out enough.
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.
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