EA publishes 25 sequels, 1 original work

[net7runner]

In news that really isn't, the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/08/technology/08game.html?ex=1281153600&en=300074177aff8ca3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss) is reporting that out of the 26 games that EA plans to release before the end of this year, 25 are sequels or continuations of previous franchises.

[Electronic Arts] has suffered financial setbacks this year. Increasingly, industry analysts and game reviewers are wondering if the company's dependence on sequels is a sign that it is losing its creative edge.To be fair, sequels are a stock-in-trade of the industry; 9 of last year's 10 top-selling games were follow-ons. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the No. 1 title from Take-Two Interactive Software, for example, is the fifth version of that game. Reliance on tried-and-true sequels makes it possible to have a steady revenue stream in an unpredictable business.The (strangely well-written) article also hints that the only "original" content for all of next year will be The Godfather (*snicker*), Black, and Spore.

[*Legion*]

EA is what they are. They fill a need. They're not the ones that are going to go develop a whole lot of new properties. That's OK, that's the job of other, more creative and daring developers.

[snubber]

Wow, I know they just pump out sequel after sequel, but that ratio is still surprising.

[AzN.Homeboy]

Since when did Electronic Arts have a creative edge to lose?

[Deadend]

So, why does EA not just allow a couple of dev studios to make original games? They do have some bright people working for them who can make and/or steal good ideas for gameplay.

EA needs to stop trying to make every game a blockbuster. They should devlop a "arthouse" game, the movie studios all make a couple artsy films to show they still are into art and not just money.

EA should just get some of its brightest guys into a large room, and access to all assetts to create a game, the only rule is it has to be a original IP.

I aslo predict Ubi-soft will grow larger as they make major changes in sequals, and do not have their company built on a sports franchise base.

[Rafer]

Can you blame them, I saw a list of this years top ten selling games and I think 'God of War' was the only non-sequel. It's getting as bad as the comic industry where every top selling title (Batman, Superman, X-Men, Spider-Man) is based on 30+ year old properties.

Imagine going into a video game store twenty years from now and all the new titles are familiar, GTA 10, God of War 7, Half-Life 3, Duke Nukem 4...

[ldi222]

Where did the EA that published M.U.L.E. and Archon go?

[if76]

Why does this article tout godfather as a big test of ea's originality? What makes it different from James Bond or Lord of the Rings? Maybe if they weren't adapting something that was already a book AND a movie, it'd be taking a creative risk. They should make a game based on Slaughterhouse 5 or The Jungle if they really want to take a risk.

[if76]

Also isn't it strange that there's no War of the Worlds game coming out? Back in the day of PS1 and N64 this wouldn't even be a question. Maybe it's true about rising development costs.

[the_ham_dog]

what's the one original game? maybe oddworld stranger? it really wasn't so hot...

[sTubbs]

All I can say is bring on Black. Everything I have read about that game simply screams brilliance. Other than that, nothing EA has coming interests me in the least.

[Hijinx]

More gamers need to buy a game like Psychonauts. Its original and well Tim Schaeffer. The suits need to see numbers or the sequels/spinoffs will continue. :(

Its not that I want a sequel of Psychonauts, but another fresh idea to game with.

[Qoz]

Sequels are not really the problem. The lack of innovation in the game genres are a problem. Sequels often contain the same gameplay (so you could say sequels are a problem), but some bring fresh ideas into play, so it's not all bad. The problem is with game-companies turning out the same games with very little fundamental gameplay difference. Like the same platformer, FPS, RTS only prettier. You don't need to invent a whole new game genre - just don't make new games that are worse in the gameplay department than previous games.

I like the F.E.A.R concept. Two genres merged into one. Extreme matrix action and horror fueled with gore everywhere. It's refreshing although Max Payne1/2 did this also. I just thought the weapons and combat was a bit off in Max Payne, and F.E.A.R. does a better job.

Blizzard is the king of sequels. They made their business making sequels to other peoples games to begin with. They just made them better with small (good) tweaks.
The Diablo concept had been done before. Starcraft and WOW had been done.
I love Blizzard for doing things right and innovate the gameplay/interface, instead of primarily focusing on graphics, physics, sound etc.

Games are going the same way as hollywood.

[RMan]

EA needs to stop trying to make every game a blockbuster. They should devlop a "arthouse" game, the movie studios all make a couple artsy films to show they still are into art and not just money.
It's not really practical to ask any business to base it's model around not making money. However, I do think we’re missing a vital part of the industry due to the excessive cost and limited distribution for games. Since the average number of games sold per console is about 5, and the average gamer likely only buys 2, maybe 3 games a year, this means the only way to make money is to be at the top of whatever genre you’re game is. The only remotely reliable way to do that is to make sequels. In the end, the high cost of games and the relatively long play time for games ensures that gamers also are going to be much less willing to try something new (again, making them gravitate towards sequels). I think it’s a pretty obvious rut that the people at the helm of the industry have dug themselves and us into.

In the film industry it can be profitable to release smaller "niche" films, because the costs are minimal and they can release to limited theaters and scale up the release based on response levels. Also, the movie viewer only has to pay a fraction of what a gamer would generally have to pay to play a game, and doesn’t have to commit much time. The rental market is the only way that console gamers can try games, and still the only ones the rental places carry are top tier products, so it still doesn’t really work out.

I still say the only thing that will really help the industry is online delivery, I just wish people were more accepting of it.

[Eon]

I bought the good Galactic Conquest series, and all of Introversions games plus Shorthike (the spacestation sim). In fact I avoid retail if I can.

[Rangoth]

Sadly, this is what happens when you let the masses gain access to things. Gaming as a hobby was better back when it was for geeks, nerds, and dorks only. I blame Windows personally. Pre-Windows the DOS prompt scared everyone away. The NES was easy enough to program for that really creative titles were allowed out by companys. So what if it flops, we have this other one that will succeed! Windows 3.0 comes, people can use computers and things change. Damn easy to use crap!

[Adewade]

Blasted Whippersnappers.

[Heretic Machine]

More gamers need to buy a game like Psychonauts. Its original and well Tim Schaeffer. The suits need to see numbers or the sequels/spinoffs will continue.

Well, I -would- buy it if I could find the damn XBOX version. I'm not going to buy the inferior PS2 version, and I don't want to find the PC version because it's really not moddable at all so there isn't much of a reason for me to want it on my PC... But the damn Wal-mart in my town stopped carrying the XBOX version for some stupid reason. Still have the other two though.

Maybe I'll pick it up after I've gone back to college next weekend... but the XBOX 360 fund has already started, so it's unlikely that I'll be buying anything during this semester :p

[Justin_McElroy]

You know what? That "Black" looks like the bomb.

And also, if they do release 3 original games next year, then that'll be a 200% improvement. Isn't that enough for you people?

[Roc Ingersol]

Indie gaming scene.
We need ours to grow up, and get onto consoles at budget prices.

[Kamalot]

Well, I -would- buy it if I could find the damn XBOX version.
Allow me to help.

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=210741

Finding any game isn't difficult these days. Simply order it online. You are online, aren't you?

[Furious Wang]

what's the one original game? maybe oddworld stranger? it really wasn't so hot...

It was brilliant it was.

[kathode]

Feel the effects of a market driven economy.

[the_ham_dog]

psychonauts is genius. let's hope more games like it get made.

[Demo_Boy]

There's always Majesco. Oh wait a sec theyre being sued to oblivion for making original games.

SEGA?

[Hellstorm]

More gamers need to buy a game like Psychonauts. Its original and well Tim Schaeffer. The suits need to see numbers or the sequels/spinoffs will continue. :(

Its not that I want a sequel of Psychonauts, but another fresh idea to game with.
The only thing I got out of Psychonauts was that snappy dialog can't make a run-of-the-mill platformer any better, let alone one that has been in development for over 3 years. It also goes to show that Tim is better suited to games where they are dialog driven. They guy really needs to go back to making adventure games, cause that's the best he can do. That or get out of games and write comics or something.

[51|RandoM]

You can't blame EA for giving their customers what they want. When people stop buying the yearly refresh of their fav sports game, then EA will stop making them.

[Shodan2020]

Since when did Electronic Arts have a creative edge to lose?

I don't know, back in the way early days of the Genesis they had some pretty original games, like Road Rash, Desert Strike, and Mutant League Football and Hockey. Obviously those days have waved bye bye to EA a long long time ago.

[jeffool]

The only thing I got out of Psychonauts was that snappy dialog can't make a run-of-the-mill platformer any better, let alone one that has been in development for over 3 years. It also goes to show that Tim is better suited to games where they are dialog driven. They guy really needs to go back to making adventure games, cause that's the best he can do. That or get out of games and write comics or something.You're more than entitled to your opinion, but what I enjoyed more than snappy dialogue was the creativity shown. Lungfishopolis? The theater level? And catching figments of the imagination and sorting emotional baggage makes even mundane platformer tasks seem creative. Not to mention Schafer does good characters.

Yeah, if there's a word for Schafer, it's "insane." But if there were a second word, it'd be "clever."

If you want the game, you can get it at their store (http://shop.doublefine.com/). And if you're interested or not, you should really check out Schafer's blog (http://www.doublefine.com/news.htm).

[wirefire]

There has to be a walmart in every industry and EA is the walmart of videogames

[jwbxx]

And didnt the creator of the god father say that the game sucks.

[Kamalot]

And didnt the creator of the god father say that the game sucks.As did Francis Ford Coppola, the director of the original film. Nothing is sacred. There is nothing that people enjoy that Electronic Arts can't rape into an over-hyped game.

[netcraazzy]

EA's only saving grace is that they have Maxis. I can't wait for Spore to come out.

[Theycallmeweezie]

Why does this article tout godfather as a big test of ea's originality? What makes it different from James Bond or Lord of the Rings? Maybe if they weren't adapting something that was already a book AND a movie, it'd be taking a creative risk. They should make a game based on Slaughterhouse 5 or The Jungle if they really want to take a risk.

A game of The Jungle? Probably not until Hillary starts pushing more weight in the industry.

[Rangoth]

Mario Puzo would be the author who wrote the original Godfather book. I'm pretty sure he would have a rather tough time saying anything negative due to the whole being dead thing.

[jwbxx]

EA's only saving grace is that they have Maxis. I can't wait for Spore to come out.
That game looks great.

[nein89]

But the damn Wal-mart in my town stopped carrying the XBOX version for some stupid reason.

Well, there's your problem. Stop buying games at Wal-mart. Really. Stop it. It's bad.

[Rangoth]

See, Wal-mart is somehow the cause of all the worlds troubles. I am sure of it, just give me time to come up with a theory that does not sound like TOTAL bullshit. ;-)

[Xerxes]

And this is new for EA when???

[Twigz'N'Berries]

what's the one original game? maybe oddworld stranger? it really wasn't so hot...

I enjoyed Oddworld Stranger...it wasn't great, but it was in the top ten percent of games produced this year. I'd recommend anyone with an Xbox who likes the Oddworld franchise to pick it up...and even those who don't like the Oddworld franchise.

[Rangoth]

Oh Oddworld Stranger rocked!!!!

[Eon]

So, did we hear from both of the people who bought it now? :)