While video games are more popular in the world than they have ever been, almost ever single blockbuster game that is out now is a sequel or a remake of an already existing franchise. Skyrim is the 5th game (not counting spin-offs) in the Elder Scrolls Series, GTA V is the 5th game in its series. XCOM is a remake of the popular franchise from the 90s, Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed almost always see a new release every year. Outside of a handful of successes, like Dragon Age, Dishonored, or the Souls series (all of which have sequels already), new IPs are as rare as being happy it's a Monday. Analyze why this trend has come to be; is it economic, or is there more to it than just that?
Are we talking new IP's in regards to just AAA games, or new IP's in general? Because one of the biggest trends around is "Five Nights at Freddy's." And apparently that's not only getting a movie, but it was created just last year by a one-man indie developer, and it has four games to its name due to it's utter simplicity to design and code. There are also plenty of other Indie game IP's that are quite popular as well. Besides that, are you saying IP's as in, a title, a franchise, something apart from other IP's? Or are you saying IP's as in, something that is popular enough and is intended to breed sequels? Because by that second definition, all of the IP's you mention are getting more sequels, thus there's less room on the schedule for game developing companies to put effort into developing new IP's. So it's almost a Catch-22. You can't have a new IP if it can't guarantee longevity with sequels. And you can't stop making sequels to existing IP's because you have to ensure their longevity in order to keep the money flowing. – Jonathan Leiter9 years ago
I like to think it is because it is easier to make money out of something that's previously establised so you don't have to waste time or money creating an IP when you're not confident that'll take off. Brand goes hand in hand with IPs, that's why Disney is raking in the dough
– McNook9 years ago
Money, obviously, but I'd like to see just how much money. It would be interesting to do some analysis of the sales figures of sequels/spinoffs vs. new stuff. Maybe work that into a piece? Or even sequels vs. spinoffs. I'd look at the final fantasy franchise for that one. – lmunson9 years ago
It is no secret that Konami has made some questionable decisions as of late. An article looking into the facts of Konami's business practice would be interesting. Look at rumors why Konami kicked out Kojima for validity. Look at their recent use of intellectual property for clues behind their decisions. Look at their history as a gaming company and see why they are making the decisions they are making today.
The fact that it was recently reported that Metal Gear Solid V earned more money on day one sales than Age of Ultron did for day one is interesting as well, as Konami still seems to be determined to cut ties from future AAA titles. – nsnow9 years ago
Why do we love it? What, if any, are the consequences of living in virtual or "fantasy" world in which we indulge fantasies of violence and murder?
First-person shooters aren't the only culprits, if you will, of indulging violent fantasies. I would argue, even, that the first-person shooter is actually less harmful than others, for the fact that most first-person shooters are military based, and the targets are (usually) enemy soldiers that engage in combat with you. For those reasons I wouldn't call it murder. Compare that to Grand Theft Auto, a traditionally third-person sandbox experience, where you can murder anyone on the street. There are certainly consequences that can and should be addressed in first-person shooters, but I can't say I agree with the ones you specified. – nsnow9 years ago
This is a really interesting topic- lots of debate has been held on this issue. Many studies have suggested that these kind of games influence moral values, but there are just as many that refute this opinion entirely with valid reasoning. The gamer's perspective of these games is one thing, but the public's general opinions may be completely different. Perhaps maybe the writer could look into how the general public views these games as well. – James Smith9 years ago
I would make sure not to swing too heavily in one direction with this one. The topic is so hotly contested that a bias would be detrimental to any argument being made. – TineBeag9 years ago
First of all, not all first-person games are murder simulators. play some Portal 2. exercise those brain muscles over some pretty creative puzzles and laugh out loud dialogue. Second of all, it's not just FPS games that are violent. Gears of War? Hitman? Third, there are other genres of video games. Puzzle games, Platformers, RPGs, sports/ racing games. Fourth, sometimes people play a game because- dare I say it- it's fun, regardless of content. – effingjay9 years ago
Why are horror games such as Until Dawn becoming so popular? How have they changed from indie pc horror games? Why are we so fascinated by them now?
This subject will likely need to explore the history of horror games, and even a little of horror stories and films, in order to answer why the genre has grown in video-game form. I also think it's clear that a big turning point was the premiere of "Amnesia: The Dark Descent." But there are surely other games that helped build up the credibility of the genre, at least as far as "good horror" goes. There's still plenty of weak, "jump-scare" ridden horror out there, as there has been for years. – Jonathan Leiter9 years ago
Time of the year has a big influence. It's nearly Halloween. – Ylatten9 years ago
I think the fascination of being scared excites a lot of people, and recently viewers have turned to more immersive types of media instead of just watching a movie. Plus the the explosion of "let's plays" on YouTube has added to this excitement because viewers love seeing their favorite commentator get the sh*t scared out of them. – AustinDrozin9 years ago
I think people are becoming more intrigued by the graphics and stories of games. I also agree with what Ylatten said, halloween is right around the corner. But that only comes with Until Dawn. My main point would be people are becoming more and more interested in stories. Until Dawn is hardly a game in my point. Most of the time you are watching videos and just choosing how the story will play out. As virtual reality headsets start becoming more popular, so will Horror Games. – Chris R.9 years ago
Analyze how Sony's attempt to give the world another great handheld console initially failed. Then illustrate how indie developers have kept it alive, while no AAA games are being made.
As the new gaming consoles (PS4, XBOX 1) become more popular and common to see in your friends' living rooms, where will console entertainment go from here? Nintendo is already planning the release of its new console next year, Steam has created its own brand of PC gaming devices, and virtual reality is slowly becoming more of a marketable product. Yet, can classic companies like Microsoft, Sony, even Apple, manage to compete and adapt with new innovations to gaming. Or will the next Sony device be an upgraded console with stronger hardware? Has gaming reached its technological peak and are we forever doomed to a future of CPU driven console devices, which lack interactive innovation. Or could we see Netflix on the next Microsoft device being broadcast as a hologram right in your room. Could we see a future of virtual reality devices, which take gamers into the actual game. Where do gaming consoles go from here?
Its important that the writter discusses what consoles can do over PCs. Nintendo has local play, sony and microsoft have perifferals that change the way people can play. – Cojo9 years ago
With the rise of many YouTube gaming personalities such as PewDiePie, Markiplier and Jacksepticeye, the idea of not have to personally purchase a game appeals to millions of people. Sitting down and watching someone else play a game, for many, is an ideal way to see what the current gaming scene is like, and a way to keep themselves occupied and entertained. My question is, are gamers a groundbreaking new form of entertainment as a new set of entertainers? They contrast with in-person comedians and live shows in that their work can be replayed and still be exactly the same, but this form of entertainment is different than the traditional idea. Are these gamers the new face of entertainment?
As Games have evolved, they become more and more cinematic. Cutscenes that are directed using filmaking knowledge, and interactive series such as 'The Walking Dead' and 'The Wolf Among Us' are essentially interactive choose-your-own-adventure films. So my question is this- as Films yearn to draw the audience in more and more through interactivity, will they start to become much like games- or is the age of games over? Is the future of CoD an interactive action film with occasional quick-time segments?
Awesome topic. You should use the game Night Trap to show how games and movies can interact. – TheTylerHudson9 years ago
I've actually thought about this myself. It's almost like both, film and games, are missing something. In games, we are slightly deprived of a filmmaker's vision, but that vision or voice can sometimes steer people away. On the flip side, some viewers are intrigued by a filmmaker's vision more than they the film's subject matter. In film, we are unable to physically interact. Being able to physically interact versus a filmmaker drawing you into his/her film might be an interesting angle. It almost seems like there is no reason why we, the viewer, aren't granted the opportunity to be a part of a film. Having that interaction might be what gives the viewer a true connection with a film and its subject matter. Further, games aren't as linear as they once were. Some games have multiple endings, while others have no defined ending. – MDanielewski9 years ago
This is an incredibly interesting topic. Games and films are both consistently in the eye of society, and the both of them can be seen as partners of the other. So many of these things can slide seamlessly into the other, which could spark a pretty decent debate. Personally, I think the majority of society likes the idea of seeing a game follow a film, because then they can live with and as the characters they fell in love with during the movie. – briannahardy9 years ago
This is an interesting topic and I would say that games might outlive films. Cinematic displays and the filmmakers vision are constantly being incorporated into games; Halo and Final Fantasy are excellent examples of this. It's interesting because both fields are dynamic, yet games seem more likely to wither than film, as film seems to be a constant staple of popular culture. Yet, if gaming integrates more elements of film into its production, it almost seems desirable that people could choose to interact with cinematic games more in the long run, whereas film is not interactive. If anything a merger of the two mediums could be interesting, such as Scorsese directing the new Halo. – JamesNeff9 years ago
