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"Is the PlayStation 2 a SequelStation too?"

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Sun 29/07/01 at 12:43
Regular
Posts: 787
Right then, flying around recently have been a lot of comments about the PS2’s large (allegedly) amount of sequels. In front of me I have the latest copy of the Official UK PlayStation 2 magazine. Inside it contains a list of every PS2 game launched yet, and release dates up to October (reliably). So, here’s my analysis:

Out of the 106 games out now there are:

59 original games
19 sequels
5 multi-format ports
23 tedious sports updates

And, of the 45 games coming out up to and including October there are:

22 original games
12 sequels
3 multi-format ports
8 tedious sports updates

So, is the PlayStation 2 a SequelStation too? Well, sequels are inevitable on all consoles, for reasons I will explain later. Now, let’s analyse the GameCube’s launch line up (provided by Reaper[oV]).

Of the 18 games set for launch, there are:

7 original games
4 sequels
0 multi format ports (I think)
7 tedious sports updates

So, while the 55% of the PS2’s games are original and 17% are sequels, the GameCube has only 38% original games and 22% sequels. In reality, everyone who says the PS2 is full of sequels should keep quiet in future, as the GameCube is even worse. Right then, I’ve finished my small dig at the GameCube now, but is it really a dig? Sequels are inevitable. Water’s wet, rocks are hard, consoles have sequels. It’s a fact of life. I don’t blame the GameCube for having sequels any more than I blame the sun for rising in the morning. Sequels are a developer’s best friend. How many people are willing to buy the exact same game every year with slightly update graphics, different players and a bigger number on the end? Millions! Just ask EA! Also, publishers are afraid of getting low review scores, but if your game is just a remake of last year’s hit, the suckers will buy it anyway. You can just keep repeating the same formula over and over again every year, and you’ll be raking it in.

Another thing is, sequels don’t just make good business sense, developers are required to release sequels. What do you think would happen if Kazunori Yamuchi announced there would be no more Gran Turismo games? There’s would be a public outcry! What do you think would happen if Shigeru Miamoto announced he wasn’t planning on a Zelda game for the GameCube? Well, Nintendo would lynch him for a start. I like sequels. If I finish a really great game, I want to keep playing on it. That’s where sequels come in. The sequel gets released, and hopefully it’s a better game as well. That way, I can keep playing my favourite game forever. GT3 is a sequel of GT2, although it’s bordering on update territory. Does this make it a worse game? I think not. GT3 is fantastic, despite its similarities.

So what do you think? Are sequels the creation of genius, or the spawn of Satan? Discuss.
Tue 31/07/01 at 03:13
Regular
Posts: 15,579
exactly, thats why we see sequels with numbers. becasue the name is familar. easy way to shift loads of games.
Tue 31/07/01 at 03:11
Regular
"Eff, you see, kay?"
Posts: 14,156
Yeah. Ortega was more familliar.
Tue 31/07/01 at 03:05
Regular
Posts: 15,579
whats in a name? somthin. Like i noticed somepeople didnt like my Name as veron 4 and much rahter prefered ortega.
Tue 31/07/01 at 02:59
Regular
"Eff, you see, kay?"
Posts: 14,156
Indian-DudeY2K wrote:
> on the nintendo consoles most of the sequels have different names ,
> like zelda ocarina of time's sequel was Zelda Majoras Mask
> (completely different name) and with wave race the gamecubes version
> is called Wave Race Blue Storm but on playstation consoles the
> sequels are called 2 or 3 , like Gran Turismo 2 , 3 etc , the only
> game on nintendo consoles that i know of is with 2's and 3's after
> it is Turok , which compared to playstation sequel names is a very
> small minority. Also it is the same with sega , Crazy Taxi 2 and
> Virtua tennis 2 , no original names just 2's and 3's again. But
> sometimes these 2'' and 3's can help a game or console , nintendo
> and sega always (i think) give their consoles a new name compared to
> it's predecesor (super nintendo , the nintendo 64 ) but with sony
> they called their new console the playstation 2 , i think this is
> because with the success of the playstation they called it
> playstation 2 to give it a boost of customers , most people who
> bought a playstation and liked it are gonna think that playstation 2
> is great as they loved playstation 1 . Simple but effective.



Who CARES what they're called? Each GT game shows a marked improvement, regardless of its name. If the next Gran Turismo games was called Gran Turismo: Evoulution, how many more people would buy it than* GT4? None.
Tue 31/07/01 at 02:59
Regular
"Eff, you see, kay?"
Posts: 14,156
Indian-DudeY2K wrote:
> on the nintendo consoles most of the sequels have different names ,
> like zelda ocarina of time's sequel was Zelda Majoras Mask
> (completely different name) and with wave race the gamecubes version
> is called Wave Race Blue Storm but on playstation consoles the
> sequels are called 2 or 3 , like Gran Turismo 2 , 3 etc , the only
> game on nintendo consoles that i know of is with 2's and 3's after
> it is Turok , which compared to playstation sequel names is a very
> small minority. Also it is the same with sega , Crazy Taxi 2 and
> Virtua tennis 2 , no original names just 2's and 3's again. But
> sometimes these 2'' and 3's can help a game or console , nintendo
> and sega always (i think) give their consoles a new name compared to
> it's predecesor (super nintendo , the nintendo 64 ) but with sony
> they called their new console the playstation 2 , i think this is
> because with the success of the playstation they called it
> playstation 2 to give it a boost of customers , most people who
> bought a playstation and liked it are gonna think that playstation 2
> is great as they loved playstation 1 . Simple but effective.



Who CARES what they're called? Each GT game shows a marked improvement, regardless of its name. If the next Gran Turismo games was called Gran Turismo: Evoulution, how many more people would buy it that GT4? None.
Mon 30/07/01 at 16:35
Regular
"qwertyuiop!!"
Posts: 2,517
I know Wave Race looks awesome, MGS2 looks brill, GT3 was good, GTA3 looks great....
Mon 30/07/01 at 16:31
Regular
"Look!!! Changed!!!1"
Posts: 2,072
You're all missing the point - sequels aren't a bad thing and are not a bar on innovation. Look at the example I used earlier - the two Super Mario World titles on the SNES. The second brings a totally new and unseen way to play a platformer, the whole protecting Baby Mario thing.

Sequels by their nature are by no means tired and uninnovative. It a funny thing about morden gaming. Back in the Spectrum/Amiga/Amstrad days when you enjoyed a game you looked out for the next title from that development team - now you demand a sequel. Don't blame games publishers for rolling out the sequels and don't immedialy write a game off as it is the second in a series.
Mon 30/07/01 at 14:18
Regular
"qwertyuiop!!"
Posts: 2,517
But you cant positively say that the GC is worse since there aren't so many games out as the PS2 and it hasnt been out as long if you want a fair test!
Mon 30/07/01 at 10:36
Regular
"what is knowledge ?"
Posts: 2,112
yeay same here , i think gamecube , with all te support it's getting from rare ad sega , we will be seing som,e very original games , like donkey konng racing where you race about on animals (diddy kong racing style) but on animals !! pure genius !!
Mon 30/07/01 at 10:27
Regular
Posts: 14,117
As you would say when some one was comparing the DC and PS2:

"But the PS2 hasn't been out that long yet."

The GC is even released!

I'm sure when it's been out for the same length of time as the PS2 has now (about a year?) then the percentages will be slightly different.

I could be wrong of course, but with Nintendo's and Sega's reputation, I suspect you'll see more original games on the 'Cube than you will on the PS2?

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