The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
When the first days of Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario appeared, all gamers saw the birth of game series. No one really thought they would still be around 10-20 years later, but they are. But I ask, why weren't as many games turned into a series? Games like Snowball in Hell, classic but forgotten.
But that's exactly why. All game series have one thing in common - mascots. Or, at least, familiar faces. It's as simply as this - kids see that character, want it, buy, no matter what the price or how good the game, if a child sees something he knows and loves, he'll likely buy the game.
Luckily for gamers of this day and age, most game series are of a high standard, Tomb Raider, Mario, Sonic and all the rest.
But, as we've seen recently, developers try and try again to create a likable, knowable character, so they can spawn games over and over, and get profits whatever the weather. Most recently, games like Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, are trying to get money from nothing.
But anyway, enough about all that, most of us know what makes a series, onto what this posts real question is.
Can bad games spawn a series?
We've seen a good series create a bad game before, all those pathetic Mario spin offs may have sold, but after that they won't have got much sales.
Lets see, what game series are around now? Tomb Raider, Mario, Fifa... yes! Fifa! From the first game 'till the most recent, this sells like there's no tommorow, each game has been terrible, yet everytime I see it in the top 10. Fifa is starting to get on top agin, but that's a example of a bad series.
Again, so far this post has been a bit silly - in other words, stating the obvious, but that was kinda of an intro, the new topic question is - what games should have been series?
ACTRAISER -
Yes, all I ever do these days is go on and on about how damn good this game really was, but there's more than enough room for a series. There wouldn't be any competition, since it was a platformer and a God sim, but really the only reason I put this here is because I want a sequel. A series was attempted, but all they could pull off was Actraiser 2, which is one of the worst games I've ever played. So, if a copy of the original - maybe an extension - was made, would it be a series today, well it very well could be, but there's too many things saying 'No'. The character didn't really have a name (only 'Actraiser Fairy Dude'), which is needed for regonition, secondly, there was no kind of hype for the game, it appeared, disappeared, got forgotten.
So, series? Nope.
SNOWBALL IN HELL -
Another game I moan on about all the time, SiH is one of 'The Classic'. But why was it great? It was so damn addictive! Some of the powerups and powerdowns (If that's what you want to call them) were very original made the experience that bit better. One big problem, though, is that it's a puzzle game and not much can be done to it, so the series would basically be nicer graphics, same old gameplay. But one word pops to mind - Tetris.
So, series? Yup.
RUFF 'N' READY -
A dog. A cat. A game. Ruff 'n' Ready's the name! This game was another one of those colourful platformers that everyone wanted to play. In some ways, it was better than Mario. The only big trouble problem was that it impossible to complete. The second level was just, well, annoying. Although playing until the part where you find out you can't complete the level is fun, there's no place for this one.
So, series? Nope.
Well, there's a few examples that were never to be.
Thanks for reading
RiCkOsS
But that's exactly why. All game series have one thing in common - mascots. Or, at least, familiar faces. It's as simply as this - kids see that character, want it, buy, no matter what the price or how good the game, if a child sees something he knows and loves, he'll likely buy the game.
Luckily for gamers of this day and age, most game series are of a high standard, Tomb Raider, Mario, Sonic and all the rest.
But, as we've seen recently, developers try and try again to create a likable, knowable character, so they can spawn games over and over, and get profits whatever the weather. Most recently, games like Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, are trying to get money from nothing.
But anyway, enough about all that, most of us know what makes a series, onto what this posts real question is.
Can bad games spawn a series?
We've seen a good series create a bad game before, all those pathetic Mario spin offs may have sold, but after that they won't have got much sales.
Lets see, what game series are around now? Tomb Raider, Mario, Fifa... yes! Fifa! From the first game 'till the most recent, this sells like there's no tommorow, each game has been terrible, yet everytime I see it in the top 10. Fifa is starting to get on top agin, but that's a example of a bad series.
Again, so far this post has been a bit silly - in other words, stating the obvious, but that was kinda of an intro, the new topic question is - what games should have been series?
ACTRAISER -
Yes, all I ever do these days is go on and on about how damn good this game really was, but there's more than enough room for a series. There wouldn't be any competition, since it was a platformer and a God sim, but really the only reason I put this here is because I want a sequel. A series was attempted, but all they could pull off was Actraiser 2, which is one of the worst games I've ever played. So, if a copy of the original - maybe an extension - was made, would it be a series today, well it very well could be, but there's too many things saying 'No'. The character didn't really have a name (only 'Actraiser Fairy Dude'), which is needed for regonition, secondly, there was no kind of hype for the game, it appeared, disappeared, got forgotten.
So, series? Nope.
SNOWBALL IN HELL -
Another game I moan on about all the time, SiH is one of 'The Classic'. But why was it great? It was so damn addictive! Some of the powerups and powerdowns (If that's what you want to call them) were very original made the experience that bit better. One big problem, though, is that it's a puzzle game and not much can be done to it, so the series would basically be nicer graphics, same old gameplay. But one word pops to mind - Tetris.
So, series? Yup.
RUFF 'N' READY -
A dog. A cat. A game. Ruff 'n' Ready's the name! This game was another one of those colourful platformers that everyone wanted to play. In some ways, it was better than Mario. The only big trouble problem was that it impossible to complete. The second level was just, well, annoying. Although playing until the part where you find out you can't complete the level is fun, there's no place for this one.
So, series? Nope.
Well, there's a few examples that were never to be.
Thanks for reading
RiCkOsS
That's true. But at least when the "proper" Mario and Zelda adventures themelves come they prove to have been well-worth the wait!
And there are usually a goof-few 'spin-offs' from the series like Mario Tennis and Mario Party... But I know what you mean about Mario's TimeMachine - and of course, there was Mario Is Missing! :S
Sonic Spinball was one of my all-time favourite MegaDrive games too.
I reckon they could try more 'spin-offs' with games from the Zelda series', and others. What about a Mario Kart-style "Hyrule Racing" or something??
And when I first heard about Blinx being developed by SEGA, I was hoping for the next Sonic, the next big character to spawn a series.
But after I heard more about this game, I realised it was like Luigi's Mansion - a game that will never even get a sequel.
And there are usually a goof-few 'spin-offs' from the series like Mario Tennis and Mario Party... But I know what you mean about Mario's TimeMachine - and of course, there was Mario Is Missing! :S
Sonic Spinball was one of my all-time favourite MegaDrive games too.
I reckon they could try more 'spin-offs' with games from the Zelda series', and others. What about a Mario Kart-style "Hyrule Racing" or something??
And when I first heard about Blinx being developed by SEGA, I was hoping for the next Sonic, the next big character to spawn a series.
But after I heard more about this game, I realised it was like Luigi's Mansion - a game that will never even get a sequel.
Cheers ofr the reply :-)
It is quite annoying that developers don't seem to think about the games when making some games if it's in a series. Some of the dire Mario games, really were dire. Mario's Time Machine, argh!
It is quite annoying that developers don't seem to think about the games when making some games if it's in a series. Some of the dire Mario games, really were dire. Mario's Time Machine, argh!
No! :-(
I've done the worst thing I could for my ego! Read my own post :\
I've done the worst thing I could for my ego! Read my own post :\
"Can bad games spawn a series?"
Yes. Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, (older) FIFA titles...
Get the idea? It is possible, and it has been done!
Just look at half the games available today that've been published by EA... How many of them have you seen reproduced and updated year-after-year since as long as you can remember? And they're no good either, are they?
I've always wondered if we'll ever see another series of games as-succesfull-as the Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, or even The Legend of Zelda games, but I think it's doubtfull.
You may find one or two decent games released that find itself and sequel, and then a sequel to that, but then it goes no further.
I was really dissapointed to here that the 3rd installment of the LBA (Little Big Adventure) series had been canned, after playing the first 2 games on my PC to bits.
It seems to me that all the newer decent games only get one-or-two sequels, where-as the poor ones get too-many, just because they'll sell loads making an easy profit.
Yes. Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, (older) FIFA titles...
Get the idea? It is possible, and it has been done!
Just look at half the games available today that've been published by EA... How many of them have you seen reproduced and updated year-after-year since as long as you can remember? And they're no good either, are they?
I've always wondered if we'll ever see another series of games as-succesfull-as the Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, or even The Legend of Zelda games, but I think it's doubtfull.
You may find one or two decent games released that find itself and sequel, and then a sequel to that, but then it goes no further.
I was really dissapointed to here that the 3rd installment of the LBA (Little Big Adventure) series had been canned, after playing the first 2 games on my PC to bits.
It seems to me that all the newer decent games only get one-or-two sequels, where-as the poor ones get too-many, just because they'll sell loads making an easy profit.
When the first days of Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario appeared, all gamers saw the birth of game series. No one really thought they would still be around 10-20 years later, but they are. But I ask, why weren't as many games turned into a series? Games like Snowball in Hell, classic but forgotten.
But that's exactly why. All game series have one thing in common - mascots. Or, at least, familiar faces. It's as simply as this - kids see that character, want it, buy, no matter what the price or how good the game, if a child sees something he knows and loves, he'll likely buy the game.
Luckily for gamers of this day and age, most game series are of a high standard, Tomb Raider, Mario, Sonic and all the rest.
But, as we've seen recently, developers try and try again to create a likable, knowable character, so they can spawn games over and over, and get profits whatever the weather. Most recently, games like Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, are trying to get money from nothing.
But anyway, enough about all that, most of us know what makes a series, onto what this posts real question is.
Can bad games spawn a series?
We've seen a good series create a bad game before, all those pathetic Mario spin offs may have sold, but after that they won't have got much sales.
Lets see, what game series are around now? Tomb Raider, Mario, Fifa... yes! Fifa! From the first game 'till the most recent, this sells like there's no tommorow, each game has been terrible, yet everytime I see it in the top 10. Fifa is starting to get on top agin, but that's a example of a bad series.
Again, so far this post has been a bit silly - in other words, stating the obvious, but that was kinda of an intro, the new topic question is - what games should have been series?
ACTRAISER -
Yes, all I ever do these days is go on and on about how damn good this game really was, but there's more than enough room for a series. There wouldn't be any competition, since it was a platformer and a God sim, but really the only reason I put this here is because I want a sequel. A series was attempted, but all they could pull off was Actraiser 2, which is one of the worst games I've ever played. So, if a copy of the original - maybe an extension - was made, would it be a series today, well it very well could be, but there's too many things saying 'No'. The character didn't really have a name (only 'Actraiser Fairy Dude'), which is needed for regonition, secondly, there was no kind of hype for the game, it appeared, disappeared, got forgotten.
So, series? Nope.
SNOWBALL IN HELL -
Another game I moan on about all the time, SiH is one of 'The Classic'. But why was it great? It was so damn addictive! Some of the powerups and powerdowns (If that's what you want to call them) were very original made the experience that bit better. One big problem, though, is that it's a puzzle game and not much can be done to it, so the series would basically be nicer graphics, same old gameplay. But one word pops to mind - Tetris.
So, series? Yup.
RUFF 'N' READY -
A dog. A cat. A game. Ruff 'n' Ready's the name! This game was another one of those colourful platformers that everyone wanted to play. In some ways, it was better than Mario. The only big trouble problem was that it impossible to complete. The second level was just, well, annoying. Although playing until the part where you find out you can't complete the level is fun, there's no place for this one.
So, series? Nope.
Well, there's a few examples that were never to be.
Thanks for reading
RiCkOsS
But that's exactly why. All game series have one thing in common - mascots. Or, at least, familiar faces. It's as simply as this - kids see that character, want it, buy, no matter what the price or how good the game, if a child sees something he knows and loves, he'll likely buy the game.
Luckily for gamers of this day and age, most game series are of a high standard, Tomb Raider, Mario, Sonic and all the rest.
But, as we've seen recently, developers try and try again to create a likable, knowable character, so they can spawn games over and over, and get profits whatever the weather. Most recently, games like Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, are trying to get money from nothing.
But anyway, enough about all that, most of us know what makes a series, onto what this posts real question is.
Can bad games spawn a series?
We've seen a good series create a bad game before, all those pathetic Mario spin offs may have sold, but after that they won't have got much sales.
Lets see, what game series are around now? Tomb Raider, Mario, Fifa... yes! Fifa! From the first game 'till the most recent, this sells like there's no tommorow, each game has been terrible, yet everytime I see it in the top 10. Fifa is starting to get on top agin, but that's a example of a bad series.
Again, so far this post has been a bit silly - in other words, stating the obvious, but that was kinda of an intro, the new topic question is - what games should have been series?
ACTRAISER -
Yes, all I ever do these days is go on and on about how damn good this game really was, but there's more than enough room for a series. There wouldn't be any competition, since it was a platformer and a God sim, but really the only reason I put this here is because I want a sequel. A series was attempted, but all they could pull off was Actraiser 2, which is one of the worst games I've ever played. So, if a copy of the original - maybe an extension - was made, would it be a series today, well it very well could be, but there's too many things saying 'No'. The character didn't really have a name (only 'Actraiser Fairy Dude'), which is needed for regonition, secondly, there was no kind of hype for the game, it appeared, disappeared, got forgotten.
So, series? Nope.
SNOWBALL IN HELL -
Another game I moan on about all the time, SiH is one of 'The Classic'. But why was it great? It was so damn addictive! Some of the powerups and powerdowns (If that's what you want to call them) were very original made the experience that bit better. One big problem, though, is that it's a puzzle game and not much can be done to it, so the series would basically be nicer graphics, same old gameplay. But one word pops to mind - Tetris.
So, series? Yup.
RUFF 'N' READY -
A dog. A cat. A game. Ruff 'n' Ready's the name! This game was another one of those colourful platformers that everyone wanted to play. In some ways, it was better than Mario. The only big trouble problem was that it impossible to complete. The second level was just, well, annoying. Although playing until the part where you find out you can't complete the level is fun, there's no place for this one.
So, series? Nope.
Well, there's a few examples that were never to be.
Thanks for reading
RiCkOsS