Topic: Topic of the Decade, Reboots

[KaZudra]

Castlevania
Devil May Cry
Resident Evil
Tomb Raider
Mortal Kombat

all are subjected to Reboots, is this a 2010-2011 thing or will it be consistant for the next 9 years?

[X]

It all depends really. Reboots only happen if:

1. They want to give an old idea a fresh start or an up-to-date look.

2. A good idea went through the toilet the very first time and they want to start again.

3. A favorable franchise becomes so contradictory and to itself they decide to wipe the slate clean and start anew (like Star Trek).

These are some of the many reasons that come to my mind.

-X

[ShinAkumaXX]

I'm fine with reboots personally. I love a new series that's actually sweet, and on 360 I've gotten into quite a few new ones. But I have my favorite classic series, and certainly love to see them still being made. I loved Lords of Shadow, and as long as reboots are of at least it's calibur then keep them coming. Personally I could list a ton of games I'd love to see remade/revised/rebooted. In the vein of the Resident Evil remake on Gamecube would be nice. Though with the current gen consoles they could up the anti so much! If only there was a big market for a remake of Panzer Dragoon Saga... The game companies obviously know what makes money, so I'm sure within the next 5 years we will get some of what we wish for. I wound up getting some nice treats on ps2 I never though I'd get. I don't know of Metal Gear Solid Rising is considered a reboot or what, but where the hell is that game?

[Sumac]

It depends from the situations I think. Sometimes reboot is needed, like in case of Castlevania.
Sometimes, like in case of Mortal Kombat or DMC there is no real reason to reboot everything for the sake of appealing to the modern crowd.

Generally I hate reboots.
I like alternate universes.

[Gunlord]

Castlevania is a very old franchise, Mortal Kombat a relatively old one, and Resident Evil and Tomb Raider were both pretty long in the tooth themselves. All these reboots make business sense, IMO, as ways of keeping older licenses relevant to modern sensibilities. I think we might be seeing more reboots in the next 9 years as series which have been around since the 8-bit days, like Castlevania, are "upgraded" to make them more appealing to audiences weaned on systems like the PS3 and stuff.

I take no position on whether or not this is a good thing, mind you. These are just my predictions based on what I've seen...

[Mooning Freddy]

You Have only listed the recent reboots. There must be many more games that received the reboot or remake treatment, whether as a continuation or remake of the original game. Such as Ninja Gaiden, Bionic commando, Metal Gear (solid) and other NES classics who were converted successfully to next generation platforms.

If reboot stands for retelling the original story, then it's recently very popular not only in gaming, but also in cinematography (A LOT). The formula is basic: they take the old movies and games we all knew and loved, and remake them, pumping them up using the most modern technology. It's basically your memories, UPGRADED with awesome graphics and sound.  In other words, 'tis just like the original, but bigga! And stronga! and in HD!!

Does this make it better? Hardly so. Most remakes of films are regarded as inferior to the originals. Can you say the same about games? Hmmm.

[Kale]

I like reboots but I don't like the way games are tryign to cater to newbie gamers that like QTEs and motion control. Damn it all, I need a real game!

[OmegaDL50]

You Have only listed the recent reboots. There must be many more games that received the reboot or remake treatment, whether as a continuation or remake of the original game. Such as Ninja Gaiden, Bionic commando, Metal Gear (solid) and other NES classics who were converted successfully to next generation platforms.

If reboot stands for retelling the original story, then it's recently very popular not only in gaming, but also in cinematography (A LOT). The formula is basic: they take the old movies and games we all knew and loved, and remake them, pumping them up using the most modern technology. It's basically your memories, UPGRADED with awesome graphics and sound.  In other words, 'tis just like the original, but bigga! And stronga! and in HD!!

Does this make it better? Hardly so. Most remakes of films are regarded as inferior to the originals. Can you say the same about games? Hmmm.

The problem with this is nostalgia also is a fairly large factor in this. People tend to be far more impressionable when they are younger. People often let the rose tinted glasses get to them and become blinded by nostalgia.

Things looking better then they actually are when they reflect on those memories experiencing something they enjoyed in their youth. One does not ever get to re-experience something as if it was the first time all over again and will notice flaws present that existed even the original that they ignored which often makes the remake "look" inferior when compared to that perfect illusion created out of youthful memory. Even when considering there is no such thing as perfection to begin with.

[Kale]

The problem with this is nostalgia also is a fairly large factor in this. People tend to be far more impressionable when they are younger. People often let the rose tinted glasses get to them and become blinded by nostalgia.

Things looking better then they actually are when they reflect on those memories experiencing something they enjoyed in their youth. One does not ever get to re-experience something as if it was the first time all over again and will notice flaws present that existed even the original that they ignored which often makes the remake "look" inferior when compared to that perfect illusion created out of youthful memory. Even when considering there is no such thing as perfection to begin with.

I hear the nostalgia factor being used a lot, but honestly I'm not convinced. Nostalgia can only go so far if it goes anywhere at all.

The day the earth stood still is something that really hits home. It's clear that the newer one is better in terms of graphics and such, but it just doesn't hold the same feeling as the older one. And there's no nostalgia factor for me there as I didn't watch it til the release of the new one.

I also often replay the older games I've liked before, and I still love them. I might notice new flaws that I have not seen before, but it rarely destroy the greatness of the game. But maybe that's just me.

[Sumac]

I hear the nostalgia factor being used a lot, but honestly I'm not convinced. Nostalgia can only go so far if it goes anywhere at all.

I see some people who hated reboots only because it was different from version that they've seen in they youth. Sadly, but it's kind of big factor.
This was reaction for the Transformers designs in the recent movies, new TMNT series, new MK games.

[Munchy]

I like reboots but I don't like the way games are tryign to cater to newbie gamers that like QTEs and motion control. Damn it all, I need a real game!

This. Nobody likes QTEs but game designers shove them into games anyway. This reaaaaally pissed me off in Castlevania, a game series that was perfectly fine without QTEs.

Also, the new DMC looks like fucking garbage. Not just any garbage, but garbage having sex with itself.

[X]

Also, the new DMC looks like fucking garbage. Not just any garbage, but garbage having sex with itself.

I'd pay money to see that! 

In terms of QETs in our favoret games...It's bad. It's a very bad idea and it didn't work. If they want to cator to newbies then they should simply make new games that cater to them rather then butchering up something that already works.

-X

[Inccubus]

All this is a symptom of gaming companies caring more about $$$ than the games themselves.
This is part of the reason that Capcom lost Keiji Inafune.
How many years had Inafune-san and us MM fans spent practically begging Capcom to make MML3?

[Munchy]

I'd pay money to see that! 
-X

Are you sure? You'd just be buying DmC.

QTEs are like those really, really tacky sweaters you get from your great aunt at Christmas, where you keep dropping not-so-subtle hints that you don't want any more, but you keep getting them anyway.

[Mooning Freddy]

I should also state that while often remakes and reboots are inferior to the originals or unnecessary, some managed to achieve great success.

Nobody can deny the box office success that was Batman Begins, a movie which was an attempt to reboot the story of Batman, and which was also followed by an even more successful sequel, The Dark Knight.

By taking a more dramatic approach to the story of Batman, Christopher Nolan managed to both impress Batman fans, and attract a bigger audience by making the story more realistic, thus more appealing to mature audience that the previous films (Batman, Batman returns, Batman forever).