David Cage: "Sequels kills creativity and innovation"

In a recent interview with Quantic Dreams David Cage, he says that too many sequels kills the creativity and innovation in games.

[Snookies12]

That is... Kind of true. Considering fans will be mad if too much is changed in a sequel, yet people will still give it hell for not changing enough. In that regard, developers are forced to be confined into what the game "should" be, as defined by the series it's a part of.

[showtimefolks]

Well sometimes the best games in the series are sequel to a earlier game

Mass effect 2
Uncharted 2
Gears of war 2 or 3

I am a huge David cage fan and I agree with him a lot of times but he needs to understand that setting up a new IP is hard. Once the new IP is out and successful why should a publisher let it die when with each game fan base will grow and so should the quality? Dragon dogma for example I can't wait for the sequel since the 1st game had some great ideas but could not implement them properly

After the release of beyond 2 souls(which I think will be later part of 2013 like after June) I see Sony vying QD studio and it's good for David cage since he likes Sony and they have provided him with freedom he needs to work on whatever he wants

[nukeitall]

I'm a huge fan of sequels as that's pretty much what I have been buying for years. I enjoy the games I already am familiar with especially now that I no longer have as much time to hone skills or learn new games.

I think in some ways it is more creative to keep an existing franchise exciting, because you have all these constraints you have to overcome.

[ABizzel1]

I agree with both of you.

Sequels are worthwhile if there's more story to be told, or vast improvements between the first and second game. They also allow people to buy into a franchises they can pretty much guarantee will produce good games.

However, it's still more of the same (in most cases) no matter how much they try to hide it, which is why we need a good balance of both sequels for the safe buys, and new innovative titles to continue to push gaming forward.

[rainslacker]

He's not saying that there should be no sequels. Just that innovation is lost when too many sequels are released.

Many games improve upon themselves with their first sequel, and sometimes their 2nd, but after that they tend to go downhill. That's usually after the original developers have moved on, and the sequel becomes more about marketing and "getting new players", than it is about what made the game great in the first place.

I think most people don't mind a sequel release so long as it's not constant, like COD. Even Naughty Dog moved onto their next thing, as 3 titles in one series over 5 years is quite a lot. All were great games, but I'm glad they're doing something different.

As far as Cage goes, his games don't really lend themselves to being sequels.

[Bimkoblerutso]

^And that IS true. Not every game needs to be something completely new and innovative, and in my opinion a sequel can be just as good, if not better, than an original if they're done well enough.

Unfortunately developers and publishers have put a black mark on "sequels" because they often end up turning into derivative cash cows.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

@rainslacker

I completely agree with you. Well said.

[darthv72]

sequels do not kill creativity. Remakes do.

At least with a sequel there is an effort to continue the story or perhaps start up a new chapter in a series.

when you start seeing more and more remakes and repackages of existing games is where the creativity has hit a wall.

[MikeMyers]

I really wish David Cage could just concentrate on making a good game without the needless arrogance. That's why I like people such as Tim Schafer. He just makes games without the constant barrage of "I'm the best, I create my own genre of games, the industry needs people like me".

I really don't care what Cage has to say. I will remain interested in Beyond no matter how much he wants to bash sequels and lack of originality out there. I let the games speak for themselves. I don't take stock in what people such as Cage, Kojima, Molyneux, Jaffe, Blezinski and Itagaki have to say. They all have their little followers who think they are God and that their words have deep meaning. They also get far more credit than they actually deserve because they have teams working on those games. It's not just one person making those games.

[Walker]

In terms of gameplay, creativity and innovation Beyond: Tow Souls looks an actual sequel for heavy rain . Only the characters have changed . IMO .

[e-p-ayeaH]

The game doesnt seem all that diferent from Heavy Rain in terms of gameplay but as a whole diferent type of storyline.

I sure hope the story is actually better written this time around i dont want constant plot hopes and bad voice acting.

[harrisk954]

How could you possibly know what Beyond is all about or how it plays. You can only tell so much from the media that has been released and according to what I read, we are only seeing a very small portion of the game and other areas look and play differently.

Until it is released and you have a chance to play it, it is unfair to say that this is a "sequel" to anything.

[DigitalRaptor]

Not only characters - but story, engine technology, the dynamic of Aiden's gameplay mixed with Jodie's traditional 'Heavy Rain' style of play, and the variety in gameplay scenarios due to the story taking place over roughly 12 years of a girl's life.

[nevin1]

Is not all true. Back in the good old NES-PS2 days, developers always try to top the original when making sequels.

GTA 3 through San Andreas is a good example.

[e-p-ayeaH]

GTA4 is a bad example xD

[abzdine]

depends how they are made but in this generation of consoles sequels almost dont bring any addition.

[sway_z]

When a game has the (insert title here) 5, 6 or 7 after the title...Hello Ridge Racer & Tekken!

...or any other long in the tooth games you could care to mention ....it really is time to move on :/

*Exceptions

GTA Series ...GT Series noted!

[Seraphemz]

Nintendo could learn from him..

How many Mario games can people take..

[ShaunCameron]

Eh. Nintendo don't really need to learn from him.

Besides, how many rip-offs of existing/popular games can people take?

[specsmatter]

Uncharted 2 was one of those gems that brought so much to the table and made me believe in sequels. Killzone 2 as well, but then the third installments didnt exceed anything imo.

[StrongMan]

David Cage has spoken.

[Y_5150]

I think there can be creativity and innovation in sequels. But a new game that brings something new to the table can be more impactful.
Example: Journey.

[goldwyncq]

Innovation for sequels is overrated. I'm not saying I despise it, but too often a review bashes a game just for being similar to its predecessor, instead of judging it by its own merit. Look at the God of War series, the core gameplay remains the same throughout but still remains enjoyable.

[InMyOpinion]

I agree somewhat, but it depends on the franchise really. And being creative and innovative doesn't mean something is automatically good.

I just finished Far Cry 3 and that game felt completely different to the lacklustre Far Cry 2. One of the best FPS games I've played this gen.

Batman: Arkham City also felt like a big update compared to the first game. As did Battlefield 3. And Portal 2.

As long as the game is awesome to play I really don't care if it's a sequel/innovative/creative or not. Most games draw inspiration from stuff that's already been done in older games anyways. Some do it more obvious than others though.

[jay2]

It's so bloody true! I agree with David's every world.

[Fishy Fingers]

Completely agree, but with raising development cost and higher expectations from consumers, returns on your investment are much easier to garrentee with sequels. Much like Hollywood, there will be far more sequels, reboots and remakes coming in favour of new IP.

[Kran]

True and False.

True because it does limit what a franchise can deliver. And if you don't apparently give what every gamer needed "so one gamer might of wanted no scope removed, whilst others wanted it enhanced", then you'll not only use followers, but probably be burned to death :/

False because... well... take GTA. Different story every game, different things to do in it. The only similarity between the games is the very adult content. Sequels allow you to expand and tell more stories. It really depends on the franchise; if a developer feels they have enough to share in a franchise, then by any means make a sequel. But if they have a hard time coming up with anything new or surprising, then the well has probably run dry.

FF and CoD has ran dry.... and yet I don't think the publishers have realized that. Especially when they're doing sequels for the sequels.... Final Fatasy 13-2 I mean.

[sdozzo]

Yeah, but it's a slow bleed for those big guys. We will still see many more CoD before it goes away.

[LordSane]

not always

[kostchtchie_]

to many sequels, i will agree kill it, but there is nothing wrong with some sequels

[rainslacker]

I just think sequels should be spread out a little more. Maybe not like Kingdom Hearts spread out, but more than a 12-16 months between new games. 24-48 months per sequel seems good to me. Although there are some great games I can't get enough of. They say good things come to those that wait. :)

[kostchtchie_]

exactly, some games use sequels and spin of to much, because they are scared to try new and different thing, to many people are in game industry for the wrong reason

[landog]

too many sequels too often, yes....new CoD every 11 months...yes, definately

but, when the right time is taken, sequels can be simply AMAZING!

the witcher 2 imo, is better than everything this guy has ever done or ever will do. same with part 1 of the witcher

heavy rain is very much like Indigo Prophecy and beyond two soulks looks similar to heavy rain

lots of qtes with a good story.....this guy seems to consider himself a innovator, when realy, he is nothing of the sort....he makes great stories, yes, absolutely but so do 100'of developers, and his games lack the quality GAMEPLAY that thousands of other games HAVE.

[SAE]

When the last of us release people will love it. the last of us 2 will be better too but only few gonna complain . then the last of us 3 will come and people will start looking at as a normal game.

this is what he want to say. wow factor will be gone. people will get used to is . it's like eating the same food for a week. you will hate it or wait for months until you want to eat it again ..

[rainslacker]

I wouldn't be surprised if they took a bittersweet or simply tragic ending for the game. It's not like naughty dog to not release a sequel though. I can see them closing off the possibility of a direct sequel. It'd be a bold move in this day and age. Even bolder if they stood by no sequel for the game.

[MilkMan]

Thank you David Cage.
'nuff said.

[dennett316]

It's a little bit of a simplistic view from Cage there, very few games ever hit that perfect note in their first iteration. Uncharted is a good example, the first game was decent, but not a patch on what was to come from Uncharted 2 and even 3. Refinement, adding new mechanics and tweaking old ones can really provide the best experience that the developers intended when making their initial attempt.

Unlike movies, sequels to games are usually a significant improvement over the original. Resident Evil 2, Silent Hill 2, Sonic 2, Super Mario Brothers 3 (I love 2, but it's an acquired taste), Streets of Rage 2, Streetfighter 2 etc.

Of course things can get stale if not a lot evolves, or even if they mess with the game too much and destroy what made the original so popular...but it's folly to write sequels off in such a way.

[kwyjibo]

Please make a sequel to The Nomad Soul. I will pre-order it right now if you announce it.

Look, Bowie's making music again, the time is right.

[urwifeminder]

Yes more omikron its the best game he has ever done amazing .