Is originality a dying brand?

With everyone hyping the crap out of Modern Warfare 2, MAG and every other big FPS that comes up. I'm wondering, is originality dying? Especially since there's so many sequels coming. Of course don't get me wrong, I'm as excited about Uncharted 2, God of War III and Battlefield:Bad Company 2 as the next guy but I have to admit there's isn't going to be much difference between those games and their predecessor(s). So what do you guys think? Are gamers letting originality push up daisies while the next big guns-a-blazing, action packed shooter take over?

It's not dying, but there's much less originality now a days. Most companies would rather put out something proven rather than something new.xmitchconnorx

Sometime the ocassional original gem comes out.

It is. Especially when you have a prime example such as "The World War 2 era" where every dev and their Grandma were spewing out WW2 games like a hose shoots out water. There's a lot of crap these days.

Not taking anything away from sequels. Some stories do deserve them, or need them. But the term "originality" is just a catch phrase for the indy games being made these days. Published by the big giants.

We live in a lazy copy cat society that affects more than just video games.

It's not dying, but there's much less originality now a days. Most companies would rather put out something proven rather than something new.xmitchconnorx

Very true. I wish they would take that chance for a change.

The first original ideas were the use of fire and the wheel

Everything has had some influence from something else

[QUOTE="xmitchconnorx"]It's not dying, but there's much less originality now a days. Most companies would rather put out something proven rather than something new.Denji

Very true. I wish they would take that chance for a change.

I think it's also a bit of the consumers fault as well. Look at the awesome original games like yakuza and valkyria chronicles. People just don't want to buy games they don't already know.

[QUOTE="Denji"]

[QUOTE="xmitchconnorx"]It's not dying, but there's much less originality now a days. Most companies would rather put out something proven rather than something new.sa10kun

Very true. I wish they would take that chance for a change.

I think it's also a bit of the consumers fault as well. Look at the awesome original games like yakuza and valkyria chronicles. People just don't want to buy games they don't already know.

The disadvantage of "going mainstream" I suppose.

But also, if you get some decent marketing behind it. People will bite the hook. Just look at almost anything Microsoft does. Most of their things they just spam to death in every day life. Commercials, product placement and so on.

no way. if it was we wouldn't have games like Valkyria Chronicles, LittleBigPlanet, Flower, or the PJ series to name a few

Isn't the whole selling point of Valkyria Chronicles and Little Big Planet the fact that they were original? Those are just to name a few recently.FF6fan

Originality is something that is not as much popular as it used to be back a few years ago, there are many factors because of this though...

1) When devs have a great franchise, they will tend to make another sequel to earn more money, Modern Warfare is bound to prove that right, other examples would be GTA and Halo.

2) Demand from the fans, these guys play a huge role of course. When fans want to see more means that game companies see an opportunity to make more money, that simple. Here you go! another sequel.

3) Making an Original title is risky for some companies because the new IP they develop has a 50% chance of succeeding in making huge sales. If it happens to not sell, thousands or millions of dollars have been wasted and that is not a good thing for these game companies.

I believe that with these 3 points I made, makes devs much more skeptical in making something brand new for us gamers. Instead they will deliver more sequels and prequels on franchises that will almost guarantee great sales. Originality is not dying, it's just not chosen often.

Nah, as any entertainment medium ages it gets harder to make something that's brand new.. But as gaming becomes more advance and developers keep on thinking I believe there will always be original games.

With everyone hyping the crap out of Modern Warfare 2, MAG and every other big FPS that comes up. I'm wondering, is originality dying? Especially since there's so many sequels coming. Of course don't get me wrong, I'm as excited about Uncharted 2, God of War III and Battlefield:Bad Company 2 as the next guy but I have to admit there's isn't going to be much difference between those games and their predecessor(s). So what do you guys think? Are gamers letting originality push up daisies while the next big guns-a-blazing, action packed shooter take over?

anime_gamer007

[QUOTE="FF6fan"]Isn't the whole selling point of Valkyria Chronicles and Little Big Planet the fact that they were original? Those are just to name a few recently.anime_gamer007

We'll have a cup of tea, and let this whole thing blow over :P

[QUOTE="FF6fan"]Isn't the whole selling point of Valkyria Chronicles and Little Big Planet the fact that they were original? Those are just to name a few recently.anime_gamer007

Edit: Why is it posting my msg without spaces inbetween my words?

[QUOTE="anime_gamer007"]

[QUOTE="FF6fan"]Isn't the whole selling point of Valkyria Chronicles and Little Big Planet the fact that they were original? Those are just to name a few recently.FF6fan

Originality is not dying but I'm not gonna have a cup of tea either lol.

I think it is better to answer this question after Heavy Rain. I am very hyped about this but it always has the slightest chance to be a letdown. If it is a great game like most expect then it might lead others to go outside the path and try something new and original.

Everything has been done before in some way or form, originality is gone, still doesn't mean we can't have fun but the only new things we'll ever get are updated graphics.

valkyria chronicles isn't really original. We have had Strategy RPG's before. Fire Emblem, Vandal Hearts, Front Mission. The way Valkyria executed the whole thing with out a grid and movement in real time for that genre is new. The gameplay for Little Big Planet isn't new, the creating your own levels is not new either, but the way that game expanded everything was new. I would have to say the only unique games thisgeneration are probably flower and flow.

It depends. I found saints row 1 and 2 too be different then GTA and other clones.

No they are not dying theres alot of orginatlity but instead of it being in full games its on PSN or Xbox Live now such as Braid and Flower trust me originality will never die

[QUOTE="sa10kun"]

[QUOTE="Denji"]

Very true. I wish they would take that chance for a change.

Denji

I think it's also a bit of the consumers fault as well. Look at the awesome original games like yakuza and valkyria chronicles. People just don't want to buy games they don't already know.

The disadvantage of "going mainstream" I suppose.

But also, if you get some decent marketing behind it. People will bite the hook. Just look at almost anything Microsoft does. Most of their things they just spam to death in every day life. Commercials, product placement and so on.

But do jrpgs that don't have final fantasy in their titles even do well on the 360? I think game companies realize shooters (fps and tps) are where Americans tend to spend their dollars. Next gen games are so expensive that people don't want to take risks when paying full price.

I've seen this kind of thread before.... With that said, originality is there, but half of you peeps don't support originality... You all just like saying you value it. Bittersweet kudos to those that can admit they like rehashes too much.Symphonycometh

With everyone hyping the crap out of Modern Warfare 2, MAG and every other big FPS that comes up. I'm wondering, is originality dying? Especially since there's so many sequels coming. Of course don't get me wrong, I'm as excited about Uncharted 2, God of War III and Battlefield:Bad Company 2 as the next guy but I have to admit there's isn't going to be much difference between those games and their predecessor(s). So what do you guys think? Are gamers letting originality push up daisies while the next big guns-a-blazing, action packed shooter take over?

anime_gamer007

I dont think any game can be totally original but they can bring a new feel and twist to something we may have already seen.I think there are games out there that are different but you have to look more closely as they usually dont get hyped that well.

I can see why some devs continue to push out sequels, as others have said its a big risk to put out a new IP when you already have a established franchise. Look at ND they came out with Uncharted, is it original...No, is it different yes.UC took some elements of Tomb Raider and IMO provided great voice acting, vibrant and good graphics and a great story.So I expect ND to further develop this franchise, and Im sure other fans want the same,and with the money that these games bring them, they can take that a risk on one of the ideas they have for a new "original" IP.

Sequels shouldnt be a huge change from the first or it could alienate the core base, instead they should just take the flaws and correct them and bring in some light changes or upgrades along with continuing the story.

I think Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be a breath of fresh air, because it will be like CoD4 with fully destructible environments.

I think that the main reason originality seems to be dying is because the development of a Game is that expensive nowadays. No company is risking to loose that much money for something new which can easely become a bad seller. On cheaper aspects like PSN titles or Nintendo DS Games you can actually discover a lot of orginality, but there isn't that much money invested

I think Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be a breath of fresh air, because it will be like CoD4 with fully destructible environments.

SuperBobz

It seems to be on track to being a good game though and I will purchase it, but right now Im having fun with the 360 version ofBF 1943.

[QUOTE="Symphonycometh"]I've seen this kind of thread before.... With that said, originality is there, but half of you peeps don't support originality... You all just like saying you value it. Bittersweet kudos to those that can admit they like rehashes too much.franky_babylon

Originality fails when people reject it.
People reject originality when they don't understand it.
Misunderstanding makes humans stupid and seizes them in a state of mind that leaves little room for development.

I like rehashes, but that's on certain games with formulas that I've grown to love, ala Dynasty Warriors. The difference between Dynasty Warriors and the FPS genre is that all FPS look the same. At least DW has gone under cosmetic changes over the years.

Not only that, but no other game looks or plays like DW, so they're not just rehashes of previous versions, they're unique rehashes.

Ico. Shadow of the Colossus. Fahrenheit. Okami. Viewtiful Joe. Mirror's Edge. LittleBigPlanet.

All games that did something different, and not coincidentally, all games that didn't sell millions.

I don't think there is a lack of originality out on the gaming market. You can just look at the games and see new and original ideas. Out now is Mirror's Edge and LBP which pretty much started there own genre. Coming out is Heay Rain: Origami Killer and Star Wars: The Old Republic which gives your character a story in an MMO. As long as there is a demand for originality it will always be there but sometimes people just like to play some of the more familiar genres.

the business model is if it works, then don't fix it. originality is great and all, but when devs are raking in millions with every expanded game, i.e call of duty, why do they need to try something new if the consumer is still readily willing to pay them for that product?