Rehashing Old IP a Safe Bet in Gaming Industry

As an avid gamer, I'm always excited to get the latest copy of Game Informer in the mail. Even the covers, with their elaborate artwork, impress me. Creating games has become an art form that is to be respected. However, although video games have experienced a surge in the mainstream over the last few years, it is still an inherently risky investment. Game developments costs a crapload of money, and, without the proper marketing and promotion (more cha-ching) the best game in the world can fall through the cracks.

So what's a game development company to do when times are tight? The answer, apparently, lies in sticking to tried and true IP franchises, which decrease the risk of a flop. Hell, even sequels that suck bring in decent bucks; I won't name names... perhaps I should transform to a different topic. Back to my Game Informer covers. This year alone, Assassin's Creed 2, COD: Modern Warefare 2, Bioshock 2 and Uncharted 2 have graced the covers of this publication. Don't get me wrong - I'm not bagging on Game Informer or these franchises. In fact, I think most of these games are kick ass. My point is that I believe that even if they were mediocre titles at best, they may be considered for a sequel right now. IP development is very expensive (believe me, as a lawyer that spends most of her time writing licensing agreements, this stuff can get complicated), and the mainstream public is largely unpredictable when it comes to embracing new franchises. The cost of developing a game with hype and a marketing foundation already in place saves companies a lot of time and money - they've got fans and word of mouth already set from the first (or 4) games, not to mention the support of critics that enjoyed the first (or 4) games.

So am I upset about Bioshock 2 or COD 2? Hell no! But not all franchises are created equal, and I hope the industry continues to back good choices about which IP to fall back on. (cough Too Human cough). And while I'm at it, can we PLEASE stop adapting games for the Wii that are meant to have good graphics just because?? It's time for face facts. Dead Rising:Chop Til You Drop looks like shit.