Are Game Revisions a Viable Market?

[Sharpshooter]

With the release of the Wing Commander: Privateer remake, in conjunction with other such instances in th past, I've seriously begun pondering the possibilities of such actions, and thus want to know: would there be a viable market for game remakes and re-releases?

Take, for example, Dark Forces: there are doubtlessly many out there (myself incuded) who still play the gam to this day. If LucasArts were to re-vamp the engine to fit to modern-day systems, overhaul the models and the environment, and insert features unavailable at the time of its release, such as on-line multiplayer, would it be able to generate a profit? And could the same be done for other classic games, such as X-COM, The Legend of Zelda, and others?

[Praxis]

DEFINITELY.

Nintendo does this all the time.

Nintendo has already re-released almost all the NES and SNES Mario games for GameBoy Advance. We have Mario 64 DS, a completely improved and re-vamped version of Mario 64 (better graphics, new characters, new levels, redone old levels, new missions). The GBA has re-releases of Zelda: A Link to the Past and the original Legend of Zelda for NES.

And Sega released a Sonic Mega Collection with 7 classic Sonic games (I didn't buy it, because I have 6 of those 7 games on the original Genesis ).

I'm hoping to see a new Mario All-Stars game on the next Nintendo console. That'd be sweet.


And the creators of Ape Escape (forgot who) are re-releasing it for the PSP. Yeah, with the same old PS1 graphics.

[Alyeska]

Not only are rereleases a market (look at the popularity of Privateer or X-Com UFO Defense when people start talking about it and downloading it, and not to mention Star Control 2), but I think remakes on older games giving it a face lift and improving on the old product with newer capabilities and better interfaces (when necessary, a new interface on Master of Orion is not necessary) can do wonders. Imagine replaying the entire Wing Commander Saga on something like say the Freespace 2 engine (something simple and out there). You could reignite entire types of games by introducing people to a solid story with technology they require. Newer gamers just don't know the classics some of us do.

[DarkSilver]

Alyeska and Praxis both have very good points

Introducing remakes into the market, making use of new tech to spruce up old games where needed, giving new features on those games, would make it big, just in the "retro gaming" crowd, those of us who remember the original classics, Master of Orion, Wing Commander, Duke Nuke'm, etc.

Just look at what a commercial remake of Sid Meyer's Pirates did. It was a classic back when it was first released, and even now, it's selling really well with updated graphics, new minigames, but still the same story and gameplay.

[Admiral Valdemar]

There's also the free downloading of the original GTA and GTA2 now as well. It's not just the old games like Syndicate, Wing Commander or Worms 1 & 2 being re-released.

So overhauling the basic ideas for modern machines would be great if there is obviously still interest in the original games.

[Ace Pace]

Imagine replaying the entire Wing Commander Saga on something like say the Freespace 2 engine (something simple and out there).

Being done.

[JediToren]

Take, for example, Dark Forces: there are doubtlessly many out there (myself incuded) who still play the gam to this day. If LucasArts were to re-vamp the engine to fit to modern-day systems, overhaul the models and the environment, and insert features unavailable at the time of its release, such as on-line multiplayer, would it be able to generate a profit?

Actually, there is a fan-made mod for Jedi Academy that is doing jus that: Dark Forces Mod.

There is also one that is trying to port Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 to JA as well.

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

Considering creativity and originality in games have been killed mercilessly by the likes of EA and Infogrames, not to mention gameplay has been reduced to "yet another FPS/RTS clone", I would say HELL YEAH!!

Now I would really love to see a Strike Commander remake; using the beautiful 3D engine of Jane's USAF or Crimson Skies. And no, not IL-2 Sturmovik's graphic engine. It is so fucking sterile.

[weemadando]

Considering creativity and originality in games have been killed mercilessly by the likes of EA and Infogrames, not to mention gameplay has been reduced to "yet another FPS/RTS clone", I would say HELL YEAH!!

Now I would really love to see a Strike Commander remake; using the beautiful 3D engine of Jane's USAF or Crimson Skies. And no, not IL-2 Sturmovik's graphic engine. It is so fucking sterile.

Not to mention the fact that Strike Commanders gameplay had a FAR greater resemblance to Crimson Skies than any other flight sim you care to name.

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

Not to mention the fact that Strike Commanders gameplay had a FAR greater resemblance to Crimson Skies than any other flight sim you care to name.

Yup. The irony of this thing, Micro$oft actually published games with BETTER gameplay (at leat some of them) than those spewed out by the likes of Electronic Arts. Crimson Skies is an excellent example where gameplay still counts in flightsims (instead of getting a headache with Flanker-style "realism"). Dungeon Siege is another example of good gameplay.

[Solauren]

Given the number of people that try to redo olld games with new engines and editors (case in point the project to redo Dark Forces using the Jedi Academy engine), I'd say yes

[Sharp-kun]

Yes. I would kill for a spiffed up elease of the Utlima Underworld games.

[weemadando]

Yes. I would kill for a spiffed up elease of the Utlima Underworld games.

Then you should have bloody well played and supported Arx Fatalis - because god knows its the closest thing to it we'll see for another 10 years!

[Sharp-kun]

Then you should have bloody well played and supported Arx Fatalis

Arx Fatalis?

[Iceberg]

Dungeon Siege is another example of good gameplay.

You lost me there. Dungeon Siege is just Diablo 3D.

[Seggybop]

A remake of Starcraft would be amazingly awesome. And although obviously SC2 would be better, if Blizzard made a remake of SC1 they'd not have to worry about releasing a game inferior to the original.

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

Dungeon Siege is another example of good gameplay.

You lost me there. Dungeon Siege is just Diablo 3D.

On the surface, yes. But I love the way we develop skills by using them. Not to mention NPC smart enough to fight for themselves (unlike Ultima VII's, who often make stupid things during battle), and the options to set our fighting strategy/formation. Oh, and don't forget the mule. All it needs is a real, "living" interactive world like Ultima VII (and a storyline) and it becomes what Ultima IX should had been.

[Uraniun235]

You lost me there. Dungeon Siege is just Diablo 3D.

Er, while it's not my cup of tea, there are plenty out of there who find Diablo a very fun game to play.

[Vendetta]

Now I would really love to see a Strike Commander remake; using the beautiful 3D engine of Jane's USAF or Crimson Skies. And no, not IL-2 Sturmovik's graphic engine. It is so fucking sterile.

Ace Combat is it's closest modern relative. Though that's more tipped towards the arcade.

[PrinceofLowLight]

I would gladly kill for The Baldur's Gate games and Planescape: Torment remade with 3.5 rules and the Temple of Elemental Evil engine.

[DarkSilver]

Dungeon Siege is another example of good gameplay.

You lost me there. Dungeon Siege is just Diablo 3D.

On the surface, yes. But I love the way we develop skills by using them. Not to mention NPC smart enough to fight for themselves (unlike Ultima VII's, who often make stupid things during battle), and the options to set our fighting strategy/formation. Oh, and don't forget the mule. All it needs is a real, "living" interactive world like Ultima VII (and a storyline) and it becomes what Ultima IX should had been.

Eh, after EA took over OSI in '92, the Ultima series started going downhill, and UIX was rushed out the door to quickly after work was begun on Ultima Online. But yes, UIX's storyline was...weak. Much like you, I think VII was probably the best for the series.

We can forget about OSI ever releasing anymore Ultima's beyond IX....EA screwed that all up with it's consoliation, just like they screwed up UXO.

[weemadando]

Then you should have bloody well played and supported Arx Fatalis

Arx Fatalis?

Arx Fatalis

It was cool - but I never once saw it on shelves in Australia, allegedly because it didn't sell well enough elsewhere so the distributors/publishers didn't bother.

[Jade Falcon]

I'd like to see the following remade.

Pacific Strike (Who remembers this?)

System Shock

Gabriel Knight 1 and 2 (GK3 was HORRIBLE)

Wing Commander

Ultima VII

[General Brock]

Revised games enjoy success if they are a good concept, a good story, or both. Old arcade games are re-issued and cloned, and many classic games had an interesting story line or approach that was unique at the time, and become an industry standard.

I suspect proprietory politics and copyright issues get in the way of a lot of revised titles.

Two games I would like to see revised are Space Flight (EA) and Carrier Command (Realtime Games). There are open source clones being worked on, I think, but I would like to see a serious re-issue.

[Jade Falcon]

Two games I would like to see revised are Space Flight (EA) and Carrier Command (Realtime Games). There are open source clones being worked on, I think, but I would like to see a serious re-issue.

Wasn't it Star Flight? That's the one you went out looking for minerals and so on?

Carrier Command could do well, but a lot of people who played Hostile Waters thought it was pretty close. Unfortunately Hostile Waters didn't really get the exposure it deserved.

Another game that could do with a remake is the Midwinter series.