Reinvention in Gaming
Reinventing a longstanding gaming franchise is one of the trickiest acts gaming developers can do. On one hand, you want to make the game still feel familiar to the hardcore fanbase that has poured so many hours and so much love into it. On the other hand, a refreshing start could be the key to prolonging a franchise’s lifespan if done right.
Reinvention in general is the main way that the gaming industry stays alive. Not only can a developing studio reinvent for their own franchise, but they could lay the groundwork for existing franchises and new ideas outside of their franchises and genres of choice. New breakthroughs in graphics, physics, mechanics, detail, gameplay, motion capture, and otherwise can influence other studios to improve their craftsmanship.
With the newest installment of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” recently released, this is the game that sees Call of Duty get a breath of fresh air after years of complacency that has stained the franchise. New engine, improved graphics, sharp shooting mechanics and sound design, a more grounded story dating back to earlier games, and an emphasis on military authenticity made Modern Warfare one of the most anticipated games of the year.
This new reinvigorated Modern Warfare is an example of reinvention that was long overdue. Not only does it give the fanbase a jolt of new energy and excitement for the game, but there is also a heightened sense of enthusiasm in the dialogue surrounding a franchise that was starting to becoming fatigued despite its’ success. With Call of Duty being one of the titans of the industry, anything that can bring the series back to a more positive light is always good.
There are also examples of recent reinventions that were not necessarily needed, but were 100% welcomed and could possibly lay the blueprint for the future of gaming itself.
The 2018 installment of the hack and slash franchise God of War for example was a considerable leap forward for the series. While the first three main games were presented in a fixed camera perspective in third person, God of War instead changed into an over-the-shoulder free camera perspective in third person. It also contains no loading screens or camera cuts, which means when you play the game, it is in one continuous shot from beginning to end.
In addition, the main protagonist of the series, Kratos, now has a new main weapon in the Leviathan Axe. The Leviathan Axe replaces the longstanding Blades of Chaos, Kratos’ former weapon of choice, from the past three games. Also, the setting of the new game is in Norse mythology, while the older games took place in Greek Mythology.
Here’s the real gold, not only do these changes in perspective, setting, and gameplay create entire new avenues for God of War, but developer SIE Santa Monica Studio also maintains the feeling and epic scope that the series is known for. The lifespan of the franchise has now increased dramatically because there are new story and gameplay opportunities due to those changes. Santa Monica did not have to do this with God of War, but, they saw an opportunity to create something fresh and exciting and they took it.
Knowing when to push the boundaries of gaming is a skill itself. Sometimes, certain developers naturally push the envelope just because that is to be expected of them. Other times, developers see the landscape of the industry and decide “we are going to be the ones that make the next big step.”
It could be Rockstar Games with 2018’s Red Dead Redemption II, which created an insane amount of attention to detail and graphic quality unlike and thing we have gotten in gaming. Hideo Kojima and developer Konami with 1998’s Metal Gear Solid featured groundbreaking storytelling, cinematic cutscenes and voice acting and made them common place in gaming. The first DOOM and Wolfenstein games were not only the grandfathers of first person shooters, but they also showed the world that video games were not merely child’s play. Of course, we cannot forget 1992’s Mortal Kombat, which was so uncharacteristic for games according to the media that eventually began the tiring and mundane violent video games controversy.
My friend Brandon Gradney says, “reinvention brings new life to old genres” and mention the racing franchise Need For Speed as an example. Gradney considered the golden era of Need for Speed from Underground to Most Wanted. However, by the time Carbon and ProStreet came around and features such as a new handling system, enhanced customization, and deeper storytelling were introduced, Gradney says that the lifespan was increased due to the fact that it was time for improvement and depending on the old formula was not going to cut it.
Gradney also says that a series like Need for Speed cannot go on for 25+ years and not experience some kind of change every few years.
Reinvention is why we blessed with games such as Cyberpunk 2077, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Walking Dead, Titanfall, Halo, and Half-Life. It is utterly essential to the stability and success of the gaming industry and the happiness of the consumer. As long as there are innovators willing to accept the challenge of bringing gaming to an even more advanced stage, the industry itself will always have life.
Not microtransactions, not just relying on the name brand, not just focusing on how much money can be drained from consumers, genuine human ingenuity is the one thing that will keep gaming afloat.
