Everything Old is New Again: Remakes and Re-Releases

[News Portal]

From flat-out remakes to HD re-releases, we're now at a point where old games are being turned to more than ever as inspiration for where to go next. Marcus Dunn investigates the growing trend of embracing the past.

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[therazza]

would pay for a new version on Total Annihilation!!

[IvanTSR]

The beauty of remakes is that they're remaking games that were designed when games were designed well. The beauty about being limited by technology (and also not envisioning a mass market) meant that the product had to have great gameplay/story/core mechanics to make it fun and worth buying - far more effort was put in here rather than the sheer number of manhours needed to code/design a modern engine.

Lets face it you don't get Crysis for gameplay - you get it to see what computers can do nowadays.

Think about the gradual degeneration of Lucasarts games in the space sim genre. You start with games that were actual sims, i.e. x-wing through to x-wing alliance, but then throughout you see the introduction of rouge squadron etc etc. It could be in Lucasarts' mind it was just apples and oranges in terms of the concole v pc markets - but I just find it really hard to be hopeful for a real sequel to/remake of the space sims which preserves that more indepth style of play. That said I think it'd be a huge commercial success. I just spent too many dollars on a replica lightsaber - now all my mates wives are mad as their husbands are seeking to purchase elegant weapons from more civilised ages lolol. As if we wouldn't all fork out for xwing. Joystick sales would go mad also.

[Slazza]

would pay for a new version on Total Annihilation!!

http://store.steampowered.com/app/9350/

There you go.

[^42alpha^]

"Battlefield 2" cloned on the Frostbite engine, with destruction.
sold.

[Disco LT]

The beauty of remakes is that they're remaking games that were designed when games were designed well. The beauty about being limited by technology (and also not envisioning a mass market) meant that the product had to have great gameplay/story/core mechanics to make it fun and worth buying - far more effort was put in here rather than the sheer number of manhours needed to code/design a modern engine.

QFT, I agree wholeheartedly!

[Tajin]

would pay for a new version on Total Annihilation!!

Give Spring a try.

http://springrts.com/wiki/Games (at the bottom)

[Marcus Dunn]

The beauty of remakes is that they're remaking games that were designed when games were designed well. The beauty about being limited by technology (and also not envisioning a mass market) meant that the product had to have great gameplay/story/core mechanics to make it fun and worth buying - far more effort was put in here rather than the sheer number of manhours needed to code/design a modern engine.

That's actually a really good point and I completely agree.

[Bluefire]

Mmmm remake of Janes AH-64D Apache Longbow... (Manual REQUIRED).. would buy.. Ive still go the brackets made up to bolt cyclic and collective to my chair.

[revengous]

Lets face it you don't get Crysis for gameplay - you get it to see what computers can do nowadays.

I bought it for 20 bucks, the computer power is fun with the editor, but seriously - throwing a single barrel at every enemy on the entire level.

[Disco LT]

Mmmm remake of Janes AH-64D Apache Longbow... (Manual REQUIRED).. would buy.. Ive still go the brackets made up to bolt cyclic and collective to my chair.

Now that is cool.. my one beef with helo games over the years has been that you can't play it with a joystick and throttle, you'd need a cyclic, collective, rudders and joystick IMO!

[Deren]

I personally like this trend. Old games have great nostalgia value, and updated graphics etc can make the game even greater.

I do understand, however, that someone might think it's "raping" the game when you update and change things. Just remember that the original is still there if you prefer that one. The remake is just an addition

[Marcus Dunn]

Wouldn't you prefer a new experience though? Like a new Baldur's Gate story rather than just the original remade with some new stuff tacked on?

That being said, I'd sacrifice a small child in order to have the Dragonlance gold box games brought into modern tech.

[Sathias]

I do like the idea of some remakes, but there are a few games I would prefer "spiritual successors" to instead. A new Vampire Bloodlines type game created more in the style of Fallout New Vegas (as far as quest and faction structure) would be awesome IMO.

[Bek]

Chris Avellone in his recent reddit AMA stated he'd had thoughts of doing an indirect Planescape: Torment sequel, it was kinda hinted it might be a kickstarter one day.