jack1974 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 14, 2017 8:21 pm
Franka wrote: ↑Thu Sep 14, 2017 7:48 pm
You were able to continue your romance with Ashley/Kaiden from ME1 in ME3. You were able to continue your romance with Liara from ME1 in DLC for ME2. There were several new romances in ME2. All earlier romances had some conclusion in ME3, even if some of them were really brief, and it also had a few new ones.
OK, so not like 8+ characters could have romance continued from a game to another! That's what I meant. In Loren 2 / PS 2 you can continue romances with ALL of them. If even multi-million companies don't do such big amounts (1-2 characters would be fine),
there must be a reason
The main reason direct sequels aren't made (so much) is simple math. To play direct sequel one must had play a prequel and you can't expect that all 100% of people who both a first game will also get a sequel, so while there are some exceptions where people who get interested in sequel before playing prequel will end up baying both games for most part selles only drop with each sequel. When making two separate games, while it remains that not all people who both one of them will both another (and chances are less will then with prequel/sequel situation), you will also get a lot more new people as well. So the only time you want to make a direct squeal is when a game was so popular that even 50%-75% of people who both that game far surpasses your average 100%.
With indirect sequel you get both, more people who both a previous game will come to this one as well as it is still a sequel but as it is not necessary to had played a prequel you will also make it friendly for newcomers. The same applies to spinoffs.
This is why in terms of sales indirect sequels and spinoffs are somewhat better then completely new titles (more for more popular titles) and both are far better then direct sequels with exception of massively popular titles and strange exceptions. When you also add a possibility that popularity of some title might be just a current boom and might fade before release of sequel it makes making of direct sequel a big risk (witch exception when a title is so popular that even your grandpa who doesn't know how to turn on a PC has heard about it
). This is also why even when direct sequels of games are made devs still try to make it as friendly to newcomers as possible and add as little things from prequel as possible (usually still trying to get little references that won't affect newcomers if they don't get it, to get that indirect squeal/spinoff effect). This is also why huge fans of particular title will never get what they want.
This affects other media as well but games are by far most affected by this of all the media.