The obsession with Prequels/Spin-Offs

Having seen that GTA 6 is due for release made me reflect, given that it's a WHOLE QUARTER-CENTURY since GTA 3 was released. We're saturated with Prequels, and Spin-Offs.

In a Real-Life Cinematic Universe, where everyone wants to be a writer, the Industry will always reach out for the low-hanging-fruit. Whatever was cashed-in on, before, is still Ambrosia to the Money-Men.

I remember seeing a YouTube Clip of a Drama show, based in Portland Oregon, where the scene had everyone wanting to DJ. Suddenly, the protagonists of the show felt caught among the Monsters. Writing is the same. Originality has evapourated. Evrything's matchy-matchy.

It boggles the mind how we choose comfort over growth.

Parents
  • A big part of it is because the cost of making films and TV series is so high now that the studios are demanding a "sure fire winner" which involves leveraging existing stories that have worked. Even if it isn't great in its own right there will be views / sales off the fact that people have watched the more successful connected material.

    You see so many games working on this theme where they just improve the graphics a bit, add a bunch more quests / stories / maps etc and it gives players of the previous game something to try next instead of a competitors game. Brand recognition is a big driver for sales.

    So the bottom line is money - the risks are too great for many studios to even consider the risk, especially where there are shareholders demanding continued success.

Reply
  • A big part of it is because the cost of making films and TV series is so high now that the studios are demanding a "sure fire winner" which involves leveraging existing stories that have worked. Even if it isn't great in its own right there will be views / sales off the fact that people have watched the more successful connected material.

    You see so many games working on this theme where they just improve the graphics a bit, add a bunch more quests / stories / maps etc and it gives players of the previous game something to try next instead of a competitors game. Brand recognition is a big driver for sales.

    So the bottom line is money - the risks are too great for many studios to even consider the risk, especially where there are shareholders demanding continued success.

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