Quantic Dream head claims players are the ones calling for sequels
Heavy Rain maker David Cage has criticised sequels for killing creativity and innovation in games.
Speaking to Official PlayStation Magazine UK, the head of Quantic Dream said, “sequels kill creativity and innovation,” and added, “many people want the same and if that’s what you offer them, they will gladly buy it”.
By Cage’s reckoning, it is gamers themselves who are responsible for the repeat instalments, because that’s what they’ve shown they will pay for.
“The result is very simple. Gamers invest money in publishers having no interest in innovation.” said Cage.
“[Gamers] encourage [publishers] to keep making the same game every Christmas, and everybody’s happy.”
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Cage rejects this view, which is why he’s putting his energy into making new IPs.
“If you’re interested in innovation and believe that games could be more than shooters, then you realise that sequels kill creativity and innovation. We don’t give people what they expect. We want to give them something they want without knowing they want it.”
Cage’s studio is currently developing Beyond: Two Souls for PlayStation 3.
Sequels don't suck per-se. They allow the game designers/writers to explore things they just didn't have time for first time round, add layers of depth, and add a new twist/take things in new and unexpected directions
However, that's purely from an artistic point of view. In the real world, a sequel is the people with the money saying "we want more of the same"
Also, it may be a sign of a lack of confidence in one's own abilities to create a sequel that people recognise as a game in its own right, rather than merely a large expansion pack to the first game
