Why is InFamous and Prototype so similar?

[heyheysg]

I know that the 2 games are similar and comparisons have been made, but this discussion is not about which one is better or has better graphics.

The question is why are they so similar and released in the same window of time? The games are so alike that it can't be a coincidence, if not it's a really freaky one. I believe that things happen for a reason, even if we don't understand them, but that doesn't stop us from trying.

I don't know how games are chosen to be made, but obviously sequels, sports games and movie franchises come ahead on the lists. Infamous and Prototype are both original IPs, one from Sucker Punch, famous for Sly Cooper, a platformer. Prototype by Radical Entertainment, who made driving games and the Incredible Hulk.

Maybe someone in the industry can shed a spotlight on this, is there an Analyst that goes, "Ah, after looking at COH and the recent rash of superhero films, people want an open world superhero game, where the military are the bad guys and the main protagonist is a bit of an anti hero, oh yeah, add monsters"

I was going to post a list of items that would explain, e.g, developers sharing ideas, the timing of the thing with relation to real world events, but I forgot a whole chunk, so it's a free for all here.

 

[tiredinnuendo]

As someone who owns both, allow me to interject with this:

They are not similar at all.

They're both open world games. They both feature superpowers. That's it.

Open world is the cat's pajamas, second only to shooters nowadays, and superheroes are in right now.

That's it.

- J

 

[Amnestic]

"Why are inFamous and Prototype so similar?"

I'll go with what tiredinnuendo said as I haven't actually played inFamous, I just wanted to correct the grammar error which was making my heart hurt

 

[dennyaaa]

I really don't think that it is some kind of consperacy or something. 2 independent developers just wanted to make a violent open world game, and that's it. I don't really know why the games are so alike, but Infamous focuses on the moral choice system, where prototype is more "EVIL! kill anything, or suck out the needed information". If there is some kind of "relations" between the games, I just isen't right, because who want to publish 2 games of one kind?

 

[Nargleblarg]

As someone who owns both, allow me to interject with this:

They are not similar at all.

They're both open world games. They both feature superpowers. That's it.

Open world is the cat's pajamas, second only to shooters nowadays, and superheroes are in right now.

That's it.

- J

Did somebody say cat pajamas

But actually I will agree although I wasn't lucky enough to play Infamous just look at oh say halo and any CoD game they LOOK similar but are they...no they really aren't.

 

[MercurySteam]

One is a shapeshifter and the other can zap peoples. One has to take care of an infection outbreak, the other uses a moral choice system to determine the rest of the game.

Both games are open worlded and feature a guy with superpowers, but that's basically it.

 

[GodsOneMistake]

Maybe cause there NOT... never compare them again or the terrorists win.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Because it's a conspiriacy!
They were actually made by the same company to force you to somehow give them money!

 

[Blackadder51]

I thought that there genre and basic plot were very coincidental considering the time frame in which they were released.

 

[the protaginist]

Ovbiously it's some ploy, and they'll eventually release the greatest crossover EVER. Ever wonder just whom 'The Beast' Cole's supposed to defeat is?

 

[DirkGently]

It's just a coincidence. Jesus, godforbid two games remotely similar come out at nearly the same time.

And that topic title game me a headache. Fix it, please.

 

[BolognaBaloney]

I own both games, and they are hardly similar. I keep getting irritated by people comparing them.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

Because, when you make an open world game about super powered men who can't fly it appears that you tend to end up with a very similar design in the end. That said, they actually play fairly differently, and not in the Saints Row/GTA style of "different". Prototype essentially has you playing a sympathetic villian of almost unlimited power. Combat in the game has much greater depth (or at least there are far more options for what to do, though I suspect most people find 2 - 3 things that really work for them and use just those skills), and the story itself strikes me as startlingly similar to Blade 2's. Were I to compare the games to other well known ones, I'd say that prototype plays most similarly to Mercenaries while infamous is almost a direct copy of Crackdown.

 

[Fightbulb]

They're both open world games. They both feature superpowers. That's it.

There's your answer.

Also, does Infamous turn into an unrelenting clusterfuck halfway through? That might be another similarity.

 

[mikecoulter]

Haven't you noticed most mainstream games are similar these days?

I haven't played either of those games yet, but they do seem a little... Copy-ish...

 

[stabnex]

Oh that's easy. They saw Yahtzee's idea and raced to release a supervillian sandbox game first.

For those of you who don't watch Yahtzee's reviews GO WATCH THEM NOW YOU UNFULFILLED NEWBS!

 

[Amnestic]

Oh that's easy. They saw Yahtzee's idea and raced to release a supervillian sandbox game first.

For those of you who don't watch Yahtzee's reviews GO WATCH THEM NOW YOU UNFULFILLED NEWBS!

Ah yes, because everyone on the Escapist must be a Devout Yahtzee Follower[small][sup](TM)[/sup][/small], right?

 

[stabnex]

Oh that's easy. They saw Yahtzee's idea and raced to release a supervillian sandbox game first.

For those of you who don't watch Yahtzee's reviews GO WATCH THEM NOW YOU UNFULFILLED NEWBS!

Ah yes, because everyone on the Escapist must be a Devout Yahtzee Follower[small][sup](TM)[/sup][/small], right?

Yes, as a matter of fact, they should! Thank you

 

[blood77]

Ovbiously it's some ploy, and they'll eventually release the greatest crossover EVER. Ever wonder just whom 'The Beast' Cole's supposed to defeat is?

That would be cool and equally freaky.

You have to understand that it isn't impossible for two different people to come up with the same basic idea with different concepts. Look at Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla, both inventors, both came up with ways of sending electrical current through cables. This kind of thing happens.