You can now make "laws" to remakes/rereleases. What do you do?

[80Maxwell08]

Ok so this started with me searching amazon for what the prices for games in the .hack series are worth and some of them go seriously high from $80-$200+. So I was thinking about posting on Namco Bandai's forums to ask if anyone there would buy an HD collection of the series. I didn't because there are always people who just detest all thoughts of remakes because they are just trying to extract money. I've just been in an off mood for a while so I didn't feel like trying to put up with that but it game me food for thought. What if you could basically make "laws" to remakes or rereleases that everyone would be forced to follow. What would they be?

For me I would add 3 laws. It wouldn't be following both though rather it had to follow at least one.

1: A game/series can't be rereleased or remade unless there is significant enough demand for it that the price of each game is at least 2/3 of the original price. Example the .hack series or Ico before it's HD collection considering it's price was around $70 online.

2: A game/series can't be remade unless said remake is supposed to fix ALL problems of the original and adding in what was cut out due to budget while not breaking what worked. Example a Planescape Torment remake could happen if it fixed the gameplay issues and add in the cut content but they cannot mess with the story or writing.

3: Ok I forgot this one first time around but now to add it in. If a game is going to be remade it can't be within that console generation (even if it's a PC game). This would be there so that if it's technical limitations technology will have improved enough to help it. No time limitations will be on rereleases since many of these usually just involve printing more copies since all the available ones have been sold already.

EDIT: Also this guy's stuff.

TheProffesor's Laws of Remakes

1. A remake cannot, through action or inaction, cause the good name of it's predecessor to come to harm.

2. A remake must follow the standards set by previous installments in the series, except when coming into conflict with the first law.

3. A remake must protect it's own existence, except when coming into conflict with the first and/or second law.

Definitely all of those. Well done good sir.

 

[immortalfrieza]

All this is going to be based mostly on Final Fantasy 4 DS, seeing as I view that as the ultimate in remakes. In fact, I'm still waiting for Square-Enix to turn the rest of the 2-D Final Fantasies just like it.

1. A remake must make use of the new technologies of the day to improve the graphics and gameplay, without compromising the story. If the original game was 2-D for instance, then it's best if the remake is upgraded to 3-D, and make sure that it's the most detailed 3-D that whatever system it's on can manage.

2. The story must be 100% faithful to the original, no changes to the overall story are allowed. However, adding things to the story and the game in general is permitted, as long as it makes sense for the overall content of the story.

3. Only improvement is permitted. If the original game had voiced and/or anime cutscenes, running around areas, etc. then the remake should too (I'm looking at YOU PSP Persona 3!) If it didn't, and it can be done well, add it in!

4. If retranslation occurs, use sense when doing it. Don't add in things that alter the storyline, and if there's a frequently quoted (even memetic) line or lines in the story, keep them largely as is to preserve that.

5. If the game possessed voice acting, use the original voice acting if at all possible, unless the voice acting is one of the most ridiculed parts of the game, then you can get away with changing the voice actors (not a game, but DB Kai and the VAs that they changed for no reason break this one). If the game didn't orignally have voice acting, get some half decent VAs and put it in.

6. LISTEN TO THE FANS. They are the ones who know where even the best games go wrong. Don't just listen to anybody though, look for what's universally praised and keep it in, and what's universally panned and at least try to fix it.

7. If some group of talented fans are making a remake of your IP without your permission, and it's good, then then don't give them a cease and desist order, MAKE IT OFFICIAL!!! There's no reason to not make use of people that are making a improved remake for nothing and not make a profit off of it (*cough*ChronoTriggerResurrection*cough*).

8. Most importantly of all, use common sense. Some things are just plain stupid to do, and it should be incredibly obvious that it is. There's no excuse whatsoever for taking a great, or even bad game, remaking it, and having it turn into a steaming pile of crap.

 

[FalloutJack]

I don't give a damn what it's about, the law of the land is that you finish the game, and I mean FINISH IT, before it leaves the nest. And no DRM. Fuck off, DRM, 'cause you do nothing for us. The pirating would actually go WAY DOWN if you got rid of it.

 

[Promethax]

1) Do not remove content that was present in the original and previous remakes (if there have been any).

2) If restrictions at the time of the development (graphics, sound, text space, etc.) of the original prevented you from conveying you're full idea (story, etc.), make sure to realize that idea in the remake if possible.

3) Make sure to fix any glitches and/or broken gameplay systems without compromising the feel of the original, unless the original is commonly regarded as a unplayable mess.

 

[Iori Branford]

Of all the things to regulate in this field...fucking remakes? If anything needs regulation it's DRM. Here's some starters.

The protection shall not permanently alter the software's operation or functionality, nor alter in any way the operation or functionality of the client machine.

The protection shall not read any file in the client machine's file system other than the software's data assets and executable binary. Neither the protection nor the software shall create, modify or remove any file in the client machine's file system without user knowledge and approval.

The protection shall not utilize any component of the client machine that the software itself does not require for essential functionality.

In the event of a false positive, the software vendor shall determine the user's authenticity ASAP, taking into consideration any proof of purchase from the user, which may be delivered by any means convenient to the user.

 

[EHKOS]

Don't just redo it in HD update the textures!

 

[80Maxwell08]

Of all the things to regulate in this field...fucking remakes? If anything needs regulation it's DRM. Here's some starters.

The protection shall not permanently alter the software's operation or functionality, nor alter in any way the operation or functionality of the client machine.

The protection shall not read any file in the client machine's file system other than the software's data assets and executable binary. Neither the protection nor the software shall create, modify or remove any file in the client machine's file system without user knowledge and approval.

The protection shall not utilize any component of the client machine that the software itself does not require for essential functionality.

In the event of a false positive, the software vendor shall determine the user's authenticity ASAP, taking into consideration any proof of purchase from the user, which may be delivered by any means convenient to the user.

This was just supposed to be about remakes not what needs to be fixed the most.

 

[AyreonMaiden]

1) Every game is allowed to be remade/rereleased at any time at all, for as many platforms as they want, as many times as they want.

2) At least one version of the remake/rerelease must be portable.

3) Because some games are better for their old-school charms while others are better off with a complete remake, it is completely up to the discretion of the developers the full extent of the work they want to put into remaking/rereleasing a game. The baseline requirement, however, is HD upscaling and widescreen support for current gen consoles.

4) Full remakes must provide an original version within their code. Be it unlockable or ready-made, it's a requirement. All of the ill will towards George Lucas would be gone if he only would provide the original versions of his movies instead of just burying them. So don't be George Lucas. Preserve your originals.

5) All whiners and naysayers must be tracked down, lined up, hooked up to a helmet that is tube-connected to many beer chugging dudes' assholes while they are eating cabbage, and be subject to a day of nothing but cabbage farts.

6) Since said whiners will doubtlessly cry about how remakes and rereleases contribute to a lack of originality in games, a crowd must then gather and yell "Look harder!" at the condemned because the indie market is thriving, devs like Atlus do new things all the time, and let's face it there's no way you don't have a game you wanna see remade so dammit, why aren't you looking harder instead of whining about remakes/rereleases for us folk who love our old games and wanna play them with ease?!

 

[Deadyawn]

How about just not making remakes? The product already exists and if it's just an update of a pre-existing game I don't see the point. Porting older games to new consoles with updates makes sense to me but I wouldn't necessarily say that that was a remake.
I'd prefer it if devs concentrated on making new games (or at least sequels) rather than giving us what we already have.

 

[80Maxwell08]

How about just not making remakes? The product already exists and if it's just an update of a pre-existing game I don't see the point. Porting older games to new consoles with updates makes sense to me but I wouldn't necessarily say that that was a remake.
I'd prefer it if devs concentrated on making new games (or at least sequels) rather than giving us what we already have.

Well the original devs don't have to do the remake. Just like the MDK2 remake wasn't made by Bioware but by another company. Also I do feel some games could seriously use a remake after a certain amount of time. Things like compatibility issues and very low resolution does make some games difficult to play.

 

[TheProffesor]

TheProffesor's Laws of Remakes

1. A remake cannot, through action or inaction, cause the good name of it's predecessor to come to harm.

2. A remake must follow the standards set by previous installments in the series, except when coming into conflict with the first law.

3. A remake must protect it's own existence, except when coming into conflict with the first and/or second law.

 

[isometry]

Remakes of 2D games should redo all of the sprites in 1080p.

 

[Phlakes]

1) It's your product, do whatever you want and deal with the consequences, good or bad or anything else.

2) Use $100000 of your profits to get me a nice car.

 

[Anthony Wells]

TheProffesor's Laws of Remakes

1. A remake cannot, through action or inaction, cause the good name of it's predecessor to come to harm.

2. A remake must follow the standards set by previous installments in the series, except when coming into conflict with the first law.

3. A remake must protect it's own existence, except when coming into conflict with the first and/or second law.

you sir have won an internet today. congratulations.



OT: uh.....yeah my one and only law: remakes and rereleases must have added content on them. and it cannot be halfassed