Game Over for Video Game Sequels?

A recent trend in the video game industry is mimicking a similar fashion that has been occuring in movie production for years- publishers pushing forward sequel after sequel trying to start a franchise. Sequels have often been criticized by movie critics for being not very good films. Creating sequels is actually a pretty safe business practice- if the original was popular and made the company money, why not make another movie (or game) with the same characters in a slightly different storyline? The formula should be a quick and easy profit- audiences are already familiar with the characters and know what to expect from the sequel. This is much easier than trying to start a new franchise from scratch- name recognition is already present, and it makes sense that those that paid for the original will do the same for the sequels.

However, the problem with sequels, both in the video game and the movie industry, is that producers use the same tired formula over and over without breathing new life into the franchise. This allienates fans, and makes for poor movies and video games. The future looks to be more of the same- less and less original ideas and more and more recycling of past successes- that is why there are dozens of Mortal Kombat games with very little differences between any of them.