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Which Franchise Most Needs A Break From Annual Releases?

Many gamers say some franchises just need to take a break. A new installment every year just isn't necessary.

Which franchise do you think most needs to step back and take a breather?

Heading into this year, I think most people would've automatically said Call of Duty . Ghosts was decidedly underwhelming but this year's Advanced Warfare was a very big step in the right direction, so maybe some gamers have changed their minds. Then there's Assassin's Creed and after the technical mishaps found in Unity , even some die-hard fans are calling for a break. And of course, there are the sports franchises like Madden but those really can't miss a season, right?

Just remember that none of the games in question only took a year to develop; in fact, the more recent AC entries took three years each and Advanced Warfare required three years as well. In regards to the leaked Assassin's Creed Victory , Ubisoft said the project has already been in development for a "few years," and Activision is adopting a three-year design cycle for CoD, too. Even so, many consumers say the deadlines are still too restrictive and the studios just can't be all that innovative.

What do you think? Which one needs to step out for a year?

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bigrailer19
bigrailer19
9 years ago

I think they've figured out a way to make anualization work for these games for consumers. CoD obviously benefited from getting a new developer in there.

However these games are affected by the annual release schedule. It doesn't matter if it took them one year or three years. The problem with annual releases is they have a set time frame they have to meet and can't take extra time to make the game right. AC may have come a little further since it's release but I'd love to get back to the days where they developers didn't have to release a patch just a couple weeks after release that fixed 300 bugs.

I'm not opposed to annual releases, but I am opposed to games that are released with issues and downloading patches for the first month or two, in some cases longer. If it takes you 1 year and 3 months to make it right just take the time.


Last edited by bigrailer19 on 12/2/2014 10:23:50 PM

shaytoon
shaytoon
9 years ago

#nailedit.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
9 years ago

I guess CoD earned a second life, so AC needs to take a pillow. I'm just tired of hearing the name at this point.

Temjin001
Temjin001
9 years ago

AC needs it.
CoD doesn't.
CoD is driven by competitive multiplayer so it marches to a different tune. Those gamers don't want the formula to stray too far.

AC, on the other hand, is over released. I think one reason Black Flag rated so well is because it was the first AC game in a long time to make a huge change to it's core design. I know I'll like Unity but I doubt it'll match Black Flag.

I like how Metal Gear games release. Every installment feels new, re-invented, and noteworthy.
I feel Uncharted is on the cusp of being overdone.


Last edited by Temjin001 on 12/2/2014 10:33:59 PM

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
9 years ago

Idk if Uncharted is or not. I havnt decided personally if every 2 years is too much or not. But I feel like the biggest thing for me is just giving consumers a good, and good running game and I'm happy. If they can't do that then spend more time. And with Uncharted I get that so I'm always content.

But with all that said if Uncharted 4 releases at the end of 2015 – like the others have released at then end of the year – they are no longer leaning on that trend. That's a 4 year break, hiatus, call it what you will. So I would argue it's not on the verge of being overdone, but rather was on its way to being overdone had it kept that trend up.

To me though, like I said I don't mind annual releases. I'm okay with AC and CoD every year. But your right AC doesn't have the lure of mp and it certainly could use a break. Maybe they should take a 4 year break and see what happens.

Temjin001
Temjin001
9 years ago

I just think Uncharted is about to run into that over done feeling after they do Uncharted 4. I suppose I only really base this on what happened with GoW.
GoW3 was able to really wow the critics on it's technical prowess and impressive cinematics. But even though it's sequel, Ascension, built and improved on many of the mechanics and was even more of a technological feat it was hammered heavily for only meeting the status quo of a good action game. The status quo that was already set by it's predecessor. Granted, it's story wasn't as compelling, but don't get me started on how unnecessary Uncharted 3's story felt. The dynamic between Sully and Nate isn't that interesting or as the fun and more united feeling of the prior game (and it certainly doesn't match the similar offering in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade movie) We could also argue the pacing was a little off with Ascension in parts, but I felt the exact same way with Uncharted 3.

Anyway, my point is this. I believe critics have become fairly callused to amazing visuals and technical feats. Sure, Uncharted is a great action game but I feel action games need to feel really "new" in order to be really praised before long.
I also think Tomb Raider may have set a precedent for blending survival elements with Uncahrted style arcade action. Some, myself included, have formed a preference for that formula over the more basic Uncharted approach.
I'd also argue TLoU helped this precedent along.


Last edited by Temjin001 on 12/3/2014 5:44:21 PM

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
9 years ago

Yeah I get what your saying. I hated the hate Ascension got. But it's understandable when you go backwards in a story it can feel less inspiring as stories are meant to move forward. The game was great but under the circumstances it probably felt tired to some.

I am not sure Uncharted has reached that point as I don't think ND is reaching for places to go with it. I also am extremely fascinated in the relationship of all the characters. So while that part of the game between Sully and a young Drake did seem unnecessary I didn't mind it.

I don't think the new Tomb Raider series and Uncharted are comparable as with older TR games. I get the reason it's easy to immediately compare the two but Tomb Raider is dark and Uncharted isn't really occupying that space of survival and gun play. I do feel like TLOU is ND's way of filling that style of game play though.

On another note are you Getting the expansion for Destiny?

Corvo
Corvo
9 years ago

Temujin said it all.

FAREEZ
FAREEZ
9 years ago

C'mon annualization is not that bad, I like playing new AC and Fifa every year, just like TV show that have new season every year…

tlpn99
tlpn99
9 years ago

I'd say Assassins Creed but fans want it. Plus it us their bread and butter for the makers so while the fans want it they will give it. Just got to be careful not to drive the fans to boredom of oh god not another one ffs.

Also maybe a break may make the series feel fresh. I have waited for Unity to come down in price or I see a pre owned copy.

It's a quick cash option sometimes for them to go next year another ac game. Whose to say next year they announce another one that's been worked on even now one set in feudal Japan. It just won't feel fresh and people go oh god hear we go again.

Banky A
Banky A
9 years ago

I strongly feel Final Fantasy need a break from annual releases.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
9 years ago

or maybe just a break from bad/frivolous releases. If we got something like FFVII every year nobody would complain.

Broady
Broady
9 years ago

That's a hell of a workload World, not just for the developers – don't think I could fit in a new (good) FF every year, and sadly don't think they have the story writers to create games to that level any more. Hopefully XV will prove me wrong.

Underdog15
Underdog15
9 years ago

FF has annual releases?

daus26
daus26
9 years ago

I actually don't have Cod on the top of my mind. It's become a tradition, like sports games for them to release every year.

The first that comes to mind is AC. Enough said. I'll just agree with what Temjin said.

Vivi_Gamer
Vivi_Gamer
9 years ago

Assassin's Creed is by far the biggest offender. They released 3 games this year (Including Freedom Cry) and there is just such heavy backlog that I just cannot keep up, I got as far as Assassins Creed 2 – Which I really enjoyed. But looking at list of 7+ games ahead of me I just can't get back into it. But the time I've caught up AC: Victory will be released with 2 more game I am behind on. It's just too much.

Lawless SXE
Lawless SXE
9 years ago

Every game series with an annual release schedule. Give the creators a chance to step back from the production line to make something entirely new that they are passionate about, and give us something new while they're at it.

Broady
Broady
9 years ago

They could make an update for the sports games with dlc. Don't tend to see any big changes from year to year. But this would eat away at the profit margin of the developer so don't see it happening – EA release a £10 patch instead of a £50 game that hasn't changed that much – no chance.
Agree with everyone else, main offender is AC, just too many of them in a short space of time. Results in less anticipation of the new product – I haven't brought an AC game day 1 since AC2.

DemonNeno
DemonNeno
9 years ago

Hmm… What ruins the annual releases are the bugs. If Activision really takes beta testing seriously, then it'll be just fine to play AC and COD.

tlpn99
tlpn99
9 years ago

Look at Rockstar. They release a game what every 3-4 years and then it becomes a huge hit. Sometimes it is even longer.

Ubisoft should do this with Assassins Creed and make a brilliant game. One that makes people go wow that's amazing huge hit on there hands but as I said earlier they want their regular income off the fans but keep at it with poor bugs etc and the fans will be driven away, then what happens the company goes bust.

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
9 years ago

It's hard to pass up on that steady following yearly. I'm just guessing that they make as much or more off the franchise in 4 years time releasing them yearly (AC), than R* does every 4 years. To be clear it takes Ubisoft 4 games to make as much as one R* game. And if not (which is very much a possibility – I don't look at the numbers) then it's more reason to release them yearly. Because it wouldn't be worth only making what they do in a year every 4 years.

Either way at this point it's more beneficial to them to keep releasing AC yearly.


Last edited by bigrailer19 on 12/3/2014 2:25:06 PM

GamerKid123
GamerKid123
9 years ago

CoD could do with a breather, although it is driven by it's multiplayer mostly I still think it could benefit from a longer break.

Assassins Creed could really use one. I appreciate the new aspects of Unity, but the fact that they already have Rogue AND the potential of the new release being developed already is ridiculous. It simply feels rushed.

TrophyHunter
TrophyHunter
9 years ago

Every annually released game need to take a brake, stop for a while and try to implement something new. I'm getting tired of seeing the same names on store shelves.

How many Assassins Creed games have we seen in the past 7 years? (first AC was released in 2007) at least 10 and 10 more for handhelds and mobile devices?, its

I like AC from time to time but really, I'm getting tired of it.

Nerull
Nerull
9 years ago

I agree that AC could definitely use a breather, even if different studios each work on their entry for 2-3 years, the market has been so saturated with AC, like others have said.
However my vote goes to the WWE games. I'm not entirely dissatisfied with their next-gen debut, but you can definitely see how much it could have benefited from even another 6 months in the oven. I heard the developer asked for a more flexible schedule, but was ignored.

It's a little detail, but at the moment it's really bugging me how some of the main roster has body hair, yet it's completely unavailable to put on a created wrestler.
So everybody I make looks like they came from just getting waxed, which is decidedly un-macho.
Also a couple of the matches that weren't included for exhibition are in the showcase mode (handicap and casket), but most of all, where is the Tornado Tag?
That's my favourite for couch co-op and now we're stuck with just normal tag.


Last edited by Nerull on 12/3/2014 6:20:57 PM

AMERICANSHEEPLE
AMERICANSHEEPLE
9 years ago

COD campaign was a definite improvement. But the multiplayer was a step back in my opinion. I only play hardcore modes in multiplayer and it was complete utter garbage. Hit markers on hardcore is absolutely inexcusable. Super lag and pinging issues galore, & still no dedicated servers. Weak!

If AC took a break then they could do multiple countries in a single game, which would be awesome. Especially after playing Dragons Age Inquisition & finally feeling like I got my money's worth with how massive it is. Almost every other game just feels like a ripoff now with the rinse and repeat formula.

Rachet_JC_FTW
Rachet_JC_FTW
9 years ago

yeah multiple countries and a really long immersive story and make them more like the 1st AC cos that game was awsome get back to ur roots AC and Ubisoft

happy gaming

Towers
Towers
9 years ago

All of them need to take a rest or just stop, i want new games to play not the same boring games year in year out cod has gone on far to long and AC the same.

TrophyHunter
TrophyHunter
9 years ago

AC is becoming the new CoD

Rachet_JC_FTW
Rachet_JC_FTW
9 years ago

i think alot of game series's could take a break and take a another year or 2 on top 3 years they are give them some more time do really fine up the game and make a run real good and smooth when i comes on the shelves so we don't need any of these massive game fixing patches and if patches are need just small ones to just polish, fine tune and tweak the game

happy gaming

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