Dead Space 2
Crysis 2
DNF
Gears of War 3
Dragon Age 2
The Witcher 2
Portal 2
DE:HR
Arkham City
Uncharted 3
BF3
MW3
Skyrim
Saints Row 3
AC:Revelations
Is it just me or are there more sequels than usually this year?
Srsly, the only original IPs I got remotely excited (and eventually been gutted) about were LA Noire and Rage.
What do you think?
I am enjoying this years games immensely so I don’t really care.
Oh, I agree. I think it’s a great year for gaming.
I’m just concerned for the lack of original IPs. The industry just plays it a little too save, imo.
I’d hate to see it go down the same path Hollywood did in the last 15 years or so.
Video games have always been more sequel oriented than movies, so it went down that path long ago. The main difference is that video games sequels are much more likely to be good.
Since the gaming technology evolves so rapidly, videogame sequels generally surpass their predecessors.
However, most improvements are mainly superficial and/or accessory. Also, for most games there is rarely a reason for the continuation of a storyline (with Mass Effect being the only exception I can think of right now).
In terms of gameplay and interactive storytelling there seems to be very little to no innovation lately (regarding triple A titles). Just more of the same, bscly.
Now, you might argue that this has always been the case (in any major medium for that matter), also I admit that I may exaggerate a little, but don’t you think that in an industry that’s growing so rapidly with so many titles coming out every year, the next big thing to rock the gaming world is long overdue?
…sry, slightly off topic.
It is very difficult, from what I’ve noticed, to create an original game idea, today.
A lot of those games listed are based around fanbases that have been around for a pretty damned long time.
Someone would have to come up with a pretty outrageous story and gameplay mechanics (or at least greatly improve old ones) in order to appeal to the masses.
Honestly, I would be willing to play another time-alteration game if they delivered it correctly. I fucking loved TimeShift!
New IPs are a risk. Going with proven IPs more or less ensures a good profit for the developers and publishers. Even new IPs that have been coming out recently, like Rage, are drawing on the popularity of previous titles with similar settings and motifs. There is innovative stuff, but it usually comes from independent developers who aren’t counting on a huge return. There are some big devs that take risks on new ideas, but unfortunately, unless the first entry makes a huge splash, it may take a long time, if ever, for more to come out. Mirror’s Edge springs to mind - while it was generally considered a successful game, it didn’t become huge, and so it’s kind of been in limbo for years.
TL;DR - it’s all about dat cash
This is not really a suprise since a new CoD game come every year.
Yet still no HL3 or SWBF 3
or Republic Commando 2 
Well of course nothing from Half-Life 3.
VALVe HASN’T FINISHED EPISODE 3 YET.
Please don’t remind us…
OT: According to IGN, this was the best season in gaming history. I stepped away slowly.
I dunno about gaming history, but certainly one of the best. If you don’t think so you’re just being a hipster.
Don’t they say that every year? Or at least someone says it every year.
Well, to finish it they’d have to start working on it first 
.
Pretty much. They’re too busy adding hats to TF2 and Portal 2. (and probably CSGO)
This year has had some great releases though.
You’ve forgotten Need for Speed: The Run (NFS 18?)
This made me think OP forgot Need for Speed: Shift 2.
But yeah, it’s the same yearly situation with NFS games.
What about the theory, that they turned Episode 3 into Half Life 3
There’s a crapton of sequels every year.
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