HD Remakes = MoneyMaking Scheme?

Recently there has been a trend towards re-releasing classic games designed for both the Playstation 1 and 2 in High Definition for the PS3, often packaged in box-sets. These include game franchises such as Metal Gear Solid, Tomb Raider and Hitman. But is this merely a moneymaking scheme for game publishers, or is there a more legitimate basis for this trend?

Obviously, the act of retouching the graphics of these games is a far cheaper way of creating a new product. Rather than having to undergo the costly, and time-consuming, process of game development they are able to market a new product for gamers to purchase, hereby making sound economic sense for game producers. This process mirrors the common process of re-releasing classic albums for vinyl or CD - making games appeal to a brand new audience who may otherwise have missed out first time around.

It also provides a way for new gamers to become familiar with the series without having to begin half way through a narrative - one wouldn't want to begin watching the Harry Potter films from number 6 now would they? This is particularly true for games such as Metal Gear Solid, which features extensive cutscenes that involve substantive character and plot development, enabling the entire franchise to be viewed holistically as one story. 

However, one can also view the HD re-releasing as merely an extension of the technological determinism which is already such a prominent feature of the gaming industry. As discussed in the previous lecture, the technological arms race of the 1990s onwards has resulted in games being judged predominantly on their aesthetic appearance (graphics and such), rather than the quality of their gameplay. This 'bluster over substance' approach treats technology as the main selling point, rather than the substantive gameplay, leading to a debased view of videogames. Re-releasing these familiar games, with no additional features other than improved graphics, seems to epitomise this viewpoint in that they have the appearance of a state-of-the-art game, and are marketed as such, yet the gameplay itself remains completely untouched.

Another interesting way to view these HD re-releases is by comparing them to 'retro-games' which recall a time when there was little technological disparity between games, forcing people to create new styles of gameplay rather than simply improve existing game styles. As a result of this, we are seeing very innovative and interesting gameplay with these aesthetically simplistic games. When we consider that these retro-styled games are much more popular among indie game developers, whom by their very nature are not as concerned with profits as larger developers, we are confronted with further evidence to suggest the capital-incentive basis for these re-releases. 

In saying this, these re-releases came about as a result of the fact that the majority of PS3 consoles are not backwards compatible, meaning that unless one had the original PS2 or PS1 console they cannot play these original games. Despite the fact that seasoned gamers will view them as a blatant money-making scheme, the only chance for new players to experience these classics is by acquiring these HD re-releases - hereby justifying their release.

Peter Ruddell