Sequel Sound-off: Bioshock 2

Nearly every aspect of the entertainment industry relies heavily on sequels to make money and garner strong brand recognition. Movies have produced sequel after sequel in order to rake in the money even when it is obvious that a sequel was unnecessary. Even popular bands are expected to follow up super successful albums with a spiritual successor; such is the case with Green Day’s upcoming album. The video game industry is perhaps just as guilty of this as cinema. Every year, the market is flooded with countless sequels that range anywhere from unplayable to unbelievable. However, it is still somewhat rare for a follow-up to surpass the original in terms of its execution. What can developers do to build on a successful formula to ensure that their new game is as well respected as their initial attempt? This series of articles will attempt to answer that question by analyzing the core incompetencies of a series and making suggestions as to how they can be addressed in a successful sequel.