What would you do if you controlled a franchise you liked?

[Zontar]

Alright, so we all have that movie/show/book whatever that we like (hell, most of us have more then one), so what would you do with one that you liked if you have control over it? (try to keep it to the financially viable)

Me, I'd take the Stargate franchise and commission two made for tv movies, one to tie up the end of Atlantis and one to tie up Universe, then I'd get work started on a theatrical movie that is made by people who know what they're doing (re: not Emmerich) that's set in the universe that we all know and love but is easy for those not familiar with the series to get into. A reboot and a sequel mixed in one, though unlike Abrams Trek still set in the same universe. If it works out by that point, convince Sy Fy to air a series which continues off the movie (there'd be plenty of props left over after all). I know it's nuts and would never happen, but it couldn't be any worst then the reboot we're getting that no one asked for and was universally met with groans when it was announced.

So what franchise would you do things differently with if you where in control?

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I would've ended The Office with Steve Carell's departure.

 

[MysticSlayer]

I would have actually gone somewhere with the gameplay ideas presented in Medal of Honor: Airborne, rather than making the reboot unbelievably linear. The primary goal, though, would have been to take the storytelling of Pacific Assault and merge it with the gameplay of Airborne. Essentially, it would be a franchise known for emotional, character-focused stories set in semi-open levels. By extension, that means it wouldn't have tried competing with CoD (and complementing BF) in the multiplayer arena. Instead, it would have actually tried to dominate the singleplayer market, which wouldn't be too hard considering the almost complete lack of good singleplayer military shooters.

But alas, the reboot and Warfighter drove it into the ground and took all that wonderful potential with it.

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

Gothic/Risen.

I'd use the same iteration of the engine used on the first Risen (pretty much Piranha Bytes' finest and most polished game), and use the same mechanics with new editions/slight upgrades. So pretty much just make Risen 1 over again but with some improvements. I'd sure as shit stop with the attempts at being "cinematic" as well, and I'd cut all influence from other games/series and instead focus on the series' past with the first two Gothic games (and perhaps inspiration from Gothic 3's world design) and the smooth, fluid controls/mechanics of the first Risen.

I'd also make it PC exclusive, so it would be easier to focus on and would prevent the game garnering negative reputation from a poor port.

So basically I'd return the series, and Piranha Bytes, back to what they were actually good at. A very specific niche game in the form of Gothic 1/2 and the first Risen. Experimentation and evolution have not been kind to it.

 

[Foolery]

Final Fantasy. I'd remake VII in HD. No voice acting though. Then rake in all the monies.
Also make it Wii U exclusive just to fuck with everybody.

 

[Itdoesthatsometimes]

I would relocate the silent Hill series. Do away with the cult aspects, aside from maybe historic subtext (when needed). I would make the protagonist have more relatable issues, rather than confronting that they are murders. I actually have a more specific idea, but it would take a lot more time to describe.

 

[Vault101]

can I undo what's already been done?

if not I'd Have Mass Effect 4 be a true sequel and a total unapologetic [I/]"we dun fucked up on ME3 lets cauterize the wound and go from there"[/I] retcon/work it into something where we can "go forward" a direct continuation of the first 3 games, with Shepard and everyone

I'm not sure what I'd do but perhaps some sort of indoctrination/multiple universes/whatever shtick, go back to basics, better writing no more "lets keep tacking and retconning shit onto the lore so it becomes one big bloated mess"

I know a lot of people wouldn't like that approach but...its what I'd do

I'd make a new star trek TV series that utilised the modern benefits of TV viewing/special effects, but one thing I'd do is make it utterly and completely Trek, not sexy, or action-y or morally complex...just trek

no idea how that would shape up since I have no specifics...but you know, that's the idea


oh and a female captain because why the hell not?

 

[Spectrum_Prez]

If I controlled TES, I'd buy up the Skywind team and release Morrowind HD.

Then, give control back because I'd be happy for the next decade.

 

[Skatologist]

1 more Bioshock game set in Rapture, whether prequel or midquel, I don't care, I just think 1 more could be used to sort of expand on explaining a few certain things. The story probably wouldn't have to be that epic, perhaps more survival horror-y. If I couldn't do that, heck, even if it did happen, Bioshock prequel comics too. I'm picturing like some of the best artwork in comic history for some reason for something like that, but I think I remember Levine saying he wouldn't do it

Final Fantasy. I'd remake VII in HD. No voice acting though. Then rake in all the monies.
Also make it Wii U exclusive just to fuck with everybody.

I was going to say "Oh, how original..." at the start of reading that but then I saw the end and realized you're a mad genius!

 

[CommanderL]

Make the next saints row game like saints row 2 including the epic music selection

 

[Entitled]

Put it in Creative Commons.

Franchise control is evil.

 

[Owen Robertson]

If I controlled Fox I'd sell the X-Men and Fantastic Four movie rights.
If I controlled Sony I'd sell the Spider Man movie rights.
If I controlled Marvel Studios I'd force Edgar Wright to finish Ant Man.
If I controlled Lucasfilm I'd greenlight 9 more trilogies (27 more films AFTER 7, 8, and 9)
If I controlled Disney I'd swim in my lake of money.


Seriously: I want Nickelodeon to make a Smash Bros. style game of everything they broadcast. I realize it's impossible but this is hypothetical anyway. Nicktoons Unite was pretty sweet, so instead of a beat 'em up imagine a fighting game. Danny Phantom, Spongebob, Jimmy Neutron, Aang, Timmy Turner, The fucking Ninja Turtles, Doug Funnie, The Rugrats, Ren & Stimpy, Rocko, Arnold, CatDog, Invader Zim, and Jenny/XJ9. Fuck it, let's throw in the Animorphs and Power Rangers while we're at it. Tell me that wouldn't give Nintendo a run for their money here in North America.

 

[Itdoesthatsometimes]

Make the next saints row game like saints row 2 including the epic music selection

I have actually thought about this before. Have part 2,3,and 4 only existing as a dream the bass had while in a coma. Having the boss wake up from a coma, but in a hospital rather than prison. And Carlos being an orderly that is more than happy to help the boss fulfill the coma dreams. They could have some of the same characters, but tweak their stories a little. And basically keep the map of Stillwater, but cram more things into the layout.


I thought a good way to sneak in some of part four's superpowers would be to have some kind of magic necklace that makes the boss dream. In these dreams you can go on rampages when the player needs a break from "following the rules". These dreams would not gain respect or money, or work towards real world goals. But would work to achieve dream world goals that give the boss "ideas". The boss then can take these "ideas" to people that can make them a reality. Such as a designer who can make special unlockable clothing (updated fashion and such). An engineer that can make special weapons and upgrades (lasers and such). A music producer who can unlock more modern sounding songs (an excuse to have dubstep and such).

I really want this. I think that volition wants to get away from this kind of thing though.

 

[regalphantom]

I actually have a bit of a list:

Golden Sun - Release a sequel to Dark Dawn, re-recruiting the interesting characters from the cast, and jacking up the grey-on-grey morality to somewhere beyond the level found in the Lost Age. Gameplay wise, I'd rebalance Psynergy to be more effective in game in comparison to basic attacks and djinn, and potentially rework the djinn system heavily. I'd also jack up the difficulty of both the combat and the puzzles.

Smash Bros. - Golden Sun characters as fighters, not assist trophies. Why they haven't figured this out is beyond me.

Elder Scrolls - Re-introduce mutually exclusive factions and ability requirements for guilds, as well as more interesting locations and dungeons for TES VI. Mutually exclusive factions add a bit of flavor and variation for people willing to play through multiple characters, and skill requirements will my magic-less nord from becoming the Archmage of the Mages Guild.

Metroid - Release a Metroid Prime game on the WiiU (Yes, I know Prime is dead, I'm using the name to clearly differentiate from Other-M). Make the world a bit more open, so that you're able to move through areas using things other than elevators. Also make it set all on one planet like the first two games.

League of Legends - Implement Ranked Solo-Que to the Twisted Treeline. More heavily promote Twisted Treeline. Restructure the ban phase (I'm thinking Ban 2-Pick 1, Ban 2-Pick 2, Ban 1-Pick 3 for Summoner's Rift, Ban-2 Pick 2, Ban 1 Pick 1 for Twisted Treeline). Aram now has all champions unlocked for ARAM mode only, and re-rolling gives you the choice between each champion you roll (So if I roll Jax and re-roll Braum I could pick which of the two I wanted to play).

Halo - Retcon the expanded universe, or at least

Spoiler

The stuff that deals with the ancient human-forerunner war. It just creates a convoluted mess that's impossible to work with. Release a patch for Halo 4 slightly changing story elements to correct for this, making the Didact an insane forerunner extremist who was imprisoned for using lesser races and even other forerunners to create the Prometheans as tools to fight the flood (since as robotic beings they would be largely resilient to them). The Didact still acts in the same way, seeking to turn the other races into Prometheans to fight a war on behalf of a race that he is unaware went extinct. He views himself as both a defender and a saviour, freeing the other races from the risk of flood infestation. The gifts given to the chief by the Librarian work similarly, but they were developed by the Forerunners to grant those fighting the Didact immunity to the composer. The role of the covenant fighting for the Didact is expanded upon, they are pirates and scavenger from the fallen covenant society initially seeking to capture and salvage the Forward Unto Dawn and the Infinity, and then later aligning with the Didact when he emerges, viewing him as a god. The Didact begins 'ascending' them into Prometheans while using the remainder to fight the crew of the Infinity, but ultimately planning on turning their entire species into a weapon against the Flood.

That's all I can think of for now.

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

Madoka Magica- Make sure Urobuchi doesn't pull an Aldnoah.Zero / Psycho-Pass 2 and leave writing duty to someone else when doing a sequel.

Evangelion- Smack Hideaki Anno in the face and tell him to do Eva 3.0 again and do it right this time, which in turn will greatly upset him and he'll end up making the movie into a total mindfuck like End of Eva as a "fuck you" to me, thus achieving my ultimate goal.

 

[Ronald Nand]

Hitman Series- Bring back the Blood Money team, bring back the focus on large levels and emergent gameplay and less focus on story and graphics, bring in full mod support and level editor.

Splinter Cell Series- Bring back the light tone we had in the early levels, which was present in the older games, make the focus on larger levels and non-linear level design.

Thief Series- Bring back Looking Glass Studios and make a proper sequel

Naruto (If I could retroactively fix stuff):
-Get rid of all the padding, the flashbacks in the middle of fights, 1:30 minutes of explanation of a shinobi's jutsu where 10 seconds would do the job, less inner monologues for characters during a fight where time stops, don't have characters stand around like dopes watching an enemy ninja charging up their ultimate jutsu.
-Have some proper female ninja's, don't make every female ninja weak or relegate them to support healer ninjas.
-Focus on some characters apart from Sasuke and Naruto, Naruto is well rounded and has a character arc but his obsession with Sasuke is the most annoying thing ever, you made a rich universe with a variety of characters with a variety of fighting moves, instead were stuck watching Sasuke and Naruto.
-Stop characters from acting like idiots, with knowledge of the kekkei genkei techniques and special eyes like the Sharingan, characters have no excuse to not burn the bodies of powerful enemies or take their special eyes from them when they're defeated. Instead Kabuto comes and takes all the bodies and revives them, villains like Tobi and Danzo steal powerful eyes and use them.

 

[TakerFoxx]

Well, it's a cliche but someone has to say it.

Step one: acquire Firefly.

Step two: bring the rights over to HBO or CBS or something.

Step three: bring back everyone. Unless their character is dead. Even then there's still room for flashbacks.

Step four: provide lots of money and a good timeslot.

Step five: get the fuck out of their way.

 

[Toejam]

I'd release a CoD collection remake ala Master Chief Collection ( only i'd release it in working order). I'd have it as CoD 2, 3 and WaW as the 1st release and then have CoD 4, MW2 & 3 as the 2nd...well if it was totally up to me without consequence i'd just put cod 4 with the 1st lot...

 

[the December King]

If I could have somehow stepped in and been the driving force behind completing S.T.A.L.K.E.R II, I would have surrounded myself in the lore and social studies of the Slavic countries, gained as much information as I could about the other facilities designed for nuclear testing across old Russia, research on huge abandoned military complexes and deserted housing projects, and also any place that just plain weird shit happens (like any place related to Tsar Bomba, or the bizarre Dylatov Pass, or any place associated with Baba Yaga or other beings of myth) and seen to it that the Exclusion Zone expanded to include most of this land mass. I would have made it my personal goal to see to it that it was the biggest, single player, first person sandbox of it's kind to date, full of new areas and provinces to explore, as well as the old maps (because hey, it was always kinda fun to saunter back into the 100 Rads when the day was done!).

I would have included a slew of new mutants and horrors, maybe a little more lovecraftian and tentacly, but with an even blend of horrid mutants as seen in the previous games, as well as some harder-to -explain beings more related to fairy tales and myths. I would also have made variants of the existing mutants- like the PseudoGiant would have a counterpart that was truly gigantic, and a Chimera the size of a bus. I would follow the lead on mechanics by emulating Call of Pripyat for the most part, while adding some more anomalies and possibly tweaking the inventory- it could get a bit dicey sometimes, but I'm nitpicking now. Also, I would have tried to preserve the detailed work put into the ballistic mechanics and enhanced this with some more efficient or modern techniques- I don't want to get too specific here, but I would if I was really in charge.