Resident Evil 7 is going to blow our minds, says Capcom Producer.

[Rombie]

The fact REmaster sold so well proves Capcoms statements wrong....

Thats why I predict the 'hard-core' concept, if Capcom keeps it up, will shift and Rev2's blend of trying to please all audiences will become more the standard.

Capcom haven't been clear in the past about how the main entries and Revelation spin-offs relate to each other and the series' past.

http://kotaku.com/capcom-explains-the-difference-between-resident-evil-an-1637148095/all

"The Resident Evil: Revelations games, however, are aimed at long-time RE fans who want a more traditional, survival horror experience."

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/522303/Capcom-producer-talks-Resident-Evil-7-core-gameplay-and-fan-input

"“I think the big numbered titles are where we try the big sort of experiments, bold new things,” Okabe said.

“We see what sticks, and continue to refine those ideas.

"I think with the spin-off series we have the opportunity to do something a little different."

And it's hard to tell what their intent with REV2 was at the moment. I'm halfway through Chapter 2 and it feels like a Resident Evil Greatest (and not-so-greatest) hits package. Maybe an attempt to dig out old characters and mechanics one last time and let natural selection choose which ones to cull?

Rev1 was certainly of the "spin off" concept as far as Capcom describes it there, but Rev2 certainly does fit a more broad 'greatest hits' - indeed for all good and bad - concept as you describe it.

Personally it's not hard for me to tell at all, simply because I asked the question of the producer "What is the market idea for the game" and I was specifically told they wanted to target all players, new, recent, and hard-core. And hope that the references and links back would get new & recent players talking to hardcore ones online, but that the gameplay content would be broad enough to please everyone depending on their gameplay style they like more.

It's impossible to tell if older people are suffering from any form of franchise fatigue without access to sales demographics and when the franchise has taken a massive change of direction almost mid-way through its current life-span. And with that information along, it'd be impossible to know if individuals are suffering from franchise fatigue or gaming fatigue in general.

There was definitely an element of Capcom getting too sequel & spin off heavy 10-18 years back, which affected the quality of the franchise, but in the wak of that, 5&6 take up 2 spots in Capcom's top 3 selling games of all time.

One would hope for Capcoms IR materials, where the comment you posted is found, is based on actual market research to come to that conclusion and so I'm certain this is the case for them at least. I'm certainly also not saying your comment about the changes in direction haven't helped is anything but also another issue - certainly to me RE4 was a fun game but it no longer felt like 'Resident Evil' as I knew it - and it kinda changed my interest in the franchise from there on for example, but it's certainly also not the only issue nor does it make what Capcom stated any less truthful either.

The later point about the sales is interesting because it's part of Capcom's confusion on where to take the franchise, knowing so many people only probably played the more recent action based titles. But in someways the numbers in inflated when compared to older titles simply because gaming demographics in general are much different. And counter to Capcom's issues of people being in their 30's and 40's even, you keep being told the average gamer is in their 30's anyway... so maybe this isn't the worst thing possible. Who knows really... in a lot of ways, the survey really probably and hopefully was the best bet to mine some data from franchise fans hoping it would be more specific than sales and general info ever was.

A franchise needs to evolve to remain relevant and appealing. However, it reads like Capcom are choosing to ignore the fact that the evolution that the series has gone through may have put off a large portion of its earlier fan base.

Again, before Rev2, before what I heard from the producer of it in person, and before the way Remake sold - yeah maybe. But given their ideas to try and appeal to as many audiences and get discussion going between old fans and new fans, plus this survey we discussed, I'm hopeful they've learn't their lesson after 6 - as I've said before, sure while "good" in sheer numbers shipped, wasn't probably as good as hoped when it was downgraded in possible shipping/sales numbers and given the budget - probably in profits against how much the damn thing cost. Nothing like the bottom line to make people think more about what they're making and please their fanbase a little more than before.

We can only hope Rev2's "success" doesn't just mean they get lazy again though.

It was 18 here in the UK, when I was 15. I even managed to get a copy a day before from Electronics Boutique staff. Those were the days!

If you were 15 then, Capcom's age bracket puts you almost into the 30's group as well I guess.

I forgot you guys had it as 18 in the UK. It was 16 in NZ, and M in the States... which is basically the same. We still have EB in NZ too oddly enough, instead of Gamestop/Game. Very rarely did a game get an 18 restriction in NZ back in those days... I'm sure there was others before, but the first major one I remember was the original GTA.

[Burt Mustin]

It was 18 here in the UK, when I was 15. I even managed to get a copy a day before from Electronics Boutique staff. Those were the days!

Heh, same here. And that was back when you really had parents up in arms over violence, gore, and sexuality. They still are, but it was painfully hyper-sensitive back then, with it all being so new. In terms of years for gaming, I have never again witnessed another like 1996.

Reading that Capcom poll, sparked the question for me-- "At what point did the series begin to lose you?" I couldn't really answer it completely-- I mean, I enjoyed 2 and 3, but even back then somehow remember them feeling somewhat 'lightweight' in relation to 1. Even back in 99' after playing 3, I felt the two separated didn't feel fulfilling, yet if somehow they were connected in a clever way as one game, it could have been pretty special.

The thing about the 'downfall' of the series (for me), is that it's largely been seeing so many of the games as executed 'half-assed' as regards the story, gameplay, and overall execution. Too much of it feels contrived, or made up hastily, and started becoming so ridiculous at times (begin w/CVX...in painful truth) that each lost one of two things a.) genuine in-the-moment fun b.) emotional resonance as an overall experience. In a way, I suppose you could pin some of this all the way back to Okamoto & whoever else decided that the games should become a full-blown franchise, yet at the same time wanting sequels, game after game, to appear in rapid intervals...as if the potential narrative complexity of the series was akin to that of fucking Rock/Megaman.

At this point, I'd personally prefer what Bat echoed in another thread-- end it!; Or atleast begin making plans now to do so- It feels as though if they put the work in, possible avenues still exist to conclude in pretty strong fashion. As mentioned in another thread, maybe Chris or Jill ends up dying in a way that is meaningful as regards how the story would end, and would be powerful at the same time for long-time (or even midway, now) players. It doesn't seem to be beyond the possibility of a final flourish of good storytelling and effective gameplay to conclude what would then be over a two decade franchise. Cost/sales aside, there's still little ways to know how long Capcom plan on continuing it.

[Jimmy_Jazz]

Capcom haven't been clear in the past about how the main entries and Revelation spin-offs relate to each other and the series' past.

http://kotaku.com/capcom-explains-the-difference-between-resident-evil-an-1637148095/all

"The Resident Evil: Revelations games, however, are aimed at long-time RE fans who want a more traditional, survival horror experience."

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/522303/Capcom-producer-talks-Resident-Evil-7-core-gameplay-and-fan-input

"“I think the big numbered titles are where we try the big sort of experiments, bold new things,” Okabe said.

“We see what sticks, and continue to refine those ideas.

"I think with the spin-off series we have the opportunity to do something a little different."

And it's hard to tell what their intent with REV2 was at the moment. I'm halfway through Chapter 2 and it feels like a Resident Evil Greatest (and not-so-greatest) hits package. Maybe an attempt to dig out old characters and mechanics one last time and let natural selection choose which ones to cull?

Jimmy - to be fair, it's not all really that much rubbish.

It's impossible to tell if older people are suffering from any form of franchise fatigue without access to sales demographics and when the franchise has taken a massive change of direction almost mid-way through its current life-span. And with that information along, it'd be impossible to know if individuals are suffering from franchise fatigue or gaming fatigue in general.

There was definitely an element of Capcom getting too sequel & spin off heavy 10-18 years back, which affected the quality of the franchise, but in the wak of that, 5&6 take up 2 spots in Capcom's top 3 selling games of all time.

A franchise needs to evolve to remain relevant and appealing. However, it reads like Capcom are choosing to ignore the fact that the evolution that the series has gone through may have put off a large portion of its earlier fan base.

Also the 'age allowed' minimum was 16 for most places it released in during 1996

It was 18 here in the UK, when I was 15. I even managed to get a copy a day before from Electronics Boutique staff. Those were the days!

[Deathlygasm]

The fact REmaster sold so well proves Capcoms statements wrong....

[Rombie]

So their logic is getting the main entries to appeal to "everyone" and the spin-offs for the hardcore fans......

Hmmm.... Before Rev2 I would have believed this, but I think - and probably their real answer is in the survey they did recently plus whatever they feel they get right with Rev2 themselves, and I'm completely off on this prediction - will be Rev2's mixture will possibly more likely to be the "everyone" style though, and the hard-core might be more the Remake/classic based on the success of the HD version. Spin-offs will stay as random spin-off's in the sense they're usually different from the ones before - unless directly a sequel (such as Outbreak File 2). Just a theory based on whats happened this year.

I say this because Rev 2's combo of slightly less action than 5/6 but still occasional bottlenecks, boss fights, and events with occasional quiet areas, low level puzzles, fetch quests, and optional harder puzzles in general as far as reviews go have been received well all round. Co-op is also probably going to be a keeper in these, and maybe not in other 'hard-core' or classic level titles.

The Rev 2 style just feels like probably be the midground for all sequels that they feel will hopefully please both parties until they get stale and complaints happen again in a couple more main titles time I guess.

Jimmy - to be fair, it's not all really that much rubbish. The franchise is a few days away from being 19 years old. I myself fit that exact description of the 'main user group' - although I still game frequently enough and have stayed somewhat invested in the franchise, I'm certainly not the same since RE4 - and that's not all just change of direction being the issue. For example I'd estimate of people who had websites and were just as hardcore if not more so about the game 10-15 years ago as well, maybe 70% of them probably haven't played much if any of the recent games for all sorts of reasons.

Also the 'age allowed' minimum was 16 for most places it released in during 1996, although plenty of people were playing it around 10 and up - but that still puts people who were 10 in 1996 as almost 30 now as well, and they'll be either facing the same franchise or gaming fatigue.

[Lanzagranadas]

So their logic is getting the main entries to appeal to "everyone" and the spin-offs for the hardcore fans......

Besides the Outbreak series I see spin-offs are even less for hardcore fans than main titles (ORC, Chronicles, Survivor), they're plain shooter crap. Unless you mean Revelations? But I'm positive Capcom never stated Revelations were meant to be a spin-off series nor do they pretend to treat them like that.

[Jimmy_Jazz]

I can't find that quote, but I did stumble across this pile of rubbish from them:

http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/feature/hit2013/02.html

"The longevity of the "Resident Evil" title also comes with problems. The main user group is now in their late-30s to 40s, and the average age is also going up as the series goes on with an increasing possibility that some percentage of the existing users will outgrow games altogether. "

"From pilot to major title. The environment surrounding "Resident Evil" has changed significantly over the past 17 years. However, the "Resident Evil" identity is constant."

RE lost many fans due to changes in direction, not due to getting old themselves.

[Deathlygasm]

So their logic is getting the main entries to appeal to "everyone" and the spin-offs for the hardcore fans......

[Jimmy_Jazz]

I think the thing with SH1&2 (didn't play 3 or 4/The Room) was that the camera wasn't fixed to the back of your character as it was in SH:O. It was more of a traditional chase cam, whilst SH:O was freelook with blends into / out of detached cameras.

And I think you're right about REV2/7. If REV2's balance of action, horror, stealth, linearity and set pieces was at the core of the big number entries then I could imagine spin-offs going back to detached camera SH. But as it stands, Capcom consider the Rev series (publicly stated, can't find links ATM) as Survival Horror titles and the big entries are blockbusters.

[Rombie]

Thanks, I play the final thing and found the mixture of third person and detached, tracking cameras to be annoying. But then, I also think the third person camera really shows off SH:O as it mostly frames fog a few feet infront of you.

I'm surprised you found them to be annoying unless it's bugged you for most the earlier franchise titles. As I said, they're about the same as the original title (and the PS2 sequels) - where there is a mixture of following 3rd person and fixed/on rail cameras - and I found those to generally be a nice middle ground. Certainly better for SH than an over the shoulder view in any case, and some of the camera movements in SH were film like in style and in that sense ahead of their time (such as right near the start in the alley in SH1 where the camera tracks back and up having the character move under and then follow them through the area).


--

The more I've played through Rev 2 the more I'm convinced Capcom will probably stay with this style of control and gameplay for the foreseeable future and upcoming sequels unless someone can reinvent the style again.

[Deathlygasm]

So It seems many people agree that the odds of 7 being somewhere between 'suck' and 'meh' are pretty much Red Alert high.

I see but one solution to this- 5 slipped in Lost in Nightmares post game, which was resoundingly more engaging than most of 5 itself. Perhaps we need a similar thing for 7: "Resident Downton". The Downton Abbey has become home to a viral outbreak... it turns out some old scientist back in the day was mucking about beacons and bunsen burners, hoping to create a cure for the 1918 flu outbreak, when something went amiss. Somehow Downton Abbey became infected.

"I do say, Bates, man-- relinquish your grip from-- Ahhhh"

"Why Lady Mary, you do not look well- are you with-- Ahhhh"

1918 flu was some scary shit! Would be interesting to be referenced in an RE game.

[Burt Mustin]

So It seems many people agree that the odds of 7 being somewhere between 'suck' and 'meh' are pretty much Red Alert high.

I see but one solution to this- 5 slipped in Lost in Nightmares post game, which was resoundingly more engaging than most of 5 itself. Perhaps we need a similar thing for 7: "Resident Downton". The Downton Abbey has become home to a viral outbreak... it turns out some old scientist back in the day was mucking about beacons and bunsen burners, hoping to create a cure for the 1918 flu outbreak, when something went amiss. Somehow Downton Abbey became infected.

"I do say, Bates, man-- relinquish your grip from-- Ahhhh"

"Why Lady Mary, you do not look well- are you with-- Ahhhh"

[B.Zork]

And it is of very little budget and has translation problems...

the revelation 2 must have this limited budget that make even text engine not base linebreak on closest space but on letter touching edge of box. this actually a japanese dev thing in first place and evidence of it not being the internal project. it also have many overrun and overlap problemas. is a very poor job on text front for that. for audio script it is clear they work with audio studio or seperate qa group than the one for text.

[Jimmy_Jazz]

Certainly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fT1dPXqVYM

Thanks, I play the final thing and found the mixture of third person and detached, tracking cameras to be annoying. But then, I also think the third person camera really shows off SH:O as it mostly frames fog a few feet infront of you.

I think I would like to see a traditional Survival Horror avod third person aiming so that combat isn't so sophisticated, and think of other ways of expanding upon player & enemy interactions. Alien: Isolation's reload mechanic, and general drawn out scenery interactions really helped keep you on edge.

I can't wait to play & finish REV2 so I can go through MR's grievances in detail.

[News Bot]

The never-changing bracelet, over-trusting of Claire, the fact she was crying after finding out the truth... Yeah, everything's American version problems, even with the same animations and all.
Even if none of it exists in the Japanese version, screw it. Just consideer it me judging the american one, and deal with it.

Animations are made based on American motion capture actors, who recite the English script. The Japanese dub is then dubbed over.

So yes, everything's American version problems. Has been for 20 years.