How Games Evolve: Borrowing, Polishing, and Innovating

Fumito Ueda, known for his work on The Last Guardian, recently shared his thoughts on game design. He believes that the focus should shift from inventing new mechanics to refining existing ones. This idea isn't new, but it's gaining traction in the industry. Many successful games borrow ideas from others and make them better. For example, the hand-holding mechanic in Fable 3 was inspired by Ico, a game directed by Ueda. Similarly, Shadow of the Colossus has influenced many games, from Eternal Strands to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Ueda's perspective is shared by many in the industry. Games are a mix of art and software, and software developers often improve upon existing ideas. This iterative process is why many game sequels are better than their predecessors. For instance, the difference between the first two Assassin's Creed games and Watch Dogs 1 and 2 is stark. However, this approach isn't without its controversies. Sony recently sued Tencent for Light of Motiram, claiming it was a clone of the Horizon games. Additionally, Warner Bros. patented the Nemesis system from Shadow of Mordor, preventing other developers from using it. This stifled innovation and led to the cancellation of a Wonder Woman game that was based on the Nemesis system. Despite these issues, the exchange of ideas has largely benefited the industry. In the '80s and '90s, many games were experimental and often failed. Today, most mainstream games build upon proven ideas, leading to higher quality and more successful games. Justin Negrete, a senior lead campaign designer for Black Ops 6, agrees with Ueda. He believes that focusing on polishing and designing a great experience is more important than trying to be wholly original. This approach has helped Call of Duty remain successful for decades. However, this perspective is a luxury enjoyed by big-budget developers. Indie teams often rely on new ideas to stand out in a crowded market. Once an indie game breaks through, big-budget developers often adopt and refine those innovations. For example, PUBG inspired Warzone, and Escape from Tarkov inspired DMZ. In conclusion, while borrowing and refining ideas is a common practice in the game industry, it's important to remember that innovation often comes from indie developers. Without their contributions, the industry would have fewer ideas to build upon.