Most companies think of games as a Franchise these days and SHENMUE like it or not was thought of as one when Sega tried to spin off the material in various formats in the noughties. Franchise doesn't just include merchandise in the video game world. RYU GA GOTOKU is a franchise because the game has had several spin offs. As Sonic is. And unless you miss the boat there's quite a few SHENMUE merc out there.
Your not really understanding the marketing and advertisement procedures of videogames ( or any other products ). When the N64 debuted, Miyamoto started to come out of the closet ( not that one ), all the attention was focused on him. When in truth the N64 was created by former SGI employees. The N64 unit itself was an westerner technology. Why was it Miyamoto, showing his face this time around? Because people became in love with Japanese culture to the point, where seeing his face was not a shocker to the end consumer. That is why. The second reason is that game consumers started to respect the product, as artworks, and creativity next to films. More importantly, if the end consumer knew who really made the N64, they might have had problems.
Breaking the first rule of products. Never make your product represent you. Why? Because people will have issues ( tangents as Senn and SEGA forums ), with the person behind the product. Political and racial issues.
This was done a second time. Right now the game world is being open to consumers about business matters, why? Because they want to make the consumer feel they are just as important as well. Does the president and his cabinet controls what the programmer, art director, and writer does??? Chances are no. These corporate people do nothing at all, and these corporate words are pointless to the actual product. Look at OCP, when we see Robocop, do we see the people behind OCP, or only OCP??? When we see Robocop, do we see the directors, writers, producers, and studio and their private lives? Does it matter what kind of person you are giving your money too. Would that enterprising give a job to your brother, father, or sister, mother? I say breaking this rule, is not something a person should do.
Again the word franchise. A franchise means that Robocop can be a bowl of Ramen, an toy, an toilet, or even an camera device. To break away the focus from the actual product "Robocop" and focus directly on the company/corporation and do it, in a positive light, is the greatest thing a film studio wants from people. For videogame companies it is also a great thing for them, because it draws attention from the real people behind the product, as well as their ultimate goal. To sell as much fan-products to the consumer.
However we are talking about the actual product itself. Not any products at all. When a representative of a game company, or game comes out and uses the word FRANCHISE. They are disposition you, from the product and what it really is. They are trying to sell you something, that has nothing to do with the product at all, and call it the same product.
So why is that bad for us? Well, remember Megaman?
? Remember how great it was to talk about the product itself. Just by saying the words, it makes you feel happy. Megaman....... Your mind if flooded with all the awesome game-play from all the different games. It never feels wrong to think about Megaman.
Now imagine, if Capcom just came out, and started calling Megaman a franchise, and made a couple of movies, animations, boardgames, but not one single game??? In a nutshell they have just swept Megaman under the rug, and made a bunch of cheap products, meant for the fans. I mean oh look Megaman drinking mug, I gots to have it. However that is not megaman at all. Pretty much done the same thing to religion, by selling crucifixions, and statues. I do not want to idolize megaman, or wear little Megaman buttons on my shirt. I want to play Megaman dammit.
Like right now, they made a comic. However that is not Megaman, and is just something fun to read. Then if they made a movie, again not megaman, but fun to see. Same with an megaman drink. Not megaman, but fun to drink. This means a person could be selling Megaman drinks for eternity, and not one Megaman game will ever be made again.
Doremon ( if you know him ), is doing this right now. The original comics, are long gone, and all is left is the revision of the animation, and a bunch of merchandise, that is mostly seen being sold in China. Speaking of Chinese, the first fictional character you will see from China is Mickey mouse.
So many people over their grewed up with Mickey, and is the longest running, and respected ficitional character being sold, to all kinds of people. Heck even I have a Mickey Merchandise, everyone does. However the original cartoons, since Steam Boat Willy, to the ABC family hours, are all gone now. Their hasn't been any new Mickey invention.
Here is a question? Is Shenmue = Mickey = Megaman
Do you feel comfortable with Shenmue = Mickey = Megaman?
Is that an good thing?
When we as humans, purchase these things, do we think about the backstabbing corporations. Better yet the people who are inside, that are working against the fictional material we love and hold dear to us, as if it was religious texts. Imagine all the monsters who made money, doing work, related to Pokemon. A ( ficitonal media ) videogame, and now ( franchise ), dolls, books, toys, etc. Imagine what they really think about the people who actually care about the material itself.
In my opinion, video game makers, needs to avoid using corporate words, and respect their products. I remember when we had Bart Simpson, and Sonic Hedgehog floats on tv, during Thanksgiving. I really love those things, because I love the fictional stories, and creative elements of those things. If a parent was to even hear those corporate words, being used at that point in time. I am doubtfully they would have even allowed their children ( us ) to purchase those products.
Do not bring the boardroom, to the public.
TO MAKE THINGS WORST, JUST TO MAKE THINGS WORST.
Because we have erected invisible barriers of globalism. When you do something, like Shenmue, everybody around you is against you. SEGA is in Japan, and it has one group of people, and everybody is everybodies business. The same could be said about the related nations near it.
However for videogames this openess works, without realizing the damage we support.
Poll