why is it so hard to make a good Next Gen Mafia game

[stevew]

Apparently the new godfather game sucks. The first one got tedious quick. I'm sure the Soprano game sucked. It seems like the concept should be fairly easy. Yet we haven't seen a good game in a long time. This needs to happen.

[SackAttack]

Because in the case of The Godfather and The Sopranos, you have character expectations to live up to. You can't do anything too innovative unless you can find a way to make it make sense within the context of the sandbox in which you're playing.

Grand Theft Auto and Saints Row have expectations too, but it's the expectation of following up previous efforts, not of living up to a world that somebody else created.

[Scoobz0202]

I recently saw an annoucement for Mafia II which I am excited for. I felt the first one was really good and from what I heard early on about the second one it should be pretty sweet.

[sabotai]

I'd like an update to Gangsters. I remember playing the first one a lot and really liked it.

[Scoobz0202]

Ahh.. I forgot about Gangsters. I played the shit out of that game. Loved it

[sabotai]

I wonder if any of the game download sites like direct2drive, GamersGate, etc. have Gangsters available to buy.....

Edit: I've found Gangsters 2 (on Direct2Drive), but not the original.

[DaddyTorgo]

gangsters may be on underdogs as abandonware?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

gangsters may be on underdogs as abandonware?

Didn't underdogs shut down a couple of months ago?

[DaddyTorgo]

idk - i was using it in the more all encompassing "somewhere out there on the abandonware games community"

and i found it. on squakenet.com

[Peregrine]

It seems to me that a mafia/gangs game that was set up like an open-world RPG would be pretty neat - you start out as a low level soldier in one organization, have to work your way up through quests, getting more powerful, dealing with a ton of other crime factions and groups, etc. Basically like Oblivion but set in a modern world. I doubt something like that would ever get made though.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

It seems to me that a mafia/gangs game that was set up like an open-world RPG would be pretty neat - you start out as a low level soldier in one organization, have to work your way up through quests, getting more powerful, dealing with a ton of other crime factions and groups, etc. Basically like Oblivion but set in a modern world. I doubt something like that would ever get made though.

Yes. Its pretty much that easy

[Deattribution]

Wasn't Scarface a pretty good game? Not quite sure that falls into this category but similar I suppose.

[Eilim]

I've been waiting for the spiritual successor to "Gangsters" for ages as Gangsters 2 was a big disappointment (can't even remember why at this point.). While Godfather 2 was a letdown, I did like enough of the "Don's View" design and actions, that I started reminiscing about Gangsters and jotting notes for a remake of sorts. If They ever add about 8 more hours to the day, perhaps I'll put my torque 2d license to use and get around to making it.

Hell, at this point I'd be happy for a just an update of the original gangsters that made it a bit more friendly to modern operating systems and equipment. I still have my original disc and manual but think I ran into issues the last time I tried to install in on XP.

[bhlloy]

It's funny, reading a review of Gangsters and Gangsters 2 brought back many memories. Gangsters 2 was a big disappointment, they basically dumbed the game down to the point where it was boring, whereas Gangsters was ridiculously difficult and you were lucky to make it 5 weeks in without getting completely destroyed IIRC - you would be doing fine, doing fine and then somebody would declare war on you, all your gangsters would get killed and you would be screwed.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

It seems to me that a mafia/gangs game that was set up like an open-world RPG would be pretty neat - you start out as a low level soldier in one organization, have to work your way up through quests, getting more powerful, dealing with a ton of other crime factions and groups, etc. Basically like Oblivion but set in a modern world. I doubt something like that would ever get made though.

Dola-Build skills like charisma, connections, etc. Hell, I'd even like the ability to become an informant on an opposing gang or to become an undercover cop. Go all Donny Brasco and stuff.

[Icy]

I also loved the first gangster and hated the second one, that looked more like a mafia themed RTS where you just had to hire 20 hitmen with machine guns and kill every other gangster.

I really miss all those old "tycoon" games that mixed strategy, economy, man management, etc like mafia, constructor, theme hospital, etc.

[Philliesfan980]

Originally Posted by Icy

I also loved the first gangster and hated the second one, that looked more like a mafia themed RTS where you just had to hire 20 hitmen with machine guns and kill every other gangster.

I really miss all those old "tycoon" games that mixed strategy, economy, man management, etc like mafia, constructor, theme hospital, etc.

You can thank every small time game company for really screwing up for tycoon genre. When I saw Prison Tycoon 2 out on the shelf at Target, I knew the industry got too greedy.

Like most in this thread, I loved the first Gangster game. I also loved Mafia and it's clunky driving interface. Really wish there was something halfway decent to play today.

[Flasch186]

facebook has something people are playing, I hate it because I keep see these stupid mafia updates.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

I recently saw an annoucement for Mafia II which I am excited for. I felt the first one was really good and from what I heard early on about the second one it should be pretty sweet.

The original game was very good. I'm really looking forward to the sequel.