I recently read a column on MMORPG.com asking what I consider to be a relatively simple question, why are there no HD remakes in MMOs? The answer to end all answers is time and money. Art is expensive and the engine may be so old that to incorporate higher resolution graphics would require extensive work under the hood, likely breaking other processes and requiring those to be fixed while you’re in there messing around with the graphics engine. For many of these old games, the investment required to overhaul the graphics does not add up to how much additional interest that such a revamp could theoretically produce. Instead of massive graphical overhauls, generally what you get is a slow revamp of graphics and animations over a very long period of time.
There are exceptions to this rule, of course. RuneScape, a runaway success, has had numerous HD “remakes” over the years, from upgrading to newer engines and its multiple overhauls to the recent release of RuneScape 3 and the bungled, yet still in development HTML5. The difference is that Jagex happens to have enough cash on hand that they can field several failed multi-million dollar games, afford a nearly constant stream of weekly game updates, and have enough to fill a swimming pool with the gold coins left over. Not a lot of other companies have that luxury, or if they technically do they don’t have the cooperation of the people holding the checkbook.
Then you have to deal with the fact that the game itself is quite outdated at this point. Jagex dealt with this by introducing Evolution of Combat, noting that while the game had come a long way graphically, the combat was still stuck somewhere in 2001’s RuneScape classic with some special attacks, equipment degradation, and set effects. Taking the outer layer of a 2013 Corvette Stingray and throwing it on a 1930 Woodie Wagon won’t make the car sell any better, you’ll just wind up with an automobile that looks just as great as it underperforms. Which isn’t to say that they are bad, Everquest is still enjoyed by many gamers, but upgrading it to look like a 2013 release does not make it a new game.
So where does that leave us? Creating an MMO is a high risk, high cost venture, and creating an HD remake is even riskier. For the same reason that full on sequels are generally frowned upon, unless you’re building a franchise or your original launch was a financial disaster, developers would rather create a modular system that can be improved over time rather than uprooted and replaced in one big chunk.
