Interesting question being asked at Kotaku. The author poses the question to find out what franchise needs to end either because its getting bad, you really hate, or need to be retired for its own good. He offers God of War as a suggestion, which I can't argue with.

I'd say Katamari Damacy. It was an excellent original idea and even the sequels have been decent, but there doesn't look like there's ever going to be any evolution in the series. The last PS3 title Katamari Forever was very much a greatest hits for the series showcasing the best levels from earlier installments alongside a few new ones. It would have been a great way to end the series. The Vita installment wasn't received too terribly well, so I say let's just end it.

I dont believe in killing franchises, they can live forever. I do believe in taking time off and complete new directions for a franchise. Franchise fatigue is something every studio needs to keep an eye on.

Dvader said:

Ravenprose said:

Zelda. When long time fans start asking for Sci-Fi Zelda, you know it's time to end it.

End a series where every single game is a GOTY winner...

That doesn't mean it's good, only that a lot of people have awful taste.

Little Big Planet. Have some cajones and stick to the plan of making an endless game with unlimited possibilities.

Archangel3371 said:

The only time you give a franchise or series a rest is when people aren't buying it anymore. People are going to say games like Call of Duty but you'd have to be absolutely insane to actually stop making CoD games right now.

Exactly.

EDIT: Everyone is always telling SEGA to quit making Sonic games, but right now I'm pretty sure that's the only thing keeping the lights on over there.  It would be refreshing to see a developer take something that has been milked out and take it in a new direction (like Katamari for example), but as long as people keep buying them they probably don;t want to screw with the formula.

I spoke off the air with Foolz about this last week, how Naughty Dog has twice fought the comfort of conventional wisdom by shedding Crash Bandicoot and then Jak and Daxter, and I think they've got it right: three games is enough. Then it's time to stretch a new muscle and push your company to try something new. If it fails, you can always go back to milking your old franchises that you walked away from.

robio said:

Dammit stop trying to be logical! You pick a damned game you hate, kill it, and get back to your diet RC cola!

Kill HALO! (Takes slug of VB Beer).  Better?

Wait... what's VB beer?

robio said:

Wait... what's VB beer?

It is the best of the worst beers in Australia.

Only two beers worth drinking down here are Coopers and Little Creatures, but they are $20 a six pack (and are also not available in my village or any town within an hour's drive).  My quantity of drinking requires a macro-brew, thus, I drink VB, the best of the worst.

Two things I miss most about the US: Baseball and beer.

aspro said:

It is the best of the worst beers in Australia.

Only two beers worth drinking down here are Coopers and Little Creatures, but they are $20 a six pack (and are also not available in my village or any town within an hour's drive).  My quantity of drinking requires a macro-brew, thus, I drink VB, the best of the worst.

Two things I miss most about the US: Baseball and beer.

In a few years you'll only be able to afford goon. As long as your assimilation into Australian society and culture is successful.