I bought my first Hitman game off of the Steam Sale and am LOVING it. It's beyond me why it took the devs six years to release a followup; was it just in dev hell or did they start production late. Seriously, why so long for something that's not a new IP? I don't want this to become COD but sequels usually don't take more than 3 years to make

Blood Money was already the 4th one in 6 years so they were probably burned out on making them. The audience was probably already burned out on playing them. They made two Kane & Lynch games since then as well so it's not like they have been making Absolution for all this time.

Aleast it didn't end up like Duke Nukem Forever, and everyone who was looking forward to that game had to wait 12 years. But anyway I'm sure the devs has there reasons why the game took this long to come out. There's always a reason.

Because they started a new franchise and they aren't a two project studio. Maybe if Absolution does well they might become one.

I dont know the ins and outs.

I assume they wanted to give Kane and Lynch a try, as they wanted to do something different.

I would have preferred they went back to the well with freedom fighters if they were bored, though. That was a much better idea, but maybe it didn't do so well. I don't know. Not really sure why they felt they had more to say with Kane and Lynch either, though.

i think im one of the Few who liked Kane & Lynch 2 the first one had a good idea, just the game play let it down, the 2nd improved on that, but was wayyy to short :(

Because why not?

Io made a bunch of games in between, including Mini Ninjas (which is excellent) and both Kane & Lynch games (which are decidedly less so).
 
Word from the wise: While Blood Money is incredible, the others didn't age nearly as well. The first game is nearly unplayable, the second game pales in comparison to Blood Money, and the third isn't available because of copyright problems.

You're too used to the 2-year sequel-driven dev cycles of the current game industry.

This is how it used to be.

Io made a bunch of games in between, including Mini Ninjas (which is excellent) and both Kane & Lynch games (which are decidedly less so).  Word from the wise: While Blood Money is incredible, the others didn't age nearly as well. The first game is nearly unplayable, the second game pales in comparison to Blood Money, and the third isn't available because of copyright problems.

@psylah said:

You're too used to the 2-year sequel-driven dev cycles of the current game industry.

This is how it used to be.

Yeah this. I would have certainly played another even if it was basically the same as Blood Money, kind of how they did the Contracts game. But now we get a seriously progressed version of the series so that is cool.

They were making Kayne and Lynch in between and trying new things.

@CornBREDX: EA owns the rights to Freedom Fighters afaik, so sadly it isn't likely they will get to make another one.

@mosespippy said:

Blood Money was already the 4th one in 6 years so they were probably burned out on making them. The audience was probably already burned out on playing them. They made two Kane & Lynch games since then as well so it's not like they have been making Absolution for all this time.

OH, I had no idea they made Kane and Lynch. Well now I'm decidedly less psyched for Absolution...

They also made Just Cause 2...which is a very fun game.

They also made Just Cause 2...which is a very fun game.

@Meltac said:

@Jrinswand said:

Io made a bunch of games in between, including Mini Ninjas (which is excellent) and both Kane & Lynch games (which are decidedly less so). Word from the wise: While Blood Money is incredible, the others didn't age nearly as well. The first game is nearly unplayable, the second game pales in comparison to Blood Money, and the third isn't available because of copyright problems.

Contracts is shit anyways, so it's not that big of a loss.

I disagree. I enjoyed the hell out of Contracts.

they have another studio already designing the next one.

FUCK, it has been 6 years since blood money.

@Twinsun said:

@CornBREDX: EA owns the rights to Freedom Fighters afaik, so sadly it isn't likely they will get to make another one.

I liked the one Hitman game I played,where things go to hell. But it's Freedom Fighters I really rue. Too aged now for what it offered, I'm afraid. Yet I truly enjoyed Freedom Fighters, Hitman more a mixed bag just on pure enjoyment level.

Just because it's been six years since the last Hitman doesn't mean they were working on this the whole time...

Kane & Lynch. Believe me, I would have much preferred it if they'd spent that time making Hitman games instead, because Blood Money was fantastic.

@Twinsun said:

@CornBREDX: EA owns the rights to Freedom Fighters afaik, so sadly it isn't likely they will get to make another one.

Kane and Lynch is supposed to be the spiritual successor to Freedom Fighters, so its probably a good thing a sequel wasn't made.

@zombiebigfoot said:

@Meltac said:

@Jrinswand said:

Io made a bunch of games in between, including Mini Ninjas (which is excellent) and both Kane & Lynch games (which are decidedly less so). Word from the wise: While Blood Money is incredible, the others didn't age nearly as well. The first game is nearly unplayable, the second game pales in comparison to Blood Money, and the third isn't available because of copyright problems.

Contracts is shit anyways, so it's not that big of a loss.

I disagree. I enjoyed the hell out of Contracts.

Anyone who says Contracts is shit are absolute liars.

It's a breath of fresh air in this goddamned industry that this developer pursued a new IP and put their highest selling AAA franchise on hold for so long.

Absolution will probably be AMAZING because they took a break from doing it and gained new perspectives while working on a different franchise. It's like when a band decides to take a break from their usual sound and do something new and fresh then revisit their old and great sound after trying some new experiences.

That's why I'm dying for the next Opeth album, because they did the psycadellic funk thing on their latest album and will probably ace their death metal sound when they return to it after trying something new. Whereas Megadeth is pumping out Call of Duty albums that all sound the same.

The same reason Giant Bomb exists. Kane & Lynch.

Seeing all this hate for Kane and Lynch makes me sad. I really don't understand it. For me at least, Kane and Lynch has the best characters/multiplayer/concept ideas to ever exist in a game. I can't say much for it gameplay wise though..

Still, I fucking love the series... and I really hope they make a 3rd. I would be just as happy with a new K&L then I am now to get Hitman: absolution.

The great thing about Giantbomb is all you needed to do was type in "IO Interactive" to see what games they made between Blood Money and Absolution.

It's always weird when I get replys to things I said months ago haha

But ya. IO isn't a big developer. As far as I still understand they can only work on one game at a time and they chose to work on Kane and Lynch first. I don't think that panned out (although I would argue they have interesting ideas with that game, even if not well implemented).

We'll see where a new Hitman takes them.

In my opinion i think resetting or restarting franchises is a way more popular bet for many big game companies. They get renewed interest from diehard fans and they have a chance to bring in new fans. I would say most gaming companies will take this route over making a new IP. It's like the best of both worlds to restart a franchise like new seeing how new fans will look at it as a new IP and returning fans will play it or at the very least give the game some buzz.

@Vod_Crack said:

@zombiebigfoot said:

@Meltac said:

@Jrinswand said:

Io made a bunch of games in between, including Mini Ninjas (which is excellent) and both Kane & Lynch games (which are decidedly less so). Word from the wise: While Blood Money is incredible, the others didn't age nearly as well. The first game is nearly unplayable, the second game pales in comparison to Blood Money, and the third isn't available because of copyright problems.

Contracts is shit anyways, so it's not that big of a loss.

I disagree. I enjoyed the hell out of Contracts.

Anyone who says Contracts is shit are absolute liars.

Contracts = 2 > Blood Money > Codename 47 IMO

@zombiebigfoot said:

@Meltac said:

@Jrinswand said:

Io made a bunch of games in between, including Mini Ninjas (which is excellent) and both Kane & Lynch games (which are decidedly less so). Word from the wise: While Blood Money is incredible, the others didn't age nearly as well. The first game is nearly unplayable, the second game pales in comparison to Blood Money, and the third isn't available because of copyright problems.

Contracts is shit anyways, so it's not that big of a loss.

I disagree. I enjoyed the hell out of Contracts.

It's essentially more of 2, and 2 was and still is fantastic. Also, the way it fits into Blood Money is awesome.

@JackOhara: Contracts was fantastic, I thought it was far better than 2. I loved how dark and atmospheric Contracts was and the gameplay refinements made were really smart. The Meat King Party level is amazing.

@brainboy77: To make a good game and freshen it up rather than milk it like COD..

@CornBREDX said:

I dont know the ins and outs.

I assume they wanted to give Kane and Lynch a try, as they wanted to do something different.

I would have preferred they went back to the well with freedom fighters if they were bored, though. That was a much better idea, but maybe it didn't do so well. I don't know. Not really sure why they felt they had more to say with Kane and Lynch either, though.

FREEDOM FIGHTERS IS MY FAVORITE GAME OF ALL TIME...ALL TIME

Because it's nice that all good franchises aren't annualized.

@Live2bRighteous said:

Kane and Lynch has the best characters/multiplayer/concept ideas to ever exist in a game.

I know that there are such things as opinions and all, but still... what?

Contracts was made because after the Succes with Hitman 2, IO Interactive was excited to make the next game and wanted to make the best game in the series yet, but when the deadline came, they tried to ask for more time, The publicher gave them two choices, put Hitman 3 on ICE, or Make a best of Hitman 1 game, because research have showed that only a small fraction of the people who plays Hitman 2, had played Hitman 1.

That move gave them an xtra two years to finish up Hitman 3 aka. Hitman Blood money as they invisioned it to be.

I hope it doesn't turn into an annual snoozefest like Assassin's Creed.

@Walreese55 said:

@mosespippy said:

Blood Money was already the 4th one in 6 years so they were probably burned out on making them. The audience was probably already burned out on playing them. They made two Kane & Lynch games since then as well so it's not like they have been making Absolution for all this time.

OH, I had no idea they made Kane and Lynch. Well now I'm decidedly less psyched for Absolution...

4 Awesome Hitman games, Freedom Fighters and Mini Ninjas..all good...2 bad games...FOMG WORST DEV EVER!!...seriously dude...stfu

@SASnake: He never said IO Interactive sucked. It's simply that the Kane & Lynch games are a sign that the developers can make mistakes.

One of the reasons why there's been such a huge gap between blood money and absolution is the fact that nigh on the entire old guard of Blood Money is looooooong gone.

@Chavtheworld said:

Just because it's been six years since the last Hitman doesn't mean they were working on this the whole time...

Also, while critics and gamers alike were very positive towards Blood Money I don't think it sold as well they wanted so Eidus just moved on to trying to convince us that their new Tomb Raider is really cool.

I still fear for absolution. I just know the story won't be as deep and meaningful as it could be.

The voice-acting is usually pretty poor as well. The idea of the game has so much potential. But I want a reason to play it apart from the gameplay. I want to be sucked into the story and have to know what happens next. A bit like deus ex / mass effect.

@glyn said:

I still fear for absolution. I just know the story won't be as deep and meaningful as it could be.

The voice-acting is usually pretty poor as well. The idea of the game has so much potential. But I want a reason to play it apart from the gameplay. I want to be sucked into the story and have to know what happens next. A bit like deus ex / mass effect.

Wait.. people played Hitman for the story?

@Sneeze said:

@glyn said:

I still fear for absolution. I just know the story won't be as deep and meaningful as it could be.

The voice-acting is usually pretty poor as well. The idea of the game has so much potential. But I want a reason to play it apart from the gameplay. I want to be sucked into the story and have to know what happens next. A bit like deus ex / mass effect.

Wait.. people played Hitman for the story?

No, but IMO that is the only thing lacking in the game.

But if they want to continue him as a mindless robot, who is pretty boring. With no notable characters, only set puzzle pieces. Then that is fine. It is a puzzle game.