Analysis of the Reasons Underlying the Fluctuating Reputation of RPG Sequels: Taking the Dragon Age Series as an Example

This study is based on the recent surge in sequel development in the video game market. Through a case study of the Dragon Age series, this research examines how developers balance authenticity and novelty in RPG sequels and how this affects market reception and peer reviews. It also analyses the specific factors influencing these outcomes, providing valuable insights for future sequels in the same genre and helping to extend the lifespan of valuable IPs. The study found that industry evaluations tend to place greater emphasis on the relevance of novelty to new technologies and trends in the industry, while market evaluations focus more on the prominent manifestation of authenticity in sequels. Additionally, while players may have some resistance to novelty, if game developers retain the best elements from the original game while carefully integrating new elementsavoiding the wholesale adoption of new designsand instead seamlessly blending new elements with the existing foundation to create a 'permeative dissemination, players' acceptance of novelty will increase, significantly boosting the sequel's evaluation.