Let us look at why “The Witcher” and “Halo” adaptations were disappointing. “Halo” changed the main character’s identity, and “The Witcher” altered key plot events for the worse.
Writers often get arrogant and self-centered when they have the power to show their vision, which usually harms the source material. But if you give them the world and say, “Have fun, but don’t change anything pre-established,” you usually get a better product.
For example, if the “Halo” series focused on a group of ODST soldiers on their own missions, it would have been better. Similarly, if “The Witcher” series had focused on a different witcher, it might have been more successful.
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The way an intellectual property (IP) is developed can vary. For example, Fallout is an IP where the setting comes first, and then stories are created within that world. On the other hand, some IPs focus on the story first, and the setting is designed to support that story. A key difference is that in the first type, the games are often standalone and not interconnected, while in the second type, the games usually follow a continuous storyline.
Take “The Last of Us,” for instance. The show adapted the game’s story because the story is what made the game popular. If the show had been set in the same world but didn’t follow the characters Joel and Ellie, it would have been just another generic zombie show.
In short, the Fallout universe is rich and interesting on its own, even without the game’s specific events. Many other IPs can’t make that claim.