The term "Director's Cut" always comes with a tall aura in people's minds. In the field of film, the "director's cut version" often symbolizes a higher artistic pursuit and a more stylish way of expression, and is the "final product" that truly integrates all the painstaking efforts of the creator.
In fact, the director's cut version of a film is often not made public, except for the occasional small-scale internal screening, those real director's cut versions of the film are actually preserved in the director's hard disk and the imagination of fans. Many times, the "director's cut" is just a gimmick to serve the commercial promotion of the film.
For those who are fortunate enough to appear in front of the audience of the director's cut version of the film, although some works are self-defeating and have not received much praise from the audience, there are still many films that enhance or even save the reputation of the entire film with the director's cut version launched after the release.
The director's cut version of the game, as a more popular concept in recent years, has a lot of controversy. In the minds of many people, "director" and "editing" seem to have nothing to do with the game, and the director's edited version is the same as the so-called "annual version" and "remake version", which is just a gimmick of fried cold rice marketing; many people think that the director's edited version of an excellent game is actually a sublimation of the original work, injecting the feelings of the developer, which is fully worthy of the player's affirmation.
So what is the truth? What do we think of games that have been directed? In the introduction of cut-and-cut games in recent years, we may have seen the answer: there are indeed games that have improved themselves through the director's cut version and become better works; but through this concept of money-making, some games have begun to emerge. To understand this fact, we must first understand, what is the director's cut version of the game like?
Not all games can have a "director's cut"
Interestingly, the "Director's Cut" is not a completely new concept for the game community, as early as the PS1 period, the classic game "Resident Evil" has used the term Director's Cut in the title, launched "Resident Evil: Director's Cut Edition", becoming the first work in the history of the game to have a directed cut version.
But Capcom did not set off a craze for the director's cut version of the game, and for a long time after the introduction of Resident Evil, the concept has been in a tepid state, although occasionally the game will release the so-called "director's cut version", but it is not too hot. It wasn't until the last two years that we saw some director's cut versions of the game mushroom.
In recent years, the director's cut version has been launched, including the well-known indie games "This Is My War" and "Bliss Disco", as well as the blockbusters "Soul of Tsushima" and "Death Stranding" that once caused a hot discussion after their release. The "Director's Cut" has also been expanded to "Final Cut" or some other similar name, but neither has left the concept of "Director's Cut", which symbolizes the final version.
These games have obvious commonalities, they are all popular games that have a good reputation after their release and are sought after by players. When these games announce that they are going to launch a more complete and rich version, players will naturally have a higher degree of attention and expectations for them.
Similarly, these games have excellent plots, and story elements are an important part of them. Without a story and plot to work on, the term "director's cut" cannot be used. In this way, we can deduce what kind of game is more suitable for releasing a director's cut version: those popular drama games (especially role-playing games).
The point is "plus" not "cut"
The "director's cut" of the game is a concept borrowed from the film field, which is different from the real director's cut. The director's cut of the film means that the editing and presentation will be different from the original film, which is likely to completely change the rhythm and atmosphere of the whole film, and the director's cut version of the film will often be much longer than the original film.
For the game that is ready to launch a director's cut version, it is naturally not advisable to use the knife in the game's plot rhythm and narrative technique. This means a lot of cost, and the risk of self-defeating adaptations of already successful plots and stories is not low, and the producers obviously don't consider this thankless approach.
Then, since you can't "cut", if you want to make a good game work more excellent, you naturally have to "add" and "change". The first director's cut version of Resident Evil added a large number of CG graphics that were not available in the original version, fixed some game design problems in the original version, and added a controller vibration function. Although there are minor changes in the level flow in the Director's Cut version, the game's plot rhythm is still consistent with the original version.
If you just add a little scraps to the game and then tinker with it, then the "director's cut" feels a little insincere to the player, but today's director's cut version of the game has paid enough attention to adding content. This is My War in the final cut version not only contains everything that has been updated since the game's release, but also adds new characters and story lines, which is already a considerable increase in the original game content.
The mood of the director's cut version
Whether it is a movie or a game, the director's cut version is based on the original to modify and add or subtract, in fact, did not create a new work. For players, the director's cut version of the game is only an enhancement and expansion of the original game, the story and gameplay of the game have not changed, it is still the same core, so why are players willing to play a game that has already been played from scratch? The answer is simple: because I like it.
When the player completes a game he likes, in addition to the satisfaction of finally reaching the end of the journey, his heart must also include the reluctance to this game, which is the player's feelings for this game. The director's cut version just captures this feeling of the player, and uses more perfect game content and a better game experience to attract players to open the game again.
The director's cut version launched by the game makers on the basis of the original game not only caters to the player's preferences, but actually pins its own feelings. The final cut of the role-playing game Bliss Disco can be said to be the emotional work of the production team, in "Bliss Disco: Final Cut Edition", the developers prepared a completely English dubbing for the game's million-word text, while adding four new side quests, as well as some new characters and props, and the development team called "Bliss Disco: Final Cut Edition" the best version to date.
Such a large update can be said to be full of sincerity, but what really makes players feel the enthusiasm of the production team is that those who have the original game can upgrade the game to the final cut version for free, while the price of the game in the Steam online store remains the original price, and the announcement on the store page mentions "I hope more people can play this game". The launch of "Bliss Disco: Final Cut" allows everyone to see the production team's love for their own work and gratitude to the players, and fully afford the word "feelings".
More than just power for love
"Bliss Disco: The Final Cut" lets us see that the director's cut version of a game is sometimes the result of expressing feelings, and does not involve additional paid upgrades or price increases, so is such a sentimental work simply generating electricity for love without considering revenue?
In fact, Elysium Disco: Final Cut, while a free update, has undoubtedly boosted its own sales with its new version. According to SteamDB data, after the launch of Elysium Disco: Final Cut, the daily online peak of the game quickly rose to 7,000, and it is clear that the freshly baked final cut version not only allowed old players to open the game again, but also attracted many new players who had been on the sidelines before.
But that wasn't the end of it, the development team for Bliss Disco quickly moved the game to the PS platform after Steam launched the final cut of the game, and launched a physical collector's edition of the game that same year for $249.99. So far, with the update of the final edited version and a series of subsequent publicity, "Bliss Disco" has not only increased its own sales, but also opened up the market of the host platform, and has also achieved great success in profitability.
The marketing operation of "Bliss Disco: Final Cut" is naturally also seen by players, and players do not resist this, and even take the initiative to give others amway to this game. After all, for such an excellent work full of feelings, players who love it naturally hope that the game will sell well and let more people play this work. Currently, Bliss Disco: Final Cut has nearly 50,000 player reviews on the Steam platform, with a total praise rating of 94%.
The director's cut is becoming a gimmick
With the positive example of turning a director's cut version of the game into a sentimental sustenance, some other guide cuts are in contrast. In light of this contrast, we may have to face the fact that the director's cut is being turned into a money stunt.
The action-adventure game Soul of Tsushima quickly became a hit on the PS platform after its release, and received a lot of praise for its excellent quality. In August 2021, Souls of Tsushima: Director's Cut was officially released, adding a new map and storyline to the game, as well as new enemy types, props, mini-games, and more.
Compared with the original "Soul of Tsushima", the addition of the director's cut version can be described as a lot of content, and the players are also happy to accept it, but at the same time, many people have a question: Is this really a "director's cut version"?
Admittedly, Soul of Tsushima: Director's Cut expands the size of the game without altering the game's original plot and core gameplay, providing players with more playable content and a better gaming experience. But this Director's Cut isn't free: Players with the original game need to spend $20 to upgrade the game to the Director's Cut.
Players need to spend money to experience the additions of the new version of the game, which can't help but give people a familiar feeling about this so-called director's cut version: Isn't this a paid DLC? After all, Souls of Tsushima: Director's Cut, a business model that requires original players to spend money on additional content, seems essentially indistinguishable from a paid DLC.
In fact, this marketing model is actually not uncommon, many games after enough content updates will launch a more complete version, then may require the original player to pay for upgrades, some of the so-called "ultimate version" and "annual version" of some games are examples. And "Soul of Tsushima: Director's Cut" actually carries the shadow of this business model, but it has taken a different path and moved the more bizarre name of "Director's Cut Version" in comparison.
Director's cut version of the crisis
The use of a director's cut version of the game as a marketing gimmick, like Souls of Tsushima, is essentially a consumption of the concept of a "director's cut." "Soul of Tsushima: Director's Cut" and many games of the "Ultimate Edition" and "Annual Edition" are not fundamentally different, players have long seen such a marketing model, it is not difficult to see that this so-called "Director's Cut Edition" is just another name for the "Ultimate Edition".
In addition, as a concept moved from the film field, the "director's cut version" cannot be completely copied in order to be suitable for the game field, and the director's cut version of the game is modified on the basis of the original concept. Now that "Soul of Tsushima" has turned the "director's cut version" into an extra fee, it is no wonder that many players will have doubts about the director's cut version of the game: there is neither a "director" nor a "clip", the essence is the extra game content that needs to be paid to get, is this not hanging on the sheep's head to sell dog meat?
Worryingly, this phenomenon continues to occur, and the once-controversial action game "Death Stranding" is also launching its own director's cut version, which is also a version upgrade that requires the original player to pay to enjoy. Hideo Kojima, the producer of Death Stranding, may have seen the problem and expressed his opinion: the name of the director's cut version really doesn't fit.
If this situation continues, as more and more players realize that these director's cut versions of the game are just packaging the content of the premium, the concept of "director's cut version" will eventually be bound by the positioning of this money-making tool, which in the eyes of players is just a means for manufacturers to make money. By that time, the director's cut version of the game will completely lose its meaning of "pursuing art and feelings", and it will no longer be able to maintain the player's enthusiasm for it, becoming a bland marketing choice.
Where does the director's cut go
The game generates revenue again through the director's cut version, which is not a problem for players, and will even be popular with players. "Bliss Disco: Final Cut Edition" is a typical success story, the game production team's careful preparation of the director's cut version, the consideration of giving back to the player are important factors in its success, it proves that the director's cut version of the game can take into account both feelings and benefits.
In fact, the director's cut versions of Souls of Tsushima and Death Stranding are not negative textbooks, and although there are doubts, there are still many players who love these two games cheering for their director's cuts. In both Souls of Tsushima: Director's Cut and Death Stranding: Director's Cut, there are Easter eggs that pay homage to classic games, which is actually a feeling that resonates with players. It's just that the two director's cut versions of the game also give us some questions about this concept and have related thinking.
We have seen the success of the director's cut version of many games, and there is reason to believe that there will be more and more director's cut versions of the game in the future, and it is all the more necessary to think about this question: Since we chose to move out of the concept of "director's cut version", how can we strike a balance between the feelings it symbolizes and the benefits it brings?
While there is still a long way to go to explore this issue, at least one fact is certain: focusing on the content of the game and considering the player's feelings is a necessary prerequisite for the success of the director's cut version of the game.