What's so bad about cash cow franchises?

[Odyssey 5,716]

For a while, I've seen a fair few people who say certain franchises are bad simply because they're a cash cow franchise. I know that some tactics they do are pretty silly, but you can still make good-quality content and be a cash cow franchise, right? What's so bad about buying cutesy merchandise? What's wrong with promoting a new release of a video game? I'd like to know your thoughts.

[BastementSparkle 20,326]

Nothing really. I don't care if a franchise is a cash cow as long as said cash cow is producing good content. If it can keep a high level of quality then I don't care too much. It's only when they start sacrificing quality for quantity that it starts to be a problem.

 

 Though sometimes having a cash cow mentality can cause stagnation and limit creativity. Which can be a problem.

Edited August 26, 2014 by BasementPrincess

[Invincible 2,091]

I don't mind anything as long as i'm enjoying it. I guess people feel some pang of guilt for enjoying a franchise that's considered a cash cow.

[King 5,625]

I have no issues with companies "milking" a franchise so long as the milk isn't sour. Halo is a good example, I've always loved Halo's story and so long as they can continue delivering a good plot, I'll enjoy it.

[Simon 4,557]

I have no issues with companies "milking" a franchise so long as the milk isn't sour. Halo is a good example, I've always loved Halo's story and so long as they can continue delivering a good plot, I'll enjoy it.

Yep.  I mean let's be honest here... FiM wouldn't have happened if Hasbro wasn't still trying to see how they could make a few bucks off of colorful pony toys.  There's nothing wrong with trying to get as much money out of  your franchise as you can, the issue is when the company quits caring about putting out quality content. 

[Zekromic 1,054]

I understand the dread of a franchise becoming cash-cow, since they tend to decline in quality. I really don't mind said exploitation as long as they keep the quality 

[SparklingSquirrels 21,341]

Yeah, I feel the same as everyone else here. The "cash-cow" franchises that care more about quantity over quality are the problem. It's a franchise's job to make money, so as long as they stay high in quality then it shouldn't matter.

Edited August 26, 2014 by SparklingSwirls

[ShintX 180]

I just suspect that they will exploit it. Kinda like South Park do nowadays.

 

But i agree. Aslong as the show is ok, aslong as ideas and content are cool, then thats ok with me.

Edited August 26, 2014 by ShintX

[Samurai Equine 51,443]

In the end, it just depends on how dedicated the company is about giving us a quality product. It's a rare thing, but it should be encouraged every time.

I follow lots of Japanese franchises, but most of them try their hardest to give a quality product or TV show. Why do you think Japanese producers/creators get upset at Abridgers? Because even if their show was a little silly, they really put in their time, quality, and honest efforts to make it. Also, parody is not as big in Japan as it is in other countries, but that's another story.

[MilesTheLunar 67]

By itself, nothing, but when it's like Sonic or Mario where the company's just putting them in everything just to make a quick buck, uncaring of quality, the problem with cash cows quickly presents itself.

[Shanks 10,816]

If something is good than they can milk it as much as they want so long as it stays that way.

[Sigma 768]

I gotta go to bed...

 

Hopefully we can talk more tomorrow than we did today...

[skbl17 199]

There's nothing inherently bad about cash cow franchises. What some critics fail to understand is that at the end of the day, cash cow franchises are just that, cash cow franchises; they exist for the purpose of making the parent company money. It's difficult to call a cash cow franchise "bad" without understanding that key component. While I'm not saying that there are no bad cash cow shows, money is the aspect that overrides all else.

 

That being said, there is a legitimate criticism that mainly applies to shows such as MLP:FiM. When the show, despite being part of a cash cow franchise and serving as a glorified commercial turns out to be good in its own right, changes made to the storyline in order to sell more toys are more heavily scrutinized.