Saying that, I think remaking old games is even a worse idea than remaking old movies. I honestly fail to see a point in doing so, but I guess that's just me..
I think they are pretty successful with this approach. Tomb Raider got such a remake and it was great. A RTS game called "Die Siedler" (Settlers) got a remake. And maybe I missed some more.
It probably has to do with nostalgia of the old gamers and with curiosity of the younger ones who don't know the original but heard of it. So you reach a lot of customers, old and new ones.
