History Main / DividedForPublication

* In Japan, the UsefulNotes/PCEngine port of ''VideoGame/RType'' was released in two separately-published [=HuCards=] titled ''R-Type I'' and ''R-Type II''. ''R-Type I'' contains the first four stages and after completing them, the player is given a password that can be used in ''R-Type II'' to carry over lives, score and power-ups from the first game. Likewise, finishing ''R-Type II'' gives a password that starts the second loop in ''R-Type I''. In America, Hudson managed to combine both games into one [=TurboChip=] and the game was later re-released in Japan as a CD-ROM titled ''R-Type Complete''.

* At least six adventure games on the Famicom Disk System were released in two parts, with the first of these being Nintendo's own ''Shin Onigashima''. Squaresoft's ambitious RPG ''Seiken Densetsu: Emergence of Excalibur'' (no relation to the later ''Seiken Densetsu'' series), was planned to be released in five parts, but the whole project ended up being cancelled.

* ''Literature/TheKingkillerChronicles'': Rothfuss wrote the whole story over 14 years, submitted it, then publisher says make it a trilogy, so he has to rewrite it yet again.

* The episodic release model tries to be like this, but in practice, it rarely takes off.

* While producing a follow-up to ''Music/OKComputer'', Music/{{Radiohead}} had so much usable material that they considered releasing it as a double album. However, this was considered too dense of a product, and as a result it was split into ''Music/KidA'' and ''Music/{{Amnesiac}}'', released six months apart from one another.

** The final three books - ''The Gathering Storm'', ''Towers Of Midnight'' and ''A Memory Of Light'' were originally intended to be one book ("Even if they have to invent a new method of bookbinding and sell it complete with its own library cart") but upon taking over the writing of the series after Jordan's death Creator/BrandonSanderson immediately decided to split it into thirds. Given the each of those three books are nearly a thousand pages, that was probably a good idea.* Brandon Sanderson's own ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'' series is subject to this, with ''The Way of Kings'' and ''Words of Radiance'' both being divided into two parts for the UK edition. This seems to have been dropped beginning with ''Oathbringer'', which is ironically the longest instalment so far.

* Music/SimpleMinds recorded many songs for Sons And Fascination, and liked so many that they couldn't fit them all onto one album (optimum space for a vinyl LP is about 22 minutes per side). They initially were going to put out Sons And Fascination as a double album, but decided that might make people think they were a pretentious prog rock group rather than the new wave band they wanted to be. Instead, they released the second half as a separate album called Sister Feelings Call. This was originally shrinkwrapped with Sons And Fascination, and later sold as a budget release. Both albums are available on one CD and are now considered by the band to be one album again simply titled Sons And Fascination/Sister Feelings Call.

* The first two installments of Creator/{{Falcom}}'s ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' series, ''Ys Book I: Vanished Omens'' and ''Ys Book II: Ancient Ys Vanished'', were originally written as two parts of the same story, which is why most remakes, starting with the UsefulNotes/{{TurboGrafx CD}} version remake both games as one.
* Falcom's ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky'' also needed to be divided. The game that would be known as Trails in the Sky First Chapter was released at a good stopping point before the story begins in earnest. The second game starts immediately after the first ends as a direct continuation. Considering the First Chapter clocks in at above 400000 words, and the second at more than 700000, you can see why the plan to publish it as one large game needed to be scrapped with its [[DoorStopper sheer volume of text]], to say nothing of the stint of DevelopmentHell for the translation team at ''Creator/XSeedGames'' to localize it all. When Second Chapter came out, the PSP port required two UMD drives to play, making it one of the largest games on the handheld. Thankfully The Third written after the games were published is a still long, but more managable 250000 words or so, acting as an extended epilogue.

[[folder:Film]]

* ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'' and ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' were both originally marketed as two-part movies, but ''both'' backed away from this later, likely due to public burnout on the MovieMultipack trend. ''Justice League'' wound up a fairly stand-alone movie, while ''Infinity War'' still ended on a cliffhanger to set up ''Film/AvengersEndgame.''

** The final three books - ''The Gathering Storm'', ''Towers Of Midnight'' and ''A Memory Of Light'' were originally intended to be one book ("Even if they have to invent a new method of bookbinding and sell it complete with its own library cart") but upon taking over the writing of the series after Jordan's death Creator/BrandonSanderson immediately decided to split it into thirds. Given the each of those three books are nearly a thousand pages, that was probably a good idea.
* The initial German release divide each of the infamously long books (save for the shorter prequel ''new Spring'') into two to four volumes, resulting in a series of 37 books. A second release of the series condensed it back to 15.
* Brandon Sanderson's own ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'' series is subject to this, with ''The Way of Kings'' and ''Words of Radiance'' both being divided into two parts for the UK edition. This seems to have been dropped beginning with ''Oathbringer'', which is ironically the longest instalment so far.

* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun2001'' and its direct sequel ''VideoGame/GoldenSunTheLostAge'' were conceptualized as one game. When the game shifted from the N64 to the GBA, it had to be split due to space limits, but also allowed the story to be given more depth. The main character of the second game is [[spoiler:an antagonist from the first, and]] the game explores his [[spoiler:much more complex]] motivations.

* Creator/HarukiMurakami:
** ''Literature/NorwegianWood'': Some editions split the novel in two very small volumes, one red and one green (sometimes inside a [[BoxSet gold-coloured case]], as per [[http://www4.alibris-static.com/isbn/9781860468001.gif here]]). As the novel is not particularly long (and in at least one case the split causes a mid-chapter break), this was presumably done for strictly aesthetic reasons.

* The first two installments of Creator/{{Falcom}}'s ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' series, ''Ys Book I: Vanished Omens'' and ''Ys Book II: Ancient Ys Vanished'', were originally written as two halves of the same story, which is why most remakes, starting with the UsefulNotes/{{TurboGrafx CD}} version feature both games in one package.

* ''VideoGame/GoldenSunTheBrokenSeal'' and its direct sequel ''VideoGame/GoldenSunTheLostAge'' were conceptualized as one game. When the game shifted from the N64 to the GBA, it had to be split due to space limits, but also allowed the story to be given more depth. The main character of the second game is [[spoiler:an antagonist from the first, and]] the game explores his [[spoiler:much more complex]] motivations.

* The ''Literature/LegacyOfTheAldenata'' books ''When the Devil Dances'' and ''Hell's Faire'' were originally to be published as one volume. However, the [[TheWarOnTerror September 11, 2001]] attacks left Creator/JohnRingo unable to work on the book for a time, running up against the scheduled publishing date. The work was split into two books to keep it from being extremely late (instead of only somewhat late), as explained in [[WordOfGod the afterword]] of ''Hell's Faire''.
* Creator/PeterWatts's Literature/RiftersTrilogy novel ''ßehemoth'' was split by Tor Publishing into two books: ''ßehemoth: ß-Max'' and ''ßehemoth: Seppuku''. This did not go over well with Watts.

* ''VideoGame/GoldenSunTheBrokenSeal'' and its direct sequel ''VideoGame/GoldenSunTheLostAge'' were conceptualized as one game. When the game shifted from the N64 to the GBA, it had to be split due to space limits. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools However, one could argue that the narrative ended up ''better'' as a result:]] [[spoiler: The main character of the second game is an antagonist from the first, and the game explores his much more complex motivations.]]

* The UsefulNotes/{{Atari 2600}} port of ''VideoGame/{{Miner 2049er}}'' was released in two parts due to system limitations, but even both put together had only 6 out of the original 10 levels.
* The first two installments of Creator/{{Falcom}}'s ''Franchise/{{Ys}}'' series, ''Ys Book I: Vanished Omens'' and ''Ys Book II: Ancient Ys Vanished'', were originally written as two halves of the same story, which is why most remakes, starting with the UsefulNotes/{{TurboGrafx CD}} version feature both games in one package.

* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' and its direct sequel were conceptualized as one game. When the game shifted from the N64 to the GBA, it had to be split due to space limits. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools However, one could argue that the narrative ended up ''better'' as a result:]] [[spoiler: The main character of the second game is an antagonist from the first, and the game explores his much more complex motivations.]]

* This happens to any Turkish television series when it reaches the U.S, considering episodes are roughly 2 hours in length. ''Series/ResurrectionErtugrul'' is a prominent example of this, splitting dozens of cumbersome episodes into 40-45 (And even the rare 60) minute segments that are far more bearable for Western audiences.

** The final three books - ''The Gathering Storm'', ''Towers Of Midnight'' and ''A Memory Of Light'' were originally intended to be one book ("Even if they have to invent a new method of bookbinding and sell it complete with its own library cart") but upon taking over the writing of the series after Jordan's death Creator/BrandonSanderson pretty much immediately decided to split it into thirds. Given the each of those three books are nearly a thousand pages, that was probably a good idea.

* This happens to pretty much any Turkish television series when it reaches the U.S, considering episodes are roughly 2 hours in length. ''Series/ResurrectionErtugrul'' is a prominent example of this, splitting dozens of cumbersome episodes into 40-45 (And even the rare 60) minute segments that are far more bearable for Western audiences.

* Proust's ''Literature/InSearchOfLostTime'' was originally published in seven volumes, due to its length. Modern versions are usually in 2, 6 or 7-volume sets.

* The Soviet-produced ''Film/{{War and Peace|1966}}'' was split into four parts when released between 1965 and 1967. The film as a whole ran a total seven-and-a-half hours. When released in the U.S., it was edited into a six-hour film in two parts.

* The film adaptation of ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'' was split into two parts, as the plot is very dense and the filmmakers decided that splitting it into two movies is a better choice than compressing the story. Also, before production of ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'', the producers considered splitting it into two movies, but decided against it. Consequentially, a few subplots had to be cut out for time.
* ''[[Literature/{{Twilight}} Breaking Dawn]]'' seems to have taken a page out of ''Literature/HarryPotter's'' book and is split into two parts.
* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' novel ''Mockingjay'' has two parts as well.
* Richard Lester's ''Film/TheThreeMusketeers1973'' and ''The Four Musketeers'' were originally made as one film. It was only in post production that they decided to break it up into two parts. Many of the actors involved were somewhat upset, since they were only paid for ''one'' movie.
* ''Film/{{Superman}}'' and ''Film/SupermanII'' (from the same producers as ''The Three/Four Musketeers''), were written and filmed as one movie (only this time they were going to split it in two from the outset). Unfortunately, this time, the original director was fired after a significant portion of the second half was completed, so the two movies vary wildly in tone.

* ''Film/TheHobbit'' trilogy was a 400-something page book, original scheduled for two films, and was then split into three. Each movie lasting more than two hours.

* Averted with the final film of 'The Maze Runner' trilogy, set to be released in 2018. [[http://www.slashfilm.com/maze-runner-the-death-cure-wes-ball/ The director of all three films, Wes Ball, has confirmed this.]]
* The danger of this is highlighted with the ''Film/{{Divergent}}'' franchise. The third novel, ''Allegiant'', was divided into two films, ''Allegiant'' and ''Ascendant''. The first part did so poorly that plans for the conclusion were scrapped with the idea of concluding it as a TV Movie.
* ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'' and ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' were both originally marketed as two-part movies, but ''both'' backed away from this later, likely due to public burnout on the MovieMultipack trend (and the above failure of ''Allegiant''). ''Justice League'' wound up a fairly stand-alone movie, while ''Infinity War'' still ended on a cliffhanger to set up ''Film/AvengersEndgame.''
* Stephen King's ''Literature/{{It}}'' runs at over a ''thousand'' pages and jumps back and forth between two time frames. The solution? Turn the childhood flashbacks into [[Film/It2017 one unbroken story]], with [[Film/ItChapterTwo a sequel]] covering the parts from the heroes' adult lives.

* When Creator/DouglasAdams was adapting his radio play ''Radio/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' into [[Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy1 book form]], he took so long that (as he reported it) his publisher rang him up and told him to finish the page he was on and send the whole thing over, they'd release the rest as ''Literature/TheRestaurantAtTheEndOfTheUniverse''.

* ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]''. It had to be split into two cartridges: Sonic 3, and Sonic & Knuckles. However, thanks to the "lock-on" technology, which allowed users to insert their ''Sonic 3'' cartridges onto ''Sonic & Knuckles'', this became [[TropesAreNotBad kind of a good thing]], as otherwise Knuckles probably wouldn't have become playable, much less in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2''.
* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' and its direct sequel were conceptualized as one game. When the game shifted from the N64 to the GBA, it had to be split due to space limits. [[TropesAreNotBad However, one could argue that the narrative ended up ''better'' as a result:]] [[spoiler: The main character of the second game is an antagonist from the first, and the game explores his much more complex motivations.]]