Because they only have a certain amount of time and money.
Please edit the topic of your post.

cuz they're cheap!
either that, or they don't know what they're doing.
my bet is on the latter, cuz we all know how mk generates millions!

Since they are secret characters, I wouldn't expect high quality out of them. They're just bonuses, not actual direct game content.
They exist to cause a thrill, not so much to cause a shift to how the game is played. The majority of quality is aimed towards the normal characters, with stories, unique moves and fatalities.
Plus, as in the past, most of the hidden characters are just added in at the last minute. Rarely are they well thought out projects at all.
Sure, they could, and maybe one day will, but I wouldn't hold your breath, it's not a huge focus.

coz they are tired after the hard work of the game. u try making a game with a time limit. it's too hard that they can put in uniqe characters. give them a break, they try as hard as porrible

I agree with all these posts. it probably is really hard to make a game under a time limit, and secret characters aren't, nor should they be, a main focus. However, with the technology they have now as well as they huge number of characters that aren't used every game, palette swaps and Mokaps really just aren't excusable. I mean, secret characters aren't necessary, and I'd much rather have them not exist at all than clearly be useless filler.
PS-Boomstick, love that sig.

The minigames took up the space if they didnt have puzzle or chess they could of put in at least 10 secret characters.

psyclobex Wrote: The minigames took up the space if they didnt have puzzle or chess they could of put in at least 10 secret characters.

They could do without the Chess game. The Puzzle game seems really addictive. I know I'm gonna play that one. And you're right, they could've started out with a roster of 40 characters, thought up of all the characters, moves, and everything like that FIRST, then went on with the minigames, and finally figure out who'll be playable at the start, who'll be unlockable, and who'll be the "super unlockables". Wouldn't that be much better? I like well thought-out characters with thought-out storylines and moves (including styles and fatalities), cuz if it's just a last minute thing, of course it'll suck. You know what would be cool for the next MK game? If the entire select screen is full of all the returning characters, and all the unlockables are new ones?