The problem with doing lists based on random lists people post is that you end up with overall results that display a strong bias towards specific types of RPG's. In this case, it's pretty clear that there's an extremely strong bias towards JRPG's over WRPG's.
At least a list put together by a group of editors at some site would have looked over what they did and noticed the bias and then come up with something halfway credible. GAF has no business complaining about any of those 'top games' lists.
1. There is nothing inherently problematic about certain types of RPGs ranking higher, on average, than other types.
2. To the extent the relative rankings are a product of GAF members simply not playing classic wRPGs, it's only a problem if the goal of the list is to create a credible best-ever list. If, on the other hand, the goal is "
to help people find great games that they might not have heard of previously, and to remind people of the classics they never got around to playing," as it says in the OP, then the relative ranking shouldn't matter too much, and any bias in the voting population is likely to be reflected in the readership.
There were some calls last year for a different kind of list--one curated by a smaller subset of RPG GAF. I have no idea how such a list would be put together, and I don't think that project plays to GAF's strengths. But I'd be surprised if there weren't some Gaffers willing to give it a try.
I don't think I'll participate this year. These lists are hard to come up with as-is, even though I do think my list is going to have a slight shake-up because there are a few games I'd replace on it. Though if kswiston needs help with the OP again this year in the same capacity, I won't mind pitching in.
I think it's a daunting task to try to explain over and over again why a particular game is one of the best ever. This year I'm either going to focus on one mechanic per game or else use some other gimmick (like limiting my comments to three sentences per game) to make writing my post a different experience. Of course, I also expect major changes on my ballot, which keeps things interesting. Supposing the thread is even happening this year, I hope you'll at least post an unadorned list. I got lots of good recommendations from last year's version, so I'd be sad to see a participant with an unusually diverse ballot drop out.
