-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
What's the future of console jRPGs?
- Thread starter vicissitudes
- Start date
I AM JOHN!
Banned
Hopefully the future holds lots and lots of social linking.
I'm not kidding.
Pretty much the status quo, except I see very few 360/PS3 exclusives (most will be multi-platform).
The situation on the Wii has to improve, because Square-Enix needs a few higher profile releases on the console to prime the pump for DQ X. That and Tales of Graces should make a few smaller developers take another chance on the console.
Mainly going to be portables still being king though.
The situation on the Wii has to improve, because Square-Enix needs a few higher profile releases on the console to prime the pump for DQ X. That and Tales of Graces should make a few smaller developers take another chance on the console.
Mainly going to be portables still being king though.
charlequin
Banned
Tobor said:
Wow, all settled in one response.
ajcastillo
Banned
i only hope that more jrpg comes to ps3 its about 3 years and there isnt any single good jrpg in the system excluding valkiria chronicles thats a damn good tactical rpg
Pureauthor
Member
Handh-
Oh, I see I'm a little late. Nevermind.
Oh, I see I'm a little late. Nevermind.
pumpkinpunker
Banned
onken said:
Why is it Microsoft's fault that JRPG developers refuse to adapt and evolve?
Maybe Digital Delivery too?
Next Gen RPGs seems to be very expensive and they have a too long lifecycle (70-100 hours..).
Next Gen games need to be bought and quickly ended, RPG are not that kind of game. So RPGs need to be cheaper and the only way to make cheaper games in this gen (at least PS3/X360) seems to be DD...
Unfortunately hardcore gamers loves very much great graphics, great cut scenes, multiple languages and tons of incredible locations... a little less battle system and storytelling...
Next Gen RPGs seems to be very expensive and they have a too long lifecycle (70-100 hours..).
Next Gen games need to be bought and quickly ended, RPG are not that kind of game. So RPGs need to be cheaper and the only way to make cheaper games in this gen (at least PS3/X360) seems to be DD...
Unfortunately hardcore gamers loves very much great graphics, great cut scenes, multiple languages and tons of incredible locations... a little less battle system and storytelling...
Sohter.Nura
Member
I think jRPG fans actually don't mind too much for cinmatic experiences, they like quirky games.Thefont said:
The lack of jRPGS this gen also has something with to do with the fact that console gaming did not take off as much as we all expected in Japan.
Flachmatuch
Member
Imo 360 having some JRPGs (not comparable to PS2 though) was always a bad thing. It was basically a waste of money for everyone involved, it failed to create a market on the 360 (as was completely obvious from the beginning), raised technical expectations to stupid levels and thus made companies a lot more wary about JRPGs in general. In exchange, we got, what? A better than average Tales, a couple of average (at best) traditional type games from Mistwalker and...? Imo the MS moneyhats and short sighted companies were the main part of the reason - JRPGs became a distorted market because MS tried to use them in a very primitive way to gain access to the Japanese market.
Thing is, JRPGs (or games in any genre) shouldn't need to sell millions to be profitable. If they need to, that's a sign of an unhealthy, distorted market. A few tens of thousands should be enough. Of course this means that technical quality will be lower, but if that's what the real market can support, so be it. Right now, it's only handhelds that allow this. Even though there's a market to serve, current home consoles can't support that market because it's too small and costs are too high (because of artificially raised expectations).
Thing is, JRPGs (or games in any genre) shouldn't need to sell millions to be profitable. If they need to, that's a sign of an unhealthy, distorted market. A few tens of thousands should be enough. Of course this means that technical quality will be lower, but if that's what the real market can support, so be it. Right now, it's only handhelds that allow this. Even though there's a market to serve, current home consoles can't support that market because it's too small and costs are too high (because of artificially raised expectations).
Host Samurai
Member
The thread should be changed to "What's the future of Japanese home console games"
I feel like they never come out and we go months at a time before a new Japanese console game even gets announced.
It looks like Japanese games in general have moved to the handheld, which is a waste IMO. I would love to see the art style of those games on the PS3/360, hell even the Wii. Such a waste with Parasite Eve 3 going to PSP and that is just one example.
I feel like they never come out and we go months at a time before a new Japanese console game even gets announced.
It looks like Japanese games in general have moved to the handheld, which is a waste IMO. I would love to see the art style of those games on the PS3/360, hell even the Wii. Such a waste with Parasite Eve 3 going to PSP and that is just one example.
onken
Member
pumpkinpunker said:
As Flachmatuch said, it was Microsoft's strategy to try and boost the 360 and derail the PS3 by getting exclusives on the majority of JRPGs. Unfortunately, their plan created the worst of both worlds: dismal sales on 360 but too late in the day to start developing on PS3. The end result being to put developers off making new JRPGs completely. So "good" news for Microsoft's pie charts, bad news for gamers :/
Flachmatuch said:
I have no problem with them releasing on 360, it's the exclusives that have fucked everything up.
In my opinion, PlayStation 3 is going to pick up soon as the dominant RPG console this gen (well, besides handhelds). Xbox 360 has had a good start of JRPGs with Blue Dragon, Eternal Sonata, Enchanted Arms, Lost Odyssey, Infinite Undiscovery, The Last Remnant, Star Ocean: The Last Hope, and Tales of Vesperia. The only mentionable JRPGs coming to Xbox 360 that we know of so far for the future are Final Fantasy XIII, Magnacarta II, and Resonance of Fate.
PlayStation 3 on the other hand has had a rather slow start with Cross Edge, Disgaea 3, Enchanted Arms, Eternal Sonata, Folklore, and Valkyria Chronicles. However the future of JRPGs on the console is bright with Atelier Rorona, Demon's Souls, Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, Final Fantasy XIV, Last Rebellion, Resonance of Fate, Steambot Chronicles 2, Tales of Vesperia (+ tons of extra content), TRINITY: Souls of Zill O'll, Trinity Universe, and White Knight Chronicles.
On top of that, wasn't a Shin Megami Tensei title announced for PlayStation 3 in 2005? I think that still has a high possibility of being underway.
PlayStation 3 on the other hand has had a rather slow start with Cross Edge, Disgaea 3, Enchanted Arms, Eternal Sonata, Folklore, and Valkyria Chronicles. However the future of JRPGs on the console is bright with Atelier Rorona, Demon's Souls, Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, Final Fantasy XIV, Last Rebellion, Resonance of Fate, Steambot Chronicles 2, Tales of Vesperia (+ tons of extra content), TRINITY: Souls of Zill O'll, Trinity Universe, and White Knight Chronicles.
On top of that, wasn't a Shin Megami Tensei title announced for PlayStation 3 in 2005? I think that still has a high possibility of being underway.
ajcastillo
Banned
But the thing is exclusivity is such a strange word for microsoft because you can se that some "exclusives xbox 360 jrpg titles" are coming to Ps3 like tales of vesperia and the one eternal sonata that came out but the thing is the ps3 stills needs more jrpg there are too many jrpg for xbox 360 that no one buys thats the thing hopefully will see this changing when white knight chronicles comes out
TheExodu5 said:
This man has spoken! DS is king now and forever!
Seriously, fuck consoles. No one wants to sit in front of a TV and play games when they can be playing games on the bus, on the train, on the bed, in the toilet, etc. JRPGs have no future on any console, and they are and will remain for the most part on handhelds from now on. Either live with it, or play another genre! LOLOLZ
onken said:
Oh, for pete's sake. Why on earth would bad sales on 360 (a foregone conclusion in Japan) put OTHER developers off developing RPGs exclusively for PS3 when RPGs are still big sellers in the territory as DS sales show? Especially as all the Bamco ones are ported across and PS3 owners aren't really missing out on a huge amount with the Tri-Ace or Mistwalker entries, alas. Of course they'd sell better in Japan on PS3, that's obvious.
The issue is that HD graphics in a cinematic genre are a nightmare for any developer, they cost too much and take too long to develop. The only major output we've seen in the first few years of the HD generation have been from big companies with the cash to splash or low-budget Nippon Ichi stuff.
I don't think the genre needs to evolve to be successful either critically or commercially; lord knows the DS proves that. The future is just in making better games - Blue Dragon but more exciting gameplay, The Last Remnant with fewer technical issues, Star Ocean 4 without the LOL ANIMU story, all these games have the basics in place to be good and sell better than they have done if they were just... better.
duckroll said:
Speak for yourself. I love my DS, but whenever I play, it is still at home. I have no need to take it with me anywhere as when I go somewhere, I am not in a position to play videogames on my handheld (going to my friends home, at work, etc.) Plus, I am nervous about taking my handheld anywhere, especially if I have no time to play it while away from the house. The only exception is if I go on vacation somewhere.
I really hope the future of RPGs is not only handhelds and the consoles will gain their past glory from the PS1 and PS2 era. But right now it is unfortunately not heading that way.
CultureClearance
Banned
The "future" is already here according to most people.
I don't disagree. JRPGS aren't budging from their seat in the corner. The games that can branch off from the niche have been for years ala FF and DQ and what not. This "future" has been reality for at least 6 or 7 years at this point.
I don't disagree. JRPGS aren't budging from their seat in the corner. The games that can branch off from the niche have been for years ala FF and DQ and what not. This "future" has been reality for at least 6 or 7 years at this point.
TheExodu5 said:
My neck friggin' hurts after playing the DS for too long. I'd miss the voice acting in games like Persona 4 as well. The voice acting is a huge part of why I like Persona 4 so much.
Yeah? That's probably why Valkyria Chronicles 2 is on the PSP! Not like DS games can't have tons of voice acting either.... Tales of Hearts comes to mind. Just face it, we're talking about JRPGs here, and that means they came from Japan. No one in Japan gives a fuck about consoles anymore, so that's that. Portable gaming is the ultimate paradise and reality! Fuck yeah!
Hobbun said:
Well that's too bad for you. JRPGs are made for people in Japan.
duckroll said:Well that's too bad for you. JRPGs are made for people in Japan.
And your point is? I am not denying Japan is portable crazy. I am just saying I hope its something not permanent. You can say all you want how its going to always be that way, but who knows?
Look, its great you love your portable games, but please dont demean or laugh at those who prefer console gaming more. Our opinion is just as valid as yours.
Hobbun said:
Opinion doesn't mean jack shit in the face of reality. The reality is that there is no future for JRPGs, especially not in Japan. Publishers and developers are mostly wised up to this now. You'll still see a few really big budget console JRPGs now and then, but for the most part it'll be portables games filling all the gaps, and often being the ones with most of the meat in actual gameplay and polish. You might not like it, but well too bad.
hamchan said:
Yeah, I kinda agree there. There are tons of SRPGs on portables, but the average quality is kinda low. I guess it's easier to make a cheap and lazy SRPG as compared to a cheap and lazy JRPG. But it doesn't really matter, since I just choose not to buy what I'm not interested in. There are still tons of choices as far as actual JRPGs go, so whatever!
onken
Member
BluWacky said:
All the big devs have tried on 360 and been met with dismal sales. The smaller devs usually look to the big devs to see which way to leap, now the uncertainty the exclusive culture has caused in the market means they don't know where to turn. Send a technically good game to die on 360 or throw a shoddy mess onto PS3.
Yes, I agree this plays its part.
FFXIII will show if the market can support an epic HD JRPG or not. the first final fantasy in a console life cycle has always been a system seller; in this case a lot of people will finally purchase a HD console and from then on are potential customers. if FFXIII bombs then handhelds it is from now on, but if it succeeds you can be sure of a constant flow of console JRPGs from that point on.
ajcastillo said:
Hate to say it, but I think you're overestimating White Knight Chronicles. It has an excellent art style, but I own the game and have played a bit of it, and I can say with confidence it reminds me far more of a Western MMO than a typical JRPG. And not in the "good" FFXII way either....
I AM JOHN!
Banned
Hunahan said:
Every thread on GAF these days is a fucking console war. I miss last two years when we were all (mostly) friends. 
DangerousDave
Member
Most JRPG will turn into portable JRPG-Lite.
duckroll said:Really? I'm disappointed.
Well, of course I am only speculating as I cant speak truly for mods. But, as I said, it is hard to not talk about handhelds for the future of JRPGs. So really, it would lessen the conversation in the thread by a great deal.
Maybe I should be asking you, being a mod and all, if he put it in the OP or thread title, would you have enforced it?
BriareosGAF
Member
Xelinis said:
I'm curious about the state of the JRPG epic, too. I consider FF6 the greatest console game of all time (I saw an ABT production of R&J recently and the Prokofiev score reminded me of FF6), and I've played endless amounts of SNES/PS1 era JRPGS, but for some reason I haven't been able to make the transition to games beyond that era with the exception of DQ8 (which I loved, 140hrs, partially because my daughter loved watching me play it). Everything I've been playing has been remakes of 16-bit stuff on the DS; I've tried the post-FF9 FF games and I can't really stand them (although I need to give 12 another chance), and things like TWEWY were just hideously disappointing. Even games like Tales of Vesperia just don't look compelling to me.
On the flip side the NA RPG work from Bioware and Bethesda has completely supplanted the JRPG for me. I destroyed Mass Effect, Oblivion, Fallout 3, etc.
Personally I think the epic JRPG is doomed through a combination of shifting console demographics to older NA/European gamers and the inability of Japanese devs to adjust to changing development technology and production methodology. I don't think even FF13 will change this (their story and art direction are huge turnoffs to me), but we'll see.