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[Red Mage]

So this is a topic that has been ongoing for quite a while across different threads and the same question was asked back in 2009, although the market conditions and expectations were different back then.

Nevertheless, I was wondering what people's thoughts and prospects are about the future of the console JRPG. We know that many, if not most, of Japanese RPG developers have moved to releasing their games on handhelds (or phones), but couldn't one argue that the home console space still has room for the genre? It seems to me like some Japanese developers could benefit from looking at the otherwise overlooked business aspects like the following:

• Releasing their games on PC digitally to increase sales (Steam, GoG, etc.)
• Reduce the scope and size of their production from $60 games to $20-30 (akin to DoubleFine).
• Use the consoles' digital services to release smaller $15-20 JRPGs
• Maybe use Kickstarter or other crowdfunding methods to revive the genre

Wouldn't exploring the above avenues make it more probable to receive funding from publishers and greenlight a console JRPG? And wouldn't it also allow for not only revive the genre a bit more, but also make it more prominent? What are your thoughts on the future of the console JRPG? Or are most prospects practically futile and the genre basically dead?

I think they should try all of the above. Some already are. We have Kickstarter games, and Isn't X-Seed releasing TitS 2 on PSP and PC?

 

[Logash]

If the trend is on steam, wouldn't it be logical that that trend will follow on home consoles because of their more openness. I am hoping that The PS4 and XBO indie push will help smaller devs from around the world get their games everywhere.

 

[Wray]

They should do the following...

1. Hire better writers

2. Keep the games length below 30 hours (If you cant tell a story arc in 30 hours you are doing something wrong)

3. Decide how you want the combat. Turn Based or DMC with stats. This hybrid inbetween shit is garbage.

4. PC Ports

 

[Host Samurai]

At least we got the Vita TV

 

[TDLink]

If they go to any dedicated gaming platform it will likely be 3DS going forward.

Some notable exceptions will happen like:

But that will be a rarity. The genre is in serious trouble due to its main developers from the past switching focus to mobile and no new studios really wanting to attempt it.

 

[Lime]

But will Japanese RPG developers ever go the Kickstarter route? If publishers are so reluctant to greenlight these things, wouldn't it make sense to pursue crowdfunding avenues for developers with a pedigree? I'd assume there was a demand for these types of games.

 

[Impeccable]

In addition to mobile platforms I wish Japanese developers would be considering PSN/XBLA ports of these games with maybe some IAPs stripped out of them.

 

[fatgamecat]

RPGs in general will mostly be indie games, with the few blockbuster exceptions like Final Fantasy.

That's fine with me, we don't need $10+ million dollar budgets to get quality games.

 

[Zeyphersan]

Seriously though, until profit takes a backseat to vision like we saw from JRPGs in the 90's, we'll only have a handful of great titles. Many of those will be subjected to micro-transactions and a bevy of useless DLC too.

What the hell kind of world are you living in? There has never been a point in video game history where making money wasn't the goal. Even when you were a kid, no company was making games for the fun of it.

 

[MaschinenZimmer]

I have nothing against this "moe-shit". My problem is that many characters are just too kiddy looking. I love women, cute and sexy women. I will buy FF 13-3 just because of the bigger cup-size and dem cat ears of Lightning. It will be my first FF and I will enjoy it. This is my kind of moe~.

We need more of this kind of stuff. But the characters needs better asses like in Bayonetta, Mass Effect or Neverdead. Damn, Neverdead was worth it just for dat delicious butt.

Anyway, there is still a place for high-cost JRPGs on consoles. We will just see less of them. If you are missing the PS1/PS2 time, than buy the damn console and start playing or are you seriously telling me that you played EVERY JRPG that those plattforms have to offer?

 

[Dio]

I think the biggest thing is less that I miss high budget console JRPGs, and more I miss the 80s/90s style in general. Since games often reflect the current culture they're made in, a lot of them go with what's popular.

That said, Trails is a 90s style fantastic series that's relatively recent, which is nice. And I'm certainly not against the current climate of some of what's coming out of Japan, it's not all things I dislike. I mean, Unicorn, Shinsekai Yori and Birdy Decode are all fantastic shows, there are still a few companies making games I actually enjoy a lot (I avoid shitty Compile Heart games like Neptunia like the plague, and am really careful with NIS) and as far as game music goes they're still making a lot of fantastic soundtracks since they've got Yuzo Koshiro.

 

[polyh3dron]

Moe.

They'll all be fucking moe. But it's cool because they're really 3000 year old demons.

UGUU~

I really hope Japan gets over this loli moe thing soon.

 

[Arthea]

Don't see the future, to be honest... State of affairs is so sad, I try not to think about it.
I doubt it can be any worse than now, so there is hope for the better, right guys? right?

As it was said many times before, JRPG devs should embrace digital reality and most likely PC too. That might help.
I wish Japanese wasn't this hard to learn, too.

 

[Lime]

I guess the probability of console or more large-scale JRPGs also depend on the success of the PS4 in Japan. And what are the estimations for this? Isn't console gaming practically dead in that market or will PS4 prove to be revitalizing?

 

[CadetMahoney]

hope ff15 isn't the 'future'. i'm all for people trying something new, but something about uncharted style ' press up for awesome' isn't something I wished I had in my jrpgs.

I agree.

 

[Sentenza]

hope ff15 isn't the 'future'. i'm all for people trying something new, but something about uncharted style ' press up for awesome' isn't something I wished I had in my jrpgs..

This reminds me that I watched a bunch of FFXV videos and I still have no idea about how it's supposed to play.
All I know is that Sasuke Uchiha likes to teleport around a lot.

 

[MagiusNecros]

If JRPG's abandon any attempt at progress the world will move on without them.

 

[Arthea]

This reminds me that I watched a bunch of FFXV videos and I still have no idea about how it's supposed to play.
All I know is that Sasuke Uchiha likes to teleport around a lot.

Earlier versus trailers left me under impression it plays like KH, which is bad in my eyes. New ones (FF15) scream Uncharted at me (><) what might be even worse.
Still, there is a chance we haven't seen actual gameplay so far, remembering FF13, where a game had little in common with what was shown in trailers.