Bioware Writer: JRPGs are not RPGs

[shopkins]

Oh yeah. He said that shit. What do you think about it?

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http://www.strategyinformer.com/news...13-isnt-an-rpg

Talking with Strategy Informer about the upcoming release of Star Wars: The Old Republic, Daniel Erickson, Writing Director for Bioware said that Final Fantasy XIII isn't an RPG. This was in reply to a question about the main staple of The Old Republic being its story, and how the game might be affected without good game play to support it, much like Final Fantasy XIII was.

"Well, before I address the main point I just want to take a slightly more controversial route: You can put a 'J' in front of it, but it's not an RPG. You don't make any choices, you don't create a character, you don't live your character... I don't know what those are - adventure games maybe? But they're not RPG's." said Erickson.

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As someone who has been playing JRPGs since Dragon Warrior, has completed dozens of them, has enjoyed them immensely, who has more than a hundred easily in his collection but still drools at the pics of more accomplished collections posted here, and who still regularly buys new ones...

I agree. They can be great games and a lot of fun but they're for the most part misnamed. JRPGs combine stats, visual novel storytelling and adventure elements in a wonderful stew, but somebody decades ago looked at them and saw superficial resemblances to Dungeons and Dragons and now we're stuck with the inaccurate name.

[kupomogli]

I don't mind the term RPG to describe a JRPG. Besides, you do have some sort of customization on the majority of them. It's doesn't have as deep of a customization that Western RPGs provide, but it's there.

A lot of western based RPGs I can't really stand though and would rather have even the most straight forward non customizable JRPGs.

Sacred 2 and Diablo 2 own though. My two favorite western RPGs.

[Icarus Moonsight]

He's trollin'

Actor's play roles... Most of them have no say about the specifics of the character they play to the degree he draws. They do have some ability of expression, choice and control through their action in and portrayal of that role however. It's semantic quibbling.

[Hari Seldon]

I think he was pissed that the guy doing the interview likes FFXIII. His response was a polite way of saying "You are comparing us to Square? Fuck Square!"

[Rogue]

I think he was pissed that the guy doing the interview likes FFXIII. His response was a polite way of saying "You are comparing us to Square? Fuck Square!"

Yeah, it's more like that, IMO.

But I don't think that's possible to create specific titles for all kinds of RPGs based on how much they approach to "real"(?) RPGs.

[Aussie2B]

Not surprising. There have been D&D fans bitching about Japanese RPGs since the first Dragon Warrior. It's nothing but elitism. All this fussing over the term to begin with is dumb anyway since "role-playing game" is so vague that you can apply it to practically any game, so big whoop if it gets applied to something slightly different from what it was originally used for.

The funny thing is that it's the other way around in my mind. When I see Western RPGs, they usually don't feel like "real" RPGs to me. Unlike the D&D followers who define an RPG by the level of customization and how open-ended the world is, I define RPGs by the gameplay just as I do with practically any other genre of games. And to me, RPG gameplay stems from the Dragon Warrior school of design. Most Western RPGs look like hack & slash action to me, making them more akin to Zelda-style adventure games in my mind. Granted, plenty of Japanese RPGs are getting more active-based gameplay, but they still have some level of structure to them.

But that's just my perspective and I know it's pretty unconventional.

[Bojay1997]

He's trollin'

Actor's play roles... Most of them have no say about the specifics of the character they play to the degree he draws. They do have some ability of expression, choice and control through their action in and portrayal of that role however. It's semantic quibbling.

Disagree. As someone who started playing RPGs back in the days of 20 sided dice and written character sheets right through to the modern day, there is nothing about the Japanese style of "RPGs" that resembles a traditional RPGs. For me, a true RPG involves creating a character and having that character progress in ways that are determined by the player throughout the game in ways that are extremely detailed and customizable. Final Fantasy and other Japanese style games involve some limited customization as someone else pointed out, but ultimately, you are stuck playing through a pretty well established framework closely limited by the developer of the game. Having said that, there are many great Japanese "RPGs" but I must agree that they are more akin to adventure games than an RPG.

[FoxNtd]

It's semantic quibbling.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I don't see the relevance of the magnitude of the complexity, sophistication, or customization of the characters or decision-making regarding whether the game is role-playing or not. If there is role-playing then the RPG title fits, doesn't matter how much or how little your role goes/can do. Why am I seeing Western RPGs being elected as the only type of game that earns the title? Because it's older? Because that's what we were used to before higher degrees of exposure to Eastern RPGs? Sounds like favoritism and old habits, not logic. If you want to refer specifically to the subgenre of Western RPGs then call them exactly what I just did instead of trying to throw everything else out of the genre illogically.

[Bojay1997]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I don't see the relevance of the magnitude of the complexity, sophistication, or customization of the characters or decision-making regarding whether the game is role-playing or not. If there is role-playing then the RPG title fits, doesn't matter how much or how little your role goes/can do. Why am I seeing Western RPGs being elected as the only type of game that earns the title? Because it's older? Because that's what we were used to before higher degrees of exposure to Eastern RPGs? Sounds like favoritism and old habits, not logic. If you want to refer specifically to the subgenre of Western RPGs then call them exactly what I just did instead of trying to throw everything else out of the genre illogically.

I think there are such things as RPGs coming out of Japan. Certainly, games like Wizardry which continued to be developed in Japan long after the Western market moved on would be a good example. There are a number of RPGs available on Japanese computers from the 80s and 90s which were developed in Japan. I just agree that what Square and a number of the more prominent companies have been releasing on consoles are not RPGs, but rather adventure games more akin to the Lucasarts games or the King's Quest series with combat and some limited customization thrown in.

[Gameguy]

I just agree that what Square and a number of the more prominent companies have been releasing on consoles are not RPGs, but rather adventure games more akin to the Lucasarts games or the King's Quest series with combat and some limited customization thrown in.

I consider that an insult to actual adventure games, they don't have pointless grinding or combat like RPGs do(the crappier adventure games have arcade sequences as filler but they're pretty much separate from the rest of the game). The only thing they really have in common is that they're heavily focused on the story.

[Andred]

RPGs are a tough genre to define. I don't know that we actually have any RPG video games at all. Dragon Age: Origins is probably the closest thing but even that falls short of the base concept of pen & paper RPGs which is about creating a story as a character. JRPGs and western RPGs are not much more RPG-like than movies or choose your own adventure books even though you're meant to identify with those characters. Adventure Game is probably a more accurate title for all of them.

[Bojay1997]

RPGs are a tough genre to define. I don't know that we actually have any RPG video games at all. Dragon Age: Origins is probably the closest thing but even that falls short of the base concept of pen & paper RPGs which is about creating a story as a character. JRPGs and western RPGs are not much more RPG-like than movies or choose your own adventure books even though you're meant to identify with those characters. Adventure Game is probably a more accurate title for all of them.

You might be right about that. Certainly, not on consoles anyway. I think there have been a number of computer games that have come much, much closer to traditional RPGs. MMOs certainly seem to get pretty close when well done.

[Kitsune Sniper]

...

Bioware games aren't RPGs either. They're action games. :P

[Kid Fenris]

[retroman]

For me rpgs are dragon quest type games..not so action like.

[Nintega Grafx-16]

Oh yeah. He said that shit. What do you think about it?

Bioware is incapable of making fun games just like pretty much every Western RPG developer. Very hard for me to take them seriously.

[Sabz5150]

Bioware is incapable of making fun games just like pretty much every Western RPG developer. Very hard for me to take them seriously.

But you can bang hot blue chicks, and at the end of the day isn't that what we're really after?

[ScourDX]

I'm surprise no RPG company ever make a game based on existing accessories (IE: Wii Fit, Zap gun). One thing I can think of is how to get your character in shape. It will be an RPG where he/she has to find ways to lose weight, help supporting character with their weight and live happy ever after. I am sure it will make a lot of money especially with Wii fit attachment.

[Sabz5150]

I'm surprise no RPG company ever make a game based on existing accessories (IE: Wii Fit, Zap gun). One thing I can think of is how to get your character in shape. It will be an RPG where he/she has to find ways to lose weight, help supporting character with their weight and live happy ever after. I am sure it will make a lot of money especially with Wii fit attachment.

But what if I want to roleplay a sumo wrestler?

Can't wait to see the Fit board berating you for eating only 5,000 calories per day. Hilarity will ensue.

[ScourDX]

But what if I want to roleplay a sumo wrestler?

Can't wait to see the Fit board berating you for eating only 5,000 calories per day. Hilarity will ensue.

DDR Mat.

I like to see role playing game based on Guitar hero or Rockband accessories.