make more games like Lost Oddyssey and Demon Souls =)

heres the thing Im not pointing anything thats my view, just some stuff i heard. You see things that would be considered problems with JRPG's are completely bearable or sometimes even  invisible to me so which is why im asking other people about there experiences.

Have you considered that the move toward cinematic, bombastic, slow-paced, super-involved JRPGs may be the whole reason for their decline? That Dragon Quest continues to grow where all others are faltering simply because it's the only one that consistently does things right in terms of gameplay balance?

JRPG's losing focus on whats important? of coures I have, but doesnt come with the advancing of tech, I hate it but it might be it seems to be where evrybody headed JRPG or not.

It's difficult to say. I always feel like they need to make changes to the genre, yet when they do I dislike the changes, lol. I think maybe they need to look at a greater range of themes when it comes to the storyline. Afterall, the story is very important (more so than WRPGs) to immerse the player.

Also, the less grinding the better. I think most players won't have a huge amount of time to play games so that when they do, they don't want it to feel like a second job. This obviously doesn't apply to all JRPGs but there seems to be a general emphasis on grinding and stat building than battle strategy.

Linearity is also an issue for some, to which I say... "Be more like Chrono Trigger!", lol.

Sterotypes and cliches (similar character designs, similar stories etc.) are also rather annoying and are more noticeable to players from the West who are new to JRPGs due to the cultural differences.

First flaw with RPGs, pacing.

People shouldn't have to wade through 1-3 hours of nonsense within a game's intro before some action starts. Also, if you are going to be pressing X/A and cycling through a menu for 40 hours, it wouldn't hurt to switch things up a bit. FF7 had several mini-games and side-adventures to distract you, whether it was chocobo racing, a roller-coaster ride, a small RTS game, or a motorcycle segment.

Second, pretention.

JRPGs like Xenosaga and Final Fantasy (as of late) are featuring cutscenes that last for an extended periods of time. The huge misconception is that cutscenes are what JRPGs are all about, but that is false. Initially, these RPGs had moments of extended dialogue yes, but they came in form of boxes that players could often just press a button to skip through or easily bypass. Now, the perspective is completely removed from the player and gamers are just left to watch movies. Square Enix especially just became obsessed with FMVs and CGI cutscenes. The best cutscenes are those that don't exceed 3 minutes.

Third, forcefully limited appeal.

The main reason that JRPGs don't take off in America, because companies seldom make one that is made to suit Americans best. The voice actors and dialogue are always of poor quality. Making a JRPG more Western doesn't mean changing the characters up visually or changing the premise of the game totally. It means explaning themes that a person who doesn't live in Japan can understand, having voice actors who match a character's appearance, people that don't sound like they are speaking through a toilet paper roll. Besides, name the last non-Square Enix JRPG you have ever seen an ad for.....pfft Maybe Star Ocean 4,  but that game served no interest to me.

Fourth, 20 year old gameplay.

The problem is, it takes dozens of hours to receive the decent powers that JRPGs may store until the back half of a game, so you are essentially fighting with a wooden stick and some mashed herbs for 20 hours until you unlock a basic fireball attack. After achieving this, you are most likely engaged in the same type assembly line battles with a basic change in scenery for a long time.

There are so many problems I don't know where to start, and I don't have a lot of time before I have to head out. Yet I do want to contribute some things. The problem is that JRPGs are stagnant compared to their western counterparts. The genre has moved towards open worlds. Away from linear story telling. Dialogue choices are expected, as is moral choice. Leveling and gear aren't linear either. You are given choices about what gear supports your play style, and leveling usually involves the choice of what skill you want. Your even given control of crafting your own unique character.

Then as others have pointed out the Story in JRPGs which oddly enough focus heavily on story aren't well written. They are directed at tweens. Sadly that isn't the hardcore public that would actually purchase one of these titles. That age group is overwhelmingly adult. You can't ask them to keep playing if your writing stories for eleven year olds. That will not hold their interest. Children can play more mature games, and might not get all of what is going on. However an adult just can't play a game that is for children. This is boring, and never rewarding. Yes adults need things like real conflict between characters, and other things like sexual tension.

Basically the genre needs to grow up. Hand holding is ten years ago. Players are demanding more freedom, more choice, and something that actually stimulates their intellect. They are finding that in Mass Effect, Fallout, and Borderlands. They are rarely finding that in JRPGs.

Weird as this might sound with my avatar:

Hogwash.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a linear experience with a simplistic story that is earnestly told. I'll grant that the quality of writing is important, has always been important and always will be, but there is nothing that keeps adults from enjoying stories that are for children. Many "adults" - my wife and I number among them, as do many of our friends - still play Pokemon. Dozens of people on this site are looking forward to Dragon Ques, which does not concern itself with pretensions of maturity.

The appeal of JRPGs is different. They do not need to be like WRPGs. The notion is ridiculous.

I agree with a lot of this, which is why i keep coming back to my primary example; FF12. the game was dark, mature, political and on some levels controversial. i think the way SE has used Nabudis as a metaphor for HIroshima and Nagaski (i thought so anyway) was abosultly incredible, i was moved by the way the blended that into the story.

FF13 and other RPGs are more simplistic in their storytelling, this does get tedious and repititive. but i agree with Khuutra, JRPGs do not need to be like WRPGs, i think they just need an overhaul in their gameplay. linear storytelling isnt a problem, it works in something like Assassins Creed or Grand Theft Auto, but the gameplay is a lot faster.

imo, FF13 got it right with the fast paced paradigm shift, but missed a lot of the other stuff. my point is that the RPGs need to cut the fat in terms of massive dungeons, and long cutscenes, and put more into interacting with the party - even if its not decision making. and a better battle system, that dosent require a long tutorial and has faster comabat.

The only RPGs that have never disappointed me have been the Paper Mario and Mario&Luigi games. Nintendo can make a JRPG.