ZenfoldorVGI said:
The genre is, imo, mainstream and healthy in America, and probably bigger than WRPGs that aren't MMOs even here in the US. Let me explain that statement: There is a huge difference between speaking about this game and speaking about the genre in general. Are shooters a niche genre because Prey didn't sell a million? Lesser known unadvertised games with anime themes might have a niche audience, but JRPGs in general are fairly mainstream in America, especially according to hardcore and knowledgable gamers, or can you list me a bunch of PS3 and 360 fanboys on this site that don't care about Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Verses, or Square Enix support in general? Again, JRPG is a main genre of game in the United States, and I doubt interest is higher in WRPGs than JRPGs and SJRPGs, here in the states. I would guess that you could add up all WRPG games sales for consoles and handhelds in the last 10 years, and then add up all the JRPG sales, and one genre would be the clear winner probably by a factor of 20 or so. This is largely due to availability of games, popularity of Final Fantasy and the popularity that game has spread for the genre, as well as relative lack of WRPGs on the consoles. Just imagine how many games on the Playstation, GBA, DS, and PS2, were sold from the JRPG or SJRPG genre, compared to Fable, Oblivion, Morrowind, and Dark Alliance.
I mean, we know that the JRPG genre must certainly be beating the fighting genre, we consider that a mainstream genre. So, how come we consider JRPGs as "not targeted for americans" when in fact, the genre sells better here than some genres do worldwide. Saying that the JRPG genre is niche is marginalization of that genre from a non-fan. On top of that, lately, it's been a Sony fanboy talking point, so it's an even more suspicous assertion now that it has ever been. Obvious reasoning just doesn't support it. If the JRPG genre is niche here in the US, then why do we buy so, so many of them? Because those are the only games that are available? That's not so. Final Fantasy X-2 sold almost 2 million units in the United States alone. I still have my copy. X sold almost 3 million. Tales of symphonia sold half a million on the gamecube, just here in the US. Now, just look at the vast array of JRPGs that are available and purchased for handhelds in the last few years(VII, VIII, IX, X, X-2, XII being the highest selling), the PS1, and the PS2. Even if it's not one of the top 5 genres here in the states, it certainly isn't "niche." Otherwise the market wouldn't support the sheer number of them, that are created and localized. Also, it's not like the genre hasn't left its footprint in American gaming history. Many, many top games lists include Chrono Trigger, FFVI, Earthbound, FFVII, and Secret of Mana. Then there is the SJRPG crowd. A niche genre within the broader JRPG genre. For JRPG fans who have the acquired tastes, there is the SJRPG. A genre within a genre. IMO, saying that JRPGs are niche in the US, is an incomplete and unimformed assumption based off of minimal reasoning and research. Not that you necessarily said that, but if you're going to hint around it, I'd prefer you to clarify. |
I couldn't have said that any better
EDIT:JRPGs are a mainstream genre. If they were niche, even FF and KH wouldn't sell millions of copies
