JRPG have hit a hard spot similar to what happen to point 'n' click adventure in mid '90.
The investment to made the xpensive assets of a grand scale adventure are so big that only few company could produce them.
Not only that but the genre seems had slow down in Japan ( the most important market for them ) and never really pick up in the west with some exception like FF, KH or Pokemon ( the latter is famous to have frugal presentation is a similar fashion to DQ ).
The only company that can afford to produce these expensive games is SE because it has the brand name to afford the risk.
The other "major" recently attempts are all funded by one fisrt party.
So no wonder the DS is becoming the new house for the genre.
“In the entertainment business, there are only heaven and hell, and nothing in between and as soon as our customers bore of our products, we will crash.” Hiroshi Yamauchi
TAG: Like a Yamauchi pimp slap delivered by Il Maelstrom; serving it up with style.
