| g-value said: Watch this new FFXIII CM My answer is yes. FFXIII will revive the JRPG genre. |
And....your point? Don't see anything new in that commercial I didn't already know from media announcements or screenshots for the game. And it just seems like the typical FF game to me. In fact, I think Xelloss said it best.
| Xelloss said: I think FFXIII will sell reasonably well, but not do much for the JRPG scene. Rather, it will reinforce "JRPG stereotypes" to people who are generally bored with the FF-jrpg genre or avoid JRPGs almost altogether, and the good JRPGs with quality gameplay innovation will still not be given the time of day by many a gamer turned off by the idea of playing another FF game, especially one that does not boast the budget and eye candy of FF. |
In Japan, there will be a certain fanbase who will buy this game because its a Final Fantasy game and a major RPG. But after the media blitz is over, they'll move on back to Pokemon, Dragon Quest and Monster Hunter, as well as the horde of other smaller RPGs on the DS and PSP. In other words, FFXIII isn't going to be anywhere near the hit people (and Square) thinks its going to be.
Hence why SquareEnix has been focusing, even hinging, this game on being a success in America. However, there's some major problems on that front as well. The market here in the west is no longer Japanese driven like it was with the PSX and PS2. This isn't like the days of FFVII and FFX, when all the Playstation (or any system) needed to do was slap 'Final Fantasy' on a few videos and have their system sell. And unlike FF games in the past, the fanbase for this game isn't as big. And FFXIII isn't 'one of a handful of good titles' coming like the PS2 had in its early years. Now its coming 4 years into the consoles life cycle, with heavy competition.
Other games are much more popular in America and FFXIII is more than likely not only going to see less sales than expected, but possibly lose sales to a major FPS or action title released near or soon after its launch in America. If another game on the scale of Uncharted, Halo, God of War or even Assassins Creed launches near FFXIII, it could be in real trouble. And there's more than a few major PS3 titles coming out in the beginning of 2010. Like say...Bioshock or MAG. I can guarantee you the majority of western PS3 owners are more interested in those games than FFXIII currently. And as well all know the majority of owners of the 360 are not in love with JRPGs....
In the end of the day, FFXIII is just going to be the same thing. SquareEnix trying to sell the next major FF game with bigger and better production values. But only capturing a certain 'core' market. But it remains to be seen if that 'core' market is bigger or smaller this time. As we've seen with nearly all other HD graphic heavy JRPGs....its been smaller up till now.
Six upcoming games you should look into:
