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Senlis on 14 January 2010
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RageBot said:
Senlis said:
first, to the "JRPG gamers are getting tired, moving to WRPGs and, seeing how they are different, assume it is innovation". That may be true for some people, but what about older gamers like myself and the editors of IGN. I (I can't speak for IGN) have been playing JRPGs and WRPGs for years and have seen far more innovation on the WRPG side.

As for posters such as Rastline, it is apparent that the JRPG fans don't seem to want innovation. Most of them want the same game they got on the SNES. If the JRPG developers sensed that JRPG fans wanted something new, they would innovate their games in a new and unique way for their market.

And random encounters suck. I don't see why anyone would like them or argue that they are good. It is just lazy programming if you ask me.

This will really get some people mad, but it must be said. Video games are an interactive media. The best stories are ones that you, the player, interact with. WRPGs tend to play more to this aspect by making you the main character, and if you play the story that way, it can be very rewarding. JRPGs tend to play more non-interactive, where it is more like watching a movie or reading a book rather than playing a game. The sad thing is that a great JRPG cannot compare with a great movie or book. This is besides the point, however, since IGN is not saying JRPGs should be like WRGPs. That would completely defeat the purpose of innovation if they were to innovate to something that already exists (and therefore would not be innovation).

Lol, so, since Movies are a passive form of entertainment, the best movie stories are the ones you're passive towards?

You didn't play enough good JRPGs (or WRPGs), don't argue with those who did.

First off, you have no idea what JRPGs I've played.  Secondly, your post makes little sense.  I assume your criticising my assessment that JRPG story can't compete with movie/book story.

Movies are a non-interactive form of entertainment.  They are mainly story driven (also flashy effects driven, but they tend to amount to bad movies).

Books are a better example of what I am trying to say.  They are also non-interactive, just like the story of (most) JRPGs.  When I say non-interactive, I mean the story progresses in such a way that the player has no (or little) method of changing it.

Great video games have a hard time competing with great books or great movies when it comes to the story.  I would say it is impossible to compete with books and movies.  Why? because story is the only thing a book or movie has to worry about.  Video games have to worry about programming, design, graphics (yes, I know movies have to worry about this too), testing, gameplay, etc.  In other words, the games that are trying to focus on story will be outdone by a good book.  Period.  I don't see why anyone would try to argue this.

WRPGs tend to have a story that is interactive.  By that, I mean that you can guide the direction the dialogue and story goes.  That is something a non-interactive medium, movies and books don't do (or don't do well.  Choose your own adventure books tend to suck).