SE devs discuss what they've learned from Western devs at CEDEC

[makingmusic476]

theRepublic said:

makingmusic476 said:

theRepublic said:

Shiokawa began the presentation discussing the concept of "realism" in Western games. He said that in Square's experience, the Western developers don't strive so much for realism as believability. Players need to "suspend disbelief." Using various protagonists as an example, he said that saving the world is dangerous, so it's a man's job. He needs wisdom and experience, so he's older, and of course he has to be strong and macho. However, he went on to say that an unrealistic but believable character that allows players to suspend their disbelief is also OK.

I'm confused on this paragraph.  Anyone care to translate?

Any specific part you're having trouble with? Realism vs believability?  The described character type?  The optional character type?

I suppose I'm most confused in how he is using realism vs believability here.

I believe realism refers to how a game world functions and compares to the real world, while believability refers to how a game world functions in an of itself.  You can have an entirely unrealistic game world that is still very believable so long as it consistantly follows its own rules and logic.  For example, the realm of Middle-earth crafted by Tolkien is a good example of an unrealistic yet believe world, while the setting of, say, Final Fantasy X could be considered a world that is quite unbelievable.

Given what he says, it seems most Japanese gamers and developers hold the view that Western games are by and large built around the concept of realism, something that Shiokawa and Matsuzawa have realized isn't really the case now that they've spent some time working with Western developers.  This misconception isn't all that surprising, really.  It probably has its roots in the fact that a majority of Western games have a fairly realistic artstyles, unlike most Japanese games (games like Uncharted, Crysis, Mass Effect, Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Battlefield, etc. vs Mario, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Monster Hunter, Tales).  The popularity of Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty in the West probably only feeds this stereotype.