what's with the lack of RPG's this gen?

[zarx]

oldschoolfool said:

BenVTrigger said:
There's been TONS of RPG's this gen

Its just that they are nearly all coming from the West. JRPG's have been very rare this gen but thats mostly due to poor development from Japan this gen.

Sure,there's been some,but it just seems to me that it's been either one FPS after another are one TPS after another. Those genres seem to far outnumber RPG's. I would probably consider the JRPG's the true RPG's,but again you would probably know better then me,but that's just my perspective.

The main definition of RPG is

A role-playing game (RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development. Actions taken within the game succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines.

This definition would actually exclude many JRPGs as they do not give the player choices in how the story plays out and character development is usally very linear in JRPGs also, but they usally qulify usally by offering multiple classes and customisable equipment. So no JRPGs aren't true RPGs and even most wRPGs aren't, MMOs probably are the best fit for the clasic definition.

But as others have said the lack of RPGs is more a lack of console RPGs especially jRPGS there are still plenty around especially on handhelds and PC.