Someone explains this to me : FFXIII outsells Mass Effect 2 by 1'632'195 in the west

[Scoobes]

Jumpin said:

A203D said:
FF13-2 is a sequel not a spin off.

its irrelevant, since ME2s sales are already above those of FF13-2. and ME3 is going to launch similtaneously for the PS3 and the 360. no chance FF13-2, FF13-3 will outsell those games. maybe Versus wont either.

it was also unfair for the OP to compare a relatively new RPG to a well established JRPG. could the OP explain why Skyrim has sold 10 mil copies compared to FF13s (however many copies). Mass Effect 2 (and soon 3) have sold more than FF13-2.

Mass Effect 2 is not an RPG, it's a third person shooter/ action adventure. Final Fantasy 13 is an RPG. JRPG is not a genre, it's an industry sector. 

Mass Effect 2 is a shooter/RPG hybrid. It combines both elements. The only other game to truly do this as successfully as ME2 are Deus Ex (and Human Revolution) and System Shock 2.

In certain aspects ME2 is more an RPG than Final Fantasy XIII (or most JRPGs for that matter). One of the cornerstones of RPGs has been the ability to create and play out a character whilst having great influence on events. In this respect ME2 is far more an RPG than FFXIII. That's not to say FFXIII isn't an RPG but JRPGs are a sub-genre that diverged many years ago from the Western RPGs and concentrated on the battle mechanics as opposed to player/character.

They're both RPGs, to say either one isn't an RPG is just wrong. They just play to different aspects of the RPG genre.