What if JRPGs first construct a story like a VN, where you get multiple routes? That way they can have really polished and organized linear stories, but with the illusion of choice and freedom (well, not like you get a lot of meaningful choices in Western games either). The choices will actually feel meaningful too, since it's not going to be a few dialogue changes or one different [ending] scene, but an entirely new story.

If they want to money whore it, they can even charge the routes as DLC.

I thought that's kind of what they did.

They do that don't they? Disgaea at least has multiple ending (lots of JRPGS do now that I think about it). As a matter of fact I just played Disgaea Infinite which takes the JRPG series into visual novel territory... my review will be up shortly.

Can you give me a PS3 game that does this, other than Disgaea? I'm not talking about multiple choice based ending by the way. I'm talking about a choice 1/4th or earlier in the game, that results in you playing a COMPLETELY different story. You then might have multiple endings, but that's not a requirement.

Chrono Chross has it, on whether you saveKid or not I believe I think it's less than half way through I don't remember. Can't tell you if it was a completely different story, as I do not recall the story of it. Also there's like 6 endings... if I remember correctly.

Final Fantasy X-2 has it where you can side with the youth league or new yevon about 1/3 through. Then you have to do do these extra things to get different/extra endings.

Now neither of these are full-scale like you're talking and I recognize it

I'm for it. But see here's the problem with this. It costs extra money to put those extra branches. Like a whole extra half game. Thus developers are not going to be inclined to want to do so. Especially when many people will only play it once. (Like me and heavy rain, and me and chrono chross). Yes it would be awesome. But for them would the much more amount of work be beneficial to them?

The fact that there's no PS3 game who did that, does not mean that no ther game have done that, and there are plenty.

What if there actually were games that did this, in any genre? Of course there are some but I don't think I've seen too many.

Spots games do this ;)

I know I have played the same football game, and by 1/4th they way though, things were radically different. :p

NIER has 4 endings

Its a PS3 game

You don't have to create entirely new resources (skins, maps, etc). It's pretty much the script, missions, etc. I'm not saying those don't cost money or are easy, but I don't think that each route will be the equivalent of one game, it just FEELS like it's another game.

And I have this machiavilian strategy to do this:

Say a huge series, I'll just use Final Fantasy for convenience and understandability.

FF1 has route A as its main story. It's on the disc. Then it release route B and C as DLC.

FF2 has route B as its main story (its continuation). Therefore people are going to have to buy route B's DLC on game 1, and if they want to continue route A's story, buy route A's DLC on game 2.

Or they could just release all 3 routes on the disc anyway, and why wouldn't people play it? People play good and evil stories on Western games with little variation.