Why Are Modern RPG's & the Fanbase So Soft?

[XDel]

Let's take Phantasy Star as a great example. The art direction and story line used to be bleak and boarder line horrifying at times, and now the series is anything but. Mind you PSO was a blast, but it's not really a full fledged RPG either, not in the Table top or classic Computer Game RPG sense.

So I am wondering, was it for suicide prevention amongst young kids that they began to marketing these shallow fluffy games with boring plots complete with boring characters who's fashion sense often times stands in stark contrast with their environment, or the occasional serious tone the plot might be trying to set... if there is one at all (collect all the pokemon so you can be the pokemon master, blah blah blah). Or is it merely for the sake of dumbing down future generations so that they will make for better sheep?

Also, for a journey down RPG history lane, here are a few fantastic links!

http://www.filfre.net/2016/03/joel-billings-and-ssi/

www.filfre.net/2016/03/ten-odd-years-at-tsr/

http://www.filfre.net/2016/03/opening-the-gold-box-part-3-from-tabletop-to-desktop/

http://www.filfre.net/2016/03/opening-the-gold-box-part-4-pool-of-radiance/

 

[Pedeadstrian]

I find it hard to take anyone seriously when they used terms like "sheep" but... here I go.

What exactly do you consider as "modern?" Pokemon has been around for over 20 years now, and it's not like RPGs (video games, at least) existed for several decades before that. I wouldn't exactly call it modern. Also... you seem to be rather biased against JRPGs (I assume, from your fashion sense comment). Sure, there are often "fluffy" parts of JRPGs, but they're not devoid of bleak and/or borderline horrifying moments. There are plenty of other RPGs out there, too. Divinity: Original Sin? Dark Souls? Diablo? Grim Dawn? The Witcher? Fallout? Sure, it can get rather silly at times, but for those who pay attention, it can be terribly morbid. Recordings of people committing suicide (or at least about to) as the bombs fall, adult-sized skeletons with their hands stretched towards a baby stroller, etc. The list goes on. And that's not even including other video game genres. How about visual novels like Zero Escape or Danganronpa? The latter can get rather anime-y, but the game's plot isn't exactly happy sunshine time.

The point I'm trying to make is that the darkness is there. It's not a "dumbing down" of generations like mine, you're just not looking hard enough.

 

[Enigma Hall]

Its because fluffy things attract childrens. But you will find some good stuff if search right. Final Fantasy keep this reign because know how to recicle the old formula. The old producers was many but died with the new generation. The few survivors and new ones can be fined in the sucess séries. My opinion, Persona and Star Ocean series are the ones i can remember now.

 

[barronwaffles]

The market is much bigger now.

Pumping out waifu-bait fluff is probably more profitable then misery laden cruft - not to say that it doesn't still exist.

 

[Hungry Friend]

The market is much bigger now.

Pumping out waifu-bait fluff is probably more profitable then misery laden cruft - not to say that it doesn't still exist.

Beat me to my main point but yeah, when things become more popular and within the mainstream, companies dumb them down in order to make them appeal to a wider audience which often alienates older fans and those who want substance over silly, flashy nonsense.

It's hard for me to believe that a game with a HEAVY story like Xenogears(haven't played XBC or X yet) could even be released today because for one, without spoiling, it's incredibly controversial and would offend a lot of overly touchy PC types, plus it's incredibly experimental and rough around the edges. Games are much more expensive to make, namely home console & PC games, so fewer risks are taken and everything is dumbed down and/or released incomplete with tons of DLC to line publishers' pockets since so much money was spent on pretty graphics, marketing etc. This is why we see most of the experimentation being done on portable systems like the 3DS, indie games on Steam and even ios/android although I personally can't stand playing on phones or tablets but that's beside the point.

Mid-budget games have gone by the wayside and only super expensive titles and very small-scale portable and indie games seem to be around these days with a few exceptions. This trend began during the DC/PS2/GC/Xbox generation but last gen, due to consoles becoming VERY PC-like, system power increasing greatly and most importantly online play becoming the main focus, the PS360 gen really "normalized" the industry we see today. Combine that with the rise of cheap mobile games that deeply cut into the dedicated portable market and you've got today's gaming industry.

Keep in mind that these are simply my impressions and opinions, NOT facts but as someone who's been playing games since 1989, the industry isn't nearly as interesting and full of artistic zeal as it was 20-30 years ago imo.

 

[Issac]

I don't get what OP wants really.
"The old Phantasy Star games was shit, and the newer ones are great! Why are games today so shit, and the old ones so great?"

Want a table-top like JRPG? Want it to be difficult and somewhat complex? Try Unlimited SaGa for PS2.

 

[Yil]

It all started with ff7.

 

[Pedeadstrian]

It all started with ff7.

So FF7 is somehow softer than Pokemon, a game that came out the year before? What part of FF7 makes it the downfall of RPGs as we know them? Is it the fact that it's more popular than any other FF game?

 

[Yil]

So FF7 is somehow softer than Pokemon, a game that came out the year before? What part of FF7 makes it the downfall of RPGs as we know them? Is it the fact that it's more popular than any other FF game?

They failed to live up to ff6 and everything since start to get crappier, which lead us to 13.

 

[Sakitoshi]

I'm pretty sure he is referring to looks alone. Tales of games are anime looking but aren't sunshines and rainbows.
Tales of Xillia 2 is pretty grim TBH.
Final Fantasy XIII is full of calamities from start to finish. Things doesn't go better in the sequels.
The Shin Megami Tensei saga is known for being tragic.

I can't remember much more now but there you have it.

But of course you have more merry games like the Neptunia series, not everything can be sad and apocalyptic.

 

[k3rizz3k]

I'm pretty sure he is referring to looks alone. Tales of games are anime looking but aren't sunshines and rainbows.
Tales of Xillia 2 is pretty grim TBH.
Final Fantasy XIII is full of calamities from start to finish. Things doesn't go better in the sequels.
The Shin Megami Tensei saga is known for being tragic.

I can't remember much more now but there you have it.

But of course you have more merry games like the Neptunia series, not everything can be sad and apocalyptic.

Persona FTW

 

[Supster131]

Huh, I'm probably the only person who likes the FF13 Trilogy. I also hate FF7, I thought it was overrated, but anyways, I digress.

I've played RPG's for most of my life (at least I think). Although, as a kid it was mostly Pokémon. It wasn't only until a few years ago that I started playing some other RPG games. Persona 4 Golden being one of them. That game was fucking amazing! Best game I have ever played, that most other games disappoint me now.

Was it fluffy? Sure, at times. It's not a game children should be playing though. Murders? Sexual innuendos? For from a kids game.

 

[VinsCool]

Huh, I'm probably the only person who likes the FF13 trilogy

In my opinion, XIII was shit, be the sequels were pretty good.

 

[k3rizz3k]

Huh, I'm probably the only person who likes the FF13 Trilogy. I also hate FF7, I thought it was overrated, but anyways, I digress.

I've played RPG's for most of my life (at least I think). Although, as a kid it was mostly Pokémon. It wasn't only until a few years ago that I started playing some other RPG games. Persona 4 Golden being one of them. That game was fucking amazing! Best game I have ever played, that most other games disappoint me now.

Was it fluffy? Sure, at times. It's not a game children should be playing though. Murders? Sexual innuendos? For from a kids game.

Alone? No! I actually really enjoyed the 13 trilogy. 7 was ok, but not as amazing as others make it out to be. It's mostly nostalgia, as it was probably their first Japanese RPG.

 

[VincentBeasley]

It just became easier to sell. Plus Japanese markets tried to break free from the norm at the time (D&D, Blauder's gate, Diablo, etc.). They tried to mix classic with mainstream Japanese style and it eventually got out of hand. You can still find great games like that though (Dark Spire anyone?). I do Kind of see your point though, Classic styled Shin Megami Tensei Vs Modern Shin Megami Tensei? Classic style please. Persona is still amazing though.

 

[Supster131]

In my opinion, XIII was shit, be the sequels were pretty good.

Alone? No! I actually really enjoyed the 13 trilogy. 7 was ok, but not as amazing as others make it out to be. It's mostly nostalgia, as it was probably their first Japanese RPG.

It's great to know I'm not alone
I was sad when I beat Lightning Returns. Knowing that I would no longer see Lighting and the crew in another great game.

#GiveUsFF13-4!

Although I am excited for FF15

 

[VincentBeasley]

#GiveUsFF13-4!

Eww lol

 

[k3rizz3k]

It just became easier to sell. Plus Japanese markets tried to break free from the norm at the time (D&D, Blauder's gate, Diablo, etc.). They tried to mix classic with mainstream Japanese style and it eventually got out of hand. You can still find great games like that though (Dark Spire anyone?). I do Kind of see your point though, Classic styled Shin Megami Tensei Vs Modern Shin Megami Tensei? Classic style please. Persona is still amazing though.

I was replaying Persona 3 FES last night on pcsx2, my wife saw me use an evoker and was like "I don't like that. You shouldn't play that."

 

[Supster131]

I was replaying Persona 3 FES last night on pcsx2, my wife saw me use an evoker and was like "I don't like that. You shouldn't play that."

Almost every parent ever, lol.
"Persona is satanic!!!"
XD

 

[VincentBeasley]

I was replaying Persona 3 FES last night on pcsx2, my wife saw me use an evoker and was like "I don't like that. You shouldn't play that."

Haha yeah a bit emo much? Still an amazing game though. But you just cant beat those creepy sprites from the first few game. I will say that each rpg series is different and different things work for each one. Thus why SMT can get away with such an over the top style nowadays

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Almost every parent ever, lol.
"Persona is satanic!!!"
XD

My mom still thinks Pokemon is satanic... and I'm a grown ass adult lol