Yusuke Naora (Square-Enix) on Fallout 3

[larpingdude14]

The tremendous success of Fallout 3 seems to have made a particularly profound impact on Naora. "When we make a game that sells two million copies, that's always seemed like a tremendous success for us," he says. "But now we hear about Fallout 3 selling four million in just a few weeks, and it really surprises us. This is a game that doesn't even look like what we in Japan consider an 'RPG,' yet it's incredibly popular."

"Until about a year ago, we'd never even heard the term 'J-RPG' to distinguish our RPGs from Western games," he admits. Now he seems determined to sort out the defining differences between the two schools of RPG design. Does it mean stronger female characters? A first-person perspective? More realism?

http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?pager ... 171361&p=4

:D :D :D :D

 

[Shoelip]

"More realism?" .... Wuhuh!?

 

[OSK]

Good. Now JRPGers can feel our pain as well.

 

[Beans00]

fucking tojo's, the yanks should of nukes those bastards 15 times.

 

[Rondel.]

Fallout 3 is going to change the face of jRPG genre.

 

[Demnogonis Saastuttaja]

So, instead of continuing to do Final Fantasy again and again, they're going to start doing Oblivion again and again. That's just awesome.

 

[Gerrard]

Fallout 3 is going to change the face of jRPG genre.

It's already happening. At least until that flops.

 

[MisterStone]

Yes, it's definitely stronger female characters that set Western RPGs apart.

 

[Deleted member 7219]

They just don't fucking get it.

 

[Rondel.]

Fallout 3 is going to change the face of jRPG genre.

It's already happening. At least until that flops.

Open-ended jRPG, with strong female characters and fpp perspective? Oh, thank you Fallout 3! I smell a revolution!

 

[Lesifoere]

Yes, it's definitely stronger female characters that set Western RPGs apart.

That one got such a laugh out of me. Maybe it's just the guy being quoted out of context or whatever, but he sounds incredibly dumb. Not to mention that a great deal of female characters in western RPGs aren't exactly... hahahahaha. Hahahahaha, oh Bastila/Aribeth/Dawn Star/Liara.

 

[Rondel.]

The Witcher has strong female characteristic elements.

 

[Lesifoere]

Well, actually, sex cards aside, Witcher's female characters tend to come off pretty good. Triss and Shani always struck me as fleshed-out and strong-willed.

 

[Disconnected]

So... Metal Gear Solid is the new jRPG?

 

[Applegate's Breasts]

*sigh* This is what happens when you censor nukes from games...


Wonder if it's related to a deeper cultural thing. Western societies stress individualism and freedom as opposed to rigid conformity.

 

[Spectacle]

Wonder if it's related to a deeper cultural thing. Western societies stress individualism and freedom as opposed to rigid conformity.

Nah. It's just that the RPG and JRPG genres have developed more or less independently, with hugely different genre conventions. Now some businessman told the developers to make a game appealing to the bigger american market, and they are scrambling to understand a genre they have never played any games from. The same would happen if you tasked someone like Obsidian with making the next NBA game - they'd be wringing their brains to figure out what it is that makes a sports game good or not.

Finally, I'm sad they've decided to appeal to the american rather than european RPG market. Even if they succeed completely they'll give us something dumbed down like fallout 3, probably mixed with biowarian romances.

 

[Andyman Messiah]

Wonder if it's related to a deeper cultural thing. Western societies stress individualism and freedom as opposed to rigid conformity.

Nah. It's just that the RPG and JRPG genres have developed more or less independently, with hugely different genre conventions. Now some businessman told the developers to make a game appealing to the bigger american market, and they are scrambling to understand a genre they have never played any games from. The same would happen if you tasked someone like Obsidian with making the next NBA game - they'd be wringing their brains to figure out what it is that makes a sports game good or not.

Obsidian wouldn't be able to pull it off, but I'm sure Bethesda would!

Havok engine. First person mode. Radiant A.I. The only weapon: a big orange ball. All NPCs are essential, unkillable. Refeeres will stop you and either fine you or throw you in detention if you break the rules. You can bribe them. A timer that keeps track on how many times the ball hits the net. That'll do nicely. Game done and ready for release.

 

[Dire Roach]

From the link:

Still, it's clear that <s>Takai</s> Howard and his team have worked to make <s>Remnant</s> Fallout 3 much less of a niche-oriented RPG than the <s>SaGa</s> Fallout games. "The problem with <s>SaGa</s> Fallout is that it has very passionate fans, but it can't break out beyond them," he laments. "If people see the <s>SaGa</s> Fallout connection as a good thing, that's great, but we want to make it clear that this game is much more refined and accessible."

Clearly, the japs have been watching and taking notes. Ironically:

Japanese developers are mindful of the fact that their side of the industry has "lost its edge," to put it in the terms that Square Enix president Yoichi Wada himself used recently...

 

[dagorkan]

What the fuck is the point in calling a game "Last Remnant"? What is it supposed to mean or indicate?

 

[Ebonsword]

"Until about a year ago, we'd never even heard the term 'J-RPG' to distinguish our RPGs from Western games," he admits.

Huh? Have they, like, never spoken with a Western gamer or game journalist in 15 years or something? :shock:

How can they not know that there is a perceived difference between JRPGs and Western RPGs??!!

 

[dagorkan]

I'm offended by the term "Western RPG". There are only RPGs, and what the Japs make aren't it.

 

[Shoelip]

So why exactly does everyone seem so happy that we're going to get even more crappy western style RPGs only now from Japan?

 

[MisterStone]

J-RPG = game mechanics and interface that would make a digi-pet look like the control panel of a 747

+

Stupid teenage wish fulfilment hack writing script presented on a one-way rail through a cheesy 3D engine (previously though super-deformed style anime sprites).

Western RPGs: Absolutely none of the above.

How could they not be able to figure out the difference?

 

[Drakron]

FF XII already done the "Oblivion" open areas since it was emulating FF XI.

I believe that jRPGs strength is how they use a character focused narrative, even if that comes to bite then in the ass a few times but their combat system is just "XP farm to gain enough levels be able to beat boss, repeat" so having to ditch that and embrace "w"RPGs just sounds they are going to ditch what made jRPGs, jRPGs and I doubt their audience will like that ... there is a reason why RPGs do not sell as jRPGs sales are still viable enough in Japan.

 

[Lesifoere]

J-RPG = game mechanics and interface that would make a digi-pet look like the control panel of a 747

+

Stupid teenage wish fulfilment hack writing script presented on a one-way rail through a cheesy 3D engine (previously though super-deformed style anime sprites).

Western RPGs: Absolutely none of the above.

How could they not be able to figure out the difference?

So Bioware is Japanese now?