SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

[Feba]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

SCEA represents the poor tastes of Sony gamers now? News to me.

No. The point was that you said that Sony learned their lesson by losing DQ9/10 to Nintendo. I said maybe they'll learn their lesson in Japan (where people care about dragon quest), but in America Sony could care less.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

One of the big turnoffs to DQ8 seems to have been the battle system. I saw several people say it was straight out of RPG maker, which is backwards but true. If you weren't used to it and expecting it from previous DQ games it'd seem like the laziest and most basic battle system possible.

Those "several people" - which I doubt really exist - are on drugs. The mainstream complaint wasn't about the gameplay or the story, but the generic complaint of a lack of realistic graphics and it looking too cartoony. Considering Akira Toriyama has been the lead artist of the series since its inception, those complaints were pretty fucking stupid.

Story-wise, I don't think lack of emo was all that big a problem. More probably it was that the main plot was sparse and generic. It was standard DQ; intro, side-quests, mid-game revelation, side-quests, finale.

I wasn't citing that lack of emo was a problem, I was making fun of people that mindlessly adhere to Final Fantasy alone or insist RPGs are "about story."

[Lmnop]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

That's funny. I hated DQ8 because it was a fucking cliche. The gameplay was limited (boring), the grind was grueling, and the game went on and on and on... and on. And the gamers all say "zomg it was great!"

If ever there was a time to agree with Armando's bashing of the RPG formula, it'd be while analyzing DQ8.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

To me, a good RPG system will include a robust system that continues to reward you for playing beyond just the grinding and dungeon--looting.

Dragon Quest VIII had that in the Alchemy Pot, Monster Arena and mini-medals systems. Some of this went and plugged right back into the alchemy pot, too.

Persona 3 and 4 have it with Persona collection, P3 FES also with Fusion Spells and Weapon Fusion.

Baten Kaitos and KH: CoM do it in their card systems. Pretty much everywhere you turn you get a card that's useful for something.

Western RPGs do it either by adding more quests as you get deeper into the dungeons or a series of moral choices.

But does everyone take advantage of and learn these systems? Naturally, no, because some just want to plow right through to the end and damn these things that could enhance the experience for getting in the way of linear thought. They leave themselves with the grind and complain about the grind itself. This is no different than the THF that just sits in Whitegate, bemoaning his lack of invites when Campaign and FoV would move him along. If you want EXP for pouting, then My World, My Way is probably the only game that will ever accomodate you.

[Coinspinner]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

I suppose if incidental combat while exploring, traveling, or dungeon crawling is considered grinding then yeah, DQ8 is grindy. There was little about that game I didn't like, and all of that forgivable.

Those "several people" - which I doubt really exist - are on drugs. The mainstream complaint wasn't about the gameplay or the story, but the generic complaint of a lack of realistic graphics and it looking too cartoony. Considering Akira Toriyama has been the lead artist of the series since its inception, those complaints were pretty fucking stupid.

I can't see why you would find that hard to believe. I remember one was the VG Cats guy, I'm not gonna dig up the rest.

The art may have contributed to the game's poor sales, but I never actually saw such complaints. In any case, DBZ was popular. And I think JRPG players and the anime crowd overlap quite a lot. So I don't know how much I believe that the "mainstream complaint" was the art so long as we're talking about people who'd actually buy JRPGs.

[Balfree]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

Considering Akira Toriyama

I dislike his style.

Gots a prob?

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

I can't see why you would find that hard to believe.

The art may have contributed to the game's poor sales, but I never actually saw such complaints. In any case, DBZ was popular. And I think JRPG players and the anime crowd overlap quite a lot. So I don't know how much I believe that the "mainstream complaint" was the art so long as we're talking about people who'd actually buy JRPGs.

You're just proving my point about how fickle the US PS2 playerbase is anyway

The game moved 500k in the US and seven times that in Japan. I guess for SE it was a success considering it was a second helping of sales, but the fact it was never a million selle overseas is probably part of what prompted the move to DS. That and lower production costs meant more profit potential and a huge loss for Sony in terms of console sales over there.

Currently DQIX has actually outsold DQVIII by 300k+ and is nearing the four million sales mark. Bringing it overseas this time will be much less of a risk and more pure profit, to boot.

There are developers that live on this model. Nintendo's always been one of them, but now Atlus is extremely wary about making any real jumps to a next gen title aside from localizing a few through Atlus USA that wouldn't otherwise even hit stateside, such as next week's Demon Souls.

Outside of that, you're only going to see Atlus games on PSP, Wii and DS for a good, long while. They have nothing to gain from making games for PS3 or Xbox 360. The fact that these guys only have to push a few ten thousands of copies per title to stay open is amazing in todays market. By SE standards that would be a failure, but the real tragedy is no matter how universally praised their games are by reviewers and gamers alike, there's still a lot of fencesitters who just won't take a chance on something different.

Valkyria Chronicles for PS3 was Sega's big gamble and gamers didn't partake, now Sega - which actually seems to have a thriving RPG side these days - is wary if sending over anything else state side. Resonance of Fate and Infinite Space look like all we may see from them. They have no plans for 7th Dragon, which is a real shame. Valkyria Chronicles 2 will probably see a large success just because PSP has a wider playerbase right now that PS3 enjoys world wide. Its also following SE's DQIX logic.

I am very much looking forward to Infinite Space though. Take usual JRPG party, replace them with fully customizable starships and spread over 200 crewman, each with their own personalities across all of them for space battles on part with Star Wars and Star Trek. Woo.

[Malacite]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

Valkyria Chronicles for PS3 was Sega's big gamble and gamers didn't partake, now Sega

I can't understand this for the life of me personally. VC is one of the best strategy RPGs in ages and a must-own for PS3 owners... methinks there are too many"halo or gtfo" ppl out there.

[Yellow Mage]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

Actually Malacite, the problem might just lie in this part right here:

and a must-own for PS3 owners

Somehow, I doubt that Halo has anything to do with a completely unrelated game. But that's just me.

[DakAttack]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

Every time I see the title I think it says "SE announces 2-3 new big titties" and it sets off my boob alarm. I guess I've had a little too much NGS2. Also.....

[Pwnagraphic]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

Actually Malacite, the problem might just lie in this part right here:





Somehow, I doubt that Halo has anything to do with a completely unrelated game. But that's just me.

I think she means shooters but used halo as an example.

[Yellow Mage]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

I think she means shooters but used halo as an example.

First off, Malacite is technically male.

Secondly, you don't say "one best strategy RPGs in ages and a must-own for PS3 owners" and then blame a FPS series on the Xboxes for its lack of success. That's what is called a non-sequitur.

A more logical conclusion would be as BBQ said - Valkyria Chronicles did not reach the level of success it could have because it was exclusive to the PS3, a relatively unpopular system.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

That and its a strategy title that's not on an handheld or PC. These are where strategy titles tend to fare better.

[Feba]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

Every time I see the title I think it says "SE announces 2-3 new big titties" and it sets off my boob alarm.

I like your way of thinking.

[Armando]

Re: SE announces 2-3 new big titles, doesn't tell anyone what they are

But does everyone take advantage of and learn these systems? Naturally, no, because some just want to plow right through to the end and damn these things that could enhance the experience for getting in the way of linear thought. They leave themselves with the grind and complain about the grind itself. This is no different than the THF that just sits in Whitegate, bemoaning his lack of invites when Campaign and FoV would move him along. If you want EXP for pouting, then My World, My Way is probably the only game that will ever accomodate you.

If the player finds the main game or any "robust systems" it has on the side unbearable, no amount of robust side systems can save it. And if the player doesn't like the side systems, then having a mediocre main game isn't going to work either. I can't really speak for DQ8 but, let's say, CoM. If the player dislikes the plot, dislikes the way dungeons are handled, dislikes the battle system, it doesn't matter how robust or rewarding the card system is, it won't salvage the game for the player. Even if the player DID like the card system, he's not going to finish the game if he doesn't like the plot or the stuff he has to do to get more cards.

CoM has one of the most amazing battle systems I've ever seen but if the player doesn't like it then how can you place the blame on the player? Hell, aren't you being a bit hypocritical? I recall you dissing the PS2 KH games not too long ago and complaining about the Gummi Ships. The Gummi Ship system is quite robust in KH2.

P.S. I'm really liking 358/2 Days.