And they are still more of a something one would associate with the term RPG than, say, Shogo or STALKER.There's roleplaying in videogames.
Mm hmm, and one does not need to emulate tabletop to have it.
RPG is defined by the presence of systems that distinguish between different kinds of characters.
A lot of games without role playing have that e.g. Diablo.
And they are still more of a something one would associate with the term RPG than, say, Shogo or STALKER.
only RPGs actually keep track of the *character* you're playing (instead of at most tracking consequences in the surrounding world).
The RPG elements in the first were the result of developer bias and the remnants of their previous work. Once EA took over they decided these things had to go in order to appeal to a wider audience.
I remember that, but I don't buy it. Would they ever throw EA under the bus? It's too much of a coincidence that everything they cut and changed fit the casual mass market direction to broaden its appeal. I can only remember one traditional RPG element that made the cut: upgrading skills.And they are still more of a something one would associate with the term RPG than, say, Shogo or STALKER.
STALKER has role playing.
only RPGs actually keep track of the *character* you're playing (instead of at most tracking consequences in the surrounding world).
Well that covers all Bioware games so....
The RPG elements in the first were the result of developer bias and the remnants of their previous work. Once EA took over they decided these things had to go in order to appeal to a wider audience.
Back when he still had a livejournal, Patrick Weekes wrote that ME2's changes had nothing to do with EA (as in they had a pre-release conversation where he and someone else said "They're going to blame this on EA, aren't they?" "Yep."). They got rid of them because they lowered the quality of the gameplay.
remember that, but I don't buy it. Would they ever throw EA under the bus? It's too much of a coincidence that everything they cut and changed fit the casual mass market direction to broaden its appeal. I can only remember one traditional RPG element that made the cut: upgrading skills.
I mean the shooter mass market. ME1 was meant for a much different audience, and sold much less than its sequels. One of the doctors (I think it was Muzyka) once said (I don't remember the exact words): "back then we didn't think about the appeal or marketing, we just did things", then said that's why they made something unusual and with little mass market appeal like Jade Empire.remember that, but I don't buy it. Would they ever throw EA under the bus? It's too much of a coincidence that everything they cut and changed fit the casual mass market direction to broaden its appeal. I can only remember one traditional RPG element that made the cut: upgrading skills.
He made the post before the details of ME2's changes were even known. Mass Effect was also always intended for the mass market, I don't know how anyone could possibly think otherwise.
I mean the shooter mass market. ME1 was meant for a much different audience, and sold much less than its sequels.
It just wouldn't be right to have one of these articles without bringing up BioWare, who are probably the biggest RPG developer out there and also probably partially to blame for the dismal state of the genre. It was their Baldur's Gate series that set the trend all the way back in 1998 for flashy RPGs with linear plots, cliche stories, terrible combat--and blockbuster sales.
But apparently BioWare has gotten tired of catering to the difficult PC market, what with demands for interesting plots, NPCs that aren't a pain in the ass and hey, maybe something without elves in it for a change? No, it's much easier to pander to console kiddies whose idea of RPG gameplay is collecting multicoloured ocarinas or watching twenty hours of FMV cutscenes. BioWare's forthcoming projects are mostly to be released on the Xbox 360 and include a whole trilogy of sci-fi "RPGs" called Mass Effect (colloquially known as "gravity" to those of us with a clue), which might be interesting if they weren't more FPS than RPG, according to press releases.
One of the doctors (I think it was Muzyka) once said (I don't remember the exact words): "back then we didn't think about the appeal or marketing, we just did things",
that's why they made something unusual and with little mass market appeal like Jade Empire.
Jade Empire may have bombed, but not because Asian-themed console hack and slashers have "little mass market appeal." (Ninja Gaiden, Onimusha and others say hi) It did so because it was a bad game.
If JE was a bad game, then so is everything BioWare has done since BG2. In fact IMO it strikes a better balance between RPG and action elements than anything they've done since.
Jade Empire runs at 30 fps, isn't very responsive, uses vague collision, and has a pretty shallow input and attack priority system. Battle Raper II probably will be a better fighting game than Jade Empire was. JE's fighting system doesn't detract from its qualities as an RPG, but comparing it to what I would consider action games (God of War, Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry) is slightly questionable and comparing it to fighting games (Soul Calibur II, Tekken 5, Dead or Alive) is very questionable.
Battle Raper II probably will be a better fighting game than Jade Empire was.
How have I never noticed that?
The problem is nosedive in product quality afterME2Baldur's Gate.