Bioware: FF13 is not an RPG

[Runding]

my problem with bioware's statement is this: who the fuck died and made them genre-definers?

i've loved bioware since they made the infinity engine and helped black isle make baldur's, and i've also loved square since ff1. even more when they became square-enix, but wtf is it with bioware's writer?

i've grown to live with their "DA's the spiritual successor to BG" bullshit (i really don't agree if i wasn't clear), but this is just to much.

they brutally criticize (imo) square but what do they have to show for it? DA and ME were very disappointing. oblivion was more BG-like (at least gameplay-wise) than DA will ever be and MEs actually do feel like JRPGs (not that they're japanese but for the customization and role-playing aspect). so you decide a couple of things. the outcome is a different 3d model being loaded (i think) with it's own set of textures. whoa. it changed the fucking world.

the whole article feels like some guy who got lucky on EA's tit and cock and now, having climbed waaay up in the gaming industry, finally lives his fantasy of being a world-renown game writer and can professionally throw shit at competitors (real or perceived).

I agree with this.

I'm a bioware fan as much as the next guy, however where the hell did this self-appointed RPG nazi come from?

This just goes to show that Bioware is ultimately a small fish in the sea where they can't even keep a lid on bashing another company in a poor attempt to make their product look superior.

I guess they can't afford a PR person?

 

[Palademon]

Actually, to be controversial with your point, RPG is a game where characters actually develop (in skills and health and damage etc.) so FF is one, it's just you dont decide what they look like and they have a personality. You do make choices, but they are more about roles and what you choose to upgrade rather than whether to be an absolute bastard or not.

In that case, every game that I play now that has any kind of levelling up system is an RPG, according to your logic.

Ok fine, RPGs have multiple characters that are taking your orders for tactical gameplay as well. Happy now?

 

[the D0rk One]

c'mon dude, you've got Daniel Erickson saying ff13 isn't an rpg.
he's the writing director for one of the biggest western rpg devs and he says that one of SE's flagship titles is not an rpg. and SE is one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) J-RPGs devs.

how isn't this saying BW makes better games, "truer" rpgs?

 

[Runding]

c'mon dude, you've got Daniel Erickson saying ff13 isn't an rpg.
he's the writing director for one of the biggest western rpg devs and he says that one of SE's flagship titles is not an rpg. and SE is one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) J-RPGs devs.

how isn't this saying BW makes better games, "truer" rpgs?

That's exactly what Erickson is saying, period.

Bioware must be losing their minds with their bloated ego if they believe they can dictate what is or isn't a genre of a game... The FF's style of turn based combat/story telling has been labelled as an "RPG" for 20 years now.

 

[SNIPERFOX ft. Harry P.Ness]

i call it and angsty turn based adventure game

 

[P.Tsunami]

I also agree with that notion, but the issue is that there is no clear definition on what defines something as an RPG. Borderlands and Bioshock have "RPG elements" but they are merely levelling up systems and upgrades, if they count as RPG elements then the line is a little fuzzy.

If Borderlands and Bioshock based on their leveling systems are RPGs, then so are MW2 and FIFA10.

Isn't it the same case with Diablo? All the characters you can play with are already created and there are no choices to be made by the players. But it's still considered an RPG.

I think Diablo is technically considered an "action-RPG". Not a true RPG. Fuzzy line, though, as Legion stated in the above quote.

 

[P.Tsunami]

I agree with you there. It's an extremely arrogant claim. Why didn't he simply say 'none of the Final Fantasy games are RPGs, period. I, on the other hand, know what an RPG is-just look at my games!'

A few thoughts. First, as a role player (the word comes from somewhere else than video games, you know) I tend to agree that modern day FF installments have little to do with role playing. They're epic action-adventure games, not actually RPGs.

Secondly, what the fuck does it matter? Erickson isn't claiming that Final Fantasy is a worse game. He's claiming it's not in a specific genre of games. "RPG" is just a label, it doesn't denote quality. Chill out, people.

Ok fine, RPGs have multiple characters that are taking your orders for tactical gameplay as well. Happy now?

So, FIFA 10 is an RPG? It has multiple characters that takes orders for tactical gameplay, and you can advance your character's abilities.

 

[Mr. In-between]

c'mon dude, you've got Daniel Erickson saying ff13 isn't an rpg.
he's the writing director for one of the biggest western rpg devs and he says that one of SE's flagship titles is not an rpg. and SE is one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) J-RPGs devs.

how isn't this saying BW makes better games, "truer" rpgs?

That's exactly what Erickson is saying, period.

Bioware must be losing their minds with their bloated ego if they believe they can dictate what is or isn't a genre of a game... The FF's style of turn based combat/story telling has been labelled as an "RPG" for 20 years now.

It's interesting that he would say that, since I spent tons of time (up until recently) playing tabletop D&D with my friends... a game that I happened to get into because of playing Breath of Fire and Final Fantasy titles.

I have never even had the slightest iota of interest in any Bioware title, so Erickson should blow it out his ass.

 

[Fallen-Angel Risen-Demon]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
*cough*
had an argument with a freind about this the other day.

 

[Liberaliter]

I agree, JRPG's are merely adventure games - if that. They offer no freedom or choice and the only interaction comes from selecting menus and navigating the world. Hence why I don't find them fun.

 

[P.Tsunami]

I agree with what you said. Tabletop RPGs are called role playing because they let you play as a wizard, knight, etc but I still find it derogatory for some person from one company to come out and say the game of another company is not what it claims to be.

The thing that pisses me off though is arrogance. "Oh I dunno what it is but it's not an RPG, that's for sure!" Kinda reminds me when Edge CEO said "Since when did EA become the good guys?" in less worse, of course...

I get what you're saying, certainly, and I'm not going to proclaim myself some Lord of all that's RPG. Hypothetically, though, let's say Valve releases Half Life 3. It is in all ways just an improvement on HL2, and for the most part a very similar game. And lets just say for the sake of argument that they insisted officially on calling HL3 a Real Time Strategy game. I'd say it wouldn't be wrong nor arrogant to insist (even in public) that it's an FPS, not an RTS. Now, I'm not going to say this is the case here; it's certainly not as clear cut an example, but it does illustrate the point that what Erickson's saying isn't in principle wrong, at least not in my opinion.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

I agree with what you said. Tabletop RPGs are called role playing because they let you play as a wizard, knight, etc but I still find it derogatory for some person from one company to come out and say the game of another company is not what it claims to be.

The thing that pisses me off though is arrogance. "Oh I dunno what it is but it's not an RPG, that's for sure!" Kinda reminds me when Edge CEO said "Since when did EA become the good guys?" in less worse, of course...

I get what you're saying, certainly, and I'm not going to proclaim myself some Lord of all that's RPG. Hypothetically, though, let's say Valve releases Half Life 3. It is in all ways just an improvement on HL2, and for the most part a very similar game. And lets just say for the sake of argument that they insisted officially on calling HL3 a Real Time Strategy game. I'd say it wouldn't be wrong nor arrogant to insist (even in public) that it's an FPS, not an RTS. Now, I'm not going to say this is the case here; it's certainly not as clear cut an example, but it does illustrate the point that what Erickson's saying isn't in principle wrong, at least not in my opinion.

exactly this. why is everyone getting into such a fit over some guy calling ff13 not an rpg? he didn't bash on the game or company, just saying that he doesn't think it is an rpg, and even if he did, why do you gotta jump on the flame wagon to hell on him? he's one guy and it ultimately effects nothing.

 

[Tony2077]

here's a idea let this die

 

[Zykon TheLich]

I'd call 'JRPGs' adventure games with RPG elements. That doesn't make them inferior to WRPG's, which are generally a bit closer to true (P&P) RPGs, just different. I still can't stand them though.

 

[Hardcore31]

First off, IMO FFXIII is "borderline" RPG. It has many RPG elements, but i wouldnt say its a full RPG (if that makes sense). The way i see it, what makes a RPG is the storytelling: you are playing role on a story that is taking place. Unlike most action games and FPS (where you are beating levels and going to where the story puts you) you take an active part on the story. It sounds pretty abstract, but i think of it RPG of more like a "effect" that games accomplish thru various ways.

Think about these games: Pokemon, terranigma, Zelda A Link to the Past, and FF (yes i love SNES). All of them are considered RPGs, but they all have pretty different combat styles, customization, leveling methods, setting, etc, but still considered in the same category. Its not about what RPG element it has or doesnt, its about making you get to feel like you are taking a role in the story (like an actor, who plays a role in a story). Games like GTAIV or Saints Row 2 where there is a lot of customization and many times you get to choose how to proceed, arent considered RPGs; they just dont have "it" (more exactly, their other features makes them unable to). Then we have No more Heroes that is considered by many an RPG.

In the end, is pretty hard to describe what makes a game an RPG, but is more of a "how" rather than a "what".