Don't you sometimes feel that RPG genre is stupid?

[Liquidlizard]

Hi, I'm new here, and before you all start bashing me for this provocative title of the topic, I'd like to explain this idea a little more.

I love RPG genre. It allows great story telling, non-linearity, it's addictive, you can explore etc. etc. But in spite of all this potentitial don't you sometimes get this feeling that developers are wasting it and just making a game that leave you feeling like this:
http://www.epictail.com/2009/04/06/gameplay-and-narrative/.

In other words:

It's a grindfest that goes on and on, and then is interrupted by script scenes that are not even always interesting (they can deploy a convoluted and lengthy story, but still filled with cliches and completely shallow).

I know that there are a lot of RPGs, but some to my mind just follow one formula and don't even try some more interesting approach how to spend gameplay time and how to expose narrative throughout the game.

What are your opinions on this matter? Is the genre stagnating or not?

 

[Flying Dagger]

each to their own...

i feel more along the lines that the entire idea of "role playing" means you are meant to create the story yourself. so if the genre is stagnating, then you only have yourself to blame...

 

[Nivag the Owl]

As long as I'm having a lot of fun playing it, the fact that I'm being screwed over on some kind of higher level doesn't make any difference to me. I love RPGs as long as they're non-linear to the max.

 

[Droids_Rule]

It's a grindfest that goes on and on, and then is interrupted by script scenes that are not even always interesting (they can deploy a convoluted and lengthy story, but still filled with cliches and completely shallow).

Then you're playing a bad RPG. >.>

And, no, I don't think the RPG genre is stagnating more than any other genre. You'll always have your armfuls of mediocre, redundant, or downright terrible games, puncuated by the occasional gems. This isn't unique to the RPG genre anymore than it is to RTS, FPS, etc.

 

[Same River New Water]

Then you're playing a bad RPG. >.>

That's about right. The genre itself isn't stupid or becoming stupid. It's possible to argue that more bad RPGs than good RPGs have been coming out lately; actually I think that is what the OP is trying to say, but it's not what she/he asked in the title.

By the way, I'm suspicious that this is a thinly-veiled attempt by the author of the linked comic to drum up traffic to his/her webcomic. A webcomic that started on the internet four days ago. A webcomic that is fixated on lizardmen. The OP's name is Liquidlizard. Hmm.

 

[Droids_Rule]

Not to mention that it is the OP's first post on these boards?

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Welcome to the Escapist.

Not a great first impression, sadly.

Grinding can be fun, when its called for. But grinding does not work in story-based RPGs. Or any RPG with a weak combat system.

 

[cainx10a]

Welcome to the Escapist.

Not a great first impression, sadly.

Grinding can be fun, when its called for. But grinding does not work in story-based RPGs. Or any RPG with a weak combat system.

That's why there is a genre known as ACTION-RPG; hell, even in the Witcher, I wished there were more enemies to fight that run through the same empty territories over and over again > . >, because the combat was actually decent.

Then again, most ACTION-Rpg lacks the ooomph in combat, Titan Quest for example, good game, good amount of combat, but -click * 1000*, get old fast sometimes, and while I have yet to beat the game, mainly because of the fact that the boss fights are as easy as mobs fight -click click pot click click pot-, it just doesn't feel right after a while.

But for one, I LOVE grinding in my games, that's why despite the cheesy, bad-voice acting, awful cutscenes of Phantasy Star Portable, I'm quite enjoying the combat, and looting

 

[DragonChi]

I felt that way every moment while playing Eternal Sonata. but apart from that..i love RPG's in all its forms.

 

[Liquidlizard]

I guess I'm more in favour of those RPGs that somehow manage either to leave it in players hands what's coming next (somewhat more sandbox style) or that at least manage to space out the narrative in other forms than a lengthy script scene in between large doses of hack n'slash.

By the way, I'm suspicious that this is a thinly-veiled attempt by the author of the linked comic to drum up traffic to his/her webcomic. A webcomic that started on the internet four days ago. A webcomic that is fixated on lizardmen. The OP's name is Liquidlizard.

There isn't much veil or anything. It is an attempt to get some kind of information around about this project which is not much of a secret (otherwise I should have hidden the links more carefully and changed the name each time). However the aim is to do it together with some kind of discussion about a chosen theme not just some dumb spam "look here!" which would just annoy people. In the threads and answers I'm focusing on the topic and not the link (which anyone can avoid). Thus a discussion is contributed to the forum, despite my other intentions (because I'm still interested in the theme that is discussed).

However if people find it bothersome here, I without doubt will stop doing it. Or I can add a warning sign in my text next to the hyperlink.

 

[ae86gamer]

each to their own...

i feel more along the lines that the entire idea of "role playing" means you are meant to create the story yourself. so if the genre is stagnating, then you only have yourself to blame...

Took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[bodhidharma]

Some developers do a great job most dont.

 

[Liquidlizard]

Yeah, well creating is great, but you do need some tools. What can I create, say in "The Last Remnant"?

 

[Anachronism]

Sure, there's no shortage of bad RPGs that offer pretty much exactly what you've decscribed, but there are also many excellent RPGs which can immerse you unlike any other genre.

 

[antipunt]

hmm..depends on the RPG. If an RPG has story-text that makes me want to skip it, most likely I wouldn't be playing it

 

[Mrsoupcup]

I don't think its RPGs but JRPGs.

 

[Same River New Water]

if people find it bothersome here, I without doubt will stop doing it. Or I can add a warning sign in my text next to the hyperlink.

It depends how you go about it and how the mods are feeling on the day they notice you doing it. What you've done in this thread is probably ok; I only raised an eyebrow because it's your first post. If a lot of your posts are like this, you're likely to get a warning or a suspension. If you post links to your site without providing a good excuse, you'll get suspended or booted. It's worth checking with the mods if you plan to do it more than once or twice.

EDIT: To clarify, the problem is with making posts that are mainly intended to promote your site, not linking to your site now and then because it's relevant to the topic.

 

[Liquidlizard]

Thanks for the advice, I will ask them.

 

[PrimaVita]

Yes. It is just become repetitive.