Capcom: No More RPGs

[Gorvi]

If you're a Breath of Fire fan (all 20 of us), prepare to have your heart ripped out by Capcom's Keiji Inafune. In a recent interview with 1UP (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3171986), Capcom's head of research and development pretty much killed any hope of seeing a continuation of the franchise, or any other RPG from Capcom for that matter. His response when asked about the Breath of Fire:
There are currently no plans on making a new Breath of Fire game. Apart from that, regarding RPG titles, they are very popular in Japan, but only certain RPG titles sell so Capcom doesn't really need to even consider making these titles as an option. There's a low possibility that we'll be making one in the near future. But, I realize that there are fans of the series, and we have staff who are interested so it's not out of the question. We actually have a lot of titles in a similar situation, where there's an interest by users and our staff, but where we just don't have the resources. Square Enix and Namco Bandai have 1,200 development staff but we only have 600. There's a lot more that we want to do, titles that would probably sell well if we made them, but we just don't have enough staff.
As a fan of the series, I really hate to see this. My hopes for more Breath of Fire games, even on the PSP or DS, were slim, but at least they were there. Not any more, I guess. Maybe a current gen console game is too much to ask for with their "limited" staff, but that seems to be a poor excuse not to do even a handheld sequel or to farm out the license to a team willing to give it a shot.

[Wellscha]

I am Mad :mad:

[DoctorFinger]

Ugh. Why? I could almost understand if he was talking about not making any more console RPGs, but the PSP and DS are much cheaper to develop for, and much more accommodating to these games.

[rein]

Booooo!

I'm one of those 20 that likes the BoF RPG's.

[Purple Santa]

I guess financially it doesn't make sense on the handhelds either. Although I agree I think it would make money since I think more would buy a BoF on PSP/DS. But what Publisher wants to take risks now? Also, the reference to the small size in comparison to Square...I wonder if Capcom wants to merge or be bought out? I know there have been rumors...but i'm wondering if they feel they can't compete compared to Square and Namco now with their mergers.

[bean]

They can make Lost Planet, but they can't make Breath of Fire?

Oh well. . . as long as they continue making great zombie games (RE and Dead Rising). . . oh, and Mega Man. I enjoyed most BoF games even though they didn't do much new. I'd honestly just like to see more competently made JRPGs.

[frederec]

Ugh. Why? I could almost understand if he was talking about not making any more console RPGs, but the PSP and DS are much cheaper to develop for, and much more accommodating to these games.

Because he hates you. And he hates fun in general. And I hear he can't have an orgasm unless he kills a dog. (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/02/23/) That's just something I heard somewhere.

[JayVe]

This is sad.

In perspective though, this generation of RPGs has left me wanting. A good RPG has so many different aspects to it, and if only one of them is off, the whole game falls apart.

I believe that top-notch RPGs are the most difficult type of game to pull off.

*raises glass* A toast to remember times of diversity in the game marketplace and richer RPGs. :(

[Mike Kelehan]

If you have properties that would sell if you made them, but you don't have the staff, you hire more staff.

[jpublic]

The problem is that the BoF games don't sell. They're popular, but in an also-ran kind of way. They *never* reach the big numbers that Capcom wants.

[frederec]

The problem is that the BoF games don't sell. They're popular, but in an also-ran kind of way. They *never* reach the big numbers that Capcom wants.

I think you could also argue that Capcom has never put a lot of force into them. There's been a total of five of the games since the Super Nintendo. This is kinda crazy from a company that has a reputation for cranking out sequels like there's no tomorrow.

It didn't help that the only PS2 installment was such a departure for the series. Not saying it's bad, but something like that might have made more sense as an offshoot, rather than a full-fledged entry of the series, the only one we've had since the Playstation. I almost wonder if they set it up to fail.

[MagGnome]

This is disappointing for fans of the series.

What he says makes sense though. There are definitely people out there who want a new Breath of Fire game, but the series doesn't exactly light up the charts.

I understand how you guys feel though. Most of my favorite franchises are dead. :(

[Disgustipated]

Good. A slap in the face is what we all needed anyways.

[frederec]

Good. A slap in the face is what we all needed anyways.

Gotta keep you in line somehow, right?

[Purple Santa]

The problem is that the BoF games don't sell. They're popular, but in an also-ran kind of way. They *never* reach the big numbers that Capcom wants.

I think that is the problem with JRPGs in general. Outside of a FF or DQ most don't sell beyond their niche market. Now that was different in the PS2 era, which was as we know ushered in by FFVII. But before FFVII, JRPGs were a niche product. I think the audience has shrunk back to that niche market. To take upon what JayVe was saying, a toast to the classic JRPGs...yeah, I don't think we are going to see another age like that. Partly, I think is that as older gamers, the games won't play the same. Our tastes change. So the golden age of PS2 JRPGs, aren't going to appeal to most outside of the niche market. Even those in that market lament the lackluster appeal of the current JRPGs. They can't compete. I think part of that is we have grown as gamers but the genre hasn't. I know some say Lost Odyssey was attempting to do this. My feeling is the cost of making a good JRPG and to the numbers that actually will sell that it's financially feasible...most likely isn't going to occur. How well did Lost Planet sell? I don't have the numbers (Bean, i'm sure you will provide them for us ;)) but if Capcom is done with RPGs i'm guessing not enough. This all changes though if Capcom does get bought out by MS though ;)

[Gorvi]

If NIS can continue to produce and publish niche JRPGs and SRPGs, there's no reason why Capcom can't. Their games rarely sell over 200k worldwide (probably far less) but they're still chugging along just fine, and that's all they do.

[jpublic]

That's a really good point. Look at the biggest standout JRPGs in the last while - the most noteworthy non-DQ/FF games were probably the following:

Persona 3
Persona 4
The World Ends With You
Lost odyssey.

Others, like Tales of Vesperia, Infinite Undiscovery, Eternal Sonata, Last Remnant - they didn't do so hot. Hell, LO is probably debateable.

[frederec]

That's a really good point. Look at the biggest standout JRPGs in the last while - the most noteworthy non-DQ/FF games were probably the following:

Persona 3
Persona 4
The World Ends With You
Lost odyssey.

Others, like Tales of Vesperia, Infinite Undiscovery, Eternal Sonata, Last Remnant - they didn't do so hot. Hell, LO is probably debateable.

Yeah, if a company is only willing to put out a game if it's competing with AAA titles on the 360 or the PS3, they're setting themselves up for failure. But allowing a game to be on a more modest system allows the gameplay to come to the forefront. It may not hit the huge sales of the biggest games, but it connects with the fans, and makes money because it didn't cost as much upfront.

Why don't they see this? I would be happy with a new Breath of Fire if it were on the Wii or a handheld as long as the gameplay was worthwhile.

[JayVe]

Yeah, if a company is only willing to put out a game if it's competing with AAA titles on the 360 or the PS3, they're setting themselves up for failure. But allowing a game to be on a more modest system allows the gameplay to come to the forefront. It may not hit the huge sales of the biggest games, but it connects with the fans, and makes money because it didn't cost as much upfront.

This whole generation seems to be "BIGGER LOUDER SHINIER" while squeezing out any kind of middle ground. Only those with the biggest budgets and shiniest graphics can survive. A single flop, and your whole company is in danger.

Everyone wants to make something titanic, instead of making something modest and being happy with modest returns. I'd like to remind all game developers that titanic isn't always a good idea, as the ship of the same name proved.

[Mike Kelehan]

This is sad.

In perspective though, this generation of RPGs has left me wanting. A good RPG has so many different aspects to it, and if only one of them is off, the whole game falls apart.

I believe that top-notch RPGs are the most difficult type of game to pull off.

*raises glass* A toast to remember times of diversity in the game marketplace and richer RPGs. :(

Persona 4?

[JayVe]

Persona 4?

Is a dying breed.

[Gorvi]

Is a dying breed.
Not dying, but definitely more of an "underground" thing. It's niche, but it'll survive.

[frederec]

Not dying, but definitely more of an "underground" thing. It's niche, but it'll survive.

Exactly what I was thinking. Atlus and Nippon Ichi seem to be doing fine these days, Atlus moreso. While all these other companies are risking everything with these huge budget titles, at least we're getting modest games of good quality from them. And at least for Persona, Atlus is getting plenty of press for it, so I'm not really sure how underground it is.

[JayVe]

Not dying, but definitely more of an "underground" thing. It's niche, but it'll survive.

Not saying persona itself is dying. But the second/third-tier RPGs are going away. Take a look at how many RPGs have been released this gen compared to last gen. Heck, even Persona is on a last-gen system.

I bet RPGs have a much lower rate of return than other games, as a good RPG takes a lot more effort to put together than a platformer, shooter or racing game. Not to mention, an RPG takes a LOT more effort to localize than another genre game.

[fitbabits]

I blame Square-Enix and the multitude of Final Fantasy games. :)

The market was absolutely SATURATED with below-par offerings which in turn led people to believe that RPGs/JRPGs were all of the same poor quality.

[frederec]

Not saying persona itself is dying. But the second/third-tier RPGs are going away. Take a look at how many RPGs have been released this gen compared to last gen. Heck, even Persona is on a last-gen system.


You know, I felt the same way for the first few years I owned a PS2. For quite some time my RPG collection for the Playstation positively dwarfed that of the PS2. It probably wasn't until a good four years into its life that the PS2 really came into its own with RPGs. I'm gradually learning that that's just the way it is. It took a long time before the DS started getting some serious RPGs too. They will come. It just takes patience.

[Gorvi]

You know, I felt the same way for the first few years I owned a PS2. For quite some time my RPG collection for the Playstation positively dwarfed that of the PS2. It probably wasn't until a good four years into its life that the PS2 really came into its own with RPGs. I'm gradually learning that that's just the way it is. It took a long time before the DS started getting some serious RPGs too. They will come. It just takes patience.
The PS2 wasn't that slow, though. You still had Shadow Hearts, Okage, Final Fantasy X, Tsugunai, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, Jade Cocoon 2, Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land, and Dark Cloud, all in the system's first 14 months on the market in the US. This gen has been a lot slower in getting us RPGs.

[JayVe]

You know, I felt the same way for the first few years I owned a PS2. For quite some time my RPG collection for the Playstation positively dwarfed that of the PS2. It probably wasn't until a good four years into its life that the PS2 really came into its own with RPGs. I'm gradually learning that that's just the way it is. It took a long time before the DS started getting some serious RPGs too. They will come. It just takes patience.

Good points. I'm aware that the majority of RPGs typically come in the latter half of a system's life, but this gen seems like the genre isn't gaining much traction... especially of the Japanese kind. I'm simply glad I have my DS. Even old, 2nd tier DS RPGs like Magical Starsign Vacation have been more enjoyable than any JRPGs I've played on home systems this gen.

[MagGnome]

Gotta keep you in line somehow, right?

Riley needs more than a good slapping to keep him in line. :p


This whole generation seems to be "BIGGER LOUDER SHINIER" while squeezing out any kind of middle ground. Only those with the biggest budgets and shiniest graphics can survive. A single flop, and your whole company is in danger.

Everyone wants to make something titanic, instead of making something modest and being happy with modest returns. I'd like to remind all game developers that titanic isn't always a good idea, as the ship of the same name proved.

This is one of the things that really hurt the PC market. Too many developers focused on having the shiniest, most resource intense graphics possible, and sales suffered because of it. It's taken smart companies like Valve and Blizzard to take a step back and realize that art design, gameplay, story, etc. are more important than having the best graphics out there. Scalability is also a huge plus.

Meanwhile the developers that couldn't adapt, such as Epic, have run off to the console market where they can still sell huge numbers based on shiny graphics and big guns. :p


As for everyone in here mourning the shrinking of the JRPG market, keep this in mind:

There's still at least 10 JRPGs a year for every decent CRPG. :(

[Norse]

If the resources are spent on other game genres I feel the less JRPGs the better.

[Wraitheist]

Well, I liked the first 3 Breath of Fire games, but the last one was dreadful. So I guess I'm not overly dissapointed.

[jpublic]

Well, I liked the first 3 Breath of Fire games, but the last one was dreadful. So I guess I'm not overly dissapointed.

Go fig, I thought Dragon Quarter (BoF 5) was easily one of the best games Capcom's ever produced.

[Gorvi]

Go fig, I thought Dragon Quarter (BoF 5) was easily one of the best games Capcom's ever produced.
Agreed, the game is great. Great gameplay, great music, great art style. IV was probably one of the better PS1 RPGs as well.

[frederec]

The PS2 wasn't that slow, though. You still had Shadow Hearts, Okage, Final Fantasy X, Tsugunai, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, Jade Cocoon 2, Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land, and Dark Cloud, all in the system's first 14 months on the market in the US. This gen has been a lot slower in getting us RPGs.

True, but I would argue that out of that list, Final Fantasy X, and to a lesser extent Shadow Hearts and Dark Cloud are the only worthwhile ones. And Shadow Hearts and Dark Cloud didn't really come into their own until their sequels.

I just remember several years into the PS2's life looking at my collection and feeling that RPG's were very underrepresented. For someone who plays mostly RPG's, that's strange. It's no longer the case, but it did take a while, at least from my point of view.

Not that I'm saying that the PS3 is the same. It is worse off. But I have hope that it will improve over time.

[Gorvi]

True, but I would argue that out of that list, Final Fantasy X, and to a lesser extent Shadow Hearts and Dark Cloud are the only worthwhile ones. And Shadow Hearts and Dark Cloud didn't really come into their own until their sequels.

I just remember several years into the PS2's life looking at my collection and feeling that RPG's were very underrepresented. For someone who plays mostly RPG's, that's strange. It's no longer the case, but it did take a while, at least from my point of view.

Not that I'm saying that the PS3 is the same. It is worse off. But I have hope that it will improve over time.
Tsugunai was pretty good if you could get past the rather generic art style, it had a defense based battle system, something you don't see at all, and it had a Mitsuda soundtrack, who I'm a big fan of. BG was great as a Diablo style game, at least for co-op.

By year 2 and 3, though, the PS2 had really hit it's stride with RPGs. RPGs on current consoles, 3 years into the cylce, are still few and far between, with most being what would have been considered B grade back on the PS2 and not that many on the horizon that look to be of even the quality of Shadow Hearts (another game I was a big fan of).

For RPGs, it's pretty much the PSP and DS this gen, they've been very disappointing on consoles.

[frederec]

Shadow Hearts

You think maybe if we keep mentioning how awesome it is they'll make another one? It would be nice...

But you're right. Things are very slow this generation. But I think that's partly because of the strange situation of the PS2 and the handhelds. Most of the games I'm looking forward to at any given time these days are split between the PS2, the DS, and the PSP. I think the games that otherwise would have been modest games on current-gen systems are instead finding homes on handhelds and the PS2. It's a strange situation, and I'm not sure if it'll change soon.

Which comes back to my original argument. Capcom doesn't need to use a huge team or a big budget, just a modest team to make a new Breath of Fire on any one of the DS, the PSP, or even the PS2 or the Wii. I've bought a number of games on the Wii recently that can be played entirely with the classic controller. It seems that modest games are starting to find a new home on the Wii with the classic controller. And I don't really mind.

[Gorvi]

You think maybe if we keep mentioning how awesome it is they'll make another one? It would be nice...
I would absolutely love that. Heck, I even played Koudelka. I still haven't played the 3rd proper SH game yet, though, I really should, I do own it.
But you're right. Things are very slow this generation. But I think that's partly because of the strange situation of the PS2 and the handhelds. Most of the games I'm looking forward to at any given time these days are split between the PS2, the DS, and the PSP. I think the games that otherwise would have been modest games on current-gen systems are instead finding homes on handhelds and the PS2. It's a strange situation, and I'm not sure if it'll change soon.

Which comes back to my original argument. Capcom doesn't need to use a huge team or a big budget, just a modest team to make a new Breath of Fire on any one of the DS, the PSP, or even the PS2 or the Wii. I've bought a number of games on the Wii recently that can be played entirely with the classic controller. It seems that modest games are starting to find a new home on the Wii with the classic controller. And I don't really mind.
And I'd love to see that, really. Make it for the PSP, DS, Wii, or PS2, and I'd be happy. I don't need amazing graphics in an RPG, though it's not like they hurt. I just want the games.

[divinechaos]

As soon as the millions of dollars from RE5 start rolling in I'm sure they'll start hiring more people to make the "lesser" games.

[Kelegacy]

I think we NEED a Capcom RPG. I think it would be sublime.

We need MORE games of this type from a developer with a fine pedigree. I haven't been overly impressed with the current gen's offerings thus far. They're fine games, but nothing that will be memorable for me, I think. Or perhaps I'm just outgrowing the JRPG genre, as stupid as that is to say.

[TheFlyingOrc]

Just make them on the Wii for nothing and sell them for cheap. Problem solved.

[TheFlyingOrc]

Not saying persona itself is dying. But the second/third-tier RPGs are going away. Take a look at how many RPGs have been released this gen compared to last gen. Heck, even Persona is on a last-gen system.

I think this is dumb, and dozens of them should be coming out for the Wii. It would be big in Japan. The problem is the old system for RPGs is losing this generation, the 360 doesn't have appeal in the east, and the Wii is targeting the wrong market. I still believe a good RPG could sell well on the Wii.

I bet RPGs have a much lower rate of return than other games, as a good RPG takes a lot more effort to put together than a platformer, shooter or racing game. Not to mention, an RPG takes a LOT more effort to localize than another genre game.
I'm not sure that's true. Your engine gets to be much, much simpler, especially with menu-driven combat. Your content team has to work overtime, but no more than the good folks here at my company making an MMO.

[Philonious]

I've been having fun with Chrono Trigger this week, which means I'm longing for a new 'classic' RPG. The death of Breath of Fire is indeed sad. I agree (with pretty much everyone) that developers/publishers are WAY too focussed on the BLOCKBUSTER titles that launch for the Holidays these days. I understand not wanting to waster 'big' money making games that won't sell 'big'... But why not budget according to projected sales instead? Mega Man 9 and Square's countless re-releases makes me hope that someone will figure out that 'small' games can sell too.

[Kelegacy]

I don't know about the "bigger and shinier" argument for the current gen systems, since I haven't been wowed yet (other than Eternal Sonata, but that had the tradeoff of some gameplay issues). I would LOVE to see more Persona-esque games on platforms like the 360. Just because it's an HD system doesn't mean it has to be cutting edge. Look at Disgaea 3. It looks like a PS2 (or PS1) title but it's on the PS3.

Graphics are great and all, but I'd be fine with PS2-style graphics that are compatible at HD resolutions. The Wii on my LCD looks like arse.

[Variable Gear]

The PS2 wasn't that slow, though. You still had Shadow Hearts, Okage, Final Fantasy X, Tsugunai, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, Jade Cocoon 2, Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land, and Dark Cloud, all in the system's first 14 months on the market in the US. This gen has been a lot slower in getting us RPGs.
That shouldn't surprise anyone, considering the ridiculous amount of work it takes to produce a AAA RPG on the current generation of systems. I wish that the download services offered by all three systems would inspire developers to attempt to create a smaller, less fatty RPGs that could also be inexpensively priced. Unfortunately, though, all it has inspired is additional ports of the classics.

[LongStepMantis]

I r Sad. :(
BoF 1-3 were some of my favorite RPGs of all time.

[DigitalFirefly]

Capcom makes RPGs?

[Variable Gear]

Capcom makes RPGs?
They used to (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breath_of_fire).

[LongStepMantis]

That shouldn't surprise anyone, considering the ridiculous amount of work it takes to produce a AAA RPG on the current generation of systems. I wish that the download services offered by all three systems would inspire developers to attempt to create a smaller, less fatty RPGs that could also be inexpensively priced. Unfortunately, though, all it has inspired is additional ports of the classics.

If there's one thing I don't like about the way games today are heading, it's that they're becoming more like film productions.

Months to years of planning and development, as much new eye candy as they can squeeze in, massive amounts of hype...and yet feel lacking in gameplay quite often when compared to the simpler, easier and cheaper to produce titles of the gens past. Nowadays a big name title spends years in development and its success (or lack thereof) will often make or break the designers. The costs of even being in the field have skyrocketed as they need bigger teams, more tech, and more time to produce titles.

And for a large part, the only things that are really improving in them is the graphics...which don't mean shit if it's a clone of a preexisting title/idea or the game is just not fun. Lighting effects, shaders, and photo-realistic graphics can make a game look better, but it adds nothing to whether or not it's fun, imo.

/rant

[Xerxes]

If you have properties that would sell if you made them, but you don't have the staff, you hire more staff.
With what money. I'm sure they are using their resources the best they can.

[MagGnome]

With what money. I'm sure they are using their resources the best they can.

True. There isn't exactly a lot of capital flowing around right now.

[Philonious]

With what money. I'm sure they are using their resources the best they can.

Maybe shave a million or two off of the budget 'eXtreme' Bionic Commando (a guaranteed 'failure') and put it into something else? Everyone wants their next game to be Halo, and until they learn something from Nintendo's successes with the Wii and DS they will only be disappointed. Capcom USED to be willing to be experimental, and obviously it didn't pay off, so they cut that team off and are trying to be more Western. It would kill them to give a couple million to a small team and have them develop an old school RPG for the handhelds or as DLC for any/all of the major platforms.

[Xerxes]

Maybe shave a million or two off of the budget 'eXtreme' Bionic Commando (a guaranteed 'failure') and put it into something else? Everyone wants their next game to be Halo, and until they learn something from Nintendo's successes with the Wii and DS they will only be disappointed. Capcom USED to be willing to be experimental, and obviously it didn't pay off, so they cut that team off and are trying to be more Western. It would kill them to give a couple million to a small team and have them develop an old school RPG for the handhelds or as DLC for any/all of the major platforms.

Ugh, I want nothing to do with nintendo success. :(

Why put money into BoF when it did as poorly as eXtreme BC? Cause you liked one and not the other?

[KingGorilla]

Capcom makes RPGs?

These were my thoughts, the last one I can recall was a remake. But then again, most Capcom games I can think of are remakes.

I think the real insight here is that RPGs are really expensive to make, and incredibly hard to make well. You can poop out an action game and the Mountain Dew spewing masses will gobble it up, the less you spend on it the better the return. The cost of investing in writers, localization, QA, on the most mediocre RPG is astonishingly expensive compared to any action title. 7 or 8 hours of content, highly controlled paths for limited testing, easy to create demos and trailer material that can wow people.

[Philonious]

Ugh, I want nothing to do with nintendo success.

I'm not the biggest Nintendo fan either, but I'm hoping that at some point other publishers/developers figure out that a game doesn't have to be a blockbuster to be successful. It has become a vicious cycle: dev costs are up, so pubs need game to sell more, so they pump more cash in... Success has been redefined. It is what EA was, and what Activision has become. They take no risks, and provide only generic sequels. (Boring.) I've enjoyed the Penny Arcade Adventures as much as many BIG name, BIG budget games. Someone, at some point, will hopefully take the hint. Not everything needs to be AAA to be good. Unfortunately publishers only see GTA and Halo and (understandably) want those kinds of numbers (making pretty much every game they develop a disappointment sales-wise). The ONLY game that Capcom will release with big numbers in the near future will be RE5, and they need to scale their production budgets accordingly.

Why put money into BoF when it did as poorly as eXtreme BC? Cause you liked one and not the other?

Because it it different and it is nice to have a good developer other than Square/Namco/Atlus making games in the genre. And because I think that shelving the series is due more to the fact that they see Breath of Fire as competing with FFXIII instead of competing with Chrono Trigger DS. FFVII did a lot of the genre, but I think that it also lead to many publishers/developers seeing JRPG as laving, big budget games and ONLY compete with the big boys. I think there is still room for smaller JRPGs, and that the handheld market is currently crowded with remakes and subpar products.

And by eXtreme Bionic Commando I mean the full 3D dreadlocked version, not the downloadable remake... Which looks so generic I'd be surprised if anyone cared about its release for any reason other than misplaced nostalgia. I'm just thinking that instead of thinking BIG budget eXtreme BoF, Capcom should consider the reasonably budget downloadable/handheld BoF. (Of course, like I said in my initial post, I'm seeing this through the rose-coloured glasses of Chrono Trigger.)

[bean]

That's a really good point. Look at the biggest standout JRPGs in the last while - the most noteworthy non-DQ/FF games were probably the following:

Persona 3
Persona 4
The World Ends With You
Lost odyssey.

Others, like Tales of Vesperia, Infinite Undiscovery, Eternal Sonata, Last Remnant - they didn't do so hot. Hell, LO is probably debateable.
Tales of Vesparia, Lost Oddysey, and Blue Dragon all sold really well. Tales of Vesparia is also one of the best JRPGs out. . . ever. It is a fantastic game, and because of this it actually caused Xbox 360s to sell out in Japan.

But this is a nitpick about Tales being an important title. Your main point is interesting speculation.

I've read several people speculating about why the JRPG market may becoming more niche. . . and honestly, I don't know that it is, but if it is, then I think it is because a large portion of the gamer market who enjoys these types of games are instead playing Western titles. As I said, Tales of Vesparia is an incredibly good JRPG, but if I had to go to a deserted island and my strange captor made me choose between Fallout 3 and Tales or Fable 2 and Tales or Oblivion and Tales. . . well, I wouldn't be playing Tales of Vesparia while I sucked down coconut milk. However, these Western RPGs are just trash mobs compared to the epic 40-man raid boss that is World of Warcraft. Honestly, people who used to grind for that awesome character in JRPGs have, for the most part, moved on to harder drugs. Why fuck with marijuana when you've got heroin?

[KingGorilla]

I'm not the biggest Nintendo fan either, but I'm hoping that at some point other publishers/developers figure out that a game doesn't have to be a blockbuster to be successful. It has become a vicious cycle: dev costs are up, so pubs need game to sell more, so they pump more cash in... Success has been redefined.

Here is the secret, companies will ALWAYS make the games that they want to make, to attain their own set goals. CD Projekt mage a great RPG and was rewarded financially. The Fraser bros, and company, made a fantastic RTS, no DRM, and have been handsomely rewarded. Ubisoft wants every title they have to sell a million, so they market the fuck out of them, go for safe bets, and release the same titles over and over. Just like you are not going to see Kevin Smith or Pixar making a pure cash in movie, or James Cameron making a low budget horror movie. It is very easy to minimize costs to maximize profits, that is what most Wii and DS development has boiled down to. Do you think Petz or Animal Crossing had a 40 man dev team and a 3 year cycle?

[Philonious]

Here is the secret, companies will ALWAYS make the games that they want to make, to attain their own set goals. CD Projekt mage a great RPG and was rewarded financially. The Fraser bros, and company, made a fantastic RTS, no DRM, and have been handsomely rewarded. Ubisoft wants every title they have to sell a million, so they market the fuck out of them, go for safe bets, and release the same titles over and over. Just like you are not going to see Kevin Smith or Pixar making a pure cash in movie, or James Cameron making a low budget horror movie. It is very easy to minimize costs to maximize profits, that is what most Wii and DS development has boiled down to. Do you think Petz or Animal Crossing had a 40 man dev team and a 3 year cycle?

Agreed. I'm not saying that they MUST make a new BoF, especially if they have no desire to, I'm just saying that everyone seems to be approaching game development from one perspective, that of the blockbuster, and I think that they might want to consider other options. If they don't want to make the game, fine. If they don't want to make the game because the cost/sales analysis tells them it won't be profitable because they cannot compete with Square, maybe they should re-evaluate how they think about making games. (Also, having a small team working with a small budget producing games that aren't complete poo seems like a good idea to me.)

...and I'm confused. Isn't Monster Hunter Capcom's best selling series?

[Spigot]

I blame Square-Enix and the multitude of Final Fantasy games. :)

The market was absolutely SATURATED with below-par offerings which in turn led people to believe that RPGs/JRPGs were all of the same poor quality.A big problem with SE is that unless it is a DQ/FF game, it rarely receives anywhere near the same level of polish as those flagship titles get. This ends up fueling a vicious cycle where the games that aren't DQ/FF end up looking or playing way below the accepted standard (despite usually being decent games at their core) which means they either get poor reviews or sales which then further disincentivizes SE from bothering to put much effort into new/smaller IP titles.

As for this news, I was never a big BoF fan but I did adore Dragon Quarter on the PS2. I know it's the furthest from the classic BoF games but man, I loved it for that.

As long as Capcom keeps making Ace Attorney games, I'll be happy... but so help me if they axe that division too!

[Spigot]

...and I'm confused. Isn't Monster Hunter Capcom's best selling series?
I don't know if I would necessarily call Monster Hunter a JRPG, at least not in the classic sense. It's like Pokemon (where you kill the monsters instead of catching them) crossed with a Barbie Dress-Up game where you make all sorts of new outfits for your burly virtual doll. It's pretty far removed from the waters that your Final Fantasies and Breath Of Fires swim in.

[bean]

Agreed. I'm not saying that they MUST make a new BoF, especially if they have no desire to, I'm just saying that everyone seems to be approaching game development from one perspective, that of the blockbuster, and I think that they might want to consider other options.
The biggest time constraint and money-eater in game development is the creation of art assets, so the only way to really cut corners on another Breath of Fire game would be to make it on low resolution consoles (and/or handhelds).

[JayVe]

I'm not the biggest Nintendo fan either, but I'm hoping that at some point other publishers/developers figure out that a game doesn't have to be a blockbuster to be successful. It has become a vicious cycle: dev costs are up, so pubs need game to sell more, so they pump more cash in... Success has been redefined. It is what EA was, and what Activision has become. They take no risks, and provide only generic sequels. (Boring.) I've enjoyed the Penny Arcade Adventures as much as many BIG name, BIG budget games. Someone, at some point, will hopefully take the hint. Not everything needs to be AAA to be good. Amen brother! Speak the good word!

And by eXtreme Bionic Commando I mean the full 3D dreadlocked version, not the downloadable remake... Which looks so generic I'd be surprised if anyone cared about its release for any reason other than misplaced nostalgia. I'm just thinking that instead of thinking BIG budget eXtreme BoF, Capcom should consider the reasonably budget downloadable/handheld BoF. (Of course, like I said in my initial post, I'm seeing this through the rose-coloured glasses of Chrono Trigger.)
I never, ever played the original Bionic Commando until recently, so I'm not colored by nostalgia. I picked up the 2.5D Bionic Commando: Rearmed on the 360 after playing the demo, and falling madly in love with it. After looking through some videos of the upcoming 3D game, I can safely state that i am getting it on day one. Grappling hooks + multiplayer = awesome (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/see-first-bionic-commando-multiplayer-video/). Yes, Capcom could make smaller-scale RPGs and turn a tidy little profit on them, but don't let that stop them from taking a chance on a new 3D grappling hook title.

[KingGorilla]

Agreed. I'm not saying that they MUST make a new BoF, especially if they have no desire to, I'm just saying that everyone seems to be approaching game development from one perspective, that of the blockbuster, and I think that they might want to consider other options. If they don't want to make the game, fine. If they don't want to make the game because the cost/sales analysis tells them it won't be profitable because they cannot compete with Square, maybe they should re-evaluate how they think about making games.

Also never underestimate a company just saying no to a segment, even a large segment, of their audience. Disney is no longer making cell animation films, period. Microsoft axed two studios, each with guaranteed multi million selling franchises. It all comes down to what the company wants to focus on. But things have a way of working themselves out. Many of the Fasa and Day 1 properties are being bought up from MS. And just like Ensemble's group will make another RTS, I think there will be a splinter group from Capcom to make an RPG.
That is the real silver lining. Capcom may not fund this, but there is a group AT Capcom willing and able to find a way to put out a RPG like Breath of Fire.

[Urizen]

Strange Capcom would say this after striking gold and turning the admittedly shrinking Japanese market topsy-turvy this year with Monster Hunter 2. I'd expect Capcom to be more bullish on RPGs. Instead, they are getting bullish on the MH franchise.

[Loki]

And here I was hoping for an Okami 2. But hey, at least we will get a Street Fighter 4!

/sarcasm

[Loki]

Also never underestimate a company just saying no to a segment, even a large segment, of their audience. Disney is no longer making cell animation films, period.

Wrong. They announced that they were no longer doing that; however, with the acquisition of Pixar a couple years ago, one of the negotiations was that Lasseter would head the animation department for all things Disney and he revived the cell animation department. With The Princess and the Frog (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_and_the_Frog) being released early next year followed by another cell animated movie (King of Elves) within the next four years, Disney cell animation looks to be going strong.