Topic: How Sakaguchi Defines RPGs

From the recent Iwata Asks on The Last Story:

Iwata: How would you define an RPG?

Sakaguchi: Well, there are certain fundamental elements, such as a particular worldview, the story, movie sequences, and characters. The essential elements are characters with real individuality and a unique worldview. When these two elements are fused and form the twin peaks of a high mountain, well, I think that’s my concept of an RPG.

There it is folks... the father of Final Fantasy says that an RPG is defined by the story and not the gameplay. Here I always thought it the opposite.

I think that the Story has more of an importance in an RPG, but gameplay is still the most prominent factor in producing a great RPG, or game. Still, I suppose Sakaguchi knows how to make an RPG better than I do.

Well isn't that just what he thinks. What does Gary gygax think?

yes, but Sakaguchi is Japanese. JRPGs are more about telling a set story, however epic it may be, as opposed to the specific gameplay involved or the player creating their own story — that's why they've got their own distinctive label and we don't lump them all together with actual RPGs.

Cool Last Story bro.

Yeah, I think it's common knowledge that JRPG developers focus more on story than gameplay, which is why people always look at me weird when I try to explain to them that I always play them for their gameplay. It doesn't help that I dislike the stories in most of the RPGs I play. Speaking of which, I wish Sakaguchi would hire better writers. The stories in Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey were pretty bland.

Lost odyssey was pretty good expect the kids.

In a completely non-sarcastic way, I wasn't even thinking of that when I read it. When he said 'RPG', I guess I should've equated it to 'JRPG' D:

@GundamMac: That is one thing though, a lot of JRPGs have distinct gameplay attributes, and (somewhat like you) I tend to play JRPGs more for the gameplay than anything else. Well and the music. But that's something else all together

lol @ zez.

Sakaguchi's being silly. RPGs are games where instead of blood, numbers flow through everyone's veins. Your task is to hunt down every last being on the earth/moon/planetything and knock all the numbers out of them. (except the nice robots who tell you where to go next)

Wait are you guys saying RPGs don't focus on Story? Or only focus on a story you make your own. (Not talking about JRPGs here).

By definition the #1 priority of an RPG is the story. The mechanics behind it simply enable the story.

Not story in the linear sense - RPGs are abstract theatresport experiences. But they are all about the story.

This is vey true. Would I keep playing Chrono Trigger if the story sucked or didn't exist? Not for a minute.