From what I can see, there are three main groups the Wii U needs to appeal to to be a major success. The first are the big-time Nintendo fans, many of whom already have the Wii U and are anxiously awaiting SSB, Mario Kart, 3D Mario, Zelda, and Metroid. This group is probably disproportionately represented on fan sites like this, but they aren't a majority of gamers. The second is casual gamers, many of whom own a Wii and smartphones, and hopefully the Wii U Fit and Play will draw more of them in - but the challenge may be that many of them won't want to spend over $300 on a console. I want to focus on the third group: core gamers who mainly play on gaming PCs or competing systems, but may buy the Wii U as a secondary console. People don't fit perfectly into only one category, but I think it's useful to view it like this.
The successes of Ni No Kuni, Fire Emblem and the Operation Rainfall trilogy are a sign that maybe Western audiences are more into JRPG and strategy RPG types of games than some people in the industry have previously thought. A major focus on getting great RPGs would appeal to a lot of gamers, including a lot of hardcore gamers. I think on of the best things the Wii U could do would be to target older RPGs that still have a lot of fans, and bring them to the Wii U (exclusively if they can). These could be fairly simple ports (HD Xenoblade), remakes, or even sequels. The obvious choices are things like Chrono Trigger, Earthbound (Mother), and early Final Fantasy games. They should also look for some that never came out on Nintendo consoles.
Aside from all the classic games just begging to be re-released, I think the GamePad has tremendous potential for new RPGs. The GamePad allows access to information and menus without having to pause the game or clutter up the main screen. This could be great for multiplayer or real-time strategy/RPGs where you can easily assign actions, change equipment and so on quickly. It would make something like Final Fantasy: Chrystal Chronicles play a lot smoother, and be a lot more fun.
The upcoming Xenoblade-like game has tremendous potential, as does the Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem crossover. What do you think? Should Nintendo make classic and/or new RPGs a major focus? (I made a similar post on the IGN board awhile ago; I'm still developing ideas about it and wanted to run it by you guys as well).
I respectfully disagree.
The vast majority of RPGs from Japanese developers have shifted onto portable systems. The audience is already there, and the games are cheaper to make. It just doesn't make sense for devs in Japan to make RPGs for the Wii U when Japan itself is so focused on the portable space, where most of those sales are going to inevitably come from.
To be honest, a lot of RPGs (specifically those with turn based combat) don't appeal to me. Probably not a popular thing to proclaim around here, but there you go. On the other hand, action RPGs like Darksiders and Zelda do. I love action games generally - except those with guns. Frankly guns bore me. So does Sci-Fi. All of which might make me a pretty unusual video game player, I don't know. On the other hand, it might suggest that there's an almost infinite variety of video game players out there beyond the casual/Nintendo/JRPG/COD stereotypes.
Please sign the petition to get Hitman on the Wii U: https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/square-enix-ltd-release-hitman-absolution-and-hitman-hd-trilogy-on-the-wii-u
I respectfully disagree.
The vast majority of RPGs from Japanese developers have shifted onto portable systems. The audience is already there, and the games are cheaper to make. It just doesn't make sense for devs in Japan to make RPGs for the Wii U when RPG fans when Japan itself is so focused on the portable space, where most of those sales are going to inevitably come from.
This. If anything, because it's specs are between the Portables (which are cheaper to make for smaller developers) and the PS4 (which will be more appealing for the bigger developers), it's actually very likely it'll wind up with the least amount of RPGs.
It wouldn't have to match the popularity of portable JRPGs in Japan to make money and drive some system sales in the West. The Operation Rainfall games were very well received - the Wii U can be even more appealing with HD graphics on big screen TVs. Improved online play can also be a big deal - things like Monster Hunter designed for small groups to play together cooperatively work well.
PC and other next-gen may have more power, but that won't matter much for a port of Chrono Trigger. It's just a matter of who goes out and gets the developers on board. The Wii U could just as easily wind up with the most RPGs out of the home consoles, because its cheaper to develop for than the other two systems and expectations for budget and graphics aren't quite as high. It would also be more attractive to developers if the Wii U can get an install base over 5 million or so when the others are just getting started. Basically, the time to move on this would be now.
I'm not expecting Nintendo to compete with Sony in this department, but there is a lot of room for improvement. I hope we don't have to wait til the end of the Wii U's run to get great RPGs like we did with the Wii.
Hopefully the reception of Operation Rainfall gets the ball rolling. I still have my fingers crossed for a legit FF:CC on the Wii U.
I believe Wii U has a lot of potential for this genre...although it has a lot of potential for a lot of genres that it hasn't hit yet... But yeah, I'd love some RPGs on this platform
I would actually really like to play WRPG's on the WiiU - the second screen would make keeping track of all my skills and alignments so much easier without a massive HUD or having to bring up the menu every three minutes. JRPG's though, I tend to like playing those on the go, unless they're high-budget blockbusters.
And, well, be happy you're getting X2 from Monolith
always thought I'd change to Gyarados after I turned 20 but hey, this is more fitting I guess. (also somebody registered under the original Magikarp name and I can't get back to it anymore orz)
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Topic: The Wii U should become an RPG monster
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