The Truth -
December 29, 2000 - Chris Jones
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed
within this column are those of the participants and the
moderator, and do not necessarily reflect those of the
GIA. There is coarse language and potentially offensive
material afoot. Cry havoc, and let slip the cuddly puppies of war!
Don't say we didn't warn you.
Well, this is my last column of the year... or even century or
millennium, depending on how you count such things. This year was
something of a mixed bag for me in a lot of ways, but doing this
column has been firmly on the plus side of the spreadsheet. It's
been a great experience, and thanks to everybody who put up with me
for this long. This year's also been a kickass year for RPGs in
general - I've gotten one or two poll submissions saying that this
year lacked quality games, but to call that the opinion of a
radical fringe would be a gross understatement. I dunno if 2001
can measure up, but RPGs are unquestionably mainstream at the moment, and that's
not going away anytime soon.
Now to segue into the poll: through January 2nd, you can
drop me an
email with the subject line "2000 poll". All I'm looking for
is a ranked list of your top 5 games of the year, and if you really feel
like it, a short (~50 words) blurb on your favorite title of the year. At
the end of the period, I'll tally the votes up and put together a small
feature.
Onward.
| Que? No comprende,
senor... |
| Burh? Have you PLAYED FF2? It's probably the furthest
departure from the FF "formula" that Square has ever attempted. The
only thing I can think of that it introduced that became an FF
mainstay is having a plot and characters. FF3, and to a large extent
FF5, decided to abandon this, but I think Square's made it pretty
clear by now that plot is a major element in FF.
FF1 and FF3, on the other hand, were very similar. Certain
elements were refined, but the basic shpiel was about the same.
I still don't see how the FF2 battle system could be compared
to any other FF system, though. It's practically a SaGa.
- Zen |
Maybe I should have been a bit more specific yesterday - FF2 does
have an extremely unique (and SaGa-like) levelless exp system, but at
the same time the interface, appearance, and characters are damn close
to the original FF. No, I haven't played it, but I have seen it played,
and I stick by the assertion that FF 1-3 are the closest the
series has gotten yet to a true sequel.
| Is that your final
preconception? |
| As I watch copious amounts of Toonami everyday, I've
been noticing this commercial for the Phonics Game, that game that apparently
helps kids to read. Anyway, in the latest commercial for it, this kid
is obviously playing with a PSX controller, probably playing an action
game of some sort. Then his mom walks in and says something like "Oh,
I wish I could get Marcus to read, instead of his playing that game!", and
then she asks him if he wants to read a book. He responds in a negative
manner, stating something in the vein of "Reading sucks! Blow off!". Then
Alex Trebek comes in and says how your kids will end up on a show for the
weak-minded, such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, instead of Jeopardy!
If they dont use the Phonics Game to help them to read (or something). My
point is, why doesnt Marcus's mom get him an RPG??? RPGs are basicly a
book disguised within a game. I'm sure that my daily doses of FF I-VI helped
me in my reading quests as a kid. There were even times when Ted Woolsey
would throw in a word or two I didnt know, so I would look it up in the dictionary.
They helped me learn, so I bet it would work for any kid. I even would pick out the
mistakes in the dialogue, again reinforcing my learning. Sure, it might not be exactly
the same as reading, but I'm sure it would help keep Marcus happy and his mom busy
having extramarital affairs.
But, I guess it's useless saying this because the general public feels all of us still play
"mindless" games like [insert blipity-bloop NES game here] and that we couldnt possibly
benefit from them. Though,off course, we know better...
~ Nillis |
I appreciate the sentiment, but let's have a quick reality check
here, amigo - most kids do still play "mindless" games of the sort
hated and feared by a majority of the parents out there. That's not to
say that even those kinds of games don't promote reading to an extent:
I recently heard someone comment that his kids learned to read in order
to be able to understand game instruction manuals. More than that, a
lot of adventure games, even if they lack text, promote a systematic
approach to puzzle solving that transfers over well to working with
computers. But still, there's a big difference between Zelda and Mortal
Kombat, which is what that kind of commercial is targeted towards.
Going even further, let me advance this idea: even comparing relatively
deep, text-heavy RPGs to books in general, books should still come out
ahead. I love RPGs, but I've still yet to see a game that can hold a
candle to even a moderately well-thought out book. (Yeah, I'm lookin' at
you, Xenogears!) Are there crap books out there? Sure - I'd recommend
even FF1 over Goosebumps. (Do they even make those anymore?) But as a
rule, I'd argue that books give you the mental ability to more fully
appreciate RPGs... but not vice versa.
Besides, Alex Trebek kicks Regis's sorry ass any day of the week.
| DQ Award letter fallout #1 |
|
Not to burst Mr. Cruz's bubble, but DQ7 did stand up to FF9. And, to
quote a big smelly pro wrestler, layed the smack down.
FF9 sales -- 2.4 ~ 2.8 million or so, 1 million of which were in the
first day.
DQ7 sales -- 3.7 ~ 4 million or so, 2.1 million of which were in the
first weekend.
Not to say that FF9's a bad game. It's not, far from it. I enjoy it
immensely, and bought my copy the first day it was out in the US. But
DQ7's something else entirely. To put it in US terms, Draque is the
Japanese version of "Star Wars." It's not just a game series, it's
Dragon Quest.
If you take a look at the differences between Japan's gaming scene and
America's, you'll understand. The Japanese bought DQ7 knowing the
graphics weren't up to par. It didn't matter to them -- they know that
if it's a DQ game, Yuri Horii will make sure it's got a great story /
great gameply, and Akira Toriyama will make sure the monsters are
something to be remembered.
Shen Mue and Jet Grind Radio may "redefine the way we look at gaming" (a
fancy way of saying "they have pretty graphics"), but all the CG art in
the world won't make a game fun. And it sure as heck won't endear a RPG
to the true RPG fans out there.
And no country loves RPGs more than Japan.
Dragon Quest 7 is a good game. It's a great rpg. And in every way shape
and form, it deserved that award.
[KiTA] |
You seem to be of the
opinion that the "Japanese" (insofar as an entire culture can be boiled
down to a single phrase) are somehow more insightful because they're able
to look past silly, superficial things like graphics and see the inner
beauty of a game in what's really important... gameplay and story that's damn near
identical to something we might have gotten on the SNES. While you're
right that Dragon Quest does have similar cultural vibes to Star Wars
over here, you're also demonstrating the kind of smug, bigoted tendencies
that make many (but not all) US DQ defenders so much darn fun to bash.
Shenmue and JGR are way, way more than pretty graphics - these games are
what game development SHOULD BE ABOUT: experimenting with new ideas and pushing the
envelope of available technology, rather than slavishly emulating the
distant past. I've only played a 10 minute demo of JGR, but I can safely
say that I honestly had more outright fun in those 10 minutes than in
every DQ game I've ever played, combined. (To be fair, JGR was also more
fun than the majority of game time in any given FF.) DQ is supposed to be
a "world", whereas FF is more like a "movie", but Shenmue puts them both
to shame in the immersion department.
Here's the truth of the matter: DQ7 sold a TON of copies in Japan. It's
extremely popular over there, and it's clearly lived up to its three
year development time, as far as our friends across the Pacific are
concerned. Yes, many, many Japanese love this game to death, and as the
award shows, it's got a level of public recognition over there that other
games will likely never be able to match. None of which anybody should
have a problem with. Heck, there are many over here who may feel that DQ7
is their most satisfying game play experience this year, either because
they really do like the old school type of gaming, or because they feel
they're superior to the rest of the unwashed masses who don't know that
whatever's popular in Japan must be what's best. But
none of that actually translates into a GOOD GAME for those of us
not weighted down with a specific set of cultural expectations... and no amount of
argument will be able to prove otherwise, until Enix sees fit to release
the game in the US with a solid translation.
| The turtle... wrong?
Blasphemy! |
| I'm...still...playing...Chrono Cross! I haven't even touhced FF9!
Majora's Mask? Hahaha!
-Slow and steady gets you NOTHING! You hear that? Nothing! The turtle
was wrong! |
Normally I'd try to offer some condolences here, and say that I
understand where you're coming from... but the fact is, even I've finished
Chrono Cross. You're just pathetic, dude.
| DQ Award letter fallout #2 |
| I disagree with Mr. Cruz, I think DQ7 might have won the award because
it indeed might be worthy of it. I liked the quote the GIA used in the
article about the award that went like, "reminded us again that the origin
of a game's fun does not come merely from visual realism." Mr. Cruz points
out how Torneko was popular in Japan but slammed here. Well it seems to me
that it was slammed here not because it's not necessarily a bad game but
because people here simply don't seem to like the sub-genre that it is.
I've seen many other examples but I'll use the GIA's review as my example.
The reviewer praised the game for so many of the innovations it brings to
it's sub-genre yet hated the game anyway and just didn't seem to like the
sub-genre the game was in at all. Also even though Cruz claims to have the
seen DQ7 in action I don't think he's really played through it to make that
kind of assumption about DQ7 not being that good and just a bunch of
leveling up which admittedly DW1 had a lot of (they've come a long way baby
:)). Does he know about the great storyline or the fun and diverse job
class and battle system DQ7 has? I think not. As for your economic excuse
I don't think that's the case. Seeming as how Square practically fuels the
economy over there (yes I'm exaggerating :P) I'm surprised not to see any
Square games get anything. You think with all the money they bring in
consistently with all there games you'd see them up there getting an award
for some games as well.
Pendy
Head Maintainer of the Dragon Quest Dragon Warrior News Network |
And again, let me point out that this is a government
award... do you really want any government, anywhere, telling you
what you should and shouldn't see as being the greatest electronic art
out there? Heck, Horii's quote doesn't even make sense - how could
any kind of game ever be called "literature"?
| If it can sell FFMQ,
it can sell anything |
| Mr. Jones:
This is a bit late, but here's my response to Justin Case: the reason Square
keeps FF games under the same name is because it works. It's that simple.
It's selling, therefore they have money and they're happy. Why would they
change it? Until one game completely and totally sucks and we realize this
before purchasing it, the name will stay the same. Note: it doesn't matter
if we complain after buying it, we've already sent in our money. I noticed
many people complaining about FF IX after playing through it, my apologies to
them but they already spent their time in it and nothing will be done to
change FF IX's flaws.
What's in a name? People remember names and keep them in their minds. When
my friends and I hear a name, we might shudder at the thought of that person.
With Final Fantasy, many people have realized an opposite effect. The Final
Fantasy name has become a symbol of a successful game to some people and,
although many people I know will never believe it, the Final Fantasy games
are publicized and sometimes purchased on one condition: it's Final Fantasy.
Hell, I even bought FF MQ when I heard it was the latest and greatest FF
game. That game sucked, but it was still FF. Why would Square ever want to
stop that?
Call me Krelyk, the one and only. |
Sounds about right. Moving on...
| My mindless chatter
amuses him, hopefully |
| Hey Chris,
I'm really bored. Really, really bored. I've been staring at my Lunar 2:
Eternal Blue box since Christmas, since I was incredibly stupid and left my
PSX up at college. Luckily, my little sister got The Sims, and I've been
playing that, but.... I *really* need a break from that. So, I command
that you make today a long column. I don't care what you do, but it had
better be damn amusing.
And to add a little extra length to today's column, I'd like to toss out
the most inane, sad fact I can thnk of at the moment. I've been keeping
track of my "printed" letters in the column since the beginning of last
year, and prior to this letter I'm at .500, with 20 out of 40 letters being
"the chosen ones", or something like that. Not too bad, I suppose. Next
year, I plan to do even better.
-CTZanderman, who would really prefer to be playing the real Lunar 2 over
the version he has going with the mini-standees... |
Sorry, no humor today, just more beating the same tired debates into
the ground. Stick with what you know, I always say.
On the other hand, I gotta try out that mini-standees idea - I see a
Godfather-type setup between the principal characters, with some real
pathos developing in the end. Good stuff.
Closing Comments:
That's all for this weekend. Last I heard Drew's computer is up and
running again, so drop him a line for tomorrow. And for a topic, try
this - we know where gaming was 10 years ago, with NES games like Mega
Man 3 and Castlevania 3 representing the state of the art. We know
where games are now, with an all out war between the various consoles
and some fantastic games out there, whatever your tastes. Where do you
see games at the end of the next decade, as 2010 fades into 2011?
Adios for now.
-Chris Jones, see you in 2001 |
