Pretty much this.

...

I also don't go for the "nostalgia" thing, necessarily - but I think there is an argument to be made in terms of perspective.

Looking backward through all of that time, it's easy to forget that there were just as many "bad" videogames being shoved out back in the day as there are now. I remember having the very same conversation with my friends back in the day about why more companies weren't making more RPGs for the SNES, for example; and why it seemed like the only games most companies were putting out were side-scrolling action games. (And replace "SNES" with "DOS or Early Windows" or "Sega" and it's still the same conversation.)

Let's not forget that there was rarely a movie that came out while NES and SNES were predominant, that didn't see a videogame tie-in.

Sure, if you look back through the entire catalog of games released for those systems and there's going to be some real gems. Those are the ones that stick out, and get remembered, though. It was the same situation back then, though, as now. Lots and lots of stuff put out (some good, some bad.) And if you're looking for RPGs, they were always absolutely outnumbered by more arcade-y action-oriented games.

Without bothering to do much research into the matter, I'd imagine that it's probably even about the same ratio no matter what time period you're looking at. I mean, I still remember when Final Fantasy III came out in the US, and I got really obsessed with that game. But once I'd finished it, it's not like Chrono Trigger was just waiting at my doorstep to get played.

As far as JRPGs specifically are concerned, it does seem to me like they've kind of been resting on their laurels to some degree. I'm sure there's some really good stuff out there right now. But I have been getting the feeling of late that the industry in that market has been coasting for some time on the success they had in previous generations.

Myself, I have my own particular tastes with regard to the specific sorts of RPGs I'm into, and what I like to see and hope to get out of games in the genre. Really all you can do is keep your eyes peeled and make sure to support what games do come out that are pertinent to your interests. But you're rarely going to be lucky enough to be playing more than one absolutely outstanding game at a time - and that's kind of the way things have always been.

As I see it, at least.

Insightful. Indeed, that's so rational that it borders on true.

I don't think thats quite it. I was a kid who grew up on Atari, NES, Apple II or whatever. I'm 33. I would think a lot of the ppl in control are around 40+.

The 80's kids still have some years to take over fully. We might be in the thick of it but we're not at the top.

I actually agree!
for example.. I was really looking forward to the new skyrim (It looked AMAZING!) but when I got it I absolutely hated it, I have no clue why though. RPG's were definitely better back then :/
-Treepigeyes

Were they?

There are still great games being made, its just that Nostalgia is such a huge driving force.

Some game that I would consider "great" RPGs are Pokemon Gold, LoZ: Windwaker, Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. In retrospect, the pokemon games today are way way better than the originals, its just the veil of Nostalgia.
Same with the LoZ games. My younger cousin (shes 12) played both Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess. She thought TP was a lot better.
I stand by my "Nostalgia Veil" argument.

I'm sure I'll have to sleep with one eye open after saying this, but I don't like Diablo II. I love the Neverwinter Nights and Baldurs Gate games, but I just couldn't get into it.
I tried for hours, but its controls were (IMO) horrid and it just seemed to simple for me.


Please don't kill me



Edit: Didn't read Nu's Post. I agree with him. I just don't put words together very well...