No, not a gender related Double Standard.

It just me when people (only on the Internet, since only a handful of people I know IRL play WRP Gs) like to extol how WRP Gs re the only RP Gs worth playing while the JRP Gs suck. If you don't agree they'll cry foul and call you a weeaboo.

Frankly, can't this mud-slinging over which region produces which games stop?

And if you're gonna fight over it then I'll just play Dn D kthxbai

edited 4th Nov '09 7:50:54 AM by Kinkajou

I've never played any RP Gs but Japanese ones, but I think the reverse happens sometimes as well; many JRPGers have a very low opinion of W RP Gs.

*raises hand sheepishly*

I don't play a lot of RPGs so I don't have a very strong opinion on the subject, but I tend to regard WRPGs as unimaginative and derivative of D&D.

Although given Internet demographics WRPG fanboys will usually win the debates.

Dragon Quest is basically based off of Ultima, while Final Fantasy I is a video game version of D&D. To be fair the two have split over the years.

edited 4th Nov '09 7:57:29 AM by Kinkajou

Neh, I'm more inclined to judge each game individually. Tell me game [X] is a total grindfest and I will listen to you. Tell me that all JRPGs are grindfests and I might tell you to put a nickle in the hyperbole jar.

Edit:

Wait how can you win a debate over maters of personal preference?  ^*

^{yes I know it mostly involves shouting until the other person throws their hands up in frustration}

edited 4th Nov '09 8:00:15 AM by Alkthash

To a large degree the difference is, I suspect that WRPG's tries (no matter how imperfectly!) to replicate the tabletop experience (with mixed success) with the game and it's story taking the role of the GM, and the player being given various tools to achieve the goals, but some degree of latitude to (depending on the character and what you built into him) solve the issue at hand.

And when someone looking for something like that tries a JRPG it's largely a matter of "What the fuck? This isn't what I was looking for!"

Or how JRPGs usually try to tell a story(albeit often times a branching one). A WRPG fan who comes in and is forced to play a set character instead of their Insert Name Here AFGNCAAP may be a smidge confuzzeled.

edited 4th Nov '09 8:03:19 AM by Alkthash

Yes, JRPGs are admittedly often quite restricting in that regard.

The reverse is also true though - A JRPG fan looking to control a sword-wielding Kid Hero who is in love with the Staff Chick would be surprised with "What race is you character?".

I don't really mind that restriction; I sort of approach these things as interactive stories where you control the fights but little else (as opposed to actual Visual Novels, where you don't control anything except how the story branches out.)

edited 4th Nov '09 8:12:54 AM by zeroplusalpha

That is also how I approach RPGs, although I would welcome more freedom if it were possible.

Actually, if you were listening, you'd know that JRP Gs and WRP Gs weren't so different back in the day.

Of course, some breakout JRPG went and changed the stereotype of the subgenre.

Um, didn't VI do that first?

I think there's always been a big difference in terms of creative world-building, at least as far as the fantasy genre is concerned.

If there's one thing WRP Gs have yet to recover from:

Getting away from the Standard Fantasy Setting.

Yeah, Standard Fantasy Setting bugs me.

Dude, Earthbound WRPG, anyone?

Anyway, here's my rule of thumb: JRP Gs put more emphasis on story and WRP Gs put more emphasis on gameplay detail.

^ Only today, actually.

Heh, I've got a good friend and we have a policy of never talking with the other about RPV Gs  ^*

^{Role Playing Video Games}

. The reason for this is that he loves WRP Gs (because of the customization of your characters) and hates JRP Gs (because of their linear storyline and lack of customization). Me, on the other hand, love JRP Gs (because of the weight put on the often high quality storylines and because I prefer the artstyle used in JRP Gs to those used in WRP Gs) and dislike WRP Gs (because of their tendency to turn into Quicksand Boxes in my hands).

We play Tabletop RPG together, though.

Refer to spoilers in my first post on why we are very similar.

Yeah, the stock fantasy setting bugs me quite often in WRPG and having to be a stupid cliche Kid Hero in a JRPG. Why can't we have urban or futuristic or non-human-character based WRPGs and have JRPGs that don't involve being a snot-nosed bratty kid with magical powers and allow more customization along the way similar to Pokemon's system (of course, getting to be an adult trainer would be nice in that setting too).

but I tend to regard WRP Gs as unimaginative and derivative of D&D.

These two are not neccessarily connected at all.

Funnily enough, I think people who talk like that probably hasn't played D&D, which has had some of the most innovative settings I know. (Spelljammer and Planescape most obviously)

Why can't we have urban

Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines

futuristic

Mass Effect, Knights Of The Old Republic, Fallout.

edited 4th Nov '09 8:56:54 AM by Arilou

I meant specifically the high fantasy settings.

I admit, I don't know that much about D&D. I've only played - can't remember what it's called. High fantasy setting.

Of the above, I do know that Fallout isn't a normal RPG.

edited 4th Nov '09 8:57:47 AM by BobbyG

Fallout is certainly one of the best WRP Gs IMO. I can't find copies though

Frankly, very many JRP Gs don't have the stock kid hero anyway.

Speaking of which...as for that setting complaint...do the Grand Theft Auto games count as (W)RP Gs?

Like Lemurian, I like the complex plots of JRP Gs, though I haven't actually played a WRPG to compare. I also prefer the art style of JRP Gs, but that's a superficial detail that doesn't matter, because I obviously didn't start watching Kiddy Grade because I found a certain character to be rather cute.

But...what's a quicksand box?

Since many WRP Gs are Wide Open Sandbox games, the player can get confused, especially if he's used to the strict railroading of a JRPG.