First of all, I used to have this passion for western developed more than a japanese developed title(save for
SEGA,Capcom and Namco arcade games), however thats changing. My problem -- everytime I look at some western developed title, its always knocking-off some published work whether it be storyline, artwork or etc. I mean, how many NA RPG's are going to pull thier art design striaght from D&D or LOTR or some FPS pulling thier story/plotline,character design from the best sci-fi books,comic or even movie. What worst, the storyline a majority of the time is uninspired. I'am already quite shocked Bungie ripped-off Ghost In The Shell in every sense with ONI(note how Konoko = Major Kusanagi for exsample).
Now I look at Japanese developed titles particullary RPG's, I see some very creative approaches to art design and story. One the subject of art design, while I might not be a Sqaure-Enix fan, one thing I have to admit that I give them credit for the art design in some of their games, particullary Code Age Commanders which show alot of creative effort when approached to art. Same can be said about other titles like Shining Force NEO,Okami, Wanda, Genji and just to name a few. Even on the subject of story/plotlines in Japanese developed titles, they actually makes sense and show alot of original creativity like that of MGS and some of the RPG's. Whats interesting, while NA developers seem to rely on some guy out of hollywood to write a epic plot, Japanese developers seem to do it better in-house, and without having to turn to somebody from hollywood all the time.
In the end though, it sad that when it comes to actually designing a game in every sense, a majority of western developers seem to be lagging behind their Japanese counter-parts and I don't see any change.
SEGA,Capcom and Namco arcade games), however thats changing. My problem -- everytime I look at some western developed title, its always knocking-off some published work whether it be storyline, artwork or etc. I mean, how many NA RPG's are going to pull thier art design striaght from D&D or LOTR or some FPS pulling thier story/plotline,character design from the best sci-fi books,comic or even movie. What worst, the storyline a majority of the time is uninspired. I'am already quite shocked Bungie ripped-off Ghost In The Shell in every sense with ONI(note how Konoko = Major Kusanagi for exsample).
Now I look at Japanese developed titles particullary RPG's, I see some very creative approaches to art design and story. One the subject of art design, while I might not be a Sqaure-Enix fan, one thing I have to admit that I give them credit for the art design in some of their games, particullary Code Age Commanders which show alot of creative effort when approached to art. Same can be said about other titles like Shining Force NEO,Okami, Wanda, Genji and just to name a few. Even on the subject of story/plotlines in Japanese developed titles, they actually makes sense and show alot of original creativity like that of MGS and some of the RPG's. Whats interesting, while NA developers seem to rely on some guy out of hollywood to write a epic plot, Japanese developers seem to do it better in-house, and without having to turn to somebody from hollywood all the time.
In the end though, it sad that when it comes to actually designing a game in every sense, a majority of western developers seem to be lagging behind their Japanese counter-parts and I don't see any change.
