OXM - So there I was writing yesterday's blog about how a Final Fantasy VII remake would be bad, doing what I always do when I encounter a line in the sand, which is to stand on one side and yell belligerently. Suddenly: a Great Sadness. Who am I to deny countless JRPG players a dream that has become all but inseparable from this, most wistful of genres? Who am I, but a man taking pleasure from the thought of telling children that Santa Claus is a lie?
30°
30°
40°
40°
Ad 
30°
Don't get mad at me for keeping it real.
/s
You reminded me i need to finish the last area in Magna Carta 2.
i wanted magna carta 2....never got around to it, so scared because of how bad part 1 was lol.
Valkyria Chronicles, White Knight Chronicles 1/2, Ar Tonelico Qoga, the Atelier games, and Graces F. There are also some on the way too like Xillia, Ni No Kuni, and even a possible Western release of Toki to Towa.
Buy a PS3.
"You should just get a 360, lol."
Halo?
"Too bad you don't have an Xbox, lmao."
But when it comes to the other way around...
"What's wrong with wanting these games on 360?"
Oh, the hypocrisy.
and that is the problem right there with JP developers. They can't expand outside to Western with their RPG. They could do well in JP, but most just don't do well outside of Japan beside FF.
Look at the sell of JRPG (except FF) on ps3 as well, not just x360 and see how they are doing. Not that well right? Actually even looking back at PS2 era, most really don't sell that well either even with +140 million ps2 owner out there.
Problem with JRPG in HD generation:
1. Take too long to develop (hence JRPG are doing better with handheld and Wii than HD console)
2. Long development time = require more investment, but getting practically very little in return, unprofitable or even loss -> reason why u see why developers want to try to appeal to more gamer, not just in JP (even though they haven't been successful)
3. Current trend is moving toward FPS or shooter types of games.
They don't take that much longer to develop than anything else, IF they take longer. We see so many on handhelds because there are more handhelds out than anything else: the DS and PSP have sold more than everything this gen, though the Wii DID outsell the PSP. And while there are plenty of excellent JRPGs on the two handhelds, it wasn't until recently that the Wii got some really good ones. Meanwhile, the two HD systems have had at least a handful of gems apiece, from Lost Odyssey to Valkyria Chronicles and a few more inbetween.
Keep in mind that a lot of games- like the trio that comprise Operation Rainfall- don't make it West, or do MUCH later. Bizarre stuff happens too: Tales of Vesperia released here on the 360, later got a PS3 port, but the port never made it West.
There's a lot going on in the JRPG landscape; the biggest part, in reference to Japanese developers, is that they're afraid they won't get sales because of the popularity of FPS. That competition doesn't exist so much on handhelds, so that's one more reason why it would make more sense to put their games elsewhere.
RPG tend to include exploration elements, larger world, etc...so what you need are details (higher polygons, HD textures); i haven't include HD console complex physics (lighting, shading,particles,motion, etc....). The higher/polish the details, the more human resources/development time you will need. Evidently, game nowadays has +100 of people working on it (compare to last gen or gen before that), longer development times, massive investment. Do you think selling around 800K something would suffice going HD? Look at what happen with some of the studios with long development time and fail to sell well? Look at FF13 for example, how long did it takes? In fact, looks at FF13vs for example, announce since 2005, and release date is still no where to be found. If that isn't long development time, i don't know what is and you know SE have hundreds of people working on these games. It is a major risk to make AAA JRPG for HD console.
Of course developers can take easier route focusing on artistic style instead of using higher/complex tech:
-Use cell shade method (don't require complex lighting, texture, polygons, etc...,etc..) that can be done on handheld or even last gen console. Namco bandai with their Tales series for example. And if you look at many other JRPG games on ps3 (valkyrie chronical, WKC, demon soul, etc..) as well, do they use any high resolution textures, high tech shader/lighting, AA, etc...? No, right?
- Use Unreal engine to shorten development time dramatically while getting decent results (lost Odyssey, Last Remnant, magna carta 2, ME, Blade & soul, including large environmental games like Batman: Arkham City, etc..., and tones more games using it to shorten development time).
With that said, I do agree with you that handheld are preferred over HD console for JRPG because:
- developer can use lower tech and they don't have to worry about higher/complexity of HD console.
- more handheld sold than console (like you mentioned)
- less investment with higher profit yield (less human resource or development time required)
it is a no brainer that going for handheld would be more profitable.
I based this debate on your own assessment as well. You said that JRPG do start out on HD console first (true), but do you also see why they are shifting toward more handheld and lower spec console like the wii recently? Look at Valkyrie Chronical for example, start out on ps3 now switching to PSP instead. Why do you think that is? Why RPG games are becoming more linear instead of open? How long does it takes to make large games for HD console (skyrim, RDR, GTA, FF13vs, etc...)? Consider with such a long development time and large investment, do you think it is profitable for developers if they sell just as much as last gen or less?
If you read around what JP developers are saying about making JRPG for HD consoles, you will see what i mean. You don't have to take my words for it.
I love JRPG to death, and it sadden me that JP are struggling to expand their games. I wanted a sequal to Lost Odyssey, but they can't because it didn't do well; sell wise. WRPG are becoming more popular now too so that make it worst for JP developers.