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Someone in Square Enix said that RPGs don't need storylines

Posted May 27, 2010 at 4:55AM EST by Glenn M.

Listed in: PSP, Wii, PS3, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PC Gaming, iPhone Tags: Square Enix

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When it comes to RPGs, I don't even need to explain how far up Square Enix is atop the gaming Olympus. It is, however, a bit striking to find out that someone from the esteemed publisher said that RPGs don't really need storylines.

Our source is Miwa Shoda, a writer who's been with Square Enix (then Squaresoft) since 1995. She penned stories for big names such as Legend of Mana and Final Fantasy XII. "I've worked all over the place and gained a great deal of valuable experience from all sorts of people," she said through her Twitter account, "and learned approaches to writing games I would not have been able to do on my own, but the one approach I could never understand is the notion that 'games don't need storylines.'"

It seems that Shoda received instructions from higher up to go easy on the story-writing. "But when I was told that RPGs don't need storylines, I was really shocked. They said players weren't after a storyline, so the bare minimum of events would suffice." She didn't say exactly who told her that, but that someone has got to be pretty high up the ladder to be able to call that shot.

Sankaku Complex [via Kotaku]

4.1% of voters think this story ROCKS!

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(2)

(47)

An RPG without a story but just basic events, that leaves us with those western style RPGs such as Fallout and Fable...

L A M E

Go back to where RPG's told a solid story to the player through a game... everyone went wild over Heavy Rain and how it was different for trying to tell a story... well that was what old RPG's used to be in the first place !!

RPGs back then weren't as much about gameplay, because tech limited this severely, they were about story, atmosphere and style...

Examples: FF7 - 10

# .. — omarwhy 2010-05-27 10:02

Maybe a MMO doesn't need a storyline but a console RPG's biggest feature is it's story.

Storyless RPG's are something I would imagine EA games stocking shelves with.

# RE: Someone in Square Enix said that RPGs don't need storylines — Navani 2010-05-27 10:46

Storylines can makes even the most repetitive game fun, like how I loved .hack and played through all four games

# RE: Someone in Square Enix said that RPGs don't need storylines — Chronocaster 2010-05-27 12:39

I think I'm going to cry after reading this... please God bring back the Old Square I'm begging you

# wtf — chrisk 2010-05-27 13:10

well that explains alot the storyline is what makes the game most times could u imagine ff7 with out one wtf ! well square enix has just seen the last of my money may they rot in gamming h-ll

-1 # RE: Someone in Square Enix said that RPGs don't need storylines — JGhost 2010-05-27 13:59

Monster Hunter
nuff said

+1 # RE: RE: Someone in Square Enix said that RPGs don't need storylines — Silver_Infinity 2010-05-27 14:57

I'd say it's more action game than RPG. Just because it has weaponry customization and stuff, doesn't make it an RPG.

Calling MH an RPG on those grounds is like saying Macross Ace and Ultimate Frontier are RPGs.

# . — the.chad 2010-05-27 15:00

monster hunter doesnt count as the same type of rpg as square is known for making..so no.

# RE: RE: Someone in Square Enix said that RPGs don't need storylines — AtomicDryad 2010-05-28 04:01

Monster hunter is only half an RPG. Someone should invent a term for games such as this and MMOs. Character Building Games (CBG) or something.

RPG = that + story.

-1 # RE: Someone in Square Enix said that RPGs don't need storylines — video gamer 2010-05-27 14:06

Please SE, do be like the Western RPG developers. RPGs need a storyline!

+1 # RE: Someone in Square Enix said that RPGs don't need storylines — But Fukir 2010-05-27 15:11

Sounds like something square would say.

All gamers need is more FMV's with b movie voice acting.

# why is it called rpg then — japrev 2010-05-27 15:20

Role playing game as in you play a role in a story so what do we call these kinds of games if they don't have a story behind it just a game or hell it might as well be a board game or card game.

# RE: Someone in Square Enix said that RPGs don't need storylines — joe666666 2010-05-27 15:31

i play games for storylines, aabsolutley wrong

# wtf?! — ov3rkill 2010-05-27 20:49

rpg with no storylines? or games w/ no storylines? wtf?! sounds like they might as well go for multiplayer fps or deathmatch or something. those things doesn't need storylines. haha

# There is something to this... — Shatterdome 2010-05-28 00:24

The most popular RPG on the planet basically has no storyline (WoW).

I put over 120 hours into oblivion and barely touched the main story, it was more interesting to explore, play around and do "quests"

So it's very possible it could work...

-1 # That's BS! — jolophi22 2010-05-28 01:16

The most important element of RPGs is the interesting storyline it brings to the players. That's why Square Enix have gone this far, because of their unique storyline in their past FF games. And now they're saying that RPGs no longer need storylines? That's plain BS!

# RE: Someone in Square Enix said that RPGs don't need storylines — Viredae 2010-05-28 06:46

Oh, I hope the bigger heads (bigger than the one who said this) go around and fire his ass.

Seriously, now I can see why the Mistwalker folks just up and left...

# ... — DJ PON-3 2010-05-28 12:55

What a dumbass.

No story, I aint buying. You gotta be pretty slick to get away with no story.

# The age of 2D — Zambatoh 2010-05-28 19:55

Back in the day, most games didn't need storylines. It was a nice bonus sure but not the main focus. Now-a-days, it seems stories are an absolute requirement, which is probably why more and more developers are focusing more on the story and less on the actual game, these days.

# Don't need.. — TravisL 2010-05-29 02:31

Shooters don't need much guns.
plat formers don't need obstacles.
action games don't need that much action.
strategy games main point isn't strategy, don't put to much strategy into it.
A simulation game doesn't need to be to realistic.

This is what i think when i see this article.

# RE: Someone in Square Enix said that RPGs don't need storylines — RNB_PSP 2010-05-30 17:35

Well, some gamers don't like following storylines of games. But the storylines of ff games is the reason square enix is on top.

# Agnorum — umpadumps 2010-05-31 01:18

LOL!!!! that is a typical example of a business oriented mind and friggin filthy rich at the same time

-1 # OMFG!!! — villa128 2010-05-31 05:25

WTF!!! HOW CAN THEY SAY THAT!, IM A GAME VETERAN, I PLAYED ALL THOSE GOOD GAMES BACK THEN, I STOPED BUYING THE FF SERIES SINS FFX, I KNEW SOMTING WAS CHANGING,BUT TO SAY THIS!!! KNOW I UNDERSTAND EVEN MORE THE REASONS OF THE NEW MISSTWALKER I HAVE THERE GAMES CUZ WESS WHAT GOOD GAMING BUT MOUST OF ALL STORYLINE! AND I THINK THE SAME WAY AS TRAVISL SAYED.

AND REALY IT DOSENT MATTER THE F**** LANGUAGE, I LIVE IN MEXICO I SPEAK ENGLISH SINCE I WAS LITTLE CUZ I WAS ADOPTED BY AN AMERICAN CUPLE, I KNOW I DIRENT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THOESE GAMES, BUT MY FRIENDS DID.

BUT WEN I TOLD THEM THE PLOT POINT AND SOME STORY LINES THEY GOT HOOKT AND I KNEW OTRER GUYS THAT ALREADY PLAYED THE SAME GAMES WITH OUT ANY ENGLISH OR JAPANISE DEPENDING THE SOURCE MATERIAL.

THEY SAYED THAT THEY IMAGEND THE STORY LINE DEPENDING ANIMATION OR CINEMATICS, AND I REFERED TO FF SERIES, CHRONO TRIGGER, BREATH OF FIRE AND DRAGONS QUEST TO NAME A FEU THAT ME AND MY FRIENDS PLAYED BACK THEN.

BUT THE KEY WORD HERE IS STORYLINE!!!

.....OH.. and i just notice lol sorry for the caps its that i just got so F**** pist i forgot it was on lol.

(god i miss the good old gaming days of old.... lol wait how old am i? .... damm im old lol!)

# Your not old your a Veteran gamer! — SnowSerpent 2010-06-01 11:31

To me a veteran gamer is better then these new player's today sorry but that is the truth well for one they have more knowledge and experience then you think..I'm one of them as well and proud of it! lol..But this is true without a good story line you might as well sell First person Shooter's!.lol.But is this all that we will start seeing in 2010-2011 for now on?..God I hope not.

# RE: Someone in Square Enix said that RPGs don't need storylines — Frogz 2010-05-31 23:27

obviously no one remembers earthbound

hm, i guess this explains the storyline of dissidia...

# Earth Bound fan right here! — SnowSerpent 2010-06-02 06:15

I still have all my SNES Rpg's and this is one of them I just finished my

Mother/Earth Bound Collection its complete.
But to me to this day it is

inexcusable that

Nintendo never got the right's to finish the Earth Bound Collection!..I can't stand Pokemon/I rather get hooked on

Dragon Quest series then that over the top invasion of Japan's

Pokemon!Heck the name in Japan sounds better as well its not called Pokemon its call Pocket Monster's!..But I rather have my Translated

Earth Bound games instead!

# RE: Someone in Square Enix said that RPGs don't need storylines — vf_5 2010-06-02 06:30

If I'm looking for RPG without heavy storyline, I play Capcom Monster Hunter.

# RE: Someone in Square Enix said that RPGs don't need storylines — rgrbaw 2010-06-03 06:43

That's unfortunate, I've always viewed videogames as an interactive story. Without the story, what am I playing for?

# RPG Needs storyline — Victor lieks mudkipz 2010-06-03 18:20

RPG Needs storyline because you are PLAYING a ROLE in the GAME, which usually connects to the storyline.

I think there is an exception, but it would be an really old game. Even some atari games had backstories, not in game but on the box. What Shoda said is she belives the same as the majority; Rpg's need stories.

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