Ok, we've seen a lot of idiots commenting about what they think the "future" of RPGs are, seriously trying to make the claim that the next big boom is going to RPGs where the players play Housewives or play RPGs about dinner parties, or play Joyce De Witt and Meredith Baxter-Birney in a touching RPG-version of the movie of the week, or play will go nuts at the chance to play Neuman or Urkel.

So what do those of us who aren't clinically insane or mentally retarded think about the future trends in RPGs?

For my part, I've already said that if RPGs want to HAVE a future, they have to simplify product and cheapen prices, to try to appeal to the kids.  And likewise, if the kids get into RPGs these days, the influences they will bring with them will be different.  Less Robert E. Howard and more Hayao Miyazaki.

I think Anime is going to be a major influence in the future, I think the next really big RPG is going to be connected to anime/manga in some form (though not BeSM, we aren't talking "the Anime RPG", we're talking about RPGs influenced by themes from Anime), and I also think that the next version of D&D is going to have much more Anime influence.  Frankly, I think D&D seriously missed the boat with all the "dungeonpunk" nonsense this time around. If D&D had looked more like Lodoss Wars or Final Fantasy, it would have captured far many more young players, even if it might have lost some of the old geezers who don't like anime because its "childish".

I get the feeling that sooner or later, someone's going to smarten up to that.

RPGPundit

Granted I don't follow it very closely, but from what I've heard...isn't that kind of what Exalted is?

(and I do think you're right here, btw)

I don't believe there is a "next big boom", yet I remain pleasantly optimistic about the hobby much of the time.  I'm not sure why.

QuoteI also think that the next version of D&D is going to have much more Anime influence. Frankly, I think D&D seriously missed the boat with all the "dungeonpunk" nonsense this time around. If D&D had looked more like Lodoss Wars or Final Fantasy, it would have captured far many more young players, even if it might have lost some of the old geezers who don't like anime because its "childish".

I totally agree, except that I wonder if the anime ship has sailed.  More anime in 3.x would have worked, doing so for 4E might be a mistake.

Quote from: jrientsI don't believe there is a "next big boom", yet I remain pleasantly optimistic about the hobby much of the time.  I'm not sure why.



I totally agree, except that I wonder if the anime ship has sailed.  More anime in 3.x would have worked, doing so for 4E might be a mistake.

The Anime ships hasn't exactly sailed, Jrients.  More like, it's just hit the harbor with a full load. Anime has gone mainstream, which is the point. It's not 'cool' or 'leet' anymore, certainly. The shiny newness has rubbed off, and it may have even peaked, but it's here to stay, just like Scooby Doo. It has become a part of the American Landscape.  American companies are slowly getting on board with the idea, and homegrown 'anime-ish' stuff has slowly started to hit the marketplace.  As a response, some American cartoonists have adopted the mature mentality, if not the visual philosophy. Note the Incredibles was incredibly appealing to adult audiences, though still meant to be entertaining to children.  

Dungeonpunk was only a bad idea in that they did it to be 'not-anime'. Which is funny, because I've got some old VHS tapes that show dungeon-punk elements going back to Japan from years back.

Quote from: KenHRGranted I don't follow it very closely, but from what I've heard...isn't that kind of what Exalted is?

(and I do think you're right here, btw)

Yes, the second edition is especially anime influenced.

While I do agree that a game that has an anime feel could be useful in pulling in kids, I gotta agree with jrients that such a feel may not actually work for D&D which has to not only pull in new players but keep their already established grognards happy too. I have a hunch that an anime feel would rub the older players the wrong way.

Anime has been pretty big for quite a while. I'd say it's more on the down-swing nowadays, i.e. it has left some influences and animation is beyond iconic monoculture now.

I just hope the future look of RPGs will have some independent products with less than awful typography. The barrier separating professional and amateur products has never been this high (with a few exceptions on both sides).

Quote from: RPGPunditSo what do those of us who aren't clinically insane or mentally retarded think about the future trends in RPGs?

For my part, I've already said that if RPGs want to HAVE a future, they have to simplify product and cheapen prices, to try to appeal to the kids.  And likewise, if the kids get into RPGs these days, the influences they will bring with them will be different.  Less Robert E. Howard and more Hayao Miyazaki.

I think Anime is going to be a major influence in the future, I think the next really big RPG is going to be connected to anime/manga in some form (though not BeSM, we aren't talking "the Anime RPG", we're talking about RPGs influenced by themes from Anime), and I also think that the next version of D&D is going to have much more Anime influence.  Frankly, I think D&D seriously missed the boat with all the "dungeonpunk" nonsense this time around. If D&D had looked more like Lodoss Wars or Final Fantasy, it would have captured far many more young players, even if it might have lost some of the old geezers who don't like anime because its "childish".

I get the feeling that sooner or later, someone's going to smarten up to that.

RPGPundit

You know I agree with you here, I don't always but I think the anime thing, and the cheaper easier to get into thing is important.  (I mean H&S is 25.00 bucks hardcover---true its smallish, but still its not nearly 60 bucks like some)

I plan to continue this I'm aiming at High Valor being under 30 (and HV is significantly larger than H&S in terms of details..) because the WORLD I care about and want used, as opposed to "go make your own" which was more my aim with H&S.

Quote from: SpikeAs a response, some American cartoonists have adopted the mature mentality, if not the visual philosophy.

Man, I hope they keep doing that.  I'm not huge on the anime aesthetic, but I do like the mentality of animation not being "just" kids' stuff.

Then again I own a copy of Heavy Metal on DVD.

Reminds me of what happened with comics in the 90s -- although I think the pendulum may start swinging the other way soon.

Quote from: RPGPunditOk, we've seen a lot of idiots commenting about what they think the "future" of RPGs are, seriously trying to make the claim that the next big boom is going to RPGs where the players play Housewives or play RPGs about dinner parties, or play Joyce De Witt and Meredith Baxter-Birney in a touching RPG-version of the movie of the week, or play will go nuts at the chance to play Neuman or Urkel.

So what do those of us who aren't clinically insane or mentally retarded think about the future trends in RPGs?

The future of the hobby is whatever direction Wizards of the Coast decides to take, and conventional wisdom is that the next generation of Dungeons & Dragons will move increasingly towards the use of miniatures.

Quote from: StuartReminds me of what happened with comics in the 90s -- although I think the pendulum may start swinging the other way soon.

I don't think it's going to swing too far, if it does swing back.  Anime and Manga are everywhere these days, and it's not just the guys - its the girls getting into it big time as well.  Each time that I go to Borders I have to step carefully around the half-dozen kids hanging out by the manga shelves, reading intently.

I was commenting on the "not just for kids" part more than the anime part.

What I meant was -- in the 90s there was a push to make all the kids titles "grown up" with gritty anti-heroes and adult themes.  That was great for the older readers, but it didn't do much to keep introducing kids to comics.  I think you'll continue to see more titles come out where they focus on the "fun" of the old comic series, and less on trying to show off how comics aren't just for kids anymore.  I know a lot of comic industry folk are talking about that.

This reminds me of Pundit's comments about RPGs -- you can't forget about the kids!

What I think you'll see in the comics industry and probably in the RPG industry as well is more diversification.  You'll continue to see stuff that's "not just for kids", but also more stuff that IS for kids.  And other groups too.

Quote from: KenHRGranted I don't follow it very closely, but from what I've heard...isn't that kind of what Exalted is?

(and I do think you're right here, btw)

Exalted is bad anime pastiche in every aspect, especially the art (*vomits on sweater*).

Oddly enough though, the obsessive fans get really wierd when you ask them that question.

Anime is gonna be one of a couple influences.

Anybody notice the buncha near-future scifi tv series coming out? Surface? Heroes? That sort of thing?

Take that, anime, and the obsessively grim face of comics* (plus all the classic stuff we're just too sentimental to actually throw away EVER) and that's about where it's at.

*Hellboy, Sin City, The Preacher... take your pick.

Quote from: hgjsThe future of the hobby is whatever direction Wizards of the Coast decides to take, and conventional wisdom is that the next generation of Dungeons & Dragons will move increasingly towards the use of miniatures.

With my 6-year-old son just having gotten a Heroscape set for Christmas, I can attest to this, and I would note that it matches fine with the goal of attracting more kids.