>>2
(GENRE I DON'T PLAY) IS THE WORST
When you don't know your shit, and I don't know sports games either, don't bother discussing it. You're not going to be able to say anything worthwhile. See also Negative Trend 1 in the next guy's post.
2 Xenogears isn't even the way the Takahashi wanted to make it in the first place. If anything, Xenosaga is CLOSER to what Mr. Lead Designer wanted. Also explain the "innovation" that ruins the game, because I couldn't tell the difference between the two. The two games' flow are pretty much the same damn thing. (simple dungeon into long cutscene, repeat) I think they're both okay for what they're trying to be (though really there are MUCH BETTER WAYS to tell a story via videogame than dungeon-cutscene), but not nearly as great as people think they are, myself.
3 Games are shorter nowadays because most games' production budgets can't turn out a massive game the size of something like Xenogears or (omigawd) DQVII with the kind of visuals people expect from the new consoles. The choice is either 40+ hours or awesome graphics. As for easier, they've been easy since the PS1 generation. Also, the word "mainstreamer" is for assholes who think that their choice of videogame actually places them on some kind of higher level than anybody else. I don't mistake my videogame collection for my social status, or, worse yet, my cock.
3 What, specifically, about the RPG formula allows for "artistic development" and "deeper games" as opposed to any other genre?
4. That would be fair if Western games took any great amount of influence from Western cartoons. Which they don't.
Also, you definitely are a wap if you're putting stuff like Onegai or KGNE anywhere the quality level of a Miyazaki movie. They're at least three hundred billion Quality Miles apart.