Roq, it's interesting that you mention Diablo. Apparently, at least some members of the Diablo team thought they were also helping to bring back RPGs: http://www.gamebanshee.com/news/112369-the-origin-of-diablo.html
Diablo can barely be called a CRPG. It's an action rogue-like game. Cancer for the CRPG genre IMHO.
Some real good CRPGs were released in the mid 90s:
1995 Albion -> one of my all time favourites
1996 Daggerfall
1994 Dark Sun
1994 Jagged Alliance
1994 Eye of the Beholder
1994 MM3
1994 Star Trail
1995 MM4&5
…
the decline begins with Diablo
Maybe it was the 3 D's: Doom, Diablo, Dune 2 (RTS) that made the game industry think that the more ponderous RPG formats were being superseded. Action speaks louder than words, so they say .
That's correct. By the time of Baldur's Gate, RPGs had managed to overcome the technology gap Warren mentioned. But by then, oldschool designers like him had abandoned the genre and it was up to a new generation of talent - the three B's (Black Isle, BioWare, Bethesda) - to revitalize it.
Hmm… can you name some RPG's from the late 90's that could stand toe-to-toe with AAA titles of their time, technologically? Certainly not Black Isle - isometric 2D was NOT something that grabbed people.
That's what I had heard over the years also, in particular Diablo.
Warren Spector said:Everyone was jumping on the CD craze – it was all cinematic games and high-end graphics puzzle games
They didn't need to stand toe-to-toe. They just needed to look good enough.
My guess is that a genre (i.e. traditional RPG) without any titles that impress people technologically has an image problem.
Even in the 90s, there were genres that thrived without looking so good.
For example, real time strategy games. Their secret? Impressive-looking cinematic cutscenes between levels. How many copies of Command & Conquer were sold because a real live dude gave you your mission briefings, I wonder?
And of course, RPGs had such cutscenes too, although today they come across as gratuitous and silly.
Who complain about their favorite genre being niche.
I don't think many people complain about that. What they do complain about is that even their humble niche needs aren't being met.
If that was true, the recent wave of kickstarters should have placated everyone. I'm not seeing that.
Hmmm, I'm not sure what "everyone" you're referring to. Who is it that has yet to be placated and why?
In any case, the Kickstarter games aren't actually out yet.
Just my general impression, both here and at the Codex. Are people content with the state of the genre right now? Doesn't seem like that to me.
There's never going to be a time where everyone is content with the state of any given genre. Everyone has different tastes, and there's always going to be an outspoken group of people bitching about something even if they're the minority.