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Truth to tell, I think the future of RPGs will depend on Dragon Age to a huge extent. If it's successful, we might just see a resurgence of 'true' RPGs, with genuine characterisation, proper storytelling and a plot that does NOT just give the player an excuse to go around hitting things.
Neverwinter Nights only got the idea in Hordes Of The Underdark, and then only to some extent. Party based RPGs seem to be dead and buried, sadly.
The best 'true' RPG ever - the closest to the genuine tabletop experience - was Planescape: Torment, which did very poorly in sales, despite being wholly unequalled before or since. The market doubtless took note of that fact, which is probably WHY it remains unequalled.
Games companies make what they think will sell. The only thing we can do is cross our fingers and hope everyone buys Dragon Age - AND that's it's as good as the promise it seems to be showing.
