What constitutes an RPG?

IM GONNA USE THAT FOR MY THESIS

Go right ahead. Make sure to tie it in to "turkey sandwiches" somehow, though.

The role of a character... like a hero, someone with a story.

Acer, you play the role of the main character in almost every game ever made.

Mario is a hero, he has a story. Is Super Mario Sunshine an RPG?

Samus is a hero, she has a story. Is Metroid Prime an RPG?

Crash Bandicoot is a hero, he has a story. Is Crash Bandicoot an RPG?

Do you understand what Senesia is saying now? Just because you play the role of a character, that does not make the game an RPG. RPGs use at least one of the three rules I listed earlier. If it doesn't have one of those three things, it's not a damned RPG. Period.

I also agreed there has to be some kind of random item drops, and/or character development.

Raziel, what you are trying to do is clasify every single game into a single category. I'm not saying MGS isn't a FPS, I'm just saying it's also an RPG.

And I'm going by definition. You seem to be pulling "rules" out of your ass, since I've never seen anyone but you set those rules in stone.

Now to be perfectly fair rpg merely means Role Playing Game a game in which you play as another character and make decisions for that character fits a loose definition of an RPG. On another note, we can all agree that dungeons and dragons is an RPG. D&D created the roll playing genre yet that does not require maintainance of a party it can be played by one person with one pc, its just slightly less interesting

Raziel, what you are trying to do is clasify every single game into a single category. I'm not saying MGS isn't a FPS, I'm just saying it's also an RPG.

Okay then, King, by that definition every game ever made is an RPG. You cool with that? Because, if every game is technically an RPG, then the term shouldn't even exist. All games shouldn't be called "RPGs" they should just be called "games". So, why don't we just toss that term out altogether, hm? Why don't we start calling RPGs something more accurate, like "Epics". There's a reason the term RPG exists in regards to console games, and it's not to identify a game where you simply "play the role" of the lead character. Every game in the world does that, King.

And I'm going by definition. You seem to be pulling "rules" out of your ass, since I've never seen anyone but you set those rules in stone.

King, I want you to take a look at every traditional RPG in existence, okay? Examples would be games like Final Fantasy, Secret of Mana and Chrono Trigger. What core gameplay conepts do all of those games employ? Stat building, party management and combat strategy. Look at any other traditional RPG in history, and the same rules apply. I'm not pulling anything out of my ass, the facts are sitting right in front of your eyes. The idea that you're incapable of identifying those facts is more than a little disheartening to me.

Now to be perfectly fair rpg merely means Role Playing Game a game in which you play as another character and make decisions for that character fits a loose definition of an RPG. On another note, we can all agree that dungeons and dragons is an RPG. D&D created the roll playing genre yet that does not require maintainance of a party it can be played by one person with one pc, its just slightly less interesting

YOU "PLAY THE ROLE OF THE LEAD CHARACTER" IN EVERY GAME EVER MADE. IS EVERY GAME EVER MADE AN RPG? NO.

That definition only applies to paper and pencil RPGs. Console RPGs are a completely different type of game, people. Console RPGs refer to a game that focuses on stat building, party management and combat strategy.

If the game has a purpose for the character, a real story line, development etc then it depends on you how that character will grow... giving you the role of that character... RPG

Oh my God, for the love of Christ, stop fucking saying that. ACER, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU ACTUALLY READ WHAT I POST THIS TIME.

Samus is a hero, she has a purpose, she has a story that develops, Metroid Prime is not an RPG, it is an adventure game.

Solid Snake is a hero, he has a purpose, he has a story that develops, Metal Gear Solid is not an RPG, it is an espionage game.

Dante is a hero, he has a purpose, he has a story that develops, Devil May Cry is not an RPG, it is an action game.

Is this making any sense to you yet, or do I need to spell it out phoenetically for you?

This thread makes me want to cast Lv 5 Magic missiles.

Does it make you want to cast them at the darkness?

(Really vague reference there...)

AND FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST READ WHAT I FUCKING SAID... all the things you pointed out was story development... I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OF A STORY... I am talking about the character

You have to be the most bitchy person on zelaron... you get all technical with everything... you spelt this wrong, rpg is this, blah blah blah. Can you sit for one second and relize this. Its hard to read what you say when you take 1 sentence and go on about it. I pretty much agree with you first post.

Now, if I have spelt anything wrong or any grammer is wrong... keep it to yourself cuz I really dont give a fuck.

spelt

Spelled*

Raz, you're saying Pre-console RPGs have different rules than console RPGs? That's like saying turkey on a turkey sandwich is different from turkey in gravy. ITS ALL STILL TURKEY BITCH.

Raz, you're saying Pre-console RPGs have different rules than console RPGs? That's like saying turkey on a turkey sandwich is different from turkey in gravy. ITS ALL STILL TURKEY BITCH.

There's a monstrous difference between a pencil and paper RPG and a console RPG, mainly because P&P RPGs are completely open-ended. You are free to create and do whatever the hell you want, even break the rules. You are not restricted, and as such, the game allows you to actually role play your created character.

Console RPgs are a compeltely different thing. You are 100% confined by the rules of the game's design, you don't create your own character, you make a minimal number of intereactive plot-affecting decisions and you progress through a generally set-in-stone plot. Because of this, the term "role-playing" does not work within the confines of a video game. Therefore, using the term "Role Playing Game" in conjunction with a video game means that you have to attach different attributes to said term. Simply "playing the role" of the lead character in a video game does not make it an RPG. You do that in all video games. An RPG in the video game sense has a different definition than a role-playing game in the originally intended paper and pencil sense.

AND FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST READ WHAT I FUCKING SAID... all the things you pointed out was story development... I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OF A STORY... I am talking about the character

Solid Snake's character develops throughout Metal Gear Solid. MGS is not an RPG.

Jade's character develops throughout Beyond Good & Evil. BG&E is not an RPG.

Dante's character develops throughout Devil May Cry. DMC is not an RPG.

You have to be the most bitchy person on zelaron... you get all technical with everything... you spelt this wrong, rpg is this, blah blah blah. Can you sit for one second and relize this. Its hard to read what you say when you take 1 sentence and go on about it. I pretty much agree with you first post.

Acer, if it's so fucking hard to follow what I'm saying, why the hell do you keep responding? I'm not going to dumb my posts down just so your shriveled brain can play catch up. If you can't follow what I'm saying, stop arguing with me.

Now, if I have spelt anything wrong or any grammer is wrong... keep it to yourself cuz I really dont give a fuck.

When, at any point in time, have I gotten on your ass about grammar? Hm? Have I done it at all in this thread? In any thread prior to this? No. So stop your goddamned bitching.

Actually, I consider BG&E to be an action RPG. It's about as much of an RPG as Diablo.

True, it doesn't follow the rules you mentioned and is mostly an action game, but it does slant a bit towards RPGs in game style.

"I'm, I'm attacking the darkness!"

All of the Final Fantasy games are 90% static. You don't create your own character, they have their own pre-written lines, and the actual interactive story elements (i.e. "Do I take Aeris on a date or Tifa?") are few and far between. Therefore, your Webster's definition of a Role Playing game does not work in this situation.

Have you played FF1? It's not really that static .You create your own party and can pretty much explore all you want for most of the game. There isn't nearly as much plot as the later games, though.

YOU "PLAY THE ROLE OF THE LEAD CHARACTER" IN EVERY GAME EVER MADE.

I have to dispute this. There is this genre called "puzzle games", and another called "card games". The vast majority of games in these genres do not involve a lead character or any roleplaying.

I read the first 3 pages, this is what an rpg is.
An rpg is a game where you are in control of your character(s) life and abilities, such as the sphere grid in ff10 or the skill tree in daiblo 2. If you can fully customize your character in a way that is unique to yourself it is an RPG. There should also be character progression in an RPG.
If there is no customization (Zelda) then its not an RPG.
If there is no way to change what happens by the path you choose for your character, its not an rpg. (I mean like, if you don’t put points into strength in daiblo, you wont be able to use better armor and high strength wepons.)
If a role playing game is where you played the role of someone, almost any game would be a role playing game. Role playing games in my opinion should take more than 20 hours to beat.
(just my opinions)

That was actually referenced earlier in the thread.

Also, "attacking the darkness" isn't a vague reference in my mind. I'd assume that most gamers have heard that skit.