What is a role playing game?

[mafia97]

Hi all,
was just browsing through the list of role playing games available on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._games_by_name
to review my next game.
the list has games i have not even heard of and IGN says diablo 3 is roleplaying game and assassins creed is not.
I thought any game in which we played the role of some hero like desmond in assassins creed or max in max payne,is a role playing game.
can you guys please clear my confussion?
thanks

[digibucc]

Originally Posted by mafia97

I thought any game in which we played the role of some hero like desmond in assassins creed or max in max payne,is a role playing game.

in those examples you are not playing a role, you are playing a specific character. real or imagined, you are limited to their personal abilities, morals, etc. a role playing game would be more if you were a nameless assassin who could choose which side he wanted to be on.

i think that's the biggest confusion for you, role vs character. you do not play a pre-made specific character in a role playing game. you choose a role and create the character that best fits your style inside that role.

then it's important to recognize that there are different types of rpgs. diablo is barely an rpg - because none of the choices you make actually matter - whereas in a game like Skyrim, your decisions make a difference.

[Chryonn]

i've often pondered about those words myself; role-playing game. for me a role is like playing a part in a grand scheme of something, and a character is a person that plays that role.

[digibucc]

Originally Posted by Chryonn

i've often pondered about those words myself; role-playing game. for me a role is like playing a part in a grand scheme of something, and a character is a person that plays that role.

that's a good way of looking at it. I think role doesn't necessarily have to be a scheme or something out of the ordinary , life itself requires each of us to play a role, but we have freedom of choice inside of that role. grand is a good term though, as i think it is required to be larger than our everyday life. at least to be interesting it's required.

a character is predetermined. the way they will act and think is not up to us, whereas when it is US playing a role, we have the same choices we face in life, although limited by the scope of the game.

[the54thvoid]

Too philosphical.

An RPG is a game whereby you can make choices (not linear) and those choices have consequences. An RPG will also require the physical and skill development of that character. Your playing of your character leads to expansion of that character's attributes and the game world itself is adapted to your in game choices.

An FPS is a game whereby your consequences matter little to the outcome (predetermined by a predefined plot) and where your character does not develop skills. Though he usually power ups his weapons.

You can get good FPS games with elements of RPG and bad RPG games that feel like FPS.

Then there are adventure games (Myst, etc).

[D007]

It use to mean you rolled dice.. Now it means you have a more emotional connection to the characters/world.. Like final fantasy online is an MMORPG.. MMO massive multiplayer online.. RPG role playing game.. RPG because so many people or AI is invoved and the game is more about story than bang bang shoot em up.
That's the best I got..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role-playing_game

[digibucc]

i see no problem with your response except:

Originally Posted by the54thvoid

Too philosphical.

is unnecessary. so we answer in different ways, what is wrong with that?

[mafia97]

so is witcher 2 a RPG?? we enhance abilities in that too,and mass effect series??

[the54thvoid]

Originally Posted by digibucc

i see no problem with your response except:



is unnecessary. so we answer in different ways, what is wrong with that?

Semantics dude. No offence meant. I was just bringing it to physical game parameters, that's all.

[D007]

Originally Posted by mafia97

so is witcher 2 a RPG?? we enhance abilities in that too,and mass effect series??

Yes, absolutely.. One of the best examples you could of used is the Witcher.
Mass effect, World of Warcraft, Oblivion, skyrim, Two worlds, guild wars, D&D online, LOTR online, Eve (though less so imo), FF online, Aeon.
Good examples of RPG games.

RPG only means there is more story involved imo.. That's the basic principle behind rpg. More story, more choices..
FPS just means first person shooter, but you can have an FPS/RPG, just means you are in first person view mode and shooting is all.
Like Fallout is an FPS/RPG If I remember corrctly.

[mafia97]

I have never played witcher 2,but can we customise character in that?
and then what are games like max payne 3 and assassins creed or for say batman arkham series
are they action adventure games??

[D007]

Originally Posted by mafia97

I have never played witcher 2,but can we customise character in that?
and then what are games like max payne 3 and assassins creed or for say batman arkham series
are they action adventure games??

Idk why you care so much.. if you like the game, play it.lol..
It just means the games have more choices and are less a set storyline with no choices.
Batman is more action than rpg, less choices but it's an amazing game with a nice story.

[digibucc]

Originally Posted by mafia97

I have never played witcher 2,but can we customise character in that?
and then what are games like max payne 3 and assassins creed or for say batman arkham series
are they action adventure games??

witcher 2 has choices but i wouldn't exactly call it customization, as it's not permanent. still, it is an rpg in that you can make choices that matter to the world and story.

and correct, those would be action adventure games.

[mafia97]

Originally Posted by D007

Idk why you care so much.. if you like the game, play it.lol..
It just means the games have more choices and are less a set storyline with no choices.
Batman is more action than rpg, less choices but it's an amazing game with a nice story.

sir,I have to post a review on a RPG game,i was checking what are RPG games,so i can post technically correct review,i have written this in my first post.

[D007]

Originally Posted by mafia97

sir,I have to post a review on a RPG game,i was checking what are RPG games,so i can post technically correct review,i have written this in my first post.

Ahh..
Well I hope we cleared things up for you then.


Rule of thumb:
If the games choices are not really choices at all and have no effect on the world, it is not an rpg.

[the54thvoid]

My favourite RPG was made by I.C.E (Iron Crown Enterprises) and it was Middle Earth Role Playing (M.E.R.P). It was a dice and paper old school, the way it was meant to be RPG.

When we used imagination and it was utterly open world and driven by choice.

Ah, the days of pizza, coke and 20 sided dice.

And an uncanny number of *ahem* '00' dice rolls during character creation.

[D007]

Originally Posted by the54thvoid

My favourite RPG was made by I.C.E (Iron Crown Enterprises) and it was Middle Earth Role Playing (M.E.R.P). It was a dice and paper old school, the way it was meant to be RPG.

When we used imagination and it was utterly open world and driven by choice.

Ah, the days of pizza, coke and 20 sided dice.

And an uncanny number of *ahem* '00' dice rolls during character creation.

Lol <3 the ninja dice roll..

[mafia97]

then a RPG is:
a game having character creation
a game in which choices have a effect
a game in which character abilites increases as story progresses
is that it?(BTW there is no thanks button along side anybodys post)

[DannibusX]

Assassin's Creed and Max Payne are action games.

RPG's usually have robust character creation, leveling and class systems. It's not limited to those examples, but that's the gyst of it. Typically an RPG will have some sort of skill check against a programmed modifier to determine something, such as a hit or whether a successful action is performed.

Classic RPG's like Baldur's Gate are prime examples of what an RPG is. The waters are muddied a bit with some modern games where you don't specifically create your character, but they can be RPG's as well. Diablo is an example of an Action RPG, Bioshock is an FPS with RPG elements. Neither allow for character customization other than the ability to allocated points to activate certain abilities.

RPG's are not constrained to a certain setting and vice-versa. Fantasy is a typical RPG setting, but Mass Effect is an RPG series set in Sci-Fi.

[Kreij]

Originally Posted by mafia97

(BTW there is no thanks button along side anybodys post)

You only get so many a day to prevent thanks spamming.

[Frag Maniac]

A true RPG should place the emphasis on the flexibility of the role you play in the story, vs a specific role you're character is assigned to. These variables should come in the form of anything from choosing your race, appearance, skills, gender, marital status, etc.

More importantly, choice of personality type is paramount in a good RPG, such as choosing to be wicked or good in general, outgoing or selfish, or even picking when to use either.

An RPG is nothing without comprehensive branching dialog and story elements to support choices you make though. If it starts to feel like the same game no matter how you style your character or what choices you make, it's not a well made RPG.