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hey STO....what Makes a Game an RPG?

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
edited March 2012 in Ten Forward
the age old argument....I want to know what makes a game an RPG. For me Final fantasy is not an RPG...games like Fallout and mass Effect are....I'm just curious what you think makes a game and RPG and what makes it a mislabeled Adventure game?
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  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    N0vastar wrote:
    the age old argument....I want to know what makes a game an RPG. For me Final fantasy is not an RPG...games like Fallout and mass Effect are....I'm just curious what you think makes a game and RPG and what makes it a mislabeled Adventure game?

    Hmm, you have not said why you think FF is not an RPG, but Fallout and Mass are and not stated how you define the difference.

    I would say that FF is an RPG and so are Mass Effect, Fallout and Skyrim and many many others (Love my Bards tale original and Wasteland).

    To me, any game where you can play different "roles", can level up and watch your character or team get stronger, is an RPG.

    Now what makes an MMorpg, well that's a different can of worms that I'm not touching with a 10 foot barge pole...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    A RPG is a game that actively promotes the player to take on Role X or Y, opens up diffrent reactions to the player char, and based on the actions the player takes, has alternate solutions and endings.

    Fallout, Mass Effect and other games like them, as such fills the role.

    Fortunally STO does not... I could side with the Planet Killer, go to earth and destroy it... next time I log in.,.. it's still gonna be there, and Quinn is still freindly.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Actually FF9 is my most favored RPG. Wild Arms 3 is also very awesome. I usually don't like games like Fallout or Mass Effect. There are three really good extra credize episodes about the topic western RPGs vs. JRPGs: http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/show/extra-credits

    In my opion an RPG is a game which allows me to immerse myself into a character. That character may be created by myself or is given to me, that doesn't matter. If I have this feeling that immersion is of high importance to the game experiance, I usually call a game an RPG. I can immerse myself into some FF titles, but I have a hard time to do the same with Fallout. I realize however the game has the intention that the player can and should immerse himself into the game, so I would call FF and Fallout RPGs.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    A game is a computer RPG if it features player-driven development of a persistent character or characters via the making of consequential choices.

    Strictly speaking, before actual 'role-playing' can occur, you must first define your character as a separate personality. Having defined your subject, you then seek to emulate your subject. At every decision point, you ask yourself: "What would my character (do/say/think/feel) in this situation?" And then you conduct yourself as your character would.

    This exercise is entirely optional in tabletop games, and in most single-player computer games it's largely impossible. The functional relationship between the player and (say) Cloud Strife is fascinating and much worthy of study, but it is neither helpful nor adequate to describe this relationship as 'role-playing.' Cloud is basically a free agent, over which the player has only provisional control. If Cloud says "I don't feel like walking through this door right now," the matter is closed; the player's input is irrelevant. You may, if you like, pretend that you are Cloud, but it can hardly be said that you're portraying him, any more than I can claim to be portraying Indiana Jones when I watch Temple of Doom. Role-playing is indeed make-believe, but make-believe is not necessarily role-playing.

    Where as to me...in Fallout or Mass effect...I am giving choice on everything I do..how I do even down to how I look and act in dialogue! to me that screams RPG.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    As you might have noticed I have a very diffrent view on the subject.
    Actually it is not as far off. You see in my opinion the player input isn't really that important. I can play the role of existing character and I can give my own spin to this character. In the case of final fantasy or Cloud Strife in specific the way he fought, was very much input by me. Does this effect the story? No, but an actor who plays Mc Beth will also not affect the story.

    This is the reason I have so much trouble with games like Fallout, were there is not really a story unless you start to create it yourself. The Roleplay can become optional in these titles because well you can just go around and start murdering tons of dudes. Garanted you can do this in Final Fantasy to but in the FF titles I usually have more motivation to start roleplaying.

    Most of the times the options given to you in games are really nothing compared to a tabletop game, but the restrictions of computer games can be interesting, too. The only question is, if you like the restrictions placed upon you.

    In the end roleplaying always extends the medium to some degree. You can always act outside the box and turn everything into an RPG. Certain games only help, others do not. But most games labled RPG try to help you to engage in a role playing experiance. But usually you will find other things helpful than I do.

    In this kind of sense, it is kind of strange to say this is not an RPG. Because the only reason it isn't, is because you don't play it as such, which sometimes goes against the intention of its creator. But that is also nothing bad in itself, and can be quite engaging too.

    Ok, that was a bit of text. I am not a native speaker so keep that in mind if some parts sounds strange to you.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    N0vastar wrote:
    A game is a computer RPG if it features player-driven development of a persistent character or characters via the making of consequential choices.
    When you put it that way...
    N0vastar wrote:
    Mass effect...I am giving choice on everything I do.
    *snort* Carry on. :p
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    "What makes a game an RPG?"
    When teh game features girls I can seduce... ;)
    because I could never do that in real life. <__>
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