| View previous topic - View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Independence
Lowly Slime
Joined: 02 Dec 2003
Posts: 4
Location: Blinkenlights
|
 Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 11:44 pm Post subject: What defines a RPG? |
[quote] |
|
|
What things do a RPG has to have? Is it enough that you play a role in some sort of game or is NPC and so on required?
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
XMark
Guitar playin' black mage
Joined: 30 May 2002
Posts: 870
Location: New Westminster, BC, Canada
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 11:57 pm Post subject: |
[quote] |
|
This is a hotly debated subject around RPGDX. Play nice, everyone :)
_________________
Mark Hall
Abstract Productions
I PLAYS THE MUSIC THAT MAKES THE PEOPLES FALL DOWN!
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ninkazu
Demon Hunter
Joined: 08 Aug 2002
Posts: 945
Location: Location:
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 3:37 pm Post subject: |
[quote] |
|
I think what defines many RPGs is the ability to strengthen your character. All RPGs are based on storyline, not just running around killing things to fulfill short quests. Though... the first Zelda wasn't like that at all... hmmmm...
Oh well, don't think too hard on the subject.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
grenideer
Wandering Minstrel
Joined: 28 May 2002
Posts: 149
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 8:46 pm Post subject: |
[quote] |
|
the first zelda wasn't an rpg :) .
_________________
Diver Down
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rooter
Copyright Infringer
Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Posts: 61
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 2:02 am Post subject: |
[quote] |
|
|
taking that a bit further... NONE of the zeldas have been RPGs
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mandrake
elementry school minded asshole
Joined: 28 May 2002
Posts: 1341
Location: GNARR!
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 2:21 am Post subject: |
[quote] |
|
| Quote: | I think what defines many RPGs is the ability to strengthen your character.
|
I can agree to this, see below. But also want to add that the character's abilities are also more important than the player's skills.
| Quote: | All RPGs are based on storyline, not just running around killing things to fulfill short quests.
|
let's see here, the first 2 Dragon Warriors, Final Fantasy 1, The first 3 Ultima's, the old wizardry games (all of them)....the list goes on and on with RPG's where the plot/storyline is about as deep as Mario Bros.
| Quote: | Though... the first Zelda wasn't like that at all... hmmmm...
|
that's because it wasn't an RPG. The box of the game even says "Action Adventure". I know, because I still own my old gold copy.
I would say that several concepts are unique to RPG's, and when they are all present a game can be considered an RPG. Most of these old precepts come from table top RPG's (hence why they are called RPG's, duh).
Exploration-
exploring land to find treasure, a new town, or just wandering for the sake of wandering. In most modern RPG's, there is a plot attatched to the wandering with a purpose given to it. In the older ones you needed to explore to beat the game. Usually this involved in 'fetch it' quests. Like for example, in the first DW you needed to find proof you were an heir of Erdrick, in FF 1 you needed to re-light the four crystals.
The ability to improve a character-
Not just weapon upgrading- if the character has stats that represent his abilities, and the gameplay rests on these abilities, and he has the power to change and improve said abilities. Usually based on the D&D level/exp method, allthough modern PC/C RPG's are taking on some of the newer tabletop concepts of skills/skill points.
Random based skill checks:
These could be considered 'dice emulation'. Unique to the RPG- video game genre is emulating the table top 'skill check' were a random dice roll is combined with the characters skill level in order to ascertain acheivement in that skill. Oyther types of video games do not use this method, and instead rely on the players skills rather than the character's skill. (IE: hand eye co-ordination).
Shops:
originally unique to the RPG genre but can now be found in all types of games is the concept of purchasing from shops upgrades to the characters' magic/items/weapons. These upgrades are not the same as improving one's skills. The main difference is mostly didactive, but improving a weapon (ie: getting a +2 sword) and improving a skill is not syntactively the same concept. Although i must admit the difference is mainly in syntax and how the upgrade is aquired, and programmatically is nto much diferent. But the player does not care about programming, but rather about the world of the game.
Ok, now the next two are not requirements for RPG's, but are common to most of them and are what most people sue to define the RPG experience, what makes it more unique than playing, let's say, a Mario game or shmup.
A Complex World:
This stems from the genre's basis in tabletop RPG's, which in turn get it from fantasy/sci fi novels. The world is usually a complex living organism, with many races and cultures and rules governing them.
A Complex Story:
again, an evelotion of the PC/C RPG genre that mirrors the one in table top RPG;'s. The natural progession from kill kill kill level up (D&D, DW, etc) to character driven plot and storylines that are complex and novel esque (White Wold, R Talsorian, Final Fantasy 2+, Chrono Trigger, etc)
it seems to me what defines an RPG are mainly two conepts that are itnerwoven through this 'definitions' i provided:
1 Character centric, not player centric. The player's skills are secondary to the characters' skills.
2 Micro management of said character. Ie: alot akin to some Sim games you need to manage your character's stats and etc.
So the game is basically character centric where the skills/abilities of the character are tested using a similiar method to that of a table top rpg. Ie: what is commonly known as a skill check.
You guys bored yet?
_________________
"Well, last time I flicked on a lighter, I'm pretty sure I didn't create a black hole."-
Xmark
http://pauljessup.com
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bjorn
Demon Hunter
Joined: 29 May 2002
Posts: 1425
Location: Germany
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 9:24 am Post subject: |
[quote] |
|
|
Mario Bros. is based on a storyline, it involves saving a princess from an evil turtle!
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Adam
Mage
Joined: 30 Dec 2002
Posts: 416
Location: Australia
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 11:40 am Post subject: |
[quote] |
|
And toad telling you "the princess is in another castle"
_________________
https://numbatlogic.com
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mandrake
elementry school minded asshole
Joined: 28 May 2002
Posts: 1341
Location: GNARR!
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 12:53 am Post subject: |
[quote] |
|
pthbth, i said:
| Quote: |
the list goes on and on with RPG's where the plot/storyline is about as deep as Mario Bros
|
i never said it didn't have a storyline/plot. just not a deep involving one.
so, nyeah nyeah nyeah
_________________
"Well, last time I flicked on a lighter, I'm pretty sure I didn't create a black hole."-
Xmark
http://pauljessup.com
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bjorn
Demon Hunter
Joined: 29 May 2002
Posts: 1425
Location: Germany
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2004 2:02 am Post subject: |
[quote] |
|
Anyways...
Happy New Year! :-)
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Adam
Mage
Joined: 30 Dec 2002
Posts: 416
Location: Australia
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
supergoat
Pretty, Pretty Fairy Princess
Joined: 21 Dec 2002
Posts: 13
Location: in the smile of every newborn
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:08 am Post subject: |
[quote] |
|
|
By literal definition we know an RPG involves stepping into the shoes of one or more protagonists and being able to control not just their basic actions, but the interactions that define that character as a "person". However, statistic character development has been an integral part of it since the beginning, so I'll have to say that too. :P
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 3:28 am Post subject: |
[quote] |
|
The definition of an RPG changes when a new RPG comes out that does things a little differently - so an RPG in 2000 (eg Deus Ex, the last RPG I really enjoyed) is barely recognisable from an RPG in 1986 (eg Final Fantasy).
To get an accurate answer, I suppose you should ask, 'what defines an RPG made in year X?'.
Thats kinda what I love about RPGs :)
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mandrake
elementry school minded asshole
Joined: 28 May 2002
Posts: 1341
Location: GNARR!
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 5:41 am Post subject: |
[quote] |
|
not really, because even though RPG's do evolve and change (and many people would argue that Dues Ex is a FPS with RPG tendencies, and not a full RPG....) several things stay the same throughout all RPG games that I think define the genre.
Will people stop anounomouse posting? God jsut type in a fake name or somehting even. All these 'Guest' posts are starting to piss me off.
_________________
"Well, last time I flicked on a lighter, I'm pretty sure I didn't create a black hole."-
Xmark
http://pauljessup.com
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sirocco
Mage
Joined: 01 Jun 2002
Posts: 345
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 7:33 am Post subject: |
[quote] |
|
Seriously man, slow down and check what you're typing ;)
.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
