Crono1973 said:
remnant_phoenix said:
Crono1973 said:
remnant_phoenix said:
s69-5 said:
Remove the stats and it ceases to be an RPG.
How do you figure?
RPG stands for "role-playing game." The purpose of the game is the story. Years of min/maxing DnD munchkins and video game stat-monkeys have socially created the idea that stats are what make an RPG. This idea has been grafted into the genre, but it still exists outside the core defintion of a "role-playing game."
A "role-playing game" is a game where the player PLAYS a ROLE in an unfolding story, and any system for determining pass/fail and limiting what the player can and can't do is sufficient to give the framework for playing a role in a story,
whether it has stats or not.
So Mario is an RPG? Fantastic, fond memories of saving Peach in Mario 64.
No because you have no input in how the story plays out.
It's the difference between "acting out a role" in a story and "playing a role" in the story. In role-playing, you can have an influence on what happens in terms of plot and characterization.
And yes, I just claimed that most JRPGs aren't truly role-playing games, which is true.
To say that most JRPG's aren't really RPG's is as silly as saying that most cars aren't really cars. I mean, did you notice the RPG in JRPG? It seems that the industry thinks that JRPG's are in fact, RPG's made in Japan or in the Japanese style. Being able to collect hidden characters or not and being able to customize your characters abilities both seem like role-play and game altering elements to me. I really could have left Yuffie standing in that field and that would have cut out an entire side quest.
However, for the fun of it, could you tell me what you think IS a true RPG?
I said MOST, though that may have been an exaggeration. Games like Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VI, and Chrono Trigger ARE role-playing games because, like you demonstrated above, the player can affect the story.
How do I define RPG? Well, what is "role-playing" exactly? Hit us up dictionary.com!
"role-play
verb (used with object)
1. to assume the attitudes, actions, discourse of (another), especially in a make-believe situation in an effort to understand a differing point of view or social interaction"
To me, a role-playing game is a game whose
primary feature is role-playing as defined above. While Mario 64 may, arguably, feature role-playing, that is not its primary feature. No, that would be "platforming."
The industry definition of "RPG elements" is "stats, experience points, and levels," but that is a misnomer. Yes, I'm saying that the way that the industry definition is off and a role-playing game does not require stats in any way.
Because of DnD and video games aping DnD tropes, stats have become very strongly associated with role-playing games, but the are not required to create a game whose primary feature is role-playing.
Then again, just my opinion, just like everything else said on this thread.