What makes an RPG an RPG?

[remnant_phoenix]

I tend to view this question as having a spectrum answer, rather than just a Yes/No judgement.

The purest expression of role-playing and the inspiration for RPGs as a video game genre is the Tabletop RPG (Dungeons and Dragons and the like). In a game like D&D, you have (within the constraints of the rules and system) complete control over how your character develops in terms of skills/abilities and you have (within the parameters of the setting that the game master creates and the limits of the rules/system) complete control over what your character says and does.

As far as video games go, I'd say that the more that a video game does to replicate this experience, the more of an RPG that it is; the farther removed from this experience that a video game is, the less of a role-playing game it is.

 

[Phoenixmgs_v1legacy]

That's what I was trying to get at. The RPG label tells you nothing about how the game will be played. The term is useless. I would never say "if you loved 'Mass Effect' you're sure to enjoy 'Mount and Blade' because they are both RPGs."

People, in general, didn't like 'Mass Effect' because it was an RPG, they enjoyed it for it's story driven plot, well-developed characters and the vast sci-fi universe.

People didn't like "Mount and Blade' because it was an RPG, they liked the mix of sandbox and medieval combat.

That's why trying to bring games in or out of the 'RPG' umbrella won't serve a purpose.

So don't even try to get me started on that vague, limp-wristed Wikipedia definition. *shakes fist*

The thing about the RPG genre is that there are no gameplay mechanics associated to it. RPGs are about giving the player choice whether you're playing strategic turn-based battles or playing a fast-paced 3rd-person shooter (like Mass Effect).