Why do almost all new games have RPG elements?

[Judgement101]

Almost every new-ish game I have played as some form of RPG elements. Crackdown 2 has that orb leveling thing (which was good in the first but now its just boring), BFBC2 has that leveling system which just makes new players have a disadvantage, RE5 has that collect money to upgrade stuff, and MW2 has the same as BFBC2, can someone please explain why a game can't be just one genre anymore? I'm sick of "Action, RPG" or "Shooter, RPG" or "Horror, RPG".

 

[Judgement101]

Why did three things post? I only clicked post once, is this a glitch?

 

[Crimson_Dragoon]

For the exact same reason that all shooters a few years ago had bullet time, because its the "cool" thing to do now. RPG shooters like Mass Effect and Bioshock were successful, so other companies are trying to emulate that success.

 

[Confidingtripod]

dont know just post an apology

OT:Because pureblood RPG's like neverwinter nights , mass effect 1 and so on were some of the most money making games ever. its all about money. and they cant even do it right! thats the worst part.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

its just to widen the demograph and hopefully make some big ass money attracting the shooters and rpgr's into it

 

[Richard Hannay]

I'm sure you could cite evidence to shoot this theory down if you really wanted to, but here's a thought: notice that all your examples are sequels. Perhaps RPG elements is simply becoming a sort of "go-to move" for franchise developers looking for ways to expand their gameplay in installments after the first one?

I can't really back that idea up, having never played any of the games you've mentioned nor any of their immediate predecessors (multiplayer-geared shooters aren't my thing), but given how easy (comparatively, anyway) it is to graft RPG aspects onto an existing type of gameplay, I think it's not outside the realm of possibility.

Also, successful things get copied. A positive reception to something results in more of it popping up.

 

[Heart of Darkness]

Because it's a quick way to show that, yes, your character is getting stronger.

Because maxing out those stats is a goal in and of itself. It's not always fun, but gamers with an OCD complex want to see that maxed, and thus play longer than intended.

Because everyone else is doing it.

That about sums it up.

 

[ZombieGenesis]

Basically follow the leader, like everyone else is saying.
Bullet time in shooters, RPG elements in everything, motion controls and the next big fad of gaming - 3D. Soon every console and game will have a 3D gimmick, just wait.

I suppose Mass Effect was the first copycat and since that did so well, it makes it look easy? I don't know.

 

[Plinglebob]

I think its because (in FPSs anyway) previously you used to go through the game facing tougher and tougher enemies, but got a bigger collection of guns to compensate. Now everyone is in love with the "realistic" 2 guns only and so they need a way to show you're getting to be more of a badass.

 

[ThreeKneeNick]

Because they lack the creativity to distinguish themselves from the competition in new and innovative ways, and the RPG progression is easily the most simple and at the same time versatile way to provide players with "customization" and "choices" that seems to be the trend nowadays. A cheap tactic for adding another feature to the back of the box.

 

[Treeinthewoods]

Because it is awesome! I love "level uppening," most of my favorite games involve it and if they added to every game ever I would not be upset at all. When the sound goes off, the little indicator appears, that's the moment I love gaming the most. Level uppening FTW!

 

[KwaggaDan]

I don't know, it makes sense to me. After constantly battling enemies you are bound to get better at it... They could just implement it better, I think...

 

[Con Carne]

Apparently the game creators want to give you more of a feeling of accomplishment and individuality. (along side, trophies, 100% completing the game, and mediocre character creation.)

 

[nuba km]

Almost every new-ish game I have played as some form of RPG elements. Crackdown 2 has that orb leveling thing (which was good in the first but now its just boring), BFBC2 has that leveling system which just makes new players have a disadvantage, RE5 has that collect money to upgrade stuff, and MW2 has the same as BFBC2, can someone please explain why a game can't be just one genre anymore? I'm sick of "Action, RPG" or "Shooter, RPG" or "Horror, RPG".

I don't think ranking up counts as an RPG element but to answer your question it's so the game can say "play how you want to" or something along those lines. I mean most games you can't really play any different then shoot someone and take cover when they shoot you. so you can't really play how you want to and anyone that actually tries to play different figures out how to in games that don't have RPG elements. Most games don't really need the RPG elements, other games need the RPG elements like fallout3 and some games can use the RPG element like RE5 to make it stand out and it works I mean most guns start of with the strength I imagine they would have and in a zombie attack you would mod your guns if you could plus RE4 and 5 kicked the horror aspect in the head.

 

[Ertol]

Personally I like being able to level up, it makes me feel like I'm getting more powerful and actually progressing within the game. For example, I want to be able to go back to an area that used to give me problems, but now that I'm 20 levels higher I can just kill everything.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

Perhaps they're present to give the player a feeling of evolution, subtly changing the way they play in some respect, keeping the experience from stagnating. Having everything from the start means you've nothing to gain.

 

[Danzaivar]

I find if a game has RPG elements and some tangible feeling of character growth, I play it through a few times. If on the other hand you just direct them and it's the same all the way through, once it's cleared then it just stays in the case til it's traded in.

tl;dr: Adds re-playability.

 

[manythings]

For the exact same reason that all shooters a few years ago had bullet time, because its the "cool" thing to do now. RPG shooters like Mass Effect and Bioshock were successful, so other companies are trying to emulate that success.

Yeah I'm just going to leave it at this. Motion controls, 3D and whatever is next. Stealth murder became a big industry thing with Hitman and MGS. Fads are fads no matter the medium. Twilight got popular and now every publisher is trying to get their hands on a Twilight.

 

[Woodsey]

I am sick of half-arsed RPG elements in games.

I mean, take TFU for example. I don't want a skill tree! Just give me powers at intervals, that's fine; I don't want to have to search for holocrons on every level to get enough points to unlock as much as possible.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Make and rpg and the nerd folk will buy it and make it a hit, giving the companies lots o money