What defines an RPG?

Easy answer: Inventory systems.moose_knuckler

^ Most intense roleplaying ever

If a game has a strong focus on allowing you to alter the way in which events occur and their outcome, whether through choices you make through your character or in the way you design your character, I would say it's fair to call that an RPG. I mean killing someone with a spell isn't the same as killing someone with a sword, you still have to make an active choice in how you want to develop your character in order to allow that to happen. There has to be a strong emphasis on this though, games that only offer a slight variation in the way you play the game don't really apply. That's the way I see it.

If a game has a strong focus on allowing you to alter the way in which events occur and their outcome, whether through choices you make through your character or in the way you design your character,

WasntAvailable

I have said this before, but Visual Novels do that, so does that make them RPGs?

[QUOTE="WasntAvailable"]

If a game has a strong focus on allowing you to alter the way in which events occur and their outcome, whether through choices you make through your character or in the way you design your character,

Yangire

I have said this before, but Visual Novels do that, so does that make them RPGs?

If you added some form of combat to a visual novel it would be an RPG, so no, because it's a visual novel. I could add that an RPG must have some sort of controllable action element, simply because I have never seen an RPG without one. Or you could call it an RPG if you want, it really dosn't make any difference. Traditionally though there has always been combat in RPGs.

[QUOTE="WasntAvailable"]

If a game has a strong focus on allowing you to alter the way in which events occur and their outcome, whether through choices you make through your character or in the way you design your character,

Yangire

I have said this before, but Visual Novels do that, so does that make them RPGs?

[QUOTE="Yangire"]

[QUOTE="WasntAvailable"]

If a game has a strong focus on allowing you to alter the way in which events occur and their outcome, whether through choices you make through your character or in the way you design your character,

SaltyMeatballs

I have said this before, but Visual Novels do that, so does that make them RPGs?

I never understood why people hate things that they're ignorant of. You probably know NOTHING about Visual Novels yet you say they suck, why is that?

If your ignorant if something don't act like you know anything about it.

P.S. Towards the other user, there are RPG/Visual Novel hybrids.

[QUOTE="SaltyMeatballs"][QUOTE="Yandere"]

I have said this before, but Visual Novels do that, so does that make them RPGs?

Yandere

I never understood why people hate things that they're ignorant of. You probably know NOTHING about Visual Novels yet you say they suck, why is that?

If your ignorant if something don't act like you know anything about it.

P.S. Towards the other user, there are RPG/Visual Novel hybrids.

[QUOTE="Yandere"]

[QUOTE="SaltyMeatballs"] No. And not just because they suck.SaltyMeatballs

I never understood why people hate things that they're ignorant of. You probably know NOTHING about Visual Novels yet you say they suck, why is that?

If your ignorant if something don't act like you know anything about it.

P.S. Towards the other user, there are RPG/Visual Novel hybrids.

Have you played any of them? Any ones that are renowned as quality games?

I can give you a list if you want, you want to point out the games that you have played to come to this conclusion?

Stats, Swords, Bows, Staffs, Chests, Elves, Dwarves, Mages and dicerolls...oh and big spiders.tbone802

[QUOTE="WasntAvailable"]

If a game has a strong focus on allowing you to alter the way in which events occur and their outcome, whether through choices you make through your character or in the way you design your character,

Yangire

I have said this before, but Visual Novels do that, so does that make them RPGs?

[QUOTE="Yangire"]

[QUOTE="WasntAvailable"]

If a game has a strong focus on allowing you to alter the way in which events occur and their outcome, whether through choices you make through your character or in the way you design your character,

Zerkrender

I have said this before, but Visual Novels do that, so does that make them RPGs?

Did you send it to Yandere? It might have been after I left.

Upgradeable stats and such.

[QUOTE="Zerkrender"][QUOTE="Yangire"]

I have said this before, but Visual Novels do that, so does that make them RPGs?

Yangire

Did you send it to Yandere? It might have been after I left.

wait, are you.... a bandodger? :|

[QUOTE="Yangire"]

[QUOTE="Zerkrender"] I've been meaning to ask you about that. I even sent you a PM and you didn't answer. :( They sound like my kind of thing, I don't like books because I can't interact in it and do what I would do in tough situations.AdobeArtist

Did you send it to Yandere? It might have been after I left.

wait, are you.... a bandodger? :|

I think all of those elements could be used to define RPG's - but the one MOST important to me is stats/upgrading equipement etc.

I feel that an RPG can exist with stats/upgrading, along with other elements, but it CANNOT exist without it.