DualCast Level 1 - What Defines an RPG?

DualShockers writes, "As we mentioned a couple times in our ShockCast, we have been hard at work behind the scenes on a new podcast dedicated to role-playing games, which just happens to be my genre of choice. All that work has finally come to fruition this week, as we kick things off with a huge premiere episode of our DualCast. Join us as Yaris, Joel, Al, Jon, Tyler and myself discuss what really defines an RPG, at least to us. With so many games these days taking bits and pieces of various RPG mechanics, what really makes a true RPG stand out? We also discuss our first memories of RPGs and how that experience helped shape us as gamers. Finally we delve into topics about dialog in games, whether text-only or voiced, as well as how much we (well, most of us) dislike Fable II. Various high jinks ensue, in true DualShockers fashion, so even if you’re not a fan of RPGs, come join us for a fun romp around this corner of the gaming world in our inaugural DualCast!"

[Ninferno]

another podcast on dualshockers.com, finally a place for these nerds to vent their RPG tendencies

[taz8080]

A podcast that is just for RPGs some would think may not have enough material but ehy would be wrong. RPGs are the cornerstone of gaming, providing great stories and unique experiences. Good podcast guys.

[Hitman0769]

An RPG podcast during the year of the RPG, how unexpected!

Jokes aside, the topic of Role Playing Games and what defines a Role Playing Game is very vast and diverse and you really can go on and on for days about it. I was hard to squeeze everything into the first episode.

Really, what we all could agree on was the fact that a role playing game should give you an experience through the eyes of a character in another world. Immersion is probably the #1 feature of an RPG, this is achieved through a great story. But there are many, many other elements to an RPG which we go into detail about.

It was especially great going back in time and reminiscing on our first RPGs.

[flyingmunky]

Just for fun:

My first experience with RPGs was back in the NES era. My brothers and I got Dragon Warrior as a part of a Nintendo Power magazine sign up offer. Ever since then I have been hooked on them.

My Uncle told us to level up around the castle at the beginning. We leveled there for like 3 hours before he came back by to see how far we had gotten in the game. Lol he was like, 'what the heck are you guys doing!?'

Good times

[Game-ur]

There are three pillars to an RPG, and launch from them to varying degrees to form sub categories:

1-Exploration
2-Collection
3-Character build up
If you look past labeling you will find that some games are actually RPGs, and others -while labeled as such- are not. Based on this you could consider Red Dead Redemption an RPG, while FF13 is less so.

[Chadness]

I'm sure what defines an RPG is different depending on who you ask. But we do see some common ground when talkin of various story devices and mechanics.

[meiamsome]

RPG's are an important part of gaming and I think that this is a good testemony.

[BeaArthur]

I'll have to check it out. Hopefully it's not 90% MMO's.

[Hitman0769]

It's 0% MMOs on this Podcast actually. But MMOs are definitely something we will get into in the future.

[BeaArthur]

Yeah that's fine, I understand MMO's are going to be on there but I hear a lot about MMO's on the Shockcast and was hoping it wasn't going to be all MMO' all the time.

[Hitman0769]

@BeaArthur

Thanks for the feedback we will definitely take this into consideration. If anything, when you hear about MMOs on the DualCast it will be much more detailed and in-depth and not just a run-through.

[Hellsvacancy]

I like RPGs, ALOT, but it also takes ALOT for me 2 get in2 a RPG, the only games in that genre ive actaully played, competed and liked are FF8 and X and Fallout 3, ive tried many others but find them too stupid 4 my likin/taste

Im currently playin through Demon's Soul's which i got in2 straight away

Im extremely excited for Final Fantasy Versus, turn based/open world RPG = WIN

[B-Zero]

Going by your apparent overall grasp of the english language, I determine that "u r 2 stoopid 4 tha game".

[trounbyfire]

mass effect, some even call Cod a rpg

they are stupid

[Chadness]

Whoever calls CoD an RPG needs to have their eyes checked.

[thevokillist]

Wasn't that a joke on the DualCast? Calling MW2 an RPG?

[RagTagBnd445]

Mass Effect is an RPG, just not a traditional one.

[wazzim]

Mass Effect is a RPG, a RPG can have many kind of battle systems while still keep being a RPG.

[tunaks1]

I think a game needs more then just "experience gained" to be an rpg.

[iiprotocolii]

Agreed. But at the same token, what defines an RPG is pretty hard in itself to call out. Games, regardless of the genre, share so many similar elements that it's hard to truly give anything a specific type. I, personally, would think that an RPG has to have an epic story set in a world that isn't our own; a cast of characters we use to see that world in that gives us emotional attachments, and a menu-based strategic battle system - which is what usually clearly distinguishes RPGs from non-RPGs.

I think as graphics continue to improve, publishers and developers will continue to tie in RPG mechanics to emotionally improve a game's overall quality, aside from extravagant battles. Having a powerful narrative, I think, is the first step in doing so. And, in this generation, we have seen many games which have instilled that very idea onto our geniuses.

[tunaks1]

yeah,
to me an rpg is a game that has an engrossing story, where you actually feel like your part of the game, through mingling with npc, doing quest tat involve exploring towns and all that.

[HumanStark]

The "What is an RPG?" discussion is one of the biggest wastes of time gamers convince themselves actually matters. This isn't a commentary on the linked podcast, but a reflection on a conversation that has been repeated a thousand times on every forum and comments sections 'round the world.

The honest truth is it doesn't matter if Final Fantasy is "really" a roleplaying game or if this game or that game really allows you to "play a role." It is nothing but semantics.

Is Zelda a better game if we call it an RPG instead of an action-adventure game? Is Too Human less of a disaster because it can put a bullet point on the back of the box that says "RPG elements"?

It is a meaningless distinction. Much like pornography, gamers might not be able to accurately categorize exactly when a game becomes an RPG, but we know it when we see it.

[Chadness]

Well, the discussion in the podcast isn't necessarily an end-all-be-all of what an RPG is, but we felt our audience needed to know where we were coming from and how WE define RPGs for the sake of this podcast.

Regardless of what others may think defines a game in that genre, we have our own viewpoints and that will come across in the podcast. That is what we wanted to convey with that topic, so we don't get people constantly e-mailing us or commenting saying, "Why do you never talk about Red Dead Redemption! It's an RPG!!111one!!"

[HopSkotch]

Story
Characters
Exploration
Gameplay

These 4 whatever order...but all 4 are needed to be successful

[booni3]

I disagree with many of the comments made here. I believe there are a couple of qualities that allows a game to call itself an rpg. These are
Skill/Stat Progression
Story coherency and depth
Exploration/Discovery
Custimization (in a big way, see DQIX)
therefore, games like mass effect and even bioshock have the right to be called RPGs. thats just how i see it, and since in all games you role play, definitions of the genre are varying.

[B-Zero]

The argument is frivolous.
Final Fantasy VII has 'elements' of boxing games, snowboarding games, party games etc. Racing games contain the rpg elements of stat building and exploration..

The whole issue has arisen due to the runaway success of *true* RPG's from previous generations.
Publishers then trying to masquerade their FPS or Action adventure games that contain 'rpg elements' as an RPG in hopes that marketing their game as such would drive more sales.

For example. I direct a new horror movie. It contains romance elements and through the movie the 2 protagonists develop their love even further through traumatic events. The movie ends in a kissing scene where they are finally safe well. Romance played a huge part in the movie. However, it is still classified as a horror movie. Bioshock is a FPS Adventure with large RPG elements. It should be marketed as an FPS/ADV not RPG.
I cannot market my movie as a Romance otherwise all the romance afficionados out there will be in outrage when they see my movie and get a horror flick.
Its as simple as that.