What Defines the RPG Genre?

[derill]

I'm just getting into the RPG scene, and have been reading about what games define the genre. Some say anything with the infinity engine, some say diablo and its ilk-born clones, some say every rpg born before the 90's, some say roguelikes, some say jrpgs, and the list goes on ( mmorpgs, muds, etc ). What game defines the RPG genre to you, and why?

I'm merely asking to get a real feel for the genre. I missed out on the D&D games of my high school peers, and when I tried afterwards, I found that I was too nervous to speak in front of people ( I have social anxiety ), and then tried some MUDs. After that, I played through Planescape, Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 + expansion, Neverwinter Nights, Dark Sun ( both Shattered Lands and Wake of the Ravager ), WoW. What else could I try? I've read about Arcanum, but is it worth sludging past the bugs?

I mean, anything on the Inifinity engine gives me a helluva fight with random stuttering and lags every so often, and I think it's due to Vista. Most good RPG games were released before Vista, and it causes some issues.

So, what can I do to better myself, in terms of RPG gaming? I thank you for your patience. I'm rather new to forum-etiquette, although I did try to search through the forums for an answer, but there were too many different answers, so I thought I might as well get them all in one thread.

Thanks ahead of time.

Derill.

 

[BonziBUDDY]

If you're willing to try out some JRPGs then give Chrono Trigger, Earthbound and Final Fantasy VI a try.

 

[derill]

Oh, I've played through all the Final Fantasies, and dabbled in Chrono Trigger. They weren't my cup of tea. I found them to be more of a "sit-back, shut-up, and kill things while you watch this sorta-kinda movie."

I like a little bit of options in my RPGs, and it's a little difficult when you're going down a specific road and can't turn at the three-way.

 

[lordfrikk]

Fallout, Knights of the Old Republic (if you'll like it then also Jade Empire), maybe even Morrowind.

 

[Thrasher]

It depends on what you like.

There's all kinds of RPGs out there.

 

[derill]

How could I forget to mention Fallout 1/2??? I do believe I deserve to be hit with a stick! KotOR wasn't too bad, although I didn't enjoy the sequel. Jade Empire was a fun timesink, and Morrowind was another good timesink.

 

[1eyedking]

Not this shit again...

 

[JarlFrank]

Not this shit again...

 

[Thrasher]

If you like options and lots of non-linearity, then Arcanum and Fallout, and as said above Morrowind. Daggerfall is incredibly open-ended (and almost rougue-like).

 

[lordfrikk]

Wizardry 8, System Shock 2, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, Neverwinter Nights.

 

[Jaesun]

*I did not create this image, I forget who made it.

 

[derill]

Not this shit again...

sorry. i didn't realize I was doing something wrong.

Wizardry 8, System Shock 2, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, Neverwinter Nights.

I've never tried System Shock 2, actually, nor Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, and Wizardry 8. Thanks for the point-out.

If you like options and lots of non-linearity, then Arcanum and Fallout, and as said above Morrowind. Daggerfall is incredibly open-ended (and almost rougue-like).

As I asked, is Arcanum worth the bugs? Or are there fixes for it yet? I remember when it was first released I considered buying it, but after a word or two from a few friends, I avoided it. I've heard Daggerfall is worth at least one run. I'll go hunt for it.

@Jaesun : That pic confused me. :shock:

 

[lordfrikk]

Arcanum is decent game and I haven't noticed any eye gouging bugs while playing it with the latest Unofficial patch by Ogre_Ogre.

 

[derill]

I'll try it out, then. Gotta find me a copy for sale, first, though! Heh.

 

[lordfrikk]

I guess it's your bussiness, but why would you want to support a company that no longer exists?

 

[Thrasher]

How could I forget Wizardry 8? It's also somewhat open ended, and has what I consider one of the best character building systems.

Yes, with the patches, Arcanum isn't very buggy. Just remember to save frequently.

 

[derill]

How could I forget Wizardry 8? It's also somewhat open ended, and has what I consider one of the best character building systems.

Yes, with the patches, Arcanum isn't very buggy. Just remember to save frequently.

This has always been one of my problems. I remember playing NWN or something, and getting 3/4 through the game in one long thoroughly-caffeinated day, and then everything froze. I didn't save. At all.

 

[Thrasher]

I'm a compulsive saver. I dislike games without quicksave buttons.

 

[Fat Dragon]

http://rpgcodex.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php ... sc&start=0

Just go here. It already has every RPG listed that people are gonna recommend here. As for Arcanum buginess, dude there's a sticky at the top of this very forum for a huge fanmade patch that fixes many problems.

I'll try it out, then. Gotta find me a copy for sale, first, though! Heh.

Just download it for free from a torrent site. Its developer went under years ago, your money would only support some fat jackass who overpriced it on ebay.

 

[lordfrikk]

I'm a compulsive saver. I dislike games without quicksave buttons.

This and games where quicksave time >= normal save time.

 

[Darth Roxor]

What game defines the RPG genre to you, and why?

 

[Squeek]

RPGs are the ultimate games, because they're based around imaginary worlds with asserted realities, so anything is possible. The idea is to put players into roles like the ones in their favorite fantasy-adventure and science-fiction stories and then allow them to have their own unique adventures. It's something that works better with collaboration, and RPGs are generally considered collaborative games.

Computer RPGs are a little different, mostly due to the nature of computing, its limitations and how we interface with PCs. Some folks have funny ideas about all of that, and so every distinction pertaining to this genre is in dispute (which is why folks don't enjoy discussions trying to define it).

 

[Zomg]

Here is where I would have posted an airtight critical framework that would have obliterated all other stupid opinions and made their interlocutors feel ashamed to have ever articulated them if I could be bothered.

 

[Thrasher]

GL.

 

[Demnogonis Saastuttaja]

Jagged Alliance 2. Wether or not it's considered a rpg around here, play it. I have tried it (and Arcanum and TOEE, by the way) on Vista64, and it's compatible.