Confused: What is a real Role-Playing Game?

Question

Here is the definition.

Role-Playing Game (RPG)
Noun
A game in which players assume the roles of fantasy characters.

Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Role-Playing+Game?s=t

What confuses me is, based on the definition, ANY game ever made can be considered a RPG, unless you're playing a game based on a true story, where you're playing a real person and experiencing what they went through. I've never heard of a game like that.

Some could say that RPG games are based on being able to change the story based on the character's choices. So they could be the hero or the villain, etc. The only problem with this is it's inconsistent. Way of the Samurai games, which are all focused around "choosing your adventure" are all classed as Action games. Heavy Rain, which is like watching a movie and changes on the choices you make, is classed as an Interactive Drama. The only series classed as Action-RPG which story changes depending on your choices are BioWare games, like Mass Effect.

Others could say that a RPG would be character advancement, skill trees, leveling up, abilities, etc. The games that come to mind here are Final Fantasy, The Elder Scrolls, Borderlands and again, BioWare games. Final Fantasy, Elder Scrolls and Borderlands all have no story changes. In Final Fantasy and Borderlands you are forced to continue the story, and you can opt out of the campaign in Skyrim.

Is it all of the above? What is a real RPG?

Answer 1

While yes all games could be considered an RPG there are still classifications of gameplay such as first person shooters. In video games most of the time people drop the RPG aspect so final fantasy games are classified as turn based RPG. Games such as fallout and mass effect are classified as first/third person shooter rpgs. Madden is classified as a sports RPG even tho you don't take on the role of one individual you assume the role of the team. There is no true RPG that is only an RPG because RPG is an umbrella term that depicts a whole classification system of games. Like dungeons and dragons is a dice based RPG game. But most people only call it an RPG if it has a leveling system, dialogue options and a choice system that effects game play. Such as fallout 3 if you chose to blow up megaton then you no longer had access to that town for trading or quest purposes. But you could always choose not to get involved with the bomb leaving you homeless and unable to store items.

Answer 2

The RPG definition you have is just a very general one which I can see why it would confuse. I have had this conversation many times before and the opinions change on the person of what is a RPG. Still, if you look it up on a gaming site they too have an unclear answer and you also saw that in genres. Therefore it's best to either make your own opinion or just accept there is no straightforward answer.

Answer 3

Any game can be RPG if you think about it, in my opinion, it's to be able to control everything you can do including character, enviroment, storyline etc. The character doesn't have to be a fantasy, it can be any type so bascially, any game lol

Answer 4

I can try my best to get it right, Role playing Game is a game where you act of a fantasy character.