What Makes an RPG?: Semantics and Game Reviews [Semantics]

Published: October 28, 2007, 3:30 pm

Tags: categories, reviews, rpgs, semantics

I stumbled on an interesting review of The Witcher, a PC RPG (or is it?). The reviewer started off by throwing out his opinion on what makes an RPG ("Games in which you create a role and then act out that character in the gameworld. Without the freedom to come up with your own virtual identity, what you're really talking about are adventure games with a few RPG trimmings."), something that got picked up by the nice people at Rock, Paper, Shotgun. I can't think of any games I've played and loved where I started from scratch; then again, I'm not a PC gamer, and by this definition all those RPGs I have on my game shelf are mislabeled. RPS says that the categories are purely historical in nature: Which leads to me my take on the RPG, at least in terms of daily use. "RPG" is a purely historical thing. In the same way "Spartan" doesn't mean "From Sparta" any more, but rather a set of values and beliefs (i.e. Less pillows and bedclothes. Less fancy clothes. Sit-ups now, probably),

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