What Constitutes an RPG

[AppleQueso]

You know, it's kind of funny pepharytheworm, because you mentioned metal-archives, and your arguments here sound exactly like the folks who pop into the forums every once in a while to protest why a certain band isn't on the archives.

Genre classification isn't based on 100 percent opinion, and while it can vary from person to person, if you can't even articulate where you draw the line and to what standards you consider for something to be part of a specified genre, then you can't really expect to be taken seriously.

Genre-by-association (band/game x is genre A now because they influenced genre A) is not how things work. To continue with the metal band comparison, a lot of thrash and early death metal bands were heavily influenced by hardcore punk. You wouldn't suddenly say those punk bands retroactively became thrash metal because they influenced some bands, would you?

You're not even consistent in that though, you even said that you don't consider Led Zeppelin a metal band but DO consider AC/DC to be one. I'd say that if anything, Led Zeppelin had more of a musical influence on heavy metal than AC/DC ever did.

Anyhow, again, if you expect to be taken seriously, you need to define what your conditions and boundaries are as far as RPGs are concerned. If Zelda is an RPG, then explain to us how it meets your personal qualifications, and why this excludes other games with similar characteristics. Simply saying "it's an RPG because I said so" isn't enough.

[pepharytheworm]

Look I respect other people's opinions, but some things are pretty cut and dried, black and white, right and wrong.

Zelda is not an rpg. That's not opintion, that is FACT. Calling it an rpg just makes you seem like a gamer who doesn't know his stuff.

I don't care if anyone thinks I am a gamer who doesn't know his stuff, I have nothing I need to prove. But answer my question do you call tomatoes vegatables and Magnolias trees? My point is defintions matter very little compared to public opinion. Plus like the begining poster was stating there really is no set in stone defintion of what constitutes a role playing game, other than you are playing a role in a game like CRTGamer mentioned.

@noiseredux
I am not angry at all, sorry if I sound that way. I just aways find it funny whenever there is an rpg debate Zelda always comes up and I like trying to make people see from other peoples views. The fact is if this conversation was more torward Zelda being an RPG I would probably argue against it. I have a feeling mrpopo does that a lot also. But I truly know its not an rpg but I will always consider it one. Thats why I could argue both.

[noiseredux]

@noiseredux
I am not angry at all, sorry if I sound that way. I just aways find it funny whenever there is an rpg debate Zelda always comes up and I like trying to make people see from other peoples views. The fact is if this conversation was more torward Zelda being an RPG I would probably argue against it. I have a feeling mrpopo does that a lot also. But I truly know its not an rpg but I will always consider it one. Thats why I could argue both.

I wasn't aiming just at you Really I was trying to lighten the mood a tiny bit.

[pepharytheworm]

@AppleQueso
All I am saying is just because there are certain rules there is nothing wrong with having your own opinions on said rules. I sound conflicting because I know the exact definitions yet I don't always go by them. I live my life my own way not by how its exactly suppose to be. I am not trying to turn anyone to thinking Zelda is an RPG, I am just trying to get people to think more than, its because the definition says so. But in truth I can't really totally explain why I feel zelda is an rpg, it just gives me the same feeling as when I play other rpgs. Maybe it just the scope and cliched stories I really don't know. If I am looking at squares but all I see are circles how can I explain to others I see circles when I can't say they are round. Just have faith that I already said I know I am wrong but I still feel the way I feel.

[MrPopo]

@mrpopo
Not its not, its reality at work. Wikipedia calls the Zelda series an action adventure. Do
you deny that words mean only what people get from them. Do you deny that defintions and words change with the changing of peoples views? Will every defintion today hold true in the future?

I agree that meaning changes over time. I simply was pointing out that you listed the textbook definition of Wikiality. It was intended as a humorous observation. Since I didn't use blue text some confusion seems to have arisen. Fortunately, we now have technology to compensate:

http://www.popsci.com/technology/articl ... soooo-cool

I have no definative source just like noone has a definative source of the oppiste of what I say. I form my opinions like every one else by experience. But you have an opinion too, do you think the majority of people who know what zelda is call it an rpg or not. The thing is if people didn't call it an rpg so much, why did so many of the posters in this thread have to make a comment saying Zelda is not an rpg before it was even touched on being one. They odviously deal with it being called an RPG or is it just used for no apparent reason in their comments. Mrpopo I know your smart enough to see that and are only looking to further arguements. Rpgfan.com also considers it an rpg and no I can't say they are they definative source, they're one of the best I have found and if you have a better rpg website please give a link as I find so many that miss a lot, even they do.

If you've seen RPGFan's discussion on whether or not Zelda is an RPG you see that they feel it meets some criteria to be considered an RPG. But not everyone has the exact same criteria. I personally feel the Zelda RPG debate is a 60-40 split of opinion. The question comes down to which side of the debate the 60 is. I don't claim to know that, but you did. That's what I took issue with.

So why on the calling of pluto a planet do you go against the new defintion? Source for you still calling it a planet? or could it be possible you have your own opinion based on your own experiences?

An unelected body decided that Pluto was no longer a planet based upon some set of criteria. I do not agree with their criteria. Time will tell whether or not the definition changes. Remember, I'm not questioning your right to consider Zelda an RPG. I'm questioning some assertions you make related to that.

Again I can't claim that metal-archives is the definative source, but it does pretty much stick close to my view and is the largest database of Metal I have seen, if you know another please share.

I don't have a different source; I don't follow the metal scene. I just didn't like how you painted it out to be the definitive source.

[lisalover1]

I think an RPG definitely needs some sort of statistical data to be an RPG. Whether it be a leveling system or whatever. If it's not there, it's just not an RPG. Zelda is not an RPG.

I completely agree. I'm always shocked when people refer to Zelda as an RPG just because of its' setting and theme. Yes, every RPG should have some statistical method of character progression, i.e leveling up, or something in the same vein.

[yomomma1]

I have always thought than an rpg is a game where you gain levels. But alot of games have some level system. Using my description you could say harvest moon is an rpg. I could say however that most rpgs have a level system. And that there is some sort of magical power/mana bar.
Also you need some sort of class system, or you gain points when you level up.

[J T]

It's not an RPG if it doesn't have...


-lots of innocuous errands you have to run for local villagers before getting on with saving the world.

-monsters stuffed so full of gold coin that they cough it up when they're dead.

-Food that can heal any battle injury (oversized turkey legs are a favorite)

-Valuable items held inside smashable barrels and pots.

-Townspeople that don't seem to mind you smashing all of their barrels and pots.

-Chocobos!

-Villains that take on a more powerful form every time you kill them, until about their 3rd death.

[AppleQueso]

It's not an RPG if it doesn't have...


-lots of innocuous errands you have to run for local villagers before getting on with saving the world.

FF13 not being an RPG confirmed

[pepharytheworm]

It's not an RPG if it doesn't have...


-lots of innocuous errands you have to run for local villagers before getting on with saving the world.

-monsters stuffed so full of gold coin that they cough it up when they're dead.

-Food that can heal any battle injury (oversized turkey legs are a favorite)

-Valuable items held inside smashable barrels and pots.

-Townspeople that don't seem to mind you smashing all of their barrels and pots.

-Chocobos!

-Villains that take on a more powerful form every time you kill them, until about their 3rd death.

That sounds a lot like Zelda minus Chocobos!