Role Playing Games (RPGs)

Role playing games, also known as RPGs, are video games in which the gamer takes on the role of a fictional character. While many games allow the player to assume a character's role, RPGs emphasize this aspect during gameplay, allowing the player to make multiple choices for the character and to be a part of the story that unfolds during the game. A world and various characters are provided in the game, but the outcome of each scenario is highly dependent on the player's actions.

Before there were computer role playing games, the genre evolved on paper. RPGs find their roots in some of the early war games and strategic games. One of the earliest and most renowned paper RPG was Dungeons and Dragons. In this game and others like it, players used paper maps created by a "gamemaster" or "dungeonmaster" and roled dice in order to determine the outcomes of various situations. Sometimes players even moved miniature figurines or tokens to represent their characters' progress.

Early computer RPGs were text based, such as Infocom's early Zork games. These games allowed players to navigate a universe based on the detailed descriptions the game provided.

Modern day RPGs are highly graphical in nature and incorporate all of the technological advances found in other video game genres. Early video game console makers tried to market various RPGs for their platforms, but they rarely attained the kind of success that RPGs found on computer systems. However, as consoles became more advanced and console gamers sought more sophisticated titles, RPGs finally found a market. While RPGS still lead as a genre among PC games, they are also popular on the next generation video game console platforms.

Role-playing games have a number of attributes in common. These are used to define which games fit into the genre (though the true meaning of "RPG" is always under debate).

• Character development (through training, statistics, experience points, etc.)
• Large game environment with many areas to explore
• Multiple characters to control
• Equipment, items and weapons usable by the characters
• Attributes that may be customized
• Enemies to be defeated that in turn leave items, money or give experience points to advance the characters' statistics
• Sub-quests and size plots not directly related to the main story

Role-playing games have so many elements in common, sub-genres denote more a of a theme/setting change rather than game play mechanics differences.

• Fantasy - Swords and sorcery games with a strong medieval theme. Often characters can use magic and/or a number of weapon types. These are the most popular type of role playing games.
• Sci-fi - Futuristic video games.
• Historical - Historically accurate games often set in medieval Japan.
• Horror - Generally based on horror novels.
• Superhero - Features superheroes with increasable stats. Often these games are played online.
• Humor - Parodies and other tongue-in-cheek games.
• RPG Systems - Often pen and paper based, RPG systems are a universal set of rules that can be used to develop other RPGs. Dungeons and Dragons was one of the first RPG systems.

With the emerging culture of role-playing games, many other genres include RPG-like elements. The Castlevania series, for example, are historically action games. However, its latest incarnations feature experience points, items, equipment and character statistics that can be increased through exploration and defeating enemies. These games are usually referred to as action/RPG games.

With the strong emphasis on character interaction and group play, role-playing games easily made the transition from single player adventures to MMOG. These massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG) are enormously popular and grow in both user-base and number each year. Everquest and World of Warcraft are two of the most popular MMORPGs available.

Some of the best computer role playing games have turned into epic franchises. Games like Ultima, Final Fantasy and Might and Magic have spawned multiple sequels as well as countless copycats. Other classics in the genre include Baldur's Gate, Wizardry and Asheron's Call. Nintendo's Legend of Zelda was one of the earliest console RPGs to find a mass-market.

While early computer RPGs were usually single-player experiences, the most popular RPGs today are multiplayer; the leading RPGs are MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games). Among their number, they include Worlds of Warcraft, Everquest, Everquest II and Neverwinter Nights.

Gamers are anxiously awaiting a few new offerings in the RPG arena. One game that shows promise is The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Developer Bethesda has been working on Elder Scrolls since 2002.

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