It's Role-Playing, Not Roll-Playing!
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What most developers miss when they make computer RPGs is that RPG stands for role-playing game. It does not stand for adventure game, nor does it stand for hack'n'slash. Although both are part of a good RPG (who doesn't like some action now and then and adventures are a must, naturally), RPG is also much more. You aren't just going through and adventure, killing enemies and looting treasures, you are supposed to be playing a role. Unfortunately, most so-called computer RPGs forget this entirely and treat the genre as if it was simply a fancy name for adventure and hack'n'slash combined.He centers the debate on character design, character interaction and non-linear storytelling. Especially on that last point he's being a bit too narrow for my tastes, basically painting Oblivion as the perfect non-linear storytelling because Oblivion doesn't force you to do anything. Sadly, Oblivion also doesn't really tell much of a story, so it's more "non-linear something" than "non-linear storytelling".
But, what does playing a role actually mean? What could the computer RPGs do better to take into account this facet of the genre? In the following, I'll study some aspects that will make a game feel like a real role-playing game.
Spotted on RPGDot.
