I'd like to see the same rules which apply to my char, apply to all my enemies. I think sometimes, the games cheat!! Ever had an enemy wizard keep firing spells at you, while you run out of mana, or memorised spells? I have!!
No, it'll sputter out as diminishing returns set in. Dev houses will bump up against their artists' personal talent limits and the technical advances that remain will no longer excite people enough to sell any additional copies. Hell, you see the first part already. Plenty of dev houses are working on next-gen games that look like last-gen games with better shaders. Even Tim Sweeney's beautiful Unreal Engine 3 can't help an artist who doesn't know that arms widen and narrow occasionally between the shoulder and wrist.To put it simply: the race for better graphics will never end.
I had tremendous fun in NWN2 *as a RPG* - I loved watching my choices have impact in the world, with people and places. And I looked forward to watching the world change as a took a new character through who was different and made different choices .
There are two routes we can take to get to my wife's parents house, which is ~200 miles away. One is pure highway, rest areas and the like. It is quick and efficient and ensured that when the kids were little we'd never be too far from a rest stop - and during the winter we knew we'd never be in an unplowed area.NWN2 is a fine game but its choices truly are hollow as they have almost no effect on the ultimate outcome of the game.
There are two routes we can take to get to my wife's parents house, which is ~200 miles away. One is pure highway, rest areas and the like. It is quick and efficient and ensured that when the kids were little we'd never be too far from a rest stop - and during the winter we knew we'd never be in an unplowed area.
Then there is the somewhat slower way along single lane 'highways', through rural areas, farms, up scenic roads, and through small towns. It takes a bit longer, but we take it when we have the time.
Each has the same start and destination - but it is the way in which we take the trip that makes all the difference.
And that is how and why I play RPG's.
I think the difference between our opinions isn't that great, so I'll just agree to disagree on this one.But there AREN'T two routes in NWN2 (nor most other CRPGs). It's the exact same route but you can be an a**hole to the people along the way or a nice guy. You still hit all the same spots and end up at the same spot.
The definition of a planet didn't will itself into existence. The IAU invented it, this year, and the rest of the world accepted it in recognition of that body's authority. No-one recognises your authority to define the term RPG. It's evolved many meanings over the past thirty years, but has no accepted definition. I myself will continue to apply it to any game which feels RPGish.When things change they get a new name and stop being classified as what they used to be. Pluto was once considered to be a planet, but thanks to definitions and classification based on fact and criteria, in no longer is from the what evidence we have and what the definition of planet is.
Playing a game with no creative inspiration is like being trapped in an endless loop of car commercials, or politicalspeak. You have constantly the feeling of being manipulated.
rpg is a dying word that will only spawn endless debate until games stop using it as a crutch to draw people in.
large budget games of any merit will only succeed by telling a good story through the inovations of whatever the current technology allows.
.....someone mentioned thief, and i think the thief games as they stand let you play the 'role' of a thief more than any other game so does that not make them the best thieving role playing game by definition. the only way games that allow you to play a role will evolve is by focusing on these type of roles. this is the draw of party based rpgs since it allows you to develop simultaneous characters but since you are controling them all, you aren't making different choices based on their charcter types only learning different skills. using a fireball or a sword to brake a barrel isn't making a choice but 'burning' someones clothes so they couldn't dress and chase after you versus slaying them in there sleep is a huge choice that envolves morals-something any great story must address. how you burn the clothes or what weapon you use is a nice feature but doesn't change your 'role'.