Squeek
connoisseur of tidbits
I also liked the author's point about "RPG" being a historical thing that means “mechanics derived from D&D." That doesn't say enough, but I think it's a good place to start. D&D defined this genre.
D&D is the ultimate game. It's the one where anything's possible. That's worth keeping straight, IMO. But developers never mention that, no matter how often they discuss and describe RPG, and that's because they're not in the business of making that kind of game, not exactly. With technical and business constraints to consider, they compromise on that fantastic original concept.
The biggest difference between today's computer-based RPGs and the one that defined the genre is that today's are committed first-and-foremost to interpreting and presenting their worlds visually. That makes for cool simulation and nice immersion, but it's also hugely limiting.
D&D is the ultimate game. It's the one where anything's possible. That's worth keeping straight, IMO. But developers never mention that, no matter how often they discuss and describe RPG, and that's because they're not in the business of making that kind of game, not exactly. With technical and business constraints to consider, they compromise on that fantastic original concept.
The biggest difference between today's computer-based RPGs and the one that defined the genre is that today's are committed first-and-foremost to interpreting and presenting their worlds visually. That makes for cool simulation and nice immersion, but it's also hugely limiting.