Why wouldn't it be in this instance? It has citations for verification of its information. The definition provided isn't in any real dispute. I would say it is reliable.

You can make a custom character - RPG Element
You can make choices - RPG Element
You level up Skills - RPG Element
You can choose Factions, Religion, Moral and Personality for your character - RPG Element
You choose Abilities and Talents (Perks) based in your Skills and "Class" - RPG Element
You can roleplay many different roles - RPG Element
It isn't, for the most part, linear - Open-World RPG Element

For a game that isn't a RPG... It really looks like one.
If anything it's more a Live-Action Roleplay and less a Pen-And-Paper Roleplay.

The Bosmer NPC Gwilin in Ivarstead has a wonderful quote about the game. I'm going to copy it for you.

When somebody nukes the site from orbit.

No, it's not an opinion. Factually, Skyrim does not have the most possibilities of any Bethesda game. It's just a fact. An opinion is whether you, I, or anyone else thinks that's negative, positive, or irrelevant. A fact is that Skyrim does not have more possibilities than any other Bethesda game. It just doesn't. It barely even has factions, it doesn't even have a reputation system, and has even less variables other than that (such as what house to live in, what to do within the confines of the main quest, what region you want to live in, what type of spell you want create, etc.). Skyrim does not have more possibilities than any other Bethesda game.

OP: Stop smocking. Get your life together. You are trolling because of trolling, That's sad...

In the most basic definition of RPG, its still an RPG, and how is it much different then Daggerfall? Because you dont have stats like Strength and Dex and Int anymore it's obviously not an RPG? Do you still not make choices that permemently effect your character? train skills, and focus on certain aspects of the game that you choose too like other RPG games?

Seriously the only diffrence is the consolidation of well known physical stats into 3 stats, you just have 3 instead of like 9 now thats it. And even then you still pick were to put your stat points when you level up, health, magicka or stamina. you choose if you want to master swords or destruction magic or be a master blacksmith, and its totally your choice if you spend perk points on it to make the most amazing armor possible. Does the sun and moon not rise and fall in a cycle of days? Do you have no emotional response to the cities, people or landmarks? If you don't agree that you are living the life of an individual you made and named in a fantasy world, an open world were you can go where you want and make choices that affect you're character and the world around you, then I think you might be playing a different game then I am. I remember playing Halo and you didn't have choices there, you had people telling you what to do and had a preset path to take to an objective that was not optional, either you did it or stopped playing the game with no other option to just wander off and do something else within the game because you felt like it...

http://xkcd.com/978/

You play as customize character, which have personality, morale and religion you give him to guide his way through the game. You have open world, levels and this awesome new perk system they created and you can choose what kind of items you are using, you can also pick up locks and cast spells. Those are things which are not a part of common action game.

I mean, like, you assume the role, you take on the responsibilities and make the choices.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z2Z23SAFVA

Honestly would you shut up? You know that it has more possibilities but your just trying to make a point ok? It's your OPINION, it's what you think, not what everyone else thinks, thus, an opinion. Your acting like those silly evolutionist guys who clam it's true, yet there is no proof. It's their OPINION that its true. Just please, stop making a fool of yourself.

"casuals" get mad if its Too rpgy? (NOT A WORD) please, If you make it they will come. its no ones fault but Beth For Skyrim being the way it is in choice and mechanics.

I just realized something, most people here(including me) are taking this game way too seriously...
But i guess half of the games fun is fighting in these forums.

It's all misconstrued, you call tell by the ignorant replies to the OP asking him "what is a RPG?".

Doesn't have character development? It has the same character development as most other rpg's. You make a character (not forced to play just a single character like The Witcher 2) and you go on quests. You gain experience (increases to the various skills that occur only through use) and you gain levels. As you gain levels you can increase your magic, health, or stamina and you pick a perk. Both of which makes your character more powerful than before.

Sounds like just about every other rpg ever (with maybe an exceptional few).

You looking for The Sims?

You want a game that is not open world, think Hunted: The Demon's Forge. In comparison, Skyrim is as open world as it gets.

You got that right, I love fighting, lol.

It's an action rpg, you do quests, level up skills and aquire loot to improve your character. End of discussion.

Not, it isn't a traditional strategy rpg like Baldur's Gate or almost completely dialog driven like Planescape:Torment.
In the late 90's early 00's almost completely text driven quests became outdated and everything became voice acted, narrowing down what choices we could make and what we could do. Not to mention graphics improving and everything becoming more complex.
The last glimpse we've had for more old school rpg gaming with a focus on strategy was Dragon Age:Origins and look where that series ended up, it's not comming back.
It's been happening for atleast 7 years now, deal with it.

Dosen't mean you can't enjoy the games for what they are

This game lacks character development in a sense that I don't have the feeling that I belong anywhere in Skyrim. I keep starting over when I reach level 20 because I have nothing left to do that can be related to my character and who I want to be. Guilds have always been the answer to this, but in Skyrim, Guild related quests are criminally short and all other none guild related quests are simply not that interesting, mainly because once you finished it, it does not continue it's story, if you catch my drift.

All my characters have felt like mercenaries and errand boys, simply because of the serious lack of story lines with multiple quests. I can't play a pure mage or any other build because this game does not allow me to, it forces me to take quests none related to my character like sabotaging a lighthouse and running errands for people I have no business with. For all the content it offers, it offers almost none for character development.

It is what you make it . What would you say to be the defineing change ? Oblivion an RPG or not? Morrowind ? Personal I roleplay Skyrim .... so to me it is an RPG , but maybe its many things to many people

They should sell with and alert: "Half of your time will be wasted complaining or defending the game on our Forums, enjoy!"

I would buy it.

It is an RPG. Its way more of an RPG than final fantasy 13 is, that's for damn sure.

It is the most vague and bland game that could possibly be a RPG. Short quest, vague quest lines, no character upkeep. It is a action/adventure game. "With" some RPG elements. NPC's are only reactive to your actions with a swing of the sword, and what has been recorded for in game voice overs. The dialog is the most stripped dialog out of all the TES games.

Is that supposed to be an argument or a "la, la, la... I can't hear you" attempt at refuting what I've said with absolutely nothing other than an empty and false claim? It is not an opinion, it is a measurable fact of reality which I'm stating objectively. Just because someone thinks the earth is not round doesn't disprove that fact and therefore is not an opinion. One cannot claim anything they refuse to admit they're wrong about is an opinion because they refuse to believe the reality... the bringing up of evolution isn't helping your case. To ignore the validity and evidential factual existence of evolution is just delusional and as a hopeful biology major and person within the modern world with a realistic sense of believing in conclusive evidence and the logical progression of rational thought, that's a very bad example to use if you wish to see me "just shut up". I am not making a fool of myself, I am bringing up evidence and stating factual claims based on reality. I've pinpointed specific examples. It is you trying to ignore those valid points with no evidence of your own... and trying to claim evolution is not backed up (please tell me I'm misinterpreting what I'm seeing there)?

Here is the wonderful quote from the NPC:

"My father taught me an important lesson many years ago. He said "Gwilin, you have the whole world (Skyrim) before you. Go out and experience it... Be whatever you want to be." So I took his advice and here I am. This life (Game) might not like much to you. But I'm content, and isn't that all that matter?"