What makes an RPG? The term is bandied around industry wide, but everyone seems to have a slightly different idea of what it means.

This poll asks, "What makes it an RPG for you?", and "What one feature would most improve that RPG", and finally it asks for a few of your RPG preferences.

An RPG at its core is where I can create my own character (which includes stats and appearance) and than live out my life in game as said character. Anything else is more icing on the cake.

At this point, any plot is a cliche one way or another. It's how it is presented that counts.

And to me the core is the level of exploration.

Whatever hues closest to its tabletop counterpart.

Slightly different idea? I wouldn't even try to assign a core aspect to a genre with so many genres in it. Elder Scrolls, Baldur's Gate, Dragon Quest, Odin Sphere, all are considered RPG's and are nothing like each other.

Freedom and customization are the two biggest things for me, I really understand why some people believe stats are the be all end all in terms of RPG.

How is that the core? Does the exploring have anything to do with role playing? I could just as easily explore a large environment in any Rockstar game. Role playing and character creating is exclusive to the RPG genre. You won't find customizable characters in a R* game.

I think the first two poll choices might have been better if I could have picked 2 or 3, since to me, several of the concepts you separated out are sort of "entwined" for me, when thinking about RPGs.

I'm not going to vote, but the thing that makes an RPG to me is a good story with good character development. If the story can draw me in, no matter how "cliche" it is, and I can connect to the characters, then it's a good game. Sure, the mechanics have to work well, but that's a given. I could fight through no perfect mechanics if the story/characters kept me interested.

Character improvement through experience. That said, it doesn't mean I like a game just because of that feature (ex: I don't care for CoD games).

Levels of interactivity and freedom. Although that pretty much eliminates 99% of so called RPGs.

By design. The point is to cut it down to the bare minimum. If a thing is 'entwined', which half do you have to keep, for it to still be an RPG?

The most important part of an RPG to me, is that you can actually role-play. ANY character build should be viable. Of course, there are going to be varying degrees of difficulty, but no build should simply svck to the point where the game is unplayable. I don't want to be playing a stats spreadsheet with a GUI. I want to be playing whatever character I want, however I want, with consequences to that, but without "give up, and start a new character" as a consequence.

My votes from those specific options:
Detailed Character Stats --- (This, to me, defines the role I am to play)
Persistance: (Change something and it stays that way) --- (The games reactivity to my actions is something I consider important in RPG's)
Abstract Combat (this could include turn based, or timed click combos, or symbolic attacks...etc.) --- (Goes with the detailed stats - The role is the one performing the actions at its strengths and weaknesses, and on the players command)
Detailed User Interface --- (Just a preference)
Restricrtive realism with inventory space, and item weight. --- (I don't prefer to call this realism, but just a mechanic which makes me think about what I do within the confines of the character)
First Person View
Third Person View
--- (the viewpoint doesn't really matter, depending on how the game plays and what it intends to do, both are fine for their respective intents)
Character based skill success; (meaning a weighted % chance of success). --- (Characterskill over the playerskill - the game should play out according to my character)
An end ~where the game ends, and the credits roll, and you return to the main menu. --- (A definite conclusion gives me the sense of accomplishment I seek from playing games. I see no point what so ever to go beyond the ending. It's better the game to stop while I'm still having fun than, me stopping it for getting bored.)

My opinion exactly

RPG to me is that you can role play. Be any character you wish and develope around it. Either through an adventure or some task in the game. And choices on how to do said tasks.

It doesn't need stats, dice, etc to be an RPG. Even though they help.

So I chose none of the above. Because they are just minor to the thing I posted above.

Stats, character customization, skill based success, loot, enemies, inventories, character improvement, these are all things an RPG needs. What an RPG is however, is an excellent engaging story, with great characters, great character development, and great npc interaction, and you get to play your role in that story.

Serious question (silly perhaps, but honest)... Does that mean that the SPORE creature creator qualifies as an RPG? It would appear to allow near infinite customization, full control of the character, and free roam within the confines of it's world. It even allows interaction with NPCs (the kids).

If the choices in game allow you to have different outcomes and may effect the story.

Then yes. Even though I have never played the game, so I'm taking all you have said as truth of the game.

You know what makes a role-playing game a role-playing game for me? The potential for role-playing. That's all that really matters.

To me an RPG is immersive and makes you feel like you're the main character.

I like you Gizmo very much so, and I like the idea of this thread.
So I hope you don't take offense at me saying that you focused attention in your poll on the aspects you enjoy and view as rpg.
Namely stats, creation, system and rules.

In the spirit, 1. Dialogue, 2. none cliche story, 3. all, none and abstention.

TBH break down the three aspects:
Role: I like being able to create anything I like within the feel and lore of the game.
To specialise, customise, go jack'o trades, build and imerse myself into a specific role and know I'm not penalised doing so.

Playing: It has to be fun and grounded in the setting.. dark and grim for a setting that is dark and grim, fantastic and "awesome" for a setting that is... etc.

Game: It's a game, I don't expect to win at everything but I expect true balance.
Not being able to only do few things and the computer able to do anything it likes for difficulty sake.
I want a level playing field, not one rule for me and another for everyone else.
I like difficulty settings that are reasonable, if I set it on easy it should be very easy, if hard it should force it to be hard on me.
The game should not conflict with the story, nor should it insist how I play or what role I chose.. doing so takes away from the role aspect for me.

Character progression is the most important aspect for me.

Stats.

:foodndrink:
I didn't vote initially, and did my best to include alternate viewpoints that I had seen.

My own votes were these...

• Detailed Interactive Dialog with NPCs.
  I prefer Stat based RPG to all others, but... I'm sure I could get by with just a bio on the character; but I could not role play a game without interactive conversation.
  
  
• Persistance
  I can accept a game with a tired tale, only a few monsters, abstract graphics, and a tiny island, or even a single dungeon for a game world... But I can't stand a game that forgets.
  
  
• and all of the preferences except FPP and Minigames

The Creature creator was a demo utility for SPORE. It let you craft races to use in the full game (at the time, not yet shipped).

Here are two races that I created in it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhjCe2EkYa0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=col41hu7pn8