What is an RPG game?

[Kimball]

Out of curiosity, what exactly is a role playing game? Isn't that what SE IV is?

[Will]

Well, it could be a RPG if you wanted it to be... http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

An RPG is basically any game where you become one or many characters for the game. The player thinks, talks, acts like his (or her) character. In the game, that is. The really scary ones act like that all the time http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

D&D is an RPG. Other board games could be made RPGs (ie, Risk). Most computer strategy games can be made RPGs.

[Matryx]

Generally a Role Playing Game is where the player assumes a different 'Role'
In SE4 you assume the 'Role' of the commander / omnicron etc of the the race you control.
In Dungeons and Dragons you assume the persona of the character you play.
Generally, if the option exists for an immersive personality switch it can probably be called a Role Playing Game.
Games such as Unreal, Quake etc could not be called Role playing games because they do not develop the characters to any degree of have the ability by which you assume that role affect the course of the game.