What? No one things ''The Sims'' is an RPG? You build a house, you get a job, you aquire things, etc. You even have skill sets. You don''t get to kill anything out right, but you do take the role of a person.

Yeah, that''d be true if RPGs were called such because you were Playing a Role. Thing is, you''re not.

The Sims is more of Role Playing game than any RPG on the market. Not that I don''t LOVE RPGs, but whether or not you get into the role of the character has nothing to do with success in most of these games. I wish we could find some better terminology for them, but I think the term RPG has stuck.

I would agree with Shadowrun on the Genesis; one of my all time favorites.

There was a Superhero RPG published by Legend called Superhero League of Hoboken. It was actually kind of fun when it was released.

As to why RPGs are not based on the real world, I think developers are scared of that. Somebody will claim that some aspect of the game is either demeaning or insulting one class of individuals and sue the team.

-Steven

Edited by - Steven Edwards on 5/3/00 5:00:55 PM

I''ve been reading through this thread and I''m surprised by how many ideas have sprung up.

By far using Mythology sounds like the easiest sell. The developers can keep all of the old spells, limit transport, etc., but the setting would be different. I think modernizing it so that some of the idols were real and still living would be feasible, something in the vein of Stargate [that''s a Movie and a TV series, in case your wondereing.]

I''ve pidgeon-holed myself a bit on my "pseudo-RPG" project by making elements the center of combat, so I''m trying to come up with a good setting. I''m was leaning toward a totally cyber-genetic world, but I do have to say the Mythology setting is intriguing.


The other thing I''ve noticed about these [C]RPGs is that usually they don''t try using different moster''s. I believe that''s where the Final Fantasy series shines. There''s been some staples, [Behemoth, Dragons, Cockatrice, various goos] but largely there is a broad range of new enemies.
Meanwhile, how many RPGs have you played that have rats, skeletons, orcs, ogres, elves, halflings, dwarves and the like? Get my drift?

---Sonic Silicon---

Very true about the old-hat monsters. Final Fantasy has had some of the coolest monsters I''ve ever seen in a game. I''d like to see a horror-based RPG with some Doom-like monsters, too. I''ve never seen a scary RPG, and nothing in a game has ever made me say "oh shit!" like an Arch-Vile or Cyberdemon . From what I remember of Call of Cthulu (pen and paper), that would be pretty close if it were made into a CRPG.

It''s simple: people are intreaged by the medevil/middle earth theme,and therfore play it\them more often .gamemakers respond to what is responded to.When (most) people think of a techno/ futeristic theme they think of hardcore math-geek science that entails too much thinking (or intelectuial stimmulation). Therefore the average-minded game seeker thinks it''s "no fun".

It''s simple: people are intreaged by the medevil/middle earth theme,and therfore play it\them more often .gamemakers respond to what is responded to.When (most) people think of a techno/ futeristic theme they think of hardcore math-geek science that entails too much thinking (or intelectuial stimmulation). Therefore the average-minded game seeker thinks it''s "no fun".

Heres some none Fantasy RPGS:
Fallout 1&2

Arcanum - Mixes Technology and Magic.

(PSX)Persona 2: Eternal Punishment - modern day, you play a reporter has the very cool concept that Rumors become real. So you can influnce the gameworld be spreading rumors.

(GENSIS)Shadowrun - best paper to computer game transition i''ve played.

(PSX)Parastite Eve 1&2


I think the reason that most rpgs use fantasy settings is because most companies make what they know works and the people want. At present there isn''t a big market for modern day rpgs, that don''t posses toilken creatures and magic. When a major company plans to release a game they know its going to cost millions and take over a year to make. They can''t risk producing a game that isn''t going to be succeful. If you look at the rpg market at present most of the major rpgs released over the last few years are based on existing well known licences.


I think people would like to see more innovative, modern day rpgs, and its upto a indie developers to create theat market.

As to having to restrict movement thats a very simple thing to do. You just make travel far an unnessary part of the game. AFterall you only need to have an airport in modern day rpg if the characters need to travel to distant locations. You could have a modern day rpg that takes place solely in one city.

You could replace the old fashion classes with modern ones.
Such as:
Reporter
Private Eye
Doctor
Fortune Teller
Musician





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Writer, Programer, Cook, I''m a Jack of all Trades
Current Design project
Chaos Factor Design Document

Uhhh.... this is off topic but I noticed that there were more replies than posts.

Anyway, an innovative idea -- but probably not a good idea -- is combine the elements of rpg''s and gun games. I''ll leave how all this works up to your imagination.

::De-lurking::

Freedom Force is a good (and cheap) superhero RPG. Think Baldur''s Gate in a Jack Kirby-era superhero universe. Of course, I''m sure most people got a thrill out of being able to mod the game and do everything from create your favorite superhero to making your own adventures via Python scripting. Worth checking out, IMO.

::re-lurking::

"You have insulted the honor of this beautiful woman, Corchran," said The Duck