The Oblivion of Western RPGs

1up has a piece looking at how Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion may just be what the western RPG genre needs to spring back from the brink of nonexistence. From the article: "Western RPGs focus on the characters, and the world around them is a tool to let the player-as-character do and see more. Eastern RPGs focus on the events unfolding around the characters, and how the characters affect the world around them. Western RPGs are based on the experience of tabletop role-playing games, limited only by the imaginations of the players and the game master, where Eastern RPGs are more re-creations of traditional storytelling. Oblivion has taken huge strides toward meeting fans of MMOs halfway by building A.I. that really lives alongside the player and ensuring that the actual missions are easily pursued."

Personally, I like Black as a Western RPG

[WillAffleckUW]

Because, when you come down to it, using your gun to make big holes in people in buildings is what I play Western RPGs for.

But do Western RPGs have..

[Anonymous Coward]

Chicks with big breasts? And all the girls wear next to nothing?

Not a good time for Westerns

[Jim in Buffalo]

Is this a good time to be doing Western RPGs, what with Brokeback Mountain coming out on DVD? Think of all the horrible jokes!

And I thought...

[Loibisch]

And I thought this was about nobody making a good RPG settled in a Western environment. You know, like with six-shooters, silly hats and indians.

Yee-haw, that would be fun :)

I prefer Polar RPGs

[WillAffleckUW]

In Polar RPGs, from countries like Russia, Canada, Norway, and the like, oh and Australia and South Africa, you get richer art content, more humor, and insane pop songs that richochet in your head.

Oh, and igloos and caribou.

Plus penguins. You can never have enough penguins.

Re:My first TES game experiance

[XenoRyet]

Of course, that is exactly what one would expect you to say if you actualy were an advertiser...

*puts on tin-foil hat*

Hmmm.. Western, eh?

[BigZaphod]

That word brought to mind images of a massive MMORPG filled with horses, pistols, and saloons. Imagine moving up the ranks by being a better outlaw or lawman. Having your skills at drawing your gun improve accuracy and speed as you gain experience. And after a hard day of fighting bandits, you kick it in the local tavern and hook up with some bar maids... ah yeah.. good times...

Re:WoW

[I Like Pudding]

I dont see any evidence of your viewpoint that WoW is not an MMORPG. I'd love to hear why you think that. I contend WoW is definitely an RPG. I contend Oblivion/Planescape/Nethack etc are not RPGs.

Because you are insane.

MMORPGs usually include a number of competitive ladders. This is native to the current genre. The fact that you can completely fill a bar (reach top level, get the best item, etc) is an indicator of a true RPG... The ladder teaches mechanics, but it ends. Once you reach the top of a ladder you are FORCED to role play. You have to explore and define what is fun for you and how you prefer to relate to other people.

No you don't. You stop playing because there is nothing left to do, or you create another character. Less than 1% of the population has the maximum setup in any MMO anyhow, because the highest level items are generally very, very difficult to get. When I hit 60 with my rogue, I stopped playing because I was not interesting in raiding MC with 50 other people allthefuckingtime. The treadmill doesn't usually stop, it just gets steeper and steeper until only the 24/7 no-job morlocks have the time and motivation to climb it.

In a single player game, there is no redefinition outside of the game mechanics.

This means nothing. You are insane.

Reaching the end of storyline content is a variation of Dungeon Siege.

This also means nothing. You are still insane.

If you run around your house in a cape and hat, you aren't role playing with your dog, you are crazy. Roleplaying is acting, emulating, and relating to other people.

No, roleplaying is playing a role. If a nerd speaketh in ye olde tongue alone in the forest (LIGHTNING BOLT!), he is still roleplaying. You are insane.

If fun is watching a bar fill, you probably dont like RPGs. If fun is ONLY discovering how a mob fight works, you probably dont like RPGs. If you can create a personality that exists outside of your character's hairstyle and armor color...(or that's part of it), you are an RP gamer.

So, if you play a role, you are roleplaying? Wow!

Re:Western RPGs ARE RPGs!

[jdog1016]

> In Morrowind once, I had a weekend off and nothing else to do, so I set about
> stealing every last spoon in the game (I think - I may have missed a few, but I
> had a good couple hundred of them), and then writing "I AM THE KING OF SPOONS"
> with them on the roof of the Underskar... Just because I could.

Wow. You are the coolest person I've ever met.

Re:My first TES game experiance

[Sj0]

You know, sometimes I feel like advertisers have gone way too far, violating basic trusts -- violating even basic humanity. Hiring people to be pretend community members will eventually cause discussions to atrophe. I wish there was legal recourse.

However, whenever I'm feeling blue, I just reach for a cool, crisp, refreshing Pepsi One(tm). That's Pepsi One(tm) -- the cola whose mere existance breaks the fourth wall of reality, and allows one to look upon the face of their creator.