Re: What is role playing on a computer?

"VTES2004" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> "Simon Craig" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> > "Moah, platypus powaaa!" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Marketing managers seem to think the player just wants to watch the
story.
> > Thats good enough for an RPG.
>
> But to a good portion of the playing population, especially the ones
> who have been actively involved, the fact that event will continue to
> function and entertain them in a manner similar to when they are
> participating is a fundamental goal of someone who participates!
> Players want the game to run itself after a substantial enough time
> investment. This is a nugget of truth about gamer behavior and
> important for future RPG developers.

Putting a story behind an action game does not make an RPG. If the Role the
character plays does nothing for the game then the emphasis is obviously not
on the role playing. If the player can not choose how to play his character
then it does seem very limited.

CRPGs traditionally are not huge sellers compared to arcade games. I think
we will have to live without this "good proportion of the playing populace".
At least until CRPGs evolve into something else they like.