Obsidian: "Choice" Determines A "True Role-Playing Game"
See Full ImageWe may never settle on an exact definition of "role-playing" that satisfies all interested parties, but Obsidian Entertainment boss Feargus Urquhart believes the one primary element is "choice."
In speaking to IncGamers, Urquhart says choice separates a "true RPG" from a game that simply has RPG elements. These days, he says role-playing can be confused with other genres and it can be difficult to spot the "real RPG," which must offer freedom and decision-making to the player. In other words, without consequences; if your actions have no real impact on the game, it's just not an RPG. Said Urquhart:
"This is what I think matters and this is what I love about making role-playing games is that choice. If you don't offer different endings, you don't offer ramifications then you don't have consequences. The consequences mean that if I chose to do 'this', then 'this' is going to happen and not 'this.'
That kind of changes the game and I think it also really does, which I think is more unique to role-playing games, is deployability."
It's true that role-playing elements can be found in many other genres. Straight-up action slashfests often utilize such traits, like leveling up, customizable characters, buying weapons and equipment; even towns to explore. The lines really are getting very, very blurry. But we do have one thing we can say definitively: Obsidian, if Dungeon Siege III turns out to be as technically broken as Alpha Protocol, we really won't care about "choice." You actually have to make a good game, too.
Tags: rpg, role-playing, choice, freedom
6/25/2010 10:27:31 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (40 posts)
ro kurorai
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 11:23:42 AM
ME2 is more shooter than RPG but it's still awesome. Top notch voice acting, witty writing and a good story (ME1's story was better imo, though).
I suggested PC over 360 because it's a better overall experience on PC ;)
1 up, 0 down
Proxy
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 11:57:36 AM
5 up, 0 down
kraygen
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 3:59:29 PM
0 up, 0 down
Akuma07
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 10:46:27 AM
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If they screw THAT up, then i agree, the only 'choice' that will mean anything to me, is which way my money swings.
4 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 3:21:39 PM
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Akuma07
Saturday, June 26, 2010 @ 6:23:13 PM
1 up, 0 down
Akuma07
Saturday, June 26, 2010 @ 6:23:27 PM
1 up, 1 down
maxpontiac
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 11:01:58 AM
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After completing the game twice (yes, it's short for a RPG), Obsidian has the choice mechanic down.
I did several things different in my 2nd playthrough and there were some amazing differences.
Hopefully their next two game have all the quirks ironed out.
4 up, 1 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 3:22:49 PM
1 up, 0 down
kraygen
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 4:02:35 PM
I do that too, heck no matter how crappy a game is, if its cheap enough and gives me a few hours of laughs, it can be interesting to say the least.
2 up, 0 down
maxpontiac
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 4:28:38 PM
For me, I love the espionage genre and the RPG elements as a whole in the game. The weapon customization is top flight as well. Perhaps the best I have seen.
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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 5:56:33 PM
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Victor321
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 11:35:19 AM
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That's how I look at it, because it makes a lot of sense to me ^.^
1 up, 9 down
Kr3sn1k
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 4:33:12 PM
2 up, 0 down
Highlander
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 11:41:35 AM
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5 up, 4 down
Proxy
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 12:01:12 PM
5 up, 2 down
Highlander
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 12:26:09 PM
In a traditional RPG with a strong narrative the decisions you make are about your characters and party and how they are made up and develop. The story is the setting, it's like the matte painting upon which your group plays.
When you're reading through a long and immersive novel, Shogun for example. If the reader had choice, what would have happened if Blackthorn had managed to go through with his attempted seppuku? What if he had not decided to act like a crazy man when escaping from Ochiba's forces in Osaka? If the reader makes the wrong choice, the rest of the book is moot.
To me this is the falsehood that lurks behind this call for choice and consequence. RPGs that have that strong narrative are interactive novels where you can interact with the fictional world, but follow the story that has been written. Like a novel you want to find out how it finishes.
Choice is fine, but needs to be very carefully handled. In a more open game style, perhaps it can work, but even then, somehow someone has to have written every possible outcome and so the number of outcomes and paths through the story is still limited. Heavy Rain does a fantastic job of that. but to say that games that don't follow that style of story presentation without the multiple paths and endings are not true RPGs is to dismiss an entire genre of game.
Last edited by Highlander on 6/25/2010 12:27:53 PM
9 up, 2 down
Fane1024
Saturday, June 26, 2010 @ 5:37:55 PM
Just because Square (et al.) called them RPGs does not make it so.
By your loose definition, all games with a story are RPGs and the term becomes meaningless.
It's not being dismissive; it's being precise.
p.s. Heavy Rain IS more of an RPG than, say, FFXII (which if you have read my comments, you know I love).
Last edited by Fane1024 on 6/26/2010 5:48:23 PM
0 up, 1 down
Mavfan321
Sunday, June 27, 2010 @ 7:48:06 PM
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DjEezzy
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 1:40:36 PM
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just2skillf00l
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 3:00:38 PM
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Now from my experience with gaming specifically the RPG styled games, their are reoccurring elements that pattern the so-called RPG genre. Not all these elements are present in all RPGs but usually most of these elements tend to show up in games boasting their RPG essence.
Exploration, towns, shops, character customization (ranging from stat building and leveling up to attire customizations), party members, heavily focused narrative, possibility of side-quests, NPC's, weapon upgrades, and memorable soundtracks, etc.
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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 3:28:11 PM
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Not sure why this guy would want to piss off jrpg fans or even squeeze that genre out of the mix, it's just unprofessional.
2 up, 1 down
Fane1024
Saturday, June 26, 2010 @ 5:51:43 PM
And you can hardly disregard the pen-and-paper RPGs, since they are the source and inspiration of ALL of these games.
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Akuma07
Saturday, June 26, 2010 @ 6:35:10 PM
You DO realise how far back console jrpgs go?
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djduke316
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 4:02:42 PM
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4 up, 0 down
kraygen
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 4:11:41 PM
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Someone tell obsidian to get back to work on new vegas so that it is a good game, instead of making stupid comments just to get attention.
I'd just tell him to get off his mommies boy complex and make a good game.
2 up, 1 down
Kr3sn1k
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 4:40:07 PM
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1 up, 1 down
A2K78
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 9:40:08 PM
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As for Feargus Urquhart opinion of what an "true rpg" is, first of all the ONLY TRUE RPG in the world is the D&D table top games. Secondly his opinion only reflect the closed-minded opinions of western game developers and this where I say to Urquhart, go **** yourself. When it come to video games RPG's come in many types and they clearly don't revovle his fantasy world.
0 up, 1 down
A2K78
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 9:43:16 PM
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Does the the lack of space aliens make the Spider-Man or Iron Man movies less of a sci-fi film? As I have said,Urquhart's opinion merely repersent the closeminded nature of western developers.
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SmokeyPSD
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 10:21:47 PM
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Lawless SXE
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 11:04:01 PM
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Here's what I want to see from Obsidian. New Vegas. Different potential outcomes from each of the main story missions, each one resulting in a different string of missions from that point forwards. Can you do that Mr Urquhart? Or can you just run your mouth like the dozens of other idiots who think they know what they're talking about?
Peace.
3 up, 1 down
Lawless SXE
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 11:04:20 PM
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Here's what I want to see from Obsidian. New Vegas. Different potential outcomes from each of the main story missions, each one resulting in a different string of missions from that point forwards. Can you do that Mr Urquhart? Or can you just run your mouth like the dozens of other idiots who think they know what they're talking about?
Peace.
0 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 11:04:21 PM
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Here's what I want to see from Obsidian. New Vegas. Different potential outcomes from each of the main story missions, each one resulting in a different string of missions from that point forwards. Can you do that Mr Urquhart? Or can you just run your mouth like the dozens of other idiots who think they know what they're talking about?
Peace.
0 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 11:07:27 PM
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___________
Saturday, June 26, 2010 @ 5:03:06 AM
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well he should not be, choice should not be exclusive to RPGs but for some reason it is.
choices and consequences should be in every game, be it shooter, survival horror, puzzle, action adventure whatever.
thats what made alpha protocol so interesting, that and the story.
its allot of fun making decisions playing on than watching your decisions change the face of the game.
they make it really hard in alpha protocol too, some times if your a complete di** to people you will suffer for it.
but sometimes it will be a good thing, because those people were going to back stab you but since they already hate you they did not get the chance.
they really made it hard to judge who you should trust and who you cant.
i have to admit though it is boring and repetitive as F*CK!
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___________
Sunday, June 27, 2010 @ 8:46:39 AM
nope i was in the city on friday catching up with a old school friend, then got new HDD for my laptop and went home.
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Deleted User []
Reply
Friday, June 25, 2010 @ 10:46:21 AM
Fallout 3 and Dragon Age Origins and all i have to say is i enjoyed both of them now i am looking for more any suggestions?