What is a RPG

RPG stands for Role Playing Game, traditionally a reference to pen and paper games like Dungeons and Dragons were a person takes on the "role" of another character, usually in a fantasy setting. When computer gaming became popular in the 80's games were made taking the principals of pen and paper RPG's, stats, level building, taking the role of a character, etc. Games like Wizardry and Ultima defined computer RPG's. Soon though a new medium was born for RPG's to thrive, enter the Nintendo Entertainment System. When Nintendo release the NES in the mid 80's, a new platform was born for companies to make RPG's on. At first only ports of computer RPG's like Ultima were available. Then in 1986 a game called Dragon Quest was released in Japan by Enix, and Thus console RPG's were born. Console RPG differ from computer RPG's in that they were less based on D & D, more story driven and generally more linear (more of a set path must be followed). Company's like Square and it's Final Fantasy games, Enix and it Dragon Quest (Warrior in the U.S) Series defined the blue print for all future console RPG to come.