Aalto University (TAIK), Game Design, Understanding Games

WHAT IS A ROLE-PLAYING GAME? (UNDERINGSTANING GAMES, LECTURE #1)

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What is a role-playing game exactly?  I think before one can really understand the term, we would need to try and define what a game is.  This can fill volumes of text describing various theories from many different people.  To keep things simple and to not drag this article on to long, I will try to define a game and then use that definition as a basis to define what role-playing is in that context.

So what is a game then?  I believe there are a few key components that must exist for something to be defined a game:

– Interactivity – with the game itself, or other players.
– Challenge – in the form of decision-making and/or against others.
– Rules – defined by the game system or group of players, which is agreed upon.
– Goals – in the form of winning / losing conditions.

Though these things exist in other contexts as well, they must exist within a game.  Some may say it has to be fun; the players must be willing to play and what about self defined goals?  To this I say players can be forced to play a game and not enjoy it. Watch any of the SAW movies for a good example; the “players” are definitely not willing to play.  It may not be a game to them but to the killer it sure is.  Self-defined rules and goals also pose a problem in that they can turn anything into a game.  I could for example say that typing this is a game.  I must finish in a set amount of time, have a set amount of words, and if I don’t, I lose.  This doesn’t sound like fun now does it?  This brings us to the most overlooked component.  FUN!  Unfortunately I cannot include this because there are many games that lack this.  Back to the SAW example, I’m sure the players are not having fun playing someone else’s game but just cause they don’t want to play does not make it something other than what it is, a game with their life.  I do admit though, that in most gaming scenarios, willingness to play is a key in that if it does not exist, one’s job can fit into these key elements.

So now that I roughly fleshed what a game is, let us look at role-playing.  Lets break this word down into two different words, role and play.  A role is the act of someone performing a set duty within a given society.  This can be self-assigned or governed to them.  The society can be the entire human race, the people of a certain country, state, province, group, etc.  As long as more than one person accepts the position of this person, they can say they have that role.  At the most basic terms, one could say, “I’m the head of the household.” All that I need to accept this role are my wife and kids.  Now, play can be the act of doing an action for the amusement of oneself or for/with others.  This action usually is performed willingly, bringing enjoyment and fulfillment.  Now that I have basically defined theses two words, when combined we see that role-play is willing assuming a role in a given situation to bring forth enjoyment and fulfillment.

Thus a role playing game is a challenging, interactive system containing rules and goals, in which individuals assume an accepted role for personal pleasure. Though this definition is probably far from complete, it lays out a good framework and foundation to build upon as one delves deeper into this genre.

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