The Sims - An RPG?

[Morbus]

Consoles are simply meant for a different audience.

Generally speaking you might be right. There would be some people, like myself, who would enjoy a variation of games though. I'll probably only use the console for FPS's. In my (limited) experience on the console I haven't had any issues with that type of game, and I'll probably keep it for games like Half Life in future.

Unfortunately the game industry isn't what it used to be. People used to use their imaginations when playing games, whereas nowadays everything is spoon fed and you don't need to think so much. Not to mention that a lot of the mainstream gaming public is deluded as to what RPG really means. Some people even think that The SIMS is an RPG.

I hope that something comes along eventually that will be as good as some of the old games, but I won't hold my breath. Maybe if we all collectively lower our expectations (a lot) then we can become just as excited as we used to whenever a new game comes out.

Mick

The sims is an RPG. What's your problem? :\

 

[Mord_Sith]

>.> actually the Sims is a reality simulator, you aren't role playing as someone else, you're watching an AI act out the way you want it to...

 

[Morbus]

>.> actually the Sims is a reality simulator, you aren't role playing as someone else, you're watching an AI act out the way you want it to...

You wanna have that discussion? I'll gladly discuss the issue, but not here, please. Anyway, no matter how I look at it, The Sims is an RPG, and I'm sure there are people here that agree with me.

[X] Create new thread about The Sims
[ ] Discuss it here
[ ] Shut the hell up

 

[whirlingdervish]

actually it's called "The Sims" because it is a "simulation" game.

Like flight simulator, but in this case it's a simulator of a fake society of fake people, rather than a fake plane.

RPGs generally include a plot of some sort, while a simulator is a total sandbox of a game, by definition.

RPGs CAN have a certain amount of sandbox to work with, but even the least linear of the bunch has an end and a beginning and a certain plot that gets your from point A to point B.

Simulators end when you feel like stopping.
RPGs end when you beat them.

 

[Wooz]

Okayos, I'll split this into a new thread in General Gaming.

Edit: Shazzam! Done.

 

[Martinez]

I have to agree with whirlingdervish on this one. A RPG must have a story! The Sims has no story, it has no clear objectives. It's just a simulator, closer to a God Game than a RPG.

 

[SL¥DE]

In RPGs your characters don't take a dump, wash their hands, whine about a low social bar, then drop dead right there.

Also, RPGs don't have people come to your house, ring the doorbell, then wait in front of the door for three days until they starve to death, not realizing that you bought a new door on day two of their silent vigil on your front stoop so you could get to work.

 

[quietfanatic]

I suspect you are joking Morbus, so please make a case for it being an RPG.

 

[Stag]

You play role Sim!!! YOU SIM!! ROLE!





sorry Morbus...

 

[Duckman]

I have to agree with whirlingdervish on this one. A RPG must have a story! The Sims has no story, it has no clear objectives. It's just a simulator, closer to a God Game than a RPG.

Oblivion, duh...

 

[Wooz]

Oblivion isn't an RPG. It's an action game with stats. And mudcrabs.

It's probably the only game in which your lizardwoman character with pink robes and lipstick can walk into a city and be greeted by the city guards by "Good Day, Noble Lord".

 

[generalissimofurioso]

Oblivion isn't an RPG. It's an action game with stats. And mudcrabs.

It's probably the only game in which your lizardwoman character with pink robes and lipstick can walk into a city and be greeted by the city guards by "Good Day, Noble Lord".

That and not being immediately hunted and killed for being a vampire...

"Are you okay? You look awfully pale"
"Bleh! I am a vampire!"
"The mages guild is on the east side, next to the city gate"
"I said I'm a vampire!"
"I don't know you well enough to tell you that."

[ontopic] The Sims isn't anything, it's essentially a WTF machine... Like the time when I had my guy use a hot tub and it burst into flames.

 

[Kyuu]

The Sims isn't anything, it's essentially a WTF machine...

The Sims should be officially reclassified under the genre "WTF machine."

 

[Milo]

Considering You usually role play a character in any game you really could argue that any game is a role playing game I suppose. But The Sims lacks of normal RPG elements in the sims like some kind of leveling system, combat based on stats and random dice rolls (or even any combat), and a well laid out story. So I really wouldn't consider it an RPG.

 

[Martinez]

The Sims lacks of normal RPG elements in the sims like some kind of leveling system,

The Sims does have stats, the ones you define for your char at the start of the game, and there are skills and stats that can be improved. And the job promotions have to count for something.

combat based on stats and random dice rolls

While you don't get to beat the ugly out of your neighbors or at least the evil postman who floods you with pesky bills there are some activities (cooking, fixing stuff, painting and whatnot) that I think may be somehow based on dice rolls. Of course I'm mainly guessing here but I think that the fact that in these various activities a char with a certain set of stats can succeed or fail (setting the house on fire counts as critical miss ) indicates the presence of something at least similar to dice.

and a well laid out story

In my opinion that makes the difference between RPG and sandbox. That and not being able to leave the sandbox in order to explore the world.

 

[HoKa]

I have to agree with whirlingdervish on this one. A RPG must have a story! The Sims has no story, it has no clear objectives. It's just a simulator, closer to a God Game than a RPG.

RPGs are supposed to have objectives and stories? The last time I played p&p we were all a bunch of overweight dwarves drinking ale when all of a sudden challengers appeared, and we were lead to their lair.

Whew, what fun.

 

[Mord_Sith]

I believe the original point of it was that in the sims you are not emulating becoming the person wandering around, you're simulating the environment, in an RPG you're taking on the role of the charactor you are playing.

RPG, you control the character (for the most part)

Sims, the computer controls the character (for the most part)