http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/kotaku.com.png http://kotaku.com/tag/rpgs http://kotaku.com/tag/rpgs

In today's mostly complete episode of Speak-Up on Kotaku, commenter Dodgerwd wonders if everyone is having the same difficulty finishing their video games as he is. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5775493&view=rss&microfeed=true

While I'm a fan of the fresh and innovative, I'm more likely — depending on time and monetary constraints — to run screaming for the safe, the familiar, the ... boring games on my shelf? Well, there's something to be said for the comfort of the familiar, and Tom Cross takes a look at why there's something to celebrate in the less ambitious, safer and more familiar games out there. Cross looks at Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and The Lord Of The Rings: The Third Age. What it is about those well-worn, "uninventive" titles?: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5081305&view=rss&microfeed=true

Michael Abbott of the Brainy Gamer has a nice reminder of why we play RPGs (well, those of us who play RPGs), based on some of his undergraduates' writings on their experiences in Fallout 1 and 2. Michael notes that the exercise — writing autobiographies of their characters — is often used in theatre, but it never occurred to him that it would be useful for his students in his RPG seminar, until "we began discussing the characters they had created .... The sense of ownership they clearly felt, and their remarkably vivid descriptions of their experiences in the games, made the assignment a no-brainer." Which goes to one of the reasons why people make the investment in RPGs: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5073447&view=rss&microfeed=true

Anders Tychsen has some interesting ideas on how to leverage elements of tabletop RPGs in order to make their digital cousins more compelling (and thus keeping players enthralled for longer). Tychsen points to issues of integration — something many tabletop games are quite strong on, but an area that has seen less work in creating console or PC RPGs — as an area that could use some work, and create more positive gaming experiences: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5020527&view=rss&microfeed=true

Gamasutra has an interesting piece up that celebrates the art of thoughtful thievery — based around the idea that there are "no new ideas," so picking and choosing your sources wisely can at least lead to interesting new creations. Going off the recent release of the 4th edition of Dungeons & Dragons, Tom Smith looks at a couple of areas where game designers could take some lessons: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5016476&view=rss&microfeed=true

We mentioned Michael Abbot (of the Brainy Gamer) and his efforts to put together a great syllabus for his history of RPGs class; as promised, he's now posted the reading list (required readings will be culled from this list, but it's a pretty nice little bibliography for background reading). At this point, it just includes traditional books and articles, but he's planning on expanding it to online and popular media sources, as well as other good ideas sent in by people who are keeping tabs on this project: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5009565&view=rss&microfeed=true

Economic issues in MMOs and virtual worlds get a ton of attention, but less attention is paid to the 'single player economies.' Richard Knight argues they're no less important — while a bad economic setup won't ruin an otherwise good game, it can put a damper on the proceedings. I can certainly think of a few games that had economic setups that were mind-bogglingly bad in a number of respects: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=386842&view=rss&microfeed=true

Gamasutra contributor Kurt Kalata has the unenviable honor of determining what is surely to be a hotly contested list, a run-down of the best, most essential Japanese role-playing games, most of which have made it stateside. Kalata limits his list to the accepted RPG norm, leaving online and strategy RPGs for a possible future list. Sure, most of the genre's best make appearances—Xenogears, Earthbound, Phantasy Star IV: End of the Millenium—but I'm sure vocal enthusiasts will have their own picks. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=369998&view=rss&microfeed=true

I stumbled on an interesting review of The Witcher, a PC RPG (or is it?). The reviewer started off by throwing out his opinion on what makes an RPG ("Games in which you create a role and then act out that character in the gameworld. Without the freedom to come up with your own virtual identity, what you're really talking about are adventure games with a few RPG trimmings."), something that got picked up by the nice people at Rock, Paper, Shotgun. I can't think of any games I've played and loved where I started from scratch; then again, I'm not a PC gamer, and by this definition all those RPGs I have on my game shelf are mislabeled. RPS says that the categories are purely historical in nature: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=315973&view=rss&microfeed=true

Well, that Oblivion PS3 content didn't stay exclusive for long... or at all, I guess. Bethesda has announced that Knights of the Nine will be coming to the 360 and PC on November 21st, as well as being sold as an expansion pack in stores along with all of Bethesda's other, over-priced microcontent. Content which will include More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=208364&view=rss&microfeed=true

Over at our stinky arch-nemesis IGN's site, they sat down with Todd Howard, executive producer of the upcoming PS3 port of Oblivion. It's pretty sad when even paid mouthpieces can't figure out a compelling answer to this question: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=206749&view=rss&microfeed=true

A few months ago, Atari dealt a blow to the Neverwinter Nights mod community. "No more premium modules for you!" they shrieked. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=200550&view=rss&microfeed=true

That cryptic Gamestop product page of yesterday? The one proclaiming a previously-unannounced Knights of the White Stallion expansion? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=200280&view=rss&microfeed=true

Grain of salt time, boys and girls. According to Gamespot, a product page for an Oblivion expansion pack was briefly up on Gamestop.com. The expansion, called Knights of the White Stallion, was listed for $19.99. Release date? November 21st. It was listed in the PC section of the sight. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=200008&view=rss&microfeed=true These Oblivion content downloads are getting harder and harder to write about. They started off as lamely as you can get: a horsey palette change. None of the additional content packs have been particularly interesting or well implemented, but at least there has been a distinct step-up in quality with each one. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=187135&view=rss&microfeed=true

MMO-focused research website The Daedalus Project has a 7-page feature on the hows and whys of those who invest a little more in their adventures than the average PvP server player (who is 14 years old, tipes lik ths lol, wears a black trenchoat and white sneakers, and slyly uses his mom's mascara to darken the peachfuzz on his upper lip). More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=182719&view=rss&microfeed=true

Peter Moore chatted up a group of journos in a recent interview at Microsoft Studios. What did he have to say before he crushed them with his 24-inch guns? The Msoft exec got some Wii hands-on at E3, dishing that "Sonic was almost built for the controller because it was so intuitive." Moore worried "how thin that's [the controller] gonna wear after half an hour" and dubbed the Wii "a party console." He also mentioned how he was surprised that there were "so many things" on the controller and that it took him a little while to get going. He then added he was a huge fan of innovation. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=181606&view=rss&microfeed=true We were all happy about the promises of the Oblivion patch. Well, not about the removal of some of the very glitches that make the game enjoyable — exploiting Bethesda games seems to be half the fun — but by the promises of better outdoor frame rates and decreased loading times. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=179602&view=rss&microfeed=true The E3 trailer from Final Fantasy XII, English edition, with new scenes and Valley Girl voices. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=178290&view=rss&microfeed=true

(via Modern Savant) More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=173209&view=rss&microfeed=true