Alone in the Dark an RPG?

captainrocco · 10-10-2008, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by Bill_Loguidice

In the upcoming book I'm writing with Matt Barton, "Vintage Games", it happens to be chapter one, since the chapters are alphabetical. I definitely classify it as survival horror, and indeed was the first notable game of that type, though there were plenty of horror-themed games before it (Haunted House for the Atari 2600, Maxwell Manor for the Atari 8-bit and C-64, etc.). This was among the very first games to set a genuinely scary mood, and was of course one of the earliest (not the first) games to use polygons for for objects and characters (backgrounds and environments were 2D and camera angles were fixed). It's very much the progenitor for Resident Evil.

Why is it not an RPG? An RPG is defined by increasing your characters stats and leveling, something that doesn't happen in Alone in the Dark. It's like an adventure game, certainly, but everything is in real-time. So no, it has to be "survival horror" in my opinion, though you can sub-classify anyway that you wish (adventure, action, etc.).

By the way, for those who want to try it and don't have access to one of the original platforms, it plays very well in DosBox, with zero configuration needed. Also, don't be so quick to judge the technology. It's rough to today's eyes, but consider that this could run on a decent 386 PC without too much trouble. Considering all the tech involved, that's undeniably impressive.

Ok, so according to your definiton of RPG, I will consider Grand Turismo an RPG, because I can improve the stats and eventually improve the car leveling and performance throughout the game, and the famous SNK Baseball Stars, because I was able to level my baseball characters.

I am pretty sure there are more things involved when consider a game an RPG or with RPG elements...Like AINTD.

**Bill_Loguidice** · 10-10-2008, 08:48 AM

It's obviously not an all-inclusive definition, but certainly an important component in the definition of what an RPG is. If the definition is too loose, then games like The Legend of Zelda can be considered an RPG. In fact, every game is an RPG then because you're playing a role in a game. Alone in the Dark is not an RPG. It's "survival horror", "action adventure", etc., but it's not an RPG.

captainrocco · 10-10-2008, 01:57 PM

I guess the problems is when labeling videogames...let me show an example, so I can clarify my point:
This Video game store shows the game as an RPG.

The Publisher states is an Adventure Game.
This other famous game store states is an Action, Horror Video game.

But, in the other hand the this famous specialized webpage states that is an Horror Action Adventure Game.

But it can be clasified as a FPS because it allows you First person view and shoot...but that could sound foolish.

**jellyworld** · 10-10-2008, 03:51 PM

For all the debate that is going on about RPGs, here is a great article that clarifies the definition:

http://www.vanpeltium.com/whatIsAnRpg.htm

**HalfJax** · 10-10-2008, 03:56 PM

Very informative. I especially liked the part about never giving up.

**Nectar** · 10-10-2008, 03:57 PM

Its obvious to most what an RPG is. Don't know why people feel the need to confuse it.

**Bill_Loguidice** · 10-11-2008, 06:43 AM

Originally Posted by captainrocco

I guess the problems is when labeling videogames...let me show an example, so I can clarify my point:
This Video game store shows the game as an RPG.

The Publisher states is an Adventure Game.
This other famous game store states is an Action, Horror Video game.

But, in the other hand the this famous specialized webpage states that is an Horror Action Adventure Game.

But it can be clasified as a FPS because it allows you First person view and shoot...but that could sound foolish.

Well, I wouldn't necessarily go by a store to classify anything. Also, it's definitely not an FPS as there is no first person mode in the original games. If you actually play it, it's an action adventure, but since we have the handy "survival horror" term that everyone knows these days, it's survival horror. If you consider the first "Resident Evil" survival horror, which is almost an exact knock-off (just newer tech) of the original "Alone in the Dark", then "Alone in the Dark" has to be survival horror. There's nothing RPG-like about the game other than inventory management and item usage, and that an RPG does not make...

**Nectar** · 10-11-2008, 04:57 PM

"Survival Horror" isn't a good classification as there are non horror games (Fear Effect, Onimusha) that mimic this style of gameplay (tank controls, puzzles, ect.).

Action games like Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden, and God of War also share elements from survival horror because Devil May Cry began development as Resident Evil 4 and when it was imitated, the SH elements were also retained. These elements always seemed out of place in these type of games (with the exception of the puzzles in God of War which are pretty good), especially with something that strives to be a more pure action game like Ninja Gaiden 2 which did away with the puzzles and backtracking yet still retained the menu and healing items. Perhaps if they did away with the healing items, the game would be a lot more fair in its difficulty.

captainrocco · 10-13-2008, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by Nectar

Its obvious to most what an RPG is. Don't know why people feel the need to confuse it.

It is exactly as trying to explain time...someone states is the 4th dimension, other people saids that time doesn't exists...I said we live in a matrix...

Ok, there's another example...
Tell me how you classified this game: Advance D&D Treasure of Tarmin

It is a first person shooter...(by that date the Term was not used).
It's an adventure game.
It's a survival horror, sometimes it scares the **** out of me *seriously*... (though the term wasn't used in 1983)
Definitely an RPG as Bill states...you can level and enhance the character.
You can consider a racing game if you belive you're riding a car during the game...

To conclude... every game is every genre!

We live in a matrix, as everyhting is possible

**TechMaster** · 10-13-2008, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by captainrocco

It is exactly as trying to explain time...someone states is the 4th dimension, other people saids that time doesn't exists...I said we live in a matrix...

Ok, there's another example...
Tell me how you classified this game: Advance D&D Treasure of Tarmin

It is a first person shooter...(by that date the Term was not used).
It's an adventure game.
It's a survival horror, sometimes it scares the **** out of me *seriously*... (though the term wasn't used in 1983)
Definitely an RPG as Bill states...you can level and enhance the character.
You can consider a racing game if you belive you're riding a car during the game...

To conclude... every game is every genre!

We live in a matrix, as everyhting is possible

Anything D&D is an RGP. If you look up the definition of RPG it says 'see D&D'.