Intriguing PAX East Panel – On a Role: What Makes a Video Game an RPG
PAX East is hosting a variety of intriguing gaming panels this year, but perhaps one of the most intriguing is “On a Role: What Makes a Video Game an RPG?” This panel attempts to break down the exact definition of an RPG, using various games as models.
PAX East’s “On A Role”
According to the official PAX East site, “genre terms can feel so meaningless that gamers don’t trust a tag like ‘RPG’ in a digital storefront to tell them anything about the game they’re considering buying.” However, the site also says that this means “we should take the opportunity to think more carefully about what they mean and why we care about them.” The panel is discussing games as diverse as Pokemon, Grand Theft Auto, and even Super Mario 64 to dissect what an RPG is and what it is not.
The Panelists
The panelists include Aaron Suduiko, Dan Hughes, and Matt McGill, who are all video game analysts for With a Terrible Fate, which is “an online publication that analyzes the storytelling of video games.” Their articles focus on games and series that have an emphasis on storytelling, such as The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Elden Ring. Since it is generally agreed that RPGs will emphasize their storytelling, these panelists seem qualified to discuss how RPGs utilize storytelling in their gameplay to create an immersive experience.
Do Genre Labels Even Matter?
Some people might ask the question: if we need a panel that discusses what an RPG is, then why do genre labels matter at all? Well, the PAX East panel is drawing “on frameworks from philosophy, cultural studies, and social theory” to define “what it is to take on a role.” Labels like “RPG” aren’t just about experience points and grinding. They tell us that we are about to have an immersive experience that lets us travel to worlds unlike our own, where good can maybe triumph over evil.
