Origins

Role-playing video games (RPGs) are a genre of video games that were born out of pencil and paper role-playing games. An example of one of these games is Dungeons & Dragons. Many of the terms, settings and mechanics in pencil an paper role-playing games have been implemented in their video game counterparts.

In role-playing video games the player controls either a small number of game characters or a single character. These characters are guided through a variety of quests and usually feature a gaming world that is non-linear and open to exploration. Role-playing games focus on puzzles and strategic combat. Leveling up characters within these games is a regular occurrence. These characters, sometimes created by the player, will have their power, health and other attributes increased and expanded over time.

Role-playing games are known for having a deeply written story and setting. Many of these stories and characters are featured in sequels to popular RPG franchises. Older RPG’s had character’s attribute points increase over time through experience points. Once the player had acquired enough experience points, he or she could allot those points to whatever character attributes he or she wanted to increase. Later RPGs would increase attribute points based on the actions a player took. If the player successfully engaged in combat, the power attribute would increase.

The dawn of computer role-playing games was in 1975. They were a spin off of early university mainframe text-based RPGs on PDP-10 and Unix-based computers. Role-playing games were also influenced by text adventures and multiple-user dungeon (MUD) games. An assortment of games became available on the PLATO system in the late 1970s. The PLATO system was popular because of its easy access, speed, nationwide network of terminals, and fast graphical engine. PLATO games influenced future games, such as Akalabeth. Akalabeth, which came out in 1980, led to the creation of Ultima series.