This is not a MMORPG.

[Lambchops]

Defiance is most definitely an MMORPG. There is no denying that. It's also not a bad thing.

The thing about genres is they are pretty broad terms. "MMORPG" does not automatically mean World of Warcraft. It can mean a great many things.

It's a good game, with some flaws and some missing pieces. Trying to deflect criticism by claiming it's not an MMORPG is not helpful in any case.

[CityFlex]

i agree that this game needs to stay the way it is. Its an awesome game. I never got into any MMO or any of those games, but this game is different and unique. I love shooting game, with everything else. Maybe that's what got me to hooked on this game.

[knightblaster]

Most games of every genre blend the lines a bit and have elements of other genres. Even CoD, which nobody would really try to claim is an RPG, has some elements of RPGs like a progression / leveling system.

But even though it has some of the elements of an RPG Defiance, much like CoD, is a shooter 1st. The shooter aspect was the focus of the game, the RPG elements were secondary and only certain aspects of them exist. On the other games like Skyrim which even though it plays somewhat like a shooter is classified as an RPG because it has fully fleshed out RPG mechanics and features.

One of the big differences is the focus on character development. One of the core aspects of any RPG, even back before video games, has been the development of your character. Improving their skills, getting better equipment, etc. It wasnt about the skill of the player, the players own personal skill really had little to do with anything. It all revolved around the character you were roleplaying. When it comes to a shooter though, the system relies very little on character development and is more about the skill of the player.

Darkfall is another example, like Skyrim, that plays somewhat like a shooter, in that it has twitch style combat mechanics, but it also focuses heavily on character development. A new player with low stats and crappy gear has little to no chance against a vet with maxed stats and top end gear. Even though it has twitch combat, it is classified as an RPG partially because of the character progression aspect.

Just think of the difference between the 2 as Shooter = "I" and RPG = "my character". If I am good at a shooter, its because I am good (fast, accurate, etc). If I am good at an RPG its because my character is good (high stats, excellent gear, etc)

Exactly. It's all about whether it is you, the player, determining whether you succeed at an action or whether it is you character's stats and abilities that determine it. That's been the essence of RPGs since pen and paper days.

The way some are defining it ("any game where you play a role is a role playing game, hrr, hrr") really makes almost ALL games RPGs so as to make the term meaningless, when it clearly has a more narrow meaning.

[Aliens inc]

many peoples don't know what is RPG,Defiance is shooter with side rpg elements just same as old good System Shock or Deus Ex ,or new poor games as Bioshock or Masss Efect(yes, it is shooter not rpg)

[knightblaster]

The fact that they say this isn't an RPG game, but then throw RPG elements into the game doesn't help their case.

I'm annoyed at the fact that they have a loot based system with weapon progression... Yet the loot system is terrible and there is little to no weapon progression at all. Not to mention having to do the same thing over an over again, constantly hearing the same dialog, with no rewarding feeling afterwards is really lame.

If they didn't want this game to be considered an RPG game. Why did they add all of these RPG elements to it?

A lot of games have RPG elements without being RPGs.

Borderlands is not an RPG, for example. It is a shooter, primarily, with RPG elements (loot, levels, abilities progression), but primarily it's about aiming and shooting. I would say that Borderlands 1/2 has more RPG elements than Defiance does, actually, because it has more of an RPG-like progression, but still the fundamental mechanic of the game depends on player skill more than character attributes.

There are a lot of games that blend elements from various genres, but the key difference is that a game that is an RPG depends mostly on the character's stats and abilities rather than the twitch skill of the player.

[Greywolf]

A lot of games have RPG elements without being RPGs.

Borderlands is not an RPG, for example. It is a shooter, primarily, with RPG elements (loot, levels, abilities progression), but primarily it's about aiming and shooting. I would say that Borderlands 1/2 has more RPG elements than Defiance does, actually, because it has more of an RPG-like progression, but still the fundamental mechanic of the game depends on player skill more than character attributes.

There are a lot of games that blend elements from various genres, but the key difference is that a game that is an RPG depends mostly on the character's stats and abilities rather than the twitch skill of the player.

+1 So true, it is good that it is a shooter. Shooter means skill comes into it, some people have it, some people don't, watch the movie in my signature, that shows that even the gun most people forget about in this game "pistols" has some use, just need's abit ot skill and tactics to use right. Twitch Skill all the way.

[Gohlar]

A lot of games have RPG elements without being RPGs.

Borderlands is not an RPG, for example. It is a shooter, primarily, with RPG elements (loot, levels, abilities progression), but primarily it's about aiming and shooting. I would say that Borderlands 1/2 has more RPG elements than Defiance does, actually, because it has more of an RPG-like progression, but still the fundamental mechanic of the game depends on player skill more than character attributes.

There are a lot of games that blend elements from various genres, but the key difference is that a game that is an RPG depends mostly on the character's stats and abilities rather than the twitch skill of the player.

If you are going to include those elements though they need to be fully implemented. These systems were tacked on to get more sales and that's BS. This blind attitude of "oh its a shooter" just excuses these poorly implemented systems.

[knightblaster]

If you are going to include those elements though they need to be fully implemented. These systems were tacked on to get more sales and that's BS. This blind attitude of "oh its a shooter" just excuses these poorly implemented systems.

I think people are free to dislike the game as presented. I don't have an issue with that, although I like the game for what it is. I just don't think it should be characterized as an RPG.

[Sozu]

People miss the whole point of the thread. I got side-tracked as well. My issue is not "What kind of game is Defiance" at all. My issue is all the threads insisting this game needs to be more like the conventional MMORPG's when in fact it's not an mmorpg amd does not NEED the features of traditional mmorpg's.

The same thing happens in EVERY mmo release. All the wow kiddies buy a new mmo then spend a month complaining about how it doesnt have all the bells and whistles that their mmorpg of choice has. Then they quit because mom wont pay a fee after the first free month. THAT is my issue. People asking for stuff that has NO PLACE in this game. An auction house would totally ruin this game just like it ruined Diablo 3.

Defiance is a great MMOTPS. Easily the best on the market. But that doesnt say much because there is not anything to compare it to really besides APB. And APB is at PVP only game with ZERO PvE. So the only other game on the market that Defiance can be compared to doesnt even have 10% of the content that Defiance has.

[RegularX]

The same thing happens in EVER mmo release. All the wow kiddies buy a new mmo then spend a month complaining about how it doesnt have all the bells and whistles that their mmorpg of choice has. Then they quit because mom wont pay a fee after the first free month. THAT is my issue. People asking for stuff that has NO PLACE in this game. An auction house would totally ruin this game just like it ruined Diablo 3.

People also forget that WoW has been in development since about the time Jesus walked in sandals. That's why it is so hard to out-WoW WoW. And yeah, I'm quite glad that isn't this game's goal.