The humble text based RPG

[STM]

Is there a place in the world for the text based RPG anymore?

I ask because I am developing one that will run on Command Prompt, I vaguely remember some text based RPGs as a child but there appeal was waning by then as games such as Fallout 1, Elder Scrolls II, heck even some of the rudimentary D&D games before the 90s became increasingly popular.

Also, a lot of genres have been over milked in the RP format. Apocalypse, Steam Punk, Mystical, Far future...if my game is to be even the slightest bit different, will I have to drop my bog standard magical plot with dwarves, fairies and orcs to suit a new era?

I want input from other people who play RPG's because I want the game to be fun and new feeling without flashy graphics.

Thankee for reading.

[Dixanadu]

Monster Hunter on the Wii is somewhat text based since the NPCs never directly 'talk'.

I do miss the text based RPGs. To bring back the old feelings, I once played through all of Dragon Age with the dialogue volume turned all the way down, and subtitles galore.

[STM]

So, if you could see a new text based RPG surface...what would be ideal for you?

[Wings of Fire]

Is there a place in the world for the text based RPG anymore?

Japan.

You asked for that.

[STM]

I don't get it? Don't you go derailing this on the third post meesta.

EDIT: Ehem, fourth.

[Wings of Fire]

I'm saying that purely textual role playing games are still very popular in Japan.

[STM]

Ahh, fair play. Well hopefully my game will reach to a vast old school audience. Whatever the plan is, I am hoping to incorporate a gentle comic sense to the hero character, the title of the game will be called War Fist and you get drunk when choosing your character class.

[Mac Sirloin]

Steampunk is not overused. Fuck that, it's tragically underused.

[Dixanadu]

Call of Duty: RPG version.

[Nate]

Is it just me or are some people in this thread using the term 'Text-based' to mean 'We didn't hire actors to record the dialogue'?

[moxco]

I know that isn't what he means but do you mean something like NetHack and Dwarf Fortress where the graphics are made from text.

Or do you mean that there are no graphics at all; instead you read writing and select your option?

If you mean the latter they a plentiful on the internet as they are rather easy to make with HTML and if you want to complicate it a bit (as in adding an inventory, health, etc.) a bit of PHP knowledge is required.

[Nate]

I'm guessing the latter. Text-based adventure games are better known, but I suppose RPGs are more fashionable these days.

[moxco]

Although The Kingdom of Loathing has shitty (yet awesome) graphics accompanying the text, I would still consider it a text-based RPG and a popular one at that.

[Wings of Fire]

Graphics don't stop something from being text based, lack of any non text based mechanics makes it text based.

[STM]

My game is text based in that it lacks and graphics in any format, not even ascII which I believe is not counted in the text based genre. So my game is not like Net Hack.

It is a batch game...but will include inventories, fights with variables and multiple weapons, in depth story and the sort.

[MeechMunchie]

The Chzo Mythos games are contemporary text-parser things, and people seem to like them. For a true genre classic, try Anchorhead.

http://www.ifiction.org/games/play.p...=231&mode=html

[Bullet Magnet]

Don't sacrifice originality for perceived marketability. Tolkien built an original world with elements from folk tales, and the rest of the world seized upon it as the "only" worthwhile fantasy template. He would not want his success to stifle the creativity of others.

[Dixanadu]

Bad thing about purely voice acting is one voice actor doing multiple characters. There wouldn't be that feeling of individuality between characters.