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I remember when they called that genre the 'open world RPG'.
by friendlybus 6y ago
I remember when they called that genre the 'open world RPG'.
- Trasmatta 6y agoImmersive sims and open world RPGs are not the same thing at all. Immersive sims date all the way back to Ultima Underworld in 1992. They share some similar things to open world RPGs, but are distinct things.
- friendlybus 6y agoWarren Spector dates back to Ultima, but the term has only been advertised since 2017. Crysis 1 fits all the criteria of an 'immersive sim', believable world, consistent game rules, pick your own way through, apparently isn't an immersive sim. STALKER despite it's similarities to Crysis apparently is an immersive sim. The king of open world RPGs, Elder scrolls is an immersive sim (apparently), Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. Despite that being heavily scripted and containing mostly linear dungeons. Fallout 3 is an open world RPG on the list too. Watch Dogs 'should' be on that list, why it isn't doesn't make any sense. I could argue Morrowind or GTA V should be on there, depending on where you draw the line on scripting. The term is a bunch of marketing fluff that isn't connected to sense.
- Trasmatta 6y agoThe term immersive sim has existed for decades now. Here's an article from 2000 talking about it: https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131523/postmortem_ion_storms_deus_ex.php https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131523/postmortem_ion... It is a fairly loose concept though, of course. Plenty of games have "immersive sim" aspects. Even games like Breath of the Wild or the latest Hitman games. But there are open world RPGs that don't match the immersive sim philosophy, and immersive sims that don't have an open world.
- friendlybus 6y agoThat article is of Deus Ex and is written by Warren Spector, pretty much the only guy pushing it until 2017.