Not really morality as a meter. Just the ability to align yourself to one group or another, or something. Like The Witcher, there's no morality but your choices throughout the game lead you on different paths, ally you with different people, etc. Morality's just a simple way to put it, and used often enough that there are some good examples of it.

There does need to be choice of some sort, in my opinion. Otherwise you're not really making the role your own, you're just playing down the path the devs choose for you, with stats thrown your way so it can sell as an RPG.

I'm fairly sure the great majority of JRPGs don't allow for in depth faction alignment or morality choices. I wasn't necessarily talking about a meter

JRPGs are not true RPGs as far as I'm concerned. Just action-adventure or turn-based strategy games with RPG elements.

If you want a broad industry definition, an RPG is a game where you have the ability to customize your characters in some meaningful way. Stats, perks, combat style, etc.

And that's why I don't consider JRPGs RPGs.

lol, "JRPG" is a misnomer. Most aren't actually RPGs.

Except that lore and depth is still present, as well as a deep character development system, hence making it an RPG.

I believe it is an Action RPG.

And what defines a role playing game anyways?

People mistake seeing action in an RPG as making it an action game, not an RPG. They're so used to boring games of numbers that they can't comprehend an RPG game being action packed.

I see what the TC is saying and agree with some of his points, but for the most part it's a foolish argument. It's an Action-RPG. An RPG with action in it.

I think people do not realize that the limitations of old were based on technology. I think Gary Gygax(Inventor of D&D) would have soiled his pants if he could have played something like Skyrim. It would be like Bethesda is the best dungeon master you could hope to have. Why were things turn based back then. Well how else could you do it at the time? Having more direct control and in realtime does not destroy role playing. It is realizing a vision that could not be done before. MMOs took roleplaying on a computer and integrated it's original roots of multiple people playing together and not until this year have we started to see more of them turn torwards a more direct control over characters because we have better PCs and faster connections. Bethesda has always been working on creating the best single player RPG experiance which I love as well and has thus been able to advance quicker since connection and bandwith is not an issue. Will you be there to stomp on VR when it comes because we directly control ourselves in a role playing world because it is action filled just like real life. No action does not destroy role playing it helps to realize it to it's fullest potential.

I see Bethesda and ID together as being a dream come true. Get the bestminds in roleplaying and the best minds in action(maybe not known for sword combat mind you but they are gamers and who knows what ideas they might have for that) and graphic technology to work together and elder scrolls 6 could be bliss.

I think I could go either way on this one...

which is pretty much my point I suppose.

If I chose to take a pretty generic character at creation, then rush straight into the main storyline and follow the markers from one to the next and rush through...then yeah...action game.

If I choose to spend time creating my character, tailoring a look that I like, making my own little story for the scars on her face etc, then explore the open world, taking advantage of all that the company has created for me to enjoy and letting my choices deictate the flow of my characters life....then RPG.

Ultimately though, the choice will still be up to me, just how much do I want to invest in my experience of Skyrim....will I utilise all the tools I have been given, or will I be satisfied with a self made linear experience...

Time will tell, at least I get to make that choice, which is nice.

An action rpg is still an rpg. If you want to be petty and act like a bitter old man in a rocking chair splitting hairs than so be it. Most people would agree that it is a role-playing game. Arguing that it isn't one won't make any of us change our minds. Just like everybody telling the OP that it is an RPG won't change their mind. We'll never be friends so you might as well agree to disagree and enjoy the game on whatever terms you choose.

Just in case anyone missed it.....

I lol'd. +1