TucoBenedicto said:
"RPG" today is such a broad definition, it barely succeeds in describing a genre. So, I have to ask: when you guys say Cyberpunk is going to be a RPG, what do you exactly mean with that?
Because it could be an action game, a first person hybrid, a isometric party-based game in real-time or turn-based, and so on.
What *kind* of RPG are you planning to deliver, here?
I yield my allotted question opportunity to echo this excellent inquiry, in hopes of a considered answer.
Its already been stated the game will use the RedEngine, but I'd make no assumption it follows that Cyberpunk will therefore resemble TW2. I've no doubt you guys could surprise us with an extended & improved version of that already proven engine, providing whatever kind of gameplay experience you desire.
That, combined with the inherent vagueness of "RPG" when applied to a computer game due to its over/misuse by the industry for many years, and the fact that attempts by players to agree what essential elements constitute a CRPG ultimately fail or some accept that its entirely subjective, in our own minds, just as each of us has an uniquely personal experience while performing exactly the same actions in any good game...
... all result in claiming a game is an "RPG" is really like saying nothing at all.
Personally, if I can get two substantially different playthroughs of a narrative laden game i'll consider it an RPG. Simply different choices in the narrative is insufficient, there must be difference in how the player interacts with the environment. The more potential playthroughs the more "RPG" genre the title is, and the gameplay differences must be enforced by the game mechanics, not dependant on the player holding himself back by curtailing metagaming.
I.E Fallout 3, as much as i enjoyed it, isnt a RPG, since you can learn / max /do everything with one character easily vanilla.
Dragon AGe 2 is an RPG, 3 basic player-character types with intrinsic gameplay differences, though a much lesser progeny of vastly greater sires.
TW2 is a solid RPG, enforcing at least 3 playthrough of different gaming styles, no matter the hard definition of Geralt himself.