I'm not interested in arguing about what makes a true RPG, particularly not with someone who thinks BG isn't an RPG. I don't know why you chose me to pick this fight with to begin with, but if you're going to rule out everything but a super specific niche of RPGs with no real consistent criteria (hence BG not being an RPG while BG3 is) you can just use the success BG3 has already has a proof that you don't need PC VA to be successful.
You might need to reread my comment. I said BG3 -- like all BG games -- is first and foremost a story-driven game. The original BG had roleplaying elements in it. No question about it. In particular, I would point to the character creation and your ability to romance companions. But there's little beyond that.
Furthermore, working from my definition of roleplaying, BG3 has more roleplaying elements than the original BG because there is a much greater level of social and story reactivity to your roleplaying choices.
Again, I'm open to the idea of there being a better definition of roleplaying, but I challenge anyone who disagrees with my definition to provide a better definition, and then explain how The Sims does or doesn't fit into that definition.
I'm completely comfortable with the idea that The Sims is an RPG under my definition. That's not my favourite game, but I'm not trying to put the genre on a pedestal.
In their games role-playing is mostly the illusion, but that's an illusion that works anyway. Child of Bhaal/Raven/Spirit Monk identity override our own, but it doesn't conflict with it. I played through BG1&2 many times and imagined by PC as very varied characters - and it always works. And "imagined" is the key word here (unlike lets say Fallouts that allowed for much wider in game expression and reactivity) but it worked.
So do you feel they'd be satisfied if the definition of an RPG would be: a story-driven game with a Blank Slate protagonist you can project onto?
If that's the definition, at least it excludes The Sims. Doesn't exclude Half-Life though. lol.
Honestly, I think they're happy with the term RPG being nothing more than a shallow marketing gimmick. It means an RPG is just whatever they want it to be.
