History Of RPG`s

History Of RPG’s
Final Fantasy’s influence on the
genre
Origins Of RPG’s
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Hobbit (1937), Lord of the Rings (1954, 1955)
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Greatly exp anded interest in fantasy fiction
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In 1974, Dungeons & Dragons is released and becomes the signature game of the genre
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Rogue (1980): dungeon crawling computer game (Unix minicomputers)
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Initial develop ment at UC SC , comp leted at UC B.
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In 1980, Ultima I is released on the Apple //. This marks the first widely influential Computer
Role Playing Game (or, CRPG)
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Apple // is dominant platform for CRPGs
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Ultima 2 (1982), Ultima 3 (1983), Ultima 4 (1985)
W izardry (1981)
All b roadly p op ular games
In 1984, the Intellivision game AD&D: Treasure of Tarmin is released.

This is the first RPG for an game console. Later that year Dragonstomp er, another RPG was released for
the Atari 2600
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In 1986, Dragon Quest is released on the Nintendo Entertainment System

In 1987, five RPGs were released, titles include Dragon Quest II, Fantasy Star, and, Final
Fantasy. The RPG craze had begun…
Final Fantasy I

Japanese Release: December 17, 1987

Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System
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Ability to name one’s characters
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Detailed battle animation
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Expansive world with many different
means of transportation

Puzzle Mini game, first to affect the in
game situation of the user
Final Fantasy II
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Japanese Release: December 17, 1988

Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System

Introduction of “Use Based System”

Attributes, like strength and magic, were
increased via actions in battle

Key terms could be memorized and then
used in conversation with other
characters in the game

Introduction of Cid and the Chocobo
Final Fantasy III
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Japanese Release: April 27,1990

Console: Nintendo Entertainment System

Job system allowed characters to change
various professions.

The combination of Jobs
Final Fantasy IV

Japanese Release: July 19, 1991

Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment
System

Introduction of the “Active Time Battle
System” (Or “ATB”)
Final Fantasy V
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Japanese release: December 2, 1992

Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment
System

Used ATB battle system

Revived the Job system from Final
Fantasy III

The job system was combined with ATB
system to make the user’s character’s
fully customizable

Introduction of Moogles to the series
Final Fantasy VI
 Japanese Release: April 2, 1994
 Platform: Super Nintendo
Entertainment System
 Opera house music-based mini
game
 Used a “Steam Punk” art style
Final Fantasy VII
 Japanese Release: January 31,
1997
 Platform: PlayStation 1
 First game of the PlayStation
 Used full polygon rendering for all
characters and monsters
 Materia system allowed characters
to combin “materia” with items,
unlocking new abilities
 Many mini games were added
FF:VII Spin Off Games
 FFVII: Advent Children (Movie)
 FFVII: Dirge of Cerberus (PS2 Game)

FFVII: Before Crisis (Cell Phone Game)
 FFVII: Crisis Core (Cell Phone Game)
Final Fantasy VIII
 Japanese Release: February 11,
1999
 Platform: PlayStation Game
Console
 Draw system allowed characters to
steal (or draw) abilities from
enemies
Final Fantasy IX
 Japanese Release: July 7, 2000
 Platform: PlayStation
 Introduction of the Active Time
Event system
 ATE puts the user in the middle of
the action of the game
Final Fantasy X
 Japanese Release: July 19, 2001
 Platform: PlayStation 2
 First Final Fantasy game on PS2
 First Final Fantasy game to use
voice acting

Used “Conditional Turn Based
Battle” system
 Use of the “Sphere Grid” allowed
the user to unlock new skills and
abilities
 Spin off: Final Fantasy X-2
First game in the series to use a fully
female cast of main characters
Final Fantasy XI
 Japanese Release: May 16, 2002
 Platform: PlayStation 2, PC, X-Box
360
 First Final Fantasy game to go online
 Allowed users on all platforms to
play together in an on-line world
RPG’s legacy
 Pokemon: The worldwide best
selling Computer RPG. Selling over
91 million units across 11 different
titles as of 2004
 The second and third best selling
series worldwide are Square Enix’s
(originally SquarSoft) Final Fantasy
and Dragon Quest. Final Fantasy
has sold 63 million units, and
Dragon Quest has sold over 40
million units