MMORPG or CORPG

Ive seen GuildWars referanced a lot as a MMORPG even though the developers call it a CORPG.
People continue to think of the game as a MMO though the game has little in common with games of that ilk.

So, I figure this issue deserves its own thread, debate it and battle it out here.
What the hell is GWs?

Ive stated my opinion before, but to start out Ill rehash some of my statments.

Massive is a relative term. If millions of copies of Super Smash Bros. is sold and people are playing it, is it massive? Yeah it is.
The title is usually refering to the number of people in the same area at the same time together. In which cases, due to districts and instances GWs isnt really massive, not when compared to games labled MMORPG.

Multiplayer and Online almost mean the same thing when refering to gaming. And GWs is both of these.

Role Playing Game is now also a term of relativity.

Since Ive played GWs Ive roleplayed once...maybe twice around the time it first came out.
I sort of enjoyed it, but really, GWs does not provide the tools nor does the overall community foster a roleplaying atmosphere.
So imo, GWs is only a rpg due to the evolution of the phrase "rpg" which is a departure from what the phrase orginal intended to represent.
I also think this causes confussion for the players that want to play GWs as a role playing game, and maybe sometimes to the creators that want to add roleplaying aspects to a game that will never be as fit for roleplaying as other games that are focused rpgs.

Never the less, the title sticks.

The game is competitive from the ground up. So adding Competitve to the title is approrate. Its also extremly cooperative (probably more so than competitive) but that word didnt make it into the marketing pitch I guess.

And then there is that arguement.. is CORPG a marketing ploy to set GWs apart from MMORPGs to be a succesful orginal.
...this might be true.
But between the two definations, one is more accurate than the other.

If the game was to be labled for what its played as Id probably call it a Competitive Cooperative Fantasy Online Action Stradigy Adventure Game or CCFOASAG. And though true, that sounds like its trying to hard.

If this were a poll CCFOASAG would be the third option.
But between the 2 popular ones, Id say this game is a CORPG more so than it is a MMORPG.
So then my vote goes to CORPG.

As you note there's no role-playing in computer rpg's (cRPG's). The only cRPGs which had a significant amount of that would be Morrowind and perhaps Planescape: Torment.

The de-facto definition of a "rpg" is that you kill stuff, increase in level, and have experience points. Even the levels and experience points are sortof optional, as Deus Ex had neither yet is often considered an rpg.

So yes, Guildwars is a cRPG, no doubt about it. Smack right in the middle of the field.

That it's online and multiplayer is also clear.

So it's definitely a Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game.

What makes many feel that Guildwars is not a MMORPG is the "massively" part. The towns are massively multiplayer, yes, but once in the field you only have the 7 people in your team with you - and some feel that's not enough.

Personally I find the distinction silly. In WoW the teamsize is 5 people, so the difference is that if someone drops out mid mission, you might be able to find some random person in the field to join in his place. And you'll have other people milling around while you're trying to do the mission. I don't see what's "massive" about that.

So according me GW is a MMORPG.

ANet calls it a CORPG, yes. Competitive? I'm not competitive. My guild isn't competitive. We only play PvE. We're COOPERATIVE.

its an mmo by definition of what an mmo is, its a corpg by the new definition made by anet.

I think we see eye to eye on this "rpg" thing. You call it a de facto defination but by "de facto" its sort of..off the books.
Even though its well placed in collective minds what a rpg is, its inaccurate to what those words really mean.
I really dont have a problem with it except it confuses some things much more than it clears them up.

And I do agree with you that this game is much more cooperative than competitive because even when you compete, your cooperating to do so.
If your like me and enjoys PvP and PvE your competing 50% of the time and cooperating 100% of the time.

As far as massive..well maybe it could be argued into the ground.
I looked it up.


This says the desicion was made when developers thought that instances made this game less massive than the current market of massive games.

This game doesnt not feel like a massive multiplayer experance to me. So, I say it was a good call.


Who makes definations?
Words and titles are man made and man refined.