Why Science Fiction is a Good Thing in an RPG

by Brian Kerr 

In recent times, there has been a nostalgic outpouring of sentiment within the RPG community regarding the trend towards "futuristic" or "sci-fi" games. It seems that some gamers yearn for the days when RPGs generally took place in a Tolkein-influenced medieval world. Some oft-cited examples of current and upcoming "futuristic" RPGs are Final Fantasy VII and Xenogears on the Playstation, and Fallout and Anachronox on the PC.

CRPGs (C for computer or console, your pick) have their origins in the medieval fantasy worlds embodied by the Dungeons and Dragons gaming system, and, after 15 years or so of evolution and maturation, have hit a significant roadblock in the gaming community's consciousness.

If a game is "fantasy-based" - that is, if it takes place in a fantastic, medieval world with knights, wizards, dragons, and magic - then it is usually decried as unoriginal or cliched. However, if a game is "science fiction-based" - meaning that it has a futuristic setting with advanced technologies - it will be criticized for abandoning the roots of its genre.

The fact of the matter is that there are only so many stories that can be told in a thoroughly medieval setting. If you were to observe, say, the first six Ultima games, you would see all of the basic plots and devices that are possible within the confines of a purely fantasy setting.

Where fantasy is closed, science fiction, or to be more precise, "science fantasy," is boundless and free. When robots, spacecraft, and high technology are added to the standard RPG milieu of monsters and magic, there are no limits to the game designers' imagination. By appending "science" to "fantasy," it is possible to expand the possibilities of a game's story and execution.

In the end, your choice as an RPG gamer is simple. Either cling to the tried-and-true formulas of the past, complaining about new "futuristic" games, or enjoy fully each game you play, exploring the darkest dungeons, the farthest reaches of space, and, most importantly, the depths of the human heart.