CRPG - technical definition

(Computer Role Playing Game) Role playing on the computer, typically in a fantasy environment, although some take place in a medieval setting. A major characteristic of CRPGs is the user's ability to move freely throughout the venue.

In the 1970s, Dungeons was the first CRPG, modeled after the table top Dungeons and Dragons. Such games were played as text only on a mainframe or Unix machine, although the PLATO system offered some graphical alternatives. Today's CRPGs exploit the high-speed graphics capabilities of modern computers to the fullest. See MMORPG.