What makes an RPG an RPG?

[staticneuron]

zaphodile said:

I consider it a game where you REALLY develop your character through your actions. But with that definition, almost only the Bioware rpgs are real rpgs :)

The definition of the genre is more like an adventure game, with leveling, and emphasis on story.

 Y'know I liked Kotor and I liked fable... My main gripe was with the generics of the stories. Like at the end of fable you ..... let me not spoil it for some here but lets just say some of these games make it seem like your choices are affecting the story but when you get to the end of the game they give themselves a way out.