What defines a RPG?

[Mnementh]

Busted said:

For me it has always been like the Koebke definition, it all has to do with how much control you have over your char, if you can decide how he will grow that makes you more close to him because that character is basically you, your preferences made that character a mage, a smooth talker or whatever you wanted it to be, (for example) of course by that definition MH and Zelda are not Rpg's, they are Action/Adventure for most (including me).

btw i think this is an awesome thread :D

My definition IS, that the player controls the development of the character. That's different to the articles definition, there the RPG is defined by the development of stats, if the player controls it or not.

Thanks for the praise of the thread.