Role-playing game theory

A role-playing game theory is the ludology of role-playing games (RPGs) where they are studied as a social or artistic phenomenon. RPG theories seek to understand what role-playing games are, how they function, and how the process can be refined in order to improve the gaming experience and produce more useful game products.
About.
Role playing games are an ever-expanding phenomenon which stake no particular claim to boundaries. Role playing games come in an immense array of various types and categories which we will briefly delve into; the first of which being the traditional table top RPG. These games, or more specifically, "(TFRPG), has its historical basis in miniature war gaming", referring to games like "Warhammer 40,000", played on a table top with miniature figures. The battles unfold by rolling dice, using rulers, tokens and various other devices to perform a wide array of desired actions. The second RPG to be analyzed is known as CSG or collectible strategy game. This type of RPG has a much broader context than that of a TFRPG due to the fact that it draws elements from both types of RPGs. A CSG is defined as "a setting and a system, but the setting resides in the background, while the system is integrally tied to some of the collectible material artifacts, such as cards, miniature figures, paper dice, pre-formed plastic constructibles and even pinback buttons". These types of games are played using special attributes which are associated with the particular collectible being used. You can place these collectibles in an attack or defensive position, roll dice to perform a specific action and much more. Note that this type of RPG is typically associated with CCG or collectible card games (e.g. '). The final type of RPG to be discussed appeared around the 1970s and is known as OVCG or Online Video and Computer Game. OVCGs are defined as RPGs that "require either a personal computer or gaming console in addition to gaming software, rather than source books, cards, or dice". OVCGs did not reach full maturity until the 1990s, when games played cooperatively via large networked servers were available. Current examples of these games include "World of Warcraft" (Blizzard), "Rift" (Trion Worlds), and ' (BioWare).
History.
The first organized critical reflection on role-playing games and academic research on them from their inception in the mid-1970s through the 1980s focused on examining and refuting the early controversies surrounding the hobby at the time. Arguably, the first examination of the field in clinical terms came with the publication of "Shared Fantasies: Role Playing Games as Social Worlds" by Gary Fine. Gary Gygax, co-originator of the hobby with Dave Arneson, published two books on his philosophy of role-playing, "Role Playing Mastery: Tips, Tactics and Strategies" in 1989, and "Master of the Game" in 1990.
In 1994–95 Inter*Active (later renamed Interactive Fiction) published a magazine devoted to the study of RPGs. In the first issue Robin Laws called for the creation of a critical theory for role-playing games. By the late 90s discussion on the nature of RPGs on rec.games.frp.advocacy had generated several theories of RPGs which spread to other sites and influenced theorists in France and Scandinavia. The Scandinavian RPG scene saw several opposing ideological camps about the nature and function of RPGs emerge, and began having regular conventions on live-action role-playing games where RPG theory was featured prominently, called the Knutepunkt. The first Knutepunkt was held in Oslo in 1997 and the annual convention is still being organized today.
In the 21st century, self-defined "Indie role-playing" communities such as the Forge grew on the internet, studying role-playing and developing the GNS Theory of role-playing games. Knutepunkt has continued to grow and an annual collection of articles on role-playing has been published since 2003. Many games, especially those from indie writers, are now written with a conscious awareness and incorporation of RPG theory.
Notable examples.
Some RPG theories include: