I always see people debating over terms for different RPG games, but I've devised a foolproof way to make sense of it. Once and for all, here's the new official RPG terminology:
- Western style RPGs were originally created for computers, so we should call them computer role playing games, or CRPG
- Japanese style RPGs were originally created for consoles, so naturally we should call them console role playing games, or CRPG
- Chinese style RPGs are developed in Chinese-speaking places, so we can differentiate them by calling them Chinese role playing games, or CRPG
- Analog RPGs that you play with dice and paper are developed to be played on a surface, so we can differentiate them by calling them countertop role playing games, or
- Massively multiplayer online RPGs, played with thousands of other players on the same server, are defined by their networked nature, so we could call them connected RPGs
