RPG Syllabus: The Data

We apparently failed to report on this earlier, but it’s still worth mentioning that Brainy Gamer’s Michael Abbott is putting together a college course on the History of RPGs. Released earlier were notes on the syllabus and a resource list of books and journals.

The project is advancing and Michael Abbot has now presented a list of RPGs suggested by readers as absolutely essential in a history course. It’s kind of an unacademic but democratic approach to making such a list, and here’s those that received more than 10 votes.

Chrono Trigger 35
Earthbound 31
Final Fantasy VII 31
World of Warcraft 26
Ultima IV 24
Elder Scrolls: Oblivion 22
Planescape: Torment 22
Fallout 21
Knights of the Old Republic 21
Diablo II 19
Secret of Mana 19
Elder Scrolls: Morrowind 17
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 17
Mass Effect 16
Zork 16
Dragon Warrior 15
Final Fantasy IV 15
King’s Quest 14
Deus Ex 14
Rogue 13
Baldur’s Gate 12
X-Com 12
Neverwinter Nights 11
Persona 3 11
Betrayal at Krondor 10
Fallout 2 10
Final Fantasy Tactics 10

While it seems to have a nice historical spread, it actually doesn’t even mention Akalabeth – which is kind of too weird for words in a historical survey of RPGs – and skips seminal RPGs such as Darklands or Realms of Arkania. Perhaps an opportunity for GameBanshee readership to mix their 2 cents into the feedback?

Spotted on Kotaku.