What is a "role-playing video game"?

What is a "role-playing video game"?

Bill Kunkel (Editor-in-Chief, "Tips & Tricks" Magazine) gives expert video advice on: What are the most influential first-person shooters?; What is one of the best strategy video games available?; What are some of the most influential role-playing video games? and more...

Role-playing video games are traditionally not action games, though there is action involved in them. A role-playing video game is basically building a set of characteristics into characters, and then running them through missions, or through quests, or rescuing the princess; that of course, is always possible. I don't know why those princesses constantly get themselves in those situations, but they do, and somebody's got to rescue them.