Bah, definitions. Certainly, in the sense of Pen and Paper RPGs, Eastern RPGs don't give you remotely that amount of freedom. That said, if that's what you're basing it off of, Computer RPGs barely qualify either. I can think of some "Eastern" RPGs where there are plot shifts and times where your decision matters (and will change things like the ending or some future events); Computer RPGs often merely give you your choice of a bunch of subquests, which you are expected to do some of to level up; and a main quest, which occasionally gives you a few branches. I don't really think that's comparable to the ultimate freedom of Pen & Paper RPGs, where there are nigh-infinite branches and options in how to go about things. If the subquests are random "help us out things" anyway, I'd rather be doing relevant but forced quests a la Eastern RPGs, but hey, that's personal preference.
A good example might be BG1 and BG2. BG2 is frankly closer to an Eastern style game in some ways with so much of the plot already set for you to go out and do, and you can simply choose alignments and occasionally complete some quests slightly differently. There's also the subquests which are semi-optional, but you're expected to do some of (for raising 20,000 gold, for instance). BG1 seems like a more standard Western RPG, but just because there's no set order of the things to do, you're ultimately just picking some pre-packaged quests.
So in short, computer RPGs (West) are closer to console RPGs (East) than computer/Western RPGs are to true RPGs, pen and paper.
A good example might be BG1 and BG2. BG2 is frankly closer to an Eastern style game in some ways with so much of the plot already set for you to go out and do, and you can simply choose alignments and occasionally complete some quests slightly differently. There's also the subquests which are semi-optional, but you're expected to do some of (for raising 20,000 gold, for instance). BG1 seems like a more standard Western RPG, but just because there's no set order of the things to do, you're ultimately just picking some pre-packaged quests.
So in short, computer RPGs (West) are closer to console RPGs (East) than computer/Western RPGs are to true RPGs, pen and paper.
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