Quote: "That's a stupid argument because whenever you RP in general the story is already defined by the story teller/dungeon master."
Two things-- you're wrong and it's only half the point. In the order I listed them: You're wrong because good dungeon masters shape the campaign around their player's choices and actions, not their own long-term plans, and it's half the point because half the point is creating a character to play instead of being given one.
Quote: "In FF you customize your characters"
You stick some attribute points and in some of the games customize their name, but it doesn't matter because the dialogue, while it has some 'choises', always goes the same and you have no control over the long-term plot.
Quote: "and go through a story. How's that that much different from D&D?"
Already explained.
Quote: "Yes, many "Japanese" RPGs are story based to the extent of having no replay value but so is almost any D&D campaign."
Something can be story based and still fluid, freeform, customizable. Gothic has a set beginning, middle, and end, but there are three distinct plotlines you can play through, optional side-quests, and plenty of events where you have three or more choises in what to do. That's role playing.
Quote: "You don't play the same campaign twice (usually). The combat and customization of characters is the same as any pen and paper RPG, maybe just a bit dumbed down"
The point is the choises you're allowed to make, which are zilch in the final fantasy games. I've played a good deal of them and I think the crowning choise of what to do was whether to be rude to somebody or not. And I went back and played through that again, and it went the same no matter what you said. That's not role playing.
Quote: "so there's no real reason how you could argue that FF isn't an RPG."
Diiiisproven
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