I realized my post and screenshots was all out of order because my memory is shot. So below is the revised post.
The first game was Adventure on the Atari 2600. Here are the awesome graphics:
Next, I started playing text adventure games on the TI-99 4/a. These are not RPGs, because they did not have character development, but it had some of the basic ideas. Scott Adams' games were my favorites.
I took a break from computers for awhile, but when I got back into them, I played the King's Quest games from Roberta Williams.
After that, it was Pool of Radiance on the PC (286 or 386, not sure which). I snagged the screenie from DeVoDeVo below.
Finally, for early RPGs, I played Battlemech, and was really disappointed when Battlemech: The Crescent Hawks Inception was the only RPG produced in the series.
And that is my early history not only of RPG playing, but my early history of gaming too.
I can not remember winning or losing a single debate on the internet.
I enjoyed the HELL out of this game! It came out just before Everquest. This game kinda got me stuck into PC gaming though EQs graphics were not as good as this game's were.
First PC Game: Pool of Radiance July 10th, 1990. First MMO: Everquest April 23, 1999
My opinion is my own. I respect all other opinions and views equally, but keep in mind that my opinion will always be the best for me. That's why it's my opinion.
I've seen a few Pools of Radiance mentioned. Am I remembering correctly that PoR was the game that trashed your hard drive if you uninstalled it, or was that a different game?
- Al
Personally the only modern MMORPG trend that annoys me is the idea that MMOs need to be designed in a way to attract people who don't actually like MMOs. Which to me makes about as much sense as someone trying to figure out a way to get vegetarians to eat at their steakhouse. - FARGIN_WAR
Gosh I'm old. I can't remember exactly which was first, but I played the NES Ultima (forget which one), and King's Quest, as well as Phantasy Star on Sega.
I don't remember there being any RPGs on the Atari 2600. Or at least I didn't have any.
I've seen a few Pools of Radiance mentioned. Am I remembering correctly that PoR was the game that trashed your hard drive if you uninstalled it, or was that a different game?
I think that was the remake of Temple of Elemental Evil from 2000 or so that trashed hard drives.
The Commodore 64/128 didn't have a hard drive, it had floppy drives Unless there was a remake, otherwise POR came out in '88 before pc's could display color
Originally posted by severius Originally posted by AlBQuirkyI've seen a few Pools of Radiance mentioned. Am I remembering correctly that PoR was the game that trashed your hard drive if you uninstalled it, or was that a different game?
I think that was the remake of Temple of Elemental Evil from 2000 or so that trashed hard drives.
The Commodore 64/128 didn't have a hard drive, it had floppy drives Unless there was a remake, otherwise POR came out in '88 before pc's could display color
The copy I had for the PC had color, and I don't remember it doing anything to my awesomely awesome 20mb hdd.
I can not remember winning or losing a single debate on the internet.
Gosh I'm old. I can't remember exactly which was first, but I played the NES Ultima (forget which one), and King's Quest, as well as Phantasy Star on Sega.
I don't remember there being any RPGs on the Atari 2600. Or at least I didn't have any.
Would we count Oregon Trail as a RPG?
DCB
There were plenty, but the genre was not defined as one separate from Adventure games until later in the 80s.
Mine was Final Fantasy on the NES. I was really young when we got it but I just had fun walking around in towns and trying to kill monsters outside. I actually never ended up playing it again until recently where I played it from start to finish in two sittings, it was a very good game.
Originally posted by AlBQuirkyI've seen a few Pools of Radiance mentioned. Am I remembering correctly that PoR was the game that trashed your hard drive if you uninstalled it, or was that a different game?
I think that was the remake of Temple of Elemental Evil from 2000 or so that trashed hard drives.
The Commodore 64/128 didn't have a hard drive, it had floppy drives Unless there was a remake, otherwise POR came out in '88 before pc's could display color
The copy I had for the PC had color, and I don't remember it doing anything to my awesomely awesome 20mb hdd.
I have been known to be wrong before :P I just remember all the PCs in the late 70s and early 80s either having Amber or Green and never the two together C64 followed by the 128 on the other hand ooo boy. Ofc the rich kids had apples but pbbbbt
Originally posted by AlBQuirky I've seen a few Pools of Radiance mentioned. Am I remembering correctly that PoR was the game that trashed your hard drive if you uninstalled it, or was that a different game?
I think that was the remake of Temple of Elemental Evil from 2000 or so that trashed hard drives. The Commodore 64/128 didn't have a hard drive, it had floppy drives Unless there was a remake, otherwise POR came out in '88 before pc's could display color
The copy I had for the PC had color, and I don't remember it doing anything to my awesomely awesome 20mb hdd.
And I bet that 20MB HDD cost a pretty penny!
I think you're right, severius. ToEE is the game I was thinking of
- Al
Personally the only modern MMORPG trend that annoys me is the idea that MMOs need to be designed in a way to attract people who don't actually like MMOs. Which to me makes about as much sense as someone trying to figure out a way to get vegetarians to eat at their steakhouse. - FARGIN_WAR
Originally posted by AlBQuirky I've seen a few Pools of Radiance mentioned. Am I remembering correctly that PoR was the game that trashed your hard drive if you uninstalled it, or was that a different game?
I think that was the remake of Temple of Elemental Evil from 2000 or so that trashed hard drives.
The Commodore 64/128 didn't have a hard drive, it had floppy drives Unless there was a remake, otherwise POR came out in '88 before pc's could display color
The copy I had for the PC had color, and I don't remember it doing anything to my awesomely awesome 20mb hdd.
And I bet that 20MB HDD cost a pretty penny!
I think you're right, severius. ToEE is the game I was thinking of
For the record you were kind of right AlBQuirky.The game you are thinking of was Pool of Radiance:Ruins of Myth Drannor which had huge bugs including the one you described.This was made in 2001 by Ubisoft
However the Pools of Radiance game I and others talk of was made in 1988 by now defunct game company SSI.
The 2001 game was based on a D&D PnP module which itself was based on the 1988 game but they have no real direct relation to each other.
Also there was a user made module remake of SSI's Pool of Radiance for Neverwinter Nights that is far superior to Ubisoft's effort.
There you go...way more information than you ever wanted!!!!
Originally posted by AlBQuirky I've seen a few Pools of Radiance mentioned. Am I remembering correctly that PoR was the game that trashed your hard drive if you uninstalled it, or was that a different game?
I think that was the remake of Temple of Elemental Evil from 2000 or so that trashed hard drives.The Commodore 64/128 didn't have a hard drive, it had floppy drives Unless there was a remake, otherwise POR came out in '88 before pc's could display color
The copy I had for the PC had color, and I don't remember it doing anything to my awesomely awesome 20mb hdd.
And I bet that 20MB HDD cost a pretty penny!I think you're right, severius. ToEE is the game I was thinking of
For the record you were kind of right AlBQuirky.The game you are thinking of was Pool of Radiance:Ruins of Myth Drannor which had huge bugs including the one you described.This was made in 2001 by UbisoftHowever the Pools of Radiance game I and others talk of was made in 1988 by now defunct game company SSI.The 2001 game was based on a D&D PnP module which itself was based on the 1988 game but they have no real direct relation to each other.Also there was a user made module remake of SSI's Pool of Radiance for Neverwinter Nights that is far superior to Ubisoft's effort.There you go...way more information than you ever wanted!!!!
You did ease my scattered mind. Thanks for the clarification
- Al
Personally the only modern MMORPG trend that annoys me is the idea that MMOs need to be designed in a way to attract people who don't actually like MMOs. Which to me makes about as much sense as someone trying to figure out a way to get vegetarians to eat at their steakhouse. - FARGIN_WAR
First pc rpg game would be Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves. Anyone remember this gem?
I do, sort of. Its not as memorable as Wizardry, Ultima, or Bard's Tail but I remember playing it for hours. I remember you could play multiple characters.
My buddy Ken and I spent hours and hours on that, racing to see who could beat it first. I had collected all the letters, and told him I was stumped, but he recognized what it was immediately and we finished it together on his computer. Broderbund later released their "Adventure Construction Set" which was made it as much fun to create adventure games as it was to play Ali Baba.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein "Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
My first RPG on console was probably Adventure on the Atari 2600. On a computer my first experience has to have been Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness on the Commodore 64. If I remember correctly it was sometime in the early '80s, my uncle who lived in CA at the time got it for me. At that time you really couldn't find it anywhere, so I remember it being a big deal. That really started my love for Ultima and subsequent 8 year stint playing UO. My first IBM PC based RPG was Legacy of the Ancients by EA in around 1987.
------------------------- "Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places..." ~ H.P.Lovecraft, "From Beyond"
my firsts were all on console, personal computers were new, huge and expensive. Not that console were cheap. My parents used to RENT the consoles for me, usually over a weekend lmao
some games I remember.
Loved this game.
Actually, this entire string has turned into some crazy Dianetic Self Analysis memory exercise of my entire video game playing life as I recall having played, or at least tried to play many of the games that are being listed.
For the sake of honorable mention I'd like to add in a couple of games that I think were also RPG in nature but that were snuck in there on us under the guise of being platform games.
Castlevania and Ghosts and Goblins both featured character progression and loots and were probably the inspiration for a lot of kids to make the jump from Mega Man to MMO.
Comments
I realized my post and screenshots was all out of order because my memory is shot. So below is the revised post.
The first game was Adventure on the Atari 2600.
Here are the awesome graphics:
Next, I started playing text adventure games on the TI-99 4/a. These are not RPGs, because they did not have character development, but it had some of the basic ideas. Scott Adams' games were my favorites.
I took a break from computers for awhile, but when I got back into them, I played the King's Quest games from Roberta Williams.
After that, it was Pool of Radiance on the PC (286 or 386, not sure which). I snagged the screenie from DeVoDeVo below.
Finally, for early RPGs, I played Battlemech, and was really disappointed when Battlemech: The Crescent Hawks Inception was the only RPG produced in the series.
And that is my early history not only of RPG playing, but my early history of gaming too.
I can not remember winning or losing a single debate on the internet.
Dragon Warrior for me. Although FF II (IV) is what really hooked me into the genre.
I enjoyed the HELL out of this game! It came out just before Everquest. This game kinda got me stuck into PC gaming though EQs graphics were not as good as this game's were.
First PC Game: Pool of Radiance July 10th, 1990. First MMO: Everquest April 23, 1999
It was either Pool of Radiance or Hillsfar on the NES. Can't remember which one I played first.
The memories...
My opinion is my own. I respect all other opinions and views equally, but keep in mind that my opinion will always be the best for me. That's why it's my opinion.
I've seen a few Pools of Radiance mentioned. Am I remembering correctly that PoR was the game that trashed your hard drive if you uninstalled it, or was that a different game?
- Al
Personally the only modern MMORPG trend that annoys me is the idea that MMOs need to be designed in a way to attract people who don't actually like MMOs. Which to me makes about as much sense as someone trying to figure out a way to get vegetarians to eat at their steakhouse.- FARGIN_WAR
Gosh I'm old. I can't remember exactly which was first, but I played the NES Ultima (forget which one), and King's Quest, as well as Phantasy Star on Sega.
I don't remember there being any RPGs on the Atari 2600. Or at least I didn't have any.
Would we count Oregon Trail as a RPG?
DCB
I think that was the remake of Temple of Elemental Evil from 2000 or so that trashed hard drives.
The Commodore 64/128 didn't have a hard drive, it had floppy drives
Unless there was a remake, otherwise POR came out in '88 before pc's could display color 
http://www.speedtest.net/result/7300033012
The Commodore 64/128 didn't have a hard drive, it had floppy drives
Unless there was a remake, otherwise POR came out in '88 before pc's could display color 
The copy I had for the PC had color, and I don't remember it doing anything to my awesomely awesome 20mb hdd.
I can not remember winning or losing a single debate on the internet.
There were plenty, but the genre was not defined as one separate from Adventure games until later in the 80s.
here is one of the first to be labeled RPG Adventure, The Crypts of Chaos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gd7IGj9CF4
And I would have thought Oregon Trail and MULE would both be early RPGs
http://www.speedtest.net/result/7300033012
Ultima III exodus at the age of 10, For the Commodore 64
I have been known to be wrong before :P I just remember all the PCs in the late 70s and early 80s either having Amber or Green and never the two together
C64 followed by the 128 on the other hand ooo boy. Ofc the rich kids had apples but pbbbbt 
http://www.speedtest.net/result/7300033012
I think you're right, severius. ToEE is the game I was thinking of
- Al
Personally the only modern MMORPG trend that annoys me is the idea that MMOs need to be designed in a way to attract people who don't actually like MMOs. Which to me makes about as much sense as someone trying to figure out a way to get vegetarians to eat at their steakhouse.- FARGIN_WAR
One of my first graphical RPG games I remember was Legacy of the Ancients for the C64.
First overall game might have been Zork...WAAAY back in the day
After this it was all the gold box D&D games for me - Pools of Radiance, Champions of Krynn, etc..
- - "What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?" - -
For the record you were kind of right AlBQuirky.The game you are thinking of was Pool of Radiance:Ruins of Myth Drannor which had huge bugs including the one you described.This was made in 2001 by Ubisoft
However the Pools of Radiance game I and others talk of was made in 1988 by now defunct game company SSI.
The 2001 game was based on a D&D PnP module which itself was based on the 1988 game but they have no real direct relation to each other.
Also there was a user made module remake of SSI's Pool of Radiance for Neverwinter Nights that is far superior to Ubisoft's effort.
There you go...way more information than you ever wanted!!!!
- Al
Personally the only modern MMORPG trend that annoys me is the idea that MMOs need to be designed in a way to attract people who don't actually like MMOs. Which to me makes about as much sense as someone trying to figure out a way to get vegetarians to eat at their steakhouse.- FARGIN_WAR
My buddy Ken and I spent hours and hours on that, racing to see who could beat it first. I had collected all the letters, and told him I was stumped, but he recognized what it was immediately and we finished it together on his computer. Broderbund later released their "Adventure Construction Set" which was made it as much fun to create adventure games as it was to play Ali Baba.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
1997 my first PC game and RPG was Diablo and then StarCraft
Fond memories...Stationed in San Diego...
Nice. Brings back good memories. Always got lost in the bottom maze south of the castle. Damn you Rhindle!
Fondest memories are of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. Thats when I fell in love with the genre.
My first real RPG would be Chrono Trigger.... That was a bloody asweomse game
And ofc then there was Pokemon blue ^^ but yea well i was like 10 y/o then
-------------------------
"Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places..." ~ H.P.Lovecraft, "From Beyond"
Member Since March 2004
Loved this game.
Actually, this entire string has turned into some crazy Dianetic Self Analysis memory exercise of my entire video game playing life as I recall having played, or at least tried to play many of the games that are being listed.
For the sake of honorable mention I'd like to add in a couple of games that I think were also RPG in nature but that were snuck in there on us under the guise of being platform games.
Castlevania and Ghosts and Goblins both featured character progression and loots and were probably the inspiration for a lot of kids to make the jump from Mega Man to MMO.