RPGs came before simulation games.

In fact RPGs came before videogames. Simulation games, initially, were games where you as the player would play God. Sim City and the like. Later on simulation games took on RPG elements when players would instead control a single avatar and experience the world through his/ her eyes.

But really, "relationship building simulation" is a core component of the RPG genre.

So which borrowed from which, exactly?

Don't have any 3DS RPGs but I'm sure that when Dragon Quest VII comes out that will be my favorite.

i wish people would stop arguing over classifications of games...who cares anymore?
anyways my favorite RPG so far is TOA....but once Pokemon X & Y comes out it will be that and Mystery Dungeon Gates of Infinity.

amen.

The people who are arguing about it, duh. Also anybody who wants to take an interest in a game they've never heard of would probably appreciate not having to waste their time on something that's outside their genre preferences because someone mislabeled it, and yeah, that happens.

yeah but now it's getting old.

yep.

i love/hate devil survivor overclocked, because it's addicting, but so unnecessarily HARD. if you're at a boss and you're too weak/don't have the right demons, you're screwed if you don't have enough macca and the paltry exp you get from free battles doesn't help. i've played most shin megami tensei games and they're rarely THIS frustrating...
looking forward to soul hackers and etrian odyssey, though!

I'm enjoying "Tales of the Abyss" & "The Denpa Man: They Came by Wave."
I also have "Heroes of Ruin." It could use some help in some areas. It's still fun though.

An RPG can be any game under the sun.

If while playing it you can imprint your thoughts and feelings onto the character, it doesn't matter if the game deliberately allows for this or not, you are role-playing. This definition allows me to enjoy games that allow for this almost subconscious agency within the plot, without getting caught up on classifications and labels.

Not trying to start an argument, as much as offer an alternative view.

RPG borrowed from simulation. Simulation games introduced relationship mechanics, and the already existing RPGs borrowed the idea from them. Remember that even SimCity has relationship values in the form of your approval ratings.

@TheLastLemming
You've taken all meaning away from the term RPG. Remember, you can enjoy a game whether it's an RPG or not. What it's called really has no bearing unless you're looking for something similar, in which case your idea won't help people find similar games.

The Denpa Men. I don't even have any other RPG games on 3DS. The Denpa Men is fun and challenging and there is a lot to do for a 8€ eShop game. I already have over 30 hours in it.

I am really enjoying Devil Survivor Overclocked. It's both user-friendly and tough-as-nails. A good combination.

It won't stay at the top of my list for long, though, what with EO4 and SMT Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers coming out soon. And if Bravely Default gets localized? Fuhgedaboudit.