My definition for RPG (Role Playing Game); A game that includes stats, often has a storyline and quests, additional party members also a common feature in RPGs, can take place at any time and anywhere.
Common misconceptions for RPG are;
A game that includes dwarves and potions, mainly fantasy.
A game only nerds play.
A military rocket launcher.
Nope that's an RPG too in the same way the Moon can be a rock in space or my bare ass.
I like to use a RPG in a RPG, just like I like to moon the Moon.
I think the actual definition for RPG is kind of a pointless waste of time considering everyone has a different mental perception of it, and the OP asks this in reference to people saying minecraft is becoming too RPG. In my view, minecraft is built first and foremost as an infinitely large and variable world that can be manipulated in almost any way by the player, aka sandbox. Things like mobs and health were added to keep the game from being too sandbox and breathing some life into gameplay. However, all of these RPG elements being added (dragons, potions, enchantments, NPC's, etc that are traditionally in games defined as RPG's even though this game isn't one) are pulling the focus of the game between being an RPG, which doesn't work in a world of infinite size and goalessness, and sandbox.
You're right, sorry. People are getting worked up about Minecraft becoming HIGH FANTASY. And you're right about Minecraft having high fantasy elements for a long time. Just lots of people liked to use modern texture packs, industrial mods, and build huge skyscraper-filled cities in an effort to make the game decidedly less high fantasy. Those are most likely the people most upset.
The obvious compromise is magitek.
Personally I'm just disappointed at the lack of new things to make complicated structures that move and do things out of blocks. I don't care one way or the other whether there are classic RPG game elements, magic, or anything else -- in some ways these things are rather nice.
Nope that's an RPG too in the same way the Moon can be a rock in space or my bare ass.
I like to use a RPG in a RPG, just like I like to moon the Moon.
The obvious compromise is magitek.
Personally I'm just disappointed at the lack of new things to make complicated structures that move and do things out of blocks. I don't care one way or the other whether there are classic RPG game elements, magic, or anything else -- in some ways these things are rather nice.