There can be no doubt whatsoever that the CRPG genre occupies a place of significant importance in the history of the game development industry. Whenever any publication produces an all-time best list, it's readily apparent that during the past two and a half decades or so, the category has spawned a substantial number of excellent individual titles as well as a disproportionate share of exceptional and long-running series. It has also nurtured the creativity and talent of countless game makers, including a goodly number whose names are frequently seen associated with laudatory appellations such as legend and visionary. And if that weren't enough, it's abundantly clear that the impact of the CRPGs has reached into other genres. Indeed, the continuing profusion of titles touting the incorporation of RPG elements suggests that the degree of such influence is still growing.