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[somatic]

The article: http://penny-arcade.com/report/article/speluky-features-a-robust-leveling-and-xp-system-but-it-exists-only-in-your

The gameplay video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSycvOCEOVg

The game, Spelunky, is a pretty straightforward platformer, which isn't an insult; there are some really awesome platform games out there nowadays. The problem is labeling it a roguelike, because it just isn't. It is in no way, shape, or form a roguelike. The argument seems to be that since it has random maps, it's a roguelike-- which, ok, I have hairy legs, so I must be a badger?

I'd normally ignore this as the typical internet noise that it is, but this argument is being put forward by Penny Arcade Report's Ben Kuchera. And it's the second time they've run an article about "roguelikes" like this one.

On the surface, no one's being harmed by it. He can't reach into our code and mess it up, or undo all the fun we've had. But it pisses me off, because if you can't get real information from a site like Penny Arcade, where can you get it? They have a higher Google ranking than most sites. What pisses me off is someone new to the genre looking for information about it and coming upon that article.

Be a champ, educate your friends: roguelikes are not 2013 versions of Super Mario Bros. They're a lot of things, and there's nothing wrong with a 2013 Super Mario Bros, but they're not that.

[Mesa]

I also hate when people call games "roguelike-likes" or "games with roguelike elements".
Just call it a game with "permadeath and randomly generated environments" and not a roguelike, damnit.

You could say that Super Hexagon is a roguelike by that definition (permadeath and randomly generated levels). Which of all things is wrong and unjustifiable.

[freeformschooler]

Holy shit, people are labeling games with the same labels as games that share some of the same elements but are otherwise different!

[somatic]

Just call it a game with "permadeath and randomly generated environments" and not a roguelike, damnit.

It doesn't have permadeath either; you can return from the beginning of the level if you've completed some requirement or other.

[Lectorog]

http://insomnia.ac/reviews/pc/spelunky/page_01.php

[freeformschooler]

http://insomnia.ac/reviews/pc/spelunky/page_01.php

This site is amazing. The whole thing.

[Lectorog]

You know that Kierkegaard is a genius.

Edit: Sweet mercy, I didn't even think to look past the first two paragraphs, and it only gets worse. Forget using that site as support, that right there is tragedy and comedy mashed into one Will it Blend episode and I've no idea what to take seriously.

You avoid it because you don't want your views to change. You don't want to believe you were wrong about so many things and you're intimidated.

[Darkmere]

Drama is pretty fun when it's about something I have no strong attachment to.

[Lectorog]

Evidently you enjoy your life, which is certainly good for you.

[Cthulhu]

HURRRRGGGHHH, this word is not being used the way I think it should!  Ugh, mainstream!  Uggghhhh!

Gamer smash!  Rwaor, gamer smash!

[Lectorog]

I think you mean "gamer smush". "Smash" does not work in that context, especially if you're making a reference to Hulk.

[umiman]

Unsure if joke flew over head

(>.>)

or being ironic.

[freeformschooler]

Penny Arcade Report's Ben Kuchera.

Also like how, just to really drive the point home, the OP specifically named the writer of the article like RPS commenters or Huff Post commenters or really any article commenters.

I'm onto you, somatic.

[i2amroy]

Don't really have much to contribute, having never player (or even heard of) Spelunky before this, but here are the official rules about what a "rougelike" is, as defined by the International Roguelike Development Conference 2008:

• Roguelike games randomly generate dungeon levels, though they may include static levels as well. Generated layouts typically incorporate rooms connected by corridors, some of which may be preset to a degree (e.g., monster lairs or treasuries). Open areas or natural features, like rivers, may also occur.
• The identity of magical items varies across games. Newly-discovered objects only offer a vague physical description that is randomized between games, with purposes and capabilities left unstated. For example, a "bubbly" potion might heal wounds one game, then poison the player character in the next. Items are often subject to alteration, acquiring specific traits, such as a curse, or direct player modification.
• The combat system is turn-based instead of real-time. Gameplay is usually step-based, where player actions are performed serially and take a variable measure of in-game time to complete. Game processes (e.g., monster movement and interaction, progressive effects such as poisoning or starvation) advance based on the passage of time dictated by these actions.
• Most are single-player games. On multi-user systems, scoreboards are often shared between players. Some roguelikes allow traces of former player characters to appear in later game sessions in the form of ghosts or grave markings. Some games such as NetHack even have the player's former characters reappear as enemies within the dungeon. Multi-player derivatives such as TomeNET, MAngband, and Crossfire do exist and are playable online.
• Roguelikes traditionally implement permadeath. Once a character dies, the player must begin a new game. A "save game" feature will only provide suspension of gameplay and not a limitlessly recoverable state; the stored session is deleted upon resumption or character death. Players can circumvent this by backing up stored game data ("save scumming"), an act that is usually considered cheating.

[Girlinhat]

(Didn't read the whole thread.)

Just gonna say that Penny Arcade isn't the best place to judge any opinions on, as they're rather known to be elitist who aren't educated enough to stick their noses up, generally grasping at old ideas and trying to shoehorn them against modern concept and games, and then seeming to randomly pass blame/praise.

Your source isn't credible, whatever they label anything isn't going to matter much.  At least places like Rock Paper Shotgun kinda try...