I strongly disagree. When game developers announce that some elements in their games are rpg-ish, they always talk about including levels and special abilities.As far as I'm concerned, a game needs choices/consequences in addition to character development to be a proper RPG.
C&C is not an element of a CRPG. Otherwise SHOGO:MAD, Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun, Dune 2000, Half-Life, ect… would be RPG's, since you can influence their endings or mid-game scenario's. Switching from a linear story telling to divulging story telling is evolution of the medium as a whole, since personal interaction and feedback become more and more possible.
It is not however, a defining element of a CRPG. It is a defining element of the evolution of video games as a whole. But for some reason, if you claim that, it is perceived as an insult by many Mass Effect 2 fanatics.
Character evolution : yes, non-lineair story : no.
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