Play by Post

Play by Post indicates a way of playing a role playing game, namely by using forums or email, playing post for post instead of table top. It is different from IRC roleplaying, live roleplaying or table top role playing in that usually it involves players from all over the world that answer their turn at their leisure in their own timezone. Another difference is the greater emphasis on emotions, thoughts and motivations over action. Thus setting also becomes more important. In this Play by Post and Play by Email are closer to creative writing than improvisation acting.

As internet games go it is a really old form and its popularity has waned somewhat with the arrival of improved graphic games, so that the genre now concentrates on the niche of creative writing mostly.