What is roleplaying?

Roleplaying is improvisation, it is a way of playing an alternate version of yourself in a setting that is entirely different that the world around us. This doesn't mean that you get to act out anything that you desire, but you create a character that you feel you would have fun playing as and play it in a senario that the gamemaster creates.

What types of Roleplaying are there?

There are many types of roleplaying games out there:

Tabletop: This is the one that a lot of people shy away from as it involves a lot of dice and paper for some of the games. There are usually limits to how many people can play so then the GM (or DM for dungeonmaster if you're playing D&D) can keep track of who is playing and what each person is doing. The main attraction of this game is playing with friends.
Live action: Live action Roleplaying is slightly more complicated as you play your character yourself without resorting to dice or paper. You move around in a room or location acting out what you are doing. People have wondered if this is the same as re-enactment but it isn't.. although the principle is the same. You can dress up in elaborate costumes and put makeup on to make yourself look like your chosen character.
Online freeform: Online roleplaying games tend to be played via e-mail, on messageboards or on groupsites. These roleplaying games can end up looking something like ongoing novels and are great fun for beginners to play. In these you don't bother with dice or with player statisics, you just write posts based on what other players have previously written. You can let your imagination go on these roleplaying games as long as you stay within the posted rules of the game you are playing.
Computer RPGs: Ever play Final Fantasy, well that's a good idea of what roleplaying games are like, the tabletop and live versions anyway. Computer games however have a set plot which will always end in the same conclusion where Tabletop, Live and freeform roleplaying games can change according to what actions you have taken.

What games are there to play?

There are many games to play, tabletop games can range from sword and sorcery to futuristic and some can be altered to fit both or neither. There are games where you can become a character from your favorite program or series and play out senarios that a friend has created. More information on different types of games can be found at websites such as The White Wolf Website or The AD&D page