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[Concept17]

The ability for developers to add an incredible amount of detail to scenes in any game. When look at the number of props, textures, rubble, flora, etc during this generation compared to last, there is a huge difference.

The awesome backdrops as well. This generation has been incredible from an artistic point of view.

 

[Alex Anderson]

DD opening up a market for $5-15 games on consoles = Outrun: Online Arcade, Daytona USA, Jet Set Radio HD. Mmm, mmm. And Virtual Console while maybe not the best value, at least the emulation standards are high from what I can tell. *compares Neo Turf Masters on VC to that unplayable shit turd Neo Geo emulation job on PS2

Still need ChuChu w/ online play though (yeah yeah I know about the ios one)

 

[nasos_333]

Actually there is a huge number of amazing games for me this generation

Demons Souls
Dark Souls
Fable 2-3
Mass Effect 1-2-3
Lost Odyssey
Ni no Kuni
Bravely Default
Dust Elysian Tale
Witcher 1-2
Muramasa
Zelda SS
Clash of Heroes
Heroes of M&M 6 (patch 1.5 with towns)
Bayonetta
Tales of Vesperia
Skyrim
Oblivion

etc etc

are definatly some of my top games of all time

So i would say a huge number of amazing games is still there and came out of this generation

In fact some games like Dark Souls have been more amazing to me than mostly anything in previous generations as far as gameplay goes

The ability for developers to add an incredible amount of detail to scenes in any game. When look at the number of props, textures, rubble, flora, etc during this generation compared to last, there is a huge difference.

The awesome backdrops as well. This generation has been incredible from an artistic point of view.

For me nothing beats FF7-8-9, Legend of Mana etc yet in art and variety

Sure in 3D gaming it has got way better, but 2D is still art king

Games like Dust, Muramasa, Dragons Crown do have amazing art in HD, but are not as detailed or expansive as PS1 FFs

Games i would put up there are Whispered World and Satinav on PC, those are advenures

I think next gen with tech like in Agnes demo will come closer to the detail of 2D games, that will be the turning point for me

Also i have to note that in some case the 3D has ruined art completly, like in FF12-FF13 that are both nothing in artistic detail like FF7-8-9, where every screen was like a new work of art

 

[PaineReign]

Graphics. Makes worlds like Red Dead, Dark Souls, and Bioshock feel like real, inhospitable places. Not something unexpected, but I guess this is the first time that games that go for realism can get by on that alone without trying to make a specific art style to help pull it off (like MGS 1, which does realistic setting well with limited graphics).

Also, bomba prices.

 

[AppleMIX]

Digital Distribution.

 

[djtiesto]

A revival of interest in the fighting game genre.

 

[MrT-Tar]

Xenoblade Chronicles, Super Mario Galaxy 1 +2, Demon's Souls and the Nintendo DS in general; the redeeming factors of the 7th generation

 

[Canis lupus]

Exclusives on Sony platforms, I found myself enjoying them so much. Games like Demon's Souls, Yakuza make me nostalgic.

 

[Zwei]

That it will soon be over (hopefully)

 

[Pranay]

Sony - PS+, Exclusives
MS - Xbla,
PC - Steam sales

 

[friskykillface]

Demos were a huge part of this generation for me, loved to be able to download a demo and try it out the same day. Since before it was either try it in store or wait for a demo disc for a magazine.

Also bombas were great because it gave me a chance to try out more games then before.

 

[7threst]

Nicely integrated in-game tutorials. And subtitles being a standard in games.

 

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

The return of simpler, arcade games.

 

[Rich!]

The ressurection of awesome 2D platformers:

- New Super Mario Bros Wii
- Wario Land
- Rayman Origins
- Kirby Return to Dreamland
- Donkey Kong Country
- Super Meat Boy
- vvvvv

Just to name a few. All fucking amazing.

Oh and Xenoblade.

 

[Jarnet87]

Dota 2 and Dark Souls

 

[neos]

Dolby Digital®

 

[The_Monk]

The one thing for me would be PS+

I'm in Europe and I couldn't be happier with this service. I got one year last year for 39€ instead of 49€ and I will subscribe another year soon, I hope.

Great games released for the money you pay for renting them. Discounts, themes and other small things are also welcome.

inFAMOUs 2, Little Big Planet 2, Deus Ex HR, Motorstorm Appocalypse, Borderlands, Just Cause 2, Outland, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Renegade Ops and many others are on my PS3 ready to play, it's amazing.

 

[SmokyDave]

The emergence of smartphones & tablets as a legit gaming platform.

XBLA / PSN and the genres revived by them.

Digital distribution.

I'm not sure I can choose between those. Perhaps PSN / XBLA if I was forced.

 

[Nyx]

The games (so many great ones)
Partychat (XBL, no more whining 12-year olds to mute)
XBLA (woop woop!)

 

[Sword Familiar]

I appreciate being able to turn on my system with a wireless controller.

 

[BKJest]

Variety.

This generation I can play the 100 Mio. $ Blockbuster shooter as well as the Sprite Platformer some guy built in his cellar. I can play a lot of games created throughout the history of gaming on the current machines (and collector prices are mostly a thing of the past if you just want to play a game). There are no more dead genres anymore. You can buy physical releases in the store or just download games from home.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Incredible retail sales

 

[PaleFolklore]

Steam/Valve. Pushing gaming forward in very positive ways.

 

[flyinpiranha]

Best gen so far for me.

Yep, have all the old and the new.

I would probably say the sales though, they have been amazing.

 

[ROBOKITTYZILLA]

Indie games, more PC releases, digital distribution...

I guess this could all fall under Steam if I had to pick just one.

 

[Kimaka]

Not having to get up when turning on or off the console
Easily streaming music and videos to the 360
Steam and GoG

 

[cajunator]

A revival of certain platforming titles and other beloved games.
Sin and Punishment 2, Klonoa remake, Nights JOD, Sonic Generations, Megaman 9, Kirby return to Dreamland, DKCR, Boy and his Blob, etc. Good shit. I had fun this gen.

 

[zlatko]

Starcraft 2.

Metal Gear Online.

Lords of Shadow.

Witcher 2.

Demon's Souls.



Plenty of others too, but those 5 are the best thing I appreciate this gen.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Spoiler

Chloe's arse

Predatorhandshake.jpg

 

[topplehat]

Indie games, smaller type non-AAA games, games that cost less. Really a great time for new game devs.

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

On the PC side obviously there's a ton of stuff to appreciate: Steam Sales, pay what you want for DRM Free Indie Bundles, Kickstarter becoming a viable funding solution, TellTale games, and many many more.

On the console side the biggest thing for me that isn't obvious is Nintendo choosing to stick with last gen. hardware - that decision all by itself is responsible for the tremendous boost PC emulation has received this gen!

so basically

Spoiler

2-0 for PCs

;D

 

[RPGamer92]

Dedicated handhelds <3

 

[SHarris78]

'Older generations' just about nails it!

I apreciate the fact that for the majority of games i like, you pay a one time fee up front for the full experience, also i really appreciate proper controllers with lots of nice buttons.

Free to play and tablets are, for me, taking gaming where i don't want it to go.

 

[Ryu Hayabusa]

The return of Street Fighter
Platinum Games: Bayonetta, Vanquish, Max Anarchy
Super Mario Galaxy/2
Batman Arkham Asylum/City
DarkSouls
Red Dead Redemption
DarkSiders/II
Digital Ditribution
Flower/Journey/Limbo/Braid
Rayman Origins/New Super Mario Bros Wii/Donkey Kong Country Returns

 

[djplaeskool]

Handhelds.

PSP/Vita has gotten much more play than my PS3.

 

[old manatee]

Pc gaming. You can still find games that respect your intelligence, and they're usually cheaper and better supported.

 

[vulva]

The abundance of arcade stick options

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

A toss-up between the resurgance of Fighters and Indepentant efforts getting spotlights and cash sent their way.

 

[Kacho]

The Xbox 360 gave us console plebs achievements, party-chat, and music streaming while gaming. Those three things had the greatest impact on me this generation.

 

[MYE]

EAD Tokyo's work on the Galaxy games

 

[2San]

Gaming with friends again. Though we only really played Pro Evo. At some point you just don't visit each others homes anymore to game(college/work/university). With Halo/Gears/CoD we started playing together again. I for example don't even like CoD, but it's great we play together again. Even convinced a few friends to get half decent pc's/laptops so we could start pc gaming.

 

[Ryu bogard]

DD of older games e.g. Ps1 games on psn. I like not having to search for these and buying them at high prices.

 

[Rodney McKay]

There was finally ONE game that made good use of destructible environments:

Red Faction: Guerrilla.


Ever since I started gaming (around the N64 era) I have always wanted destructible environments to catch on in games. Breaking stuff is just so much fun, and nothing breaks immersion in a game more than your car hitting a bush and acting like it hit a brick wall.

 

[H_Prestige]

Dark Souls

Also the ps3 itself, because it's such a badass unit. It has everything built in.

 

[Ghost_Protocol]

Demon's Souls and Dark Souls are the best things to happen to my gaming life since Metroid Prime. I've never felt like a series was made exclusively for me until now.

 

[brinstar]

sales

 

[Chindogg]

Fighting game stream monsters. More entertainment from a group of morons than a Maury fatherhood episode.

 

[DaBuddaDa]

I appreciate the rise of Steam as a unified PC gaming platform the most. A close second, I appreciate free to play games becoming not shit.

 

[-PXG-]

older generations

Well, looks like we're done here.

 

[vesp]

Digital Distribution becoming mainstream (It's led to the rise/return of indie gaming, amazing sales, cloud saving, and has made portable gaming more convenient than ever)