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What defines this generation of consoles?

I don't think we will see some major revolution in terms of gameplay or anything this generation. Each generation before PS3/360 had large leaps that lead to new types of games. Last generation focused on Internet play and saw pixel shaders come into the mix.

This generation really only expands on those to the ninth degree and really allows developers to do what they want outside of PC.

The only new features are social type additions like Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and YouTube. Shareplay, and interaction between streamers and viewers will likely get a niche.

This generation will be defined as the generation of remasters and social content. There will be some amazing titles but as a whole that's what it's going to end up being.
 
Full digital is defining this gen for me. Going all digital on all my consoles now and just love the feeling of having all games just the press of a button away
 
Hugstable said:
Full digital is defining this gen for me. Going all digital on all my consoles now and just love the feeling of having all games just the press of a button away
Click to expand...

I don't think I'll ever be able to make the full switch to digital. I just like having stuff to hold.
 
Imo, the defining feature of this generation is sharing and streaming. It's the best new feature on PS4, and it's changed the way many people interact with each other, and even find the next game they're going to purchase.

I love being able to quickly save and upload a screenshot or movie, and I do it instinctively now whenever I see something cool or funny.
 
I think accessories to game is probably the biggest definition of this gen. The toys to life genre is huge and new games are coming out all the time. The nice thing is that it bridges the gap from last gen and also provides us with new things to look forward too.

Then you can see stuff like VR, etc and extra peripherals to enhance or change gameplay seems like a little thread pulling through many games.
 
ShadowkillXNA said:
Speak for yourself. I am spending more time than ever gaming and enjoying gaming more than ever largely because so many good open-world games have come out this gen.
Witcher 3
MGS5
Farcry 4
Watch Dogs
Mad Max
Assasins Creed: Black Flag
Bloodborne
Dark Souls 2 Remaster
GTAV
There are few experiences more satisfying to me than creeping through a jungle in Farcry 4 and taking over outposts silently with a bow and silenced sniper rifle. Or exploring the landscape in MGSV and deciding whether to take an outpost stealthily or guns blazing or just to do side missions.
I said this in another thread earlier today but it bears repeating - there are more games being made now than ever before, both open-world and non open-world. You have more choices than ever as to what game to play in any genre.
Stop wishing for types of games that others enjoy to not be made just because you dont want to play them.
As for what defines this gen its streaming no contest. Its so easy to stream your gaming or to upload clips.
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Fry-Clapping-With-Sandwiches.gif

You're goddamn right. The amount of cynicism over video games is grating. I mean goddamn. The average games are better than ever.
 
Let me see

-A substantial amount of re-releases
-Unfinished games
-Scummy practices
-Huge day one patches
-Not so awesome hardware
-Online-only games
-Microtransactions and excessive DLC
-Superultramegadeluxe editions
-Companies paying huge amounts of money to take content away from their competitors
 
So far? Ports of already-HD games and broken/misleading launches. Overall, I am having a blast though. Don't get me wrong!

It's like that (paraphrased) saying of "a satisfied customer may tell one person, but a dissatisfied customer will tell many." Most of the time I'm happy, but I tend to dwell on Ubisoft shenanigans, no dedicated servers in franchises that need (and can afford) them, always online, etc., because happiness is fleeting but feeling screwed sticks with you. No generation is perfect though, this one just feels like it's more motivated by greed than anything else post-80s.
 
This whole generation feels like a more polished HD version of previous gen. No revolutions or big steps, generally. This is not necessarily a bad thing.
 
There is nothing defining when you compare it to previous gens like that, it is too early for VR (if that will be a defining thing is not yet clear of course) and too late for online and motion controls.

At the moment it's most defining characteristic is that it get's a lot of last gen ports/remasters, also patches and bugs and huge downloads.

If I had to speculate, it could become the console gen where online mp games took over and single player experiences declined.
 
I'm not sure if I've seen a defining feature of this generation just yet. It mostly seems like a continuation of the previous one. Maybe it'll take a few years of hindsight to figure out what left the biggest stamp on these couple of years.

Those that are talking about "sharing" may be onto something. The PS4 has their whole Share functionality, and Nintendo is integrating Miiverse in games. While I don't have an Xbox One, and thus don't know the specifics, I hear there's also connectivity with Windows 10 machines available if you choose to. There's also Twitch and Youtube Gaming that are changing the Let's Play landscape. All this stuff doesn't impact the games themselves very much, but I can see how it changes how games are consumed. Maybe VR will make a dent, but I still suspect VR will be like stereo 3D. It'll appeal to a niche and then fade away. Visors are probably too big of a barrier for it to break into mainstream.
 
Pretty much the same as everyone has already said. So far the negatives already outweigh the positives with the sheer amount of broken games and unnecessary remasters.
 
In what comes to new features that seem to be common between all platforms, I'd go with sharing and social services. A dedicated button for screenshot and video recording, communities, social network integration... On a second thought, I will add a bigger push in digital distribution compared to the previous gen.


Right now the rest of "features" are still the same as with the previous generation, maybe an step backwards when it comes to PS4 and media playback capabilities. The negatives seem to be pretty much the same, too. Broken games on day one are nothing new (Hello, original Assasin's Creed that required a firmware update to make it work on PS3), DLC, Season passes... Nothing new under the sun, except for Nintendo catching up with times in this time.
 
As a lot of others have said: The ease of streaming is the defining feature on this generation of consoles. I would never even thought of streaming myself if it wasn't for the share button.

On a side note, if I were as cynical as a lot of you about videogames I'd honestly take up another hobby. I mean if I were seriously that displeased with the way things are, which is okay, I'd literally do something else.
 
That you don't have to play any games anymore, they all watch let's plays on YouTube

Now get the hell off my lawn!!!!
 
Streaming. Indies. Open world. Online features in "single player" games.

I'm sure I'm not original in my summary...
 
So far, I would say there are three defining characteristics of this generation:

1. Sharing/Streaming a game directly from the console

2. Large day 1 patches/updates for most games

3. Remasters/remakes of games

#1 is awesome because it makes console gaming much more socially connected. A while back I was watching a play-through of The Evil Within, and the live comments made the entire experience that much better. Very very cool feature.

#2 is a terrible practice that does more harm than good in selling consoles. This will play a big role in turning console gamers into mobile-exclusive gamers.

#3 is great depending on your perspective. Personally, being able to play older games with much better graphics and fluidity is a plus. Keep in mind that this applies to games that have gone through significant improvements, and not to quick 'remade' games that offer nothing more than a resolution bump.

It's too early to determine whether or not VR will be a huge runaway success, but if it takes off, then it will supplant #1 and change the rest of the list.
 
Considering how Kickstarter games are finally coming out, maybe this will be the generation of crowd funding. Classic IPs and genres are getting revived, others get spiritual successors, and the new and bold have a chance to shine. Two of my favourite games of the past few years are Kickstarted ones (Shovel Knight and Undertale), and my most anticipated title of the moment is also on Kickstarter (Bloodstained).

Patreon is also giving us a financial support model for independent developers and content creators. It may not seem like much, but it's a pretty big deal in terms of games media. The symbiotic relationship between publishers and the media has spun out of control more than a few times, and this was to the detriment of the consumer. Anything to lessen this is welcome.
 
Market uncertainty and homogeneity of AAA gaming.

Security of safe choices over innovation.

Also indies and experimental lower cost games too thank goodness.
 
The push for season passes, DLC and growing implementation of Microtransactions.
Hit the Lever!

I'd also say our ability to share and connect with other players in each consoles ecosystem is a defining feature too. SharePlay is incredible if you have good enough internet.
 
The share button for sure.

Being able to broadcast your gameplay to others, post gameplay clips, and pics online is pretty awesome. Plus I don't think anyone expected people to turn the cameras on themselves.
Then you have the ability to let others try your games out even if they live somewhere else via online.

Of course that's just a serious answer. I guess it's easier to go the "Gamefaqs" route and say something negative.
 
Playing safe by developers/publishers.
Lack of exclusives. I mean look at 2002-2003 years of PS2 and XboxOriginal, every second game released was exclusive. And now every 20th game released is exclusive.
More people play a game is a good thing, but it's harder and harder to reason the price of console for some folk.
 
So far.. Delays, mostly 30 fps or maybe not even 30 fps, faulty controllers, broken games, towers to capture/destroy, downgrades.

But still, it's a great time to be a gamer. So many sales (steam aside). There's a lot of room for improvement (consoles and games wise) but we're getting there.
 
For me personally:


  • Going digital as a fully viable option between PSN/XBL Gold deals and day-one digital availability.
  • Easy sharing of everything - XBL Gold locally, game clips, screens, streaming.
 
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