Defining Game

BreakABone · 01-28-2010, 03:31 PM

I saw this on another forum for a game that has defined this generation, but seeing how this generation isn't done, its a dumb contest, but got me thinking, what game did you feel defined the prior generation?

Off the top of my head, the 3 biggest ones,

The best selling game of the last generation. The game that put open world/sandbox games on the map.

I may not be its biggest supporter, but it redefined what people expected from a FPS on console, and helped put Xbox on the map.

This may be a tougher sell, and I could be completely wrong here, but its the game that showed First Person wasn't limited to shooters, and it was the first game that rewarded exploration with optional story bits (this part confused about, but stuff like BioShock, Arkham Asylum and Borderlands all featured logs, audio tapes, interviews that you don't need to get to complete the game but add to the atmosphere)

So what's your pick?

Typhoid · 01-28-2010, 05:38 PM

In my mind Halo ruined FPS games. It made the point to developers that FPS games don't have to be long, or generally good - just online.

Vampyr · 01-29-2010, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Typhoid

In my mind Halo ruined FPS games. It made the point to developers that FPS games don't have to be long, or generally good - just online.

First Halo wasn't online.

Typhoid · 01-29-2010, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vampyr

First Halo wasn't online.

I was referring to the franchise.

Fox 6 · 01-29-2010, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Typhoid

In my mind Halo ruined FPS games. It made the point to developers that FPS games don't have to be long, or generally good - just online.

Halo: Combat evolved was a pretty long game, and it was a pretty good FPS.

Combine 017 · 01-29-2010, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Typhoid

In my mind Halo ruined FPS games. It made the point to developers that FPS games don't have to be long, or generally good - just online.

And it had a good story, a story thats still being explained with the newer Halo games.

Professor S · 01-30-2010, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Typhoid

In my mind Halo ruined FPS games. It made the point to developers that FPS games don't have to be long, or generally good - just online.

Regardless of whether or not you think the game had merit, its a defining game simply because it made FPS mainstream, and console movers. They had always been a PC platform niche until Halo came around.

Professor S · 01-30-2010, 09:39 AM

My defining game?

Because it defied genre, and showed that doing so could work and work well. Also, it pushed the story of a the game as much as it pushed action and strategy.

a close second goes to:

For getting it all started...

BreakABone · 01-30-2010, 10:51 AM

Me thinks The Professor didn't read the rules of the thread. Talking about last generation, not this (and I will put my stake in Wii Sports right now anyhow

)

Also, I think Goldeneye was the first mass market FPS on consoles, Halo just made it the in thing.

Professor S · 01-30-2010, 11:05 PM

I write my own rules...

Angrist · 01-29-2010, 08:01 AM

Defining game:

Taught the industry that games don't need to have a story, action, fmv... or an ending.
It spawned a lotsa buncha 'girl-games', mostly on DS. (Not that I'm happy with that.)

Vampyr · 01-29-2010, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angrist

Taught the industry that games don't need to have a story, action, fmv... or an ending.
It spawned a lotsa buncha 'girl-games', mostly on DS. (Not that I'm happy with that.)

What exactly are "girl games"? My girlfriends favorite games are Mass Effect and Dragon Age. If that's what you're referring to, I'm pretty happy with it!

TheSlyMoogle · 01-30-2010, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angrist

Defining game:

Taught the industry that games don't need to have a story, action, fmv... or an ending.
It spawned a lotsa buncha 'girl-games', mostly on DS. (Not that I'm happy with that.)

Sorry they're just expanding on tamagatchi/digi pet things. Same concept a bit more complex.

Girl Games(These only apply to the average female):

1. The things you have to do to please the complex and mostly confused mind of a female to procreate. Ex. "Oh hey I bought you these flowers that will die in a few days, cost 40 dollars, and smell kinda funky... I do get some action tonight right? Otherwise I'm gonna be real upset I didn't spend this money on a case of beer and some amazing porn."

2. A boring set of professional sports that no one really cares about because girls are physically inferior to men. Ex. "Oh hey did you guys watch that WNBA game the other day?" ... "Lol no man, women's sports are a joke." See also: Women's basketball (Boring).

3. Things that women do to extract as much money out of your wallet as possible without you realizing they're actually spending it on worthless junk. Ex. "Hey honey, since you've been so busy all week how about you stay here and rest and I'll just do all the grocery shopping this week" ... You: "Guess the groceries cost 300 dollars this week?" See also: Sucker.

4. Any sport that is only appealing when women do it, beauty pageants, oil/mud/jello wrestling, bikini/wet-t-shirt contests and gymnastics. These things were invented by intelligent men who needed to appease the simple beast that is the competitive female individual. See Also: Cook-offs.

5. A genre of video games set to please the over-active female mind. Typically these games feature cute and cuddly creates, any lack of skill needed to play, and general lack of story beyond love/nurturing feelings. Basically designed to teach women what they should and most likely will be doing in life, shutting the fuck up, making me a pie, and pushing out my babies. Examples include: 65% of all ds games and around 35% of all wii games and rising.

Hope this helps to explain girl games.

Combine 017 · 01-29-2010, 10:43 AM

I think he meant pre-teen kind of girl games.
Games that only a child could possibly think are fun.

Angrist · 02-01-2010, 06:47 AM

I personally think a 'defining game' should have influenced other games. At least that's how I understood the thread.

Oh, if we can include PC:

It re-invented a genre and popularized it. WoW influences can be felt in many genres (for example story/quest driven gameplay, social aspects).

I'm trying to think of another defining DS game.

But first, how could we forget Guitar Hero??

It spawned not only 5 sequels or so, but 1 other series and several competing games.

Ah, got it.

Spawned a load of puzzle games and pulled in a huge user base.