N4G Contest - Day 4: That Defining Thing

For information on the "20 Days of..." contest, please see https://n4g.com/user/blogpo...

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Congratulations to SpaceRanger, our third day winner!

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On the fourth day, the question we have for you is "What game concept from this generation do you feel has shown an advancement in the gaming industry compared to previous generations?"

First, what? You thought all these questions would be easy?

Second, for me, it's been the continuing evolution of cross-style games. AC Odyssey isn't just a stealth assassination game anymore, it's an RPG that allows you to decide how you want to play, even if it's as a stealthy assassin. Fortnite isn't just a survival building game, it evolved to combine those with with Battle Royale MP. Red Dead Redemption 2 combined cowboy action with horse riding simulator (I kid, I kid... I think...).

I believe by continuing to create cross-style genres we're not only giving people the games they like to play but adding flexibility, better storytelling capabilities, and showing that there's more to learn rather than doing what many companies have done, which is stay in their wheelhouse only because people keep buying those games at their most basic level. But, eventually, there's only so much you can do with the same concept. You need to evolve it. And, the best thing is, none of this blending erases old games. Those games we loved as they were? They still exist.

So, bring on Forza-armeggedon.

[aleccherkov]

I would have to say Grand Theft Auto series because back in the day we had the games in such a style back then than it is today, if you look how the AI and environmental aspects have changed throughout the course of the series it just shows one thing the more advanced we get into gaming the more powerful the graphics and environmental richness that series has to offer.

Another would have to be call of duty and how that has now fundamentally has changed throughout the years again each generation has a graphics improvement and has new concepts and new advancements for the storyline and tech we are given in each game.

However another change is occurring very quickly because of the advancement of this generation than the previous ones that where available is BR modes across all games alike, its going to be one of those times where we will have it in all games inc Assassins Creed, The Division etc the list goes on.

[optimus]

"...THIS generation..."

[Palitera]

Storytelling for grown ups. Definitely.

[Fist4achin]

Im going to go with the rise of the indies. Sure indies were around last generation, but this generation has really given small developers a chance with more funding options through various backers, easier development with their consoles, and even support for limited amounts of physical releases. Gaming is no longer completely controlled by AAA developers as indies have a good grasp on their slice of the pie. Indies also break it up and sometimes come up with newer and different formulas to games that can be great.

[Skuletor]

The concept to nickle and dime consumers with micro-transactions and loot boxes has really advanced this generation for sure.

[SheenuTheLegend]

Rocket League, a totally new concept, i know it was also on ps3 but coming to PS4 it changed dramatically.
no matter i m home with my friends or i am alone, i can still enjoy the game depending on the way i wanna play.
All these battle royals,FPS's, RPG's are just a improvement and are not a new concept.
But this is something no one had ever seen before. Games like this push the gaming forward for the players and for the industry too.

[PoopsMcGee]

I agree that RL was a breath of fresh air in terms of concept and gameplay.

Too bad that it's littered with loot boxes, microtransactions and crossplay crappiness. I couldn't put that game down and would still be hopelessly addicted if not for how shamelessly they ruined the experience with that crap...

[SheenuTheLegend]

I completely agree with you. But you know what: GTA V, Halo mc collection and even Last of Us have the same problem. And we all know how big and respected devs they were and still are. but they still went the same route.
We need more smart gamers nowadays with smart purchases. looks like devs and publishers dont want to miss a single chance to rip off gamers.
and yeah i hate rocket pass but Rocket League is just an example of modern times that how you can think so openly and implement the ideas in the gaming universe. just like the old games did, you dont always have to copy paste, copy paste and copy paste.

[Bourne414]

Shadow of War. We've had action RPG's, we've had Batman Arkham combat clones, we haven't had an AI that makes each encounter with new or even the same enemies unique to your game and your game alone. Mixing all those elements created a beautiful monster. In my first playthrough of ME:SoW I died early on to a grunt, a nobody. He was promoted and gained some levels, I went back and he killed me again. Each time adding more levels, and climbing up the ranks. This happened multiple times, each time we came across each other the dialogue told your story through the orcs eyes. I eventually gave up and moved to a new zones, only to find out the orc who killed me multiple times was now hunting me across regions and telling me of his journey to hunt me down. I loved it. It became personal, a memory that I wont forget. A new Idea that could potentially make big waves if more studios implemented some form of the nemesis system.

Can you picture having that in a multiplayer game? Running into the same person every so often in a game like BF1 or COD, and the character in the game remembers beating you before, and saying something as he does it again. I for one would remember a name say like Mosquito48275 if he insulted me in game for losing to him.

[TheOnlyMastrx]

VR gaming I believe has made great leaps forward in the past few years and I can't wait to see how much more they can bring to it in the years to come.

[TheGoodestBoi]

God of War. The transition from cutscenes to actual gameplay was seemles. My friend actually walked past while I was playing it and said cool is this a cutscene. I was like nah this me actually playing!

[Segata]

I think we started seeing that with 360. Lost Odyssey was so proud they hyped up the gameplay and cutscenes to look near identical.

[ziggurcat]

Microtransactions.

(You never said the advancement had to be good...)

[Christopher]

I did ask "and why?" though :D

[ziggurcat]

because it's the future's future future.

[redniku]

World building and design.
Not just story telling has advanced but the worlds the stories are told in. Player climb up, sideways, fast or slow, and there isn't always an obvious way to show how a story unfolds.

[PoopsMcGee]

This gen has been somewhat void of advancements and innovations (especially when it comes to AAA 3rd party offerings) but my answer is...

Virtual Reality.

It has finally become a viable technology after many false starts in the past and developers are starting to really hit the sweet spot with their offerings (Astro Bot for example).

It has me extra excited for next gen. I believe VR will really hit its stride in the next 5 years.

[ninerguy1608]

Agree. Vr hasn’t hit its stride that I’m expecting. Where a game could win game of the year. Maybe never will. But my dream is a battlefield game where you are truly on the battlefield. Imagine a grenade landing by you and you look over at it as it explodes only to see the sky as you get blown back from it. Yes I know grenades don’t really blow your body in the air. But it’s a game. Walking around picking up different guns. Bullets flying by all the time. Running away from a tank. So many things I can dream of in a VR battlefield. But so far. My favorite thing is odd maybe. But being inside the jet in CoD vr turning my head and looking down at the wings. Seeing the guns fire right beside me. Also x wing in battlefront. Same looking out the window at my x wing. That blew me away. And they were both short but fun. Looking forward to ace combat VR levels. So after all that I think VR is the answer to the question.

[FloydianAndroid]

There have been a ton ton of fantastic games this gen, but I think there have been some games that will advance the industry because of what they did wrong.

No man’s sky showed what happens when you are overly ambitious and promise things you don’t deliver.

Destiny has shown what happens when you launch a game with not enough content to keep things interesting and engaging.

Fallout 76 has shown what happens when you release a game that is a buggy mess and is tone deaf as far as what your fan base wants.

Titanfall 2 has shown what happens when you release a game at the wrong time. Even though it was great, because of when it came out, not enough people bought it.

Perhaps the most glaring failure though is how certain publishers build games around microtransactions and loot boxes.

All of these examples of what not to do will advance the industry more than the games that were great like god of war and red dead 2.

[Elwenil]

To me the most obvious answer would be VR. VR is not a new concept but this generation is the first that we have seen this sort of hardware actually make it into consumer's hands. It's far from perfect but it's quite a leap forward, in my opinion, and I hope they continue to grow it in the generations to come. It has the potential to revolutionize the shooter, simulation and other gaming genres.

[bigmalky]

Storytelling in gaming. It started at the end of last gen with The Last of Us and has been one of the main reasons to play well developed single player games.

God of War, RDR2, The Witcher 3, Prey, SOMA, Nier: Automata... Absolutely engrossing and more than just the typical gaming fare told many times before.

I've enjoyed more original and emotional stories through the past six or seven years of gaming than I have in movies. It has evolved into something more than just save the world and beat the bad guy.

[Tross]

I'd say the indie revolution really helped to breathe life back into the industry.

[Arty84]

Yeah this is hard one sure there have been new developments in this generation but most have not been advancements like Mts and lootboxes

[THC CELL]

Has to be the last of us easy
Online too

[SNACK_SHARK_TROLL]

For me it'll be the "attention to detail" with the animations/motion capture techniques. You can see the muscles flexing in the characters and animals, wrinkles in the clothing from movement, the expressions in the characters face, puddles drying over time, and characters interacting with their surroundings. This stuff helps the game get brought more to life, and makes it very immersive.

[Zepher109]

In terms of concept is the dynamic weather or the attention to detail that gets you immersed into the game like spider-man with web-swinging, to red dead weather, or horizon zero dawn, god of war, forza. It is a big improvement compared to last generation.

[death83x]

I think indie gaming is revolutionary and will change the landscape of gaming. People are getting tired of big publishers with the same releases every year accompanied with microtransactions and loot boxes. At least, I hope people will stop supporting the big names and find the gems that are in indie games or smaller titles.

[Glphy77]

This is kind of an odd one but the concept of Metroidvania games making a presentable return to games. It might follow suit with the return to trends found in the 90’s but I believe developers have taken what succeed during the Metroid times and improved them. In a way that play style felt like home for a lot of older video game players so it see that return and be respected shows that sometimes a simpler formula; as in run through a dungeon bet a boss, gain a skill, return to previous area, repeat, makes it more relaxing to play.

[Lore]

Bloodborne by far has provided a new take on an original concept that developer From Software made last gen with Demon’s Souls. From gameplay mechanics to the mystery and secrecy of the world layout.

[bluefox755]

Hollywood level voice acting, mocap, and cinematography. This was arguably started last gen by naughty dog, but utterly perfected this gen with games like God of War.

[Segata]

Mocapping we had in the PS2 era and there was a bunch of literal Hollywood talent in games like GTA Vice City.

[UltraNova]

It has to be VR. I mean what other advancements did we have other than Loot boxes and MTs this gen?

Now imo we need to give credit where credit is due and thats VR, an alternative more immersive way to play games or even live experiences like virtual traveling or even watching movies. Its sad it couldn't find the success it deserves but I can't blame the customers for wanting better and more affordable VR. It takes time but it will get there.

[Segata]

The verticle aspect to open world games. It's not 100% new but more and more games are delving into it. Monolith was one of the first this generation when they added Skells (piloted mechs) to Xenoblade X. It added an extra dimension to places you could not go to before. When on foot you might see a volcano on one continent but it just looked like the backdrop. Once you got the skell you could fly not only over it but inside it and discover a secret cave. Monolith took what they learned from this and expanded it when they designed the world of Breath of the Wild. Being able to not just climb anything but to use anything you want to propel you high in the sky. Time freeze a rock and hit it with an ax climb aboard and enjoy the ride. Start a fire and use the updraft to soar over an enemy. Find a metal kart and use the magnet to hover high in the sky. So while people talk about how many square miles open world game X or Y is but can't explore more verticle, games that add that extra dimension, you basically double the size of the map by exploring upwards. AC Odyssey does some of this as well. I love to explore in games and that extra layer is amazing.

[franwex]

Probably VR. It’s kinda like when games went 3D. It’s something that you even see in cheeses 80s movies. It’s the next big thing and the obvious next thing. But just like 3D, there will be a few years of learning how to do it right, and the games right now might be unplayable in the future. Just go back and play some old n64 or ps1 games and you’ll see what I mean.
I have yet to make the leap since there has not been a killer app for VR. But maybe soon enough.

[thorstein]

"I have yet to make the leap since there has not been a killer app for VR."

...

Heard this too many times to count. And it isn't even true. I always list the killer apps and then I get another weird claim about how RE7, Moss, Farpoint, Arizona Sunshine, Star Trek Bridge Crew, Eve: Valkyrie, Megaton Rainfall, Wipeout, Beat Saber, (and others) are just "tech demos."

And these statements are always presented by someone who doesn't know what tech demo is.

Also, Dreams.

[franwex]

I’m talking super Mario 64 WOW factor.
Perhaps Dreams.
All those games are cool though. I’m surprised you didn’t even listed ASTRO BOT. Which is probably the only game worth getting VR for. It’s building up a library so whenever there is that killer app, there will be things to play besides the killer app.

[capjacksparrow]

I feel like God of War did an amazing job of refining story pacing in an explorable game. Through witty dialogue while traversing the world as well as extra side quest dialogue that fits in with the side quest the player is doing, the game builds the relationships between the characters, making side content feel like part of the overall adventure instead of just another thing to do.

[Daeloki]

Combining storytelling into gameplay. For me it feels like games used to be very separately gameplay and cutscenes, where now more and more they get meshed together. God of War for example was one single hybrid of cutscene and gameplay, and I think (storybased) games are going more and more towards making a seamless experience like that.

[ninsigma]

A fee things that stand out for me so far this gen. The first is the camera from god of war which created a seemless story between gameplay and cutscenes, making it extremely immersive. Another is how Mario oddysey brings in new gameplay mechanics right up to the very end through all the different possessions. The introduction of HDR to video games is a game changer in terms of visuals. And lastly, VR. Current gen headsets are fantastic stepping stones to even better implementations in the future but are still great experiences in their own right.

[robtion]

I would say photo modes in games. I love them and spent so much time in Horizon Zero Dawn just taking and editing photos.

It's a great option for those who like photography, like to share pics of their games online, or just to pause the game and let you zoom the camera around and take in all the little details. Many big releases have this option now to an extent where I miss it when it's not there.

[jznrpg]

VR and more specifically PSVR. Sony has put it in more homes then ever before and has planted the seed for the future .

[oasdada]

I say indie game and the imapct they had on AAA specially in storytelling.. Last gen AAA games were mostly by the books affair.. But now we have seen games brrak away from theyre arcady formulaic flow and pacing and feeling more natural and organic.. Wr have seen this mostly in ps exclusives like uncharted where no story sequences were rushed just so u couls go to the next shooting gallery but instead the main focus was on narrative and environmental story telling and the gameplay complimented that journey and not the other way around

[mkis007]

Making side-quests seem more like part of the main quests by making side quests less fetching and more discovering. I believe The Witcher 3 nailed it first this gen, but then games like Horizon Zero Dawn and God of War ran with it.

[monkey602]

Middle Earth Shadow of Mordors Nemesis system absolutely gobsmacked me. I thought it was a genuine leap in to the next generation playing it at the time. I loved how randomly generated generals could heavily influence your game so much depending on your encounters with them. Some could become genuinely tough enemies learning from their experiences with you.

At the time I thought every game was going to adopt this system now because it was so good and it was going to grow and Improve from there but it just stopped at that for years until shadow of war

[Zeke68]

PSVR for me, hard to beat the feeling of being "IN the game". The immersion while playing cargames, going through reefs or just watching a music video is magic. I mean, what can beat the X-wing mission for PSVR (I know they could have patched the graphics for the Pro, but still. The Force is strong with VR :)

[cl1983]

I'd have to say the added ability to map out the buttons on controllers on each game to fit your play style.

[BlackDoomAx]

The VR. Playstation really did a good job at developping and mainstreaming it. And it's only the beginning.

[Jimboms]

For me I think this has to be the further evolution of card-based games. CD Projekt Red went full on with Gwent as a standalone release, but this year they've gone further than that. The Witcher Stories: Thronebreaker is possibly the best blend of card-game and puzzle mechanics with story that I've seen in a long time. I think it helps that I see Gwent as a compelling game anyway, but the effort put into the story because this is a game in The Witcher universe is just incredible.

Other card games such as Hearthstone and The Elder Scrolls Legends make some effort to involve story, but really their core focus is to become the next big game on Twitch. Gwent is popular, but The Witcher series is definitely more about story, and a card game in that universe can't be just a card game.

Honestly I think Thronebreaker will spark a new franchise for The Witcher universe, it's too good to be a one-off. I also think that we may start to see similar titles come out of the woodwork from other franchises. I think that the Destiny 2 universe in particular would really benefit from this, giving fans a game that's focussed on lore and story but uses the gear, enemies, and NPCs as cards to fight with.

If more games with stories as broad in scope as all three Witcher games spun-off into a blend of story and card/puzzle games, I think 2019 would be a wonderful time to be a gamer.

[Chris092]

Witcher 3 set a new benchmark for Open world rpg's for me.

They made a big beautiful living world and many side quests that you didnt event have to do could affect The main story in a big way.

Witcher 3 expansions also showed they could make it feel like it was a whole game instead of a small piece.

[SilverDemon]

Players' response /reaction /feedback

We've seen gamers put their money where their mouth is SWBF2, FO76 and bf5

We've always been told that publishers keep making those ani-consumer practices because we support them. Well this gen(especially in 2017 and 2018)

[YodaCracker]

RPG elements in everything. You now see skill trees, crafting, and leveling in all types of games, from shooters and open world sandbox games, to even driving games like Forza Horizon. Everything seems like a hybrid RPG. For better and for worse.

[TheGamez100]

Id have to say battle royale starting with h1z1 then to pubg and on to fortnite. Its a concept that really hit the world by storm and became a top hit to what we know of it today. Not a huge fan myself but everyones seen how popular the game mode is and its just gunna keep growing more.

[Blank]

For me it is for sure the Witcher 3 it really made me feel "this the generation of gaming I am experiencing?" Of course that was in a good way for a lack of a better feeling it felt like a real mature game made for adults due to how mature themed it was for a fantasy game truly deep stuff!

[Stanjara]

Witcher 3 type of rpg, where quests change depending on your decisions and have multiple outcome. Where your actions change the flow of the story. Hardware and software will evolve, but good storytelling is always going to need talent.

[MasterofMagnetism]

God of War using just one camera shot for the entire game was amazing. It was a risky move that paid off big time.

[Plyzz]

I feel like the mo-cap capabilities has increased ten fold from when it first started showing itself in gaming. Especially the facial capture of RDR2 shows a big leap forward in the technology.

[iamsorakh]

Definitely has to be the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch and it's rise in indie gaming. I was never a fan of indie games until I picked up my switch and, after being disappointed by so many AAA titles for £50 on my PS4, I finally started paying £11 for absolutely outstanding games. That's what 2018 has excelled in

[Geobros]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2!! Well....I play JRPG since I was 5 years (25-30 years ago) and I have never seen a so perfect battle system for this genre. I won't make a review here to say how beautiful was the game but I speak only about his battle system. It made me to not be bored of fighting all those monsters and bosses in the game. Blade Combos, driver Combos, Chain Attack!!! Well done to Monolith!!

[BioDead]

Games that are choice-making, like Detroit Become Human, Inpatient, Until Dawn. Previous generation didn't have as many games than this generation. The few that they had didn't work perfectly because the lack of good hardware. This generation really gave great choice driven games.

[Blobfish69]

Advancements for the wrong reason = microtransactions and loot boxes. Paying full price for a game only to find it littered with pay to win microtransactions and loot boxes where you have no idea of the prize has become a joke. All games should be free if a company wants to rape us with microtransactions

[King_Noctis]

That is easy. Red Dead Redemption 2’s dynamic open world events. Sure it had been done before in the last generation, but RDR2 does it so seamlessly and (almost) flawlessly that I feel other open games from now on should adapt this mechanic.

[neutralgamer1992]

Shadow of mordor than shadow of war. They basically changed how you face enemy AI and how it could evolve and become stronger by beating you

I am surprised more games haven't followed the trend

Another series for console was and is borderlands we haven't seen a trend of borderland clones. Looter shooter borderlands really set the bar for console gamers when it comes to Loot grinding and FPS combined into one

I am waiting like others to see where our industry is headed in the next few years and I really don't want gaming to become slot machine gambling filled with 60 dollars full priced games with virtual casinos

[Cikatriz_ESP]

Accessibility. Games have gotten easier to play, both for the layman (the rise of mobile gaming) and the disabled (more options for things like color blindness, special controllers, etc).

[Jorjk]

Storytelling and character development

[nix]

Digressing from this topic, has anyone experienced error like 'You've been banned from this site' when trying to log in? I had that happen to me couple of times? Is that the new bug? Mods?

[The 10th Rider]

Easily the rise of sports style online games.

Fortnite, Rocket League, Overwatch, DOTA/LoL, Splatoon, etc . . .

Those have quickly become some of the biggest games in the industry.

[Platformgamer]

the remake concept, making old games anew i think it was near impossible until ps4/xbox one showed up imho, you could only remaster on ps2/ps3 era

[solideagle]

I would say story telling in shooters has improved significantly. If I wanted a good story I would play RPG but now a days many shooter (uncharted)/Action (God of War) have better story telling.

[Tzuno]

Open world like Zelda is a big step and a joy, plus i would add cross-play, sweet.

[KevDro22387]

God of war. I don't think there's had been anyother game to be produced that the game had no camera cuts. The smooth and seamless transition from gameplay to cutscenes all in one shot is something we haven't seen before. Not that I'm aware of anyway. Even if so I don't think any have done it better then God of war.

[FullmetalRoyale]

The complete bottoming out of the middle market, which is partly what led to so many publishers forcing in microtransactions, and for so much dlc being worked on before the game even releases.
Idk what the heck “THQ” is doing with all of these projects they claim they are working on. They also seem to be buying ip that any company could handle.

[lathspell]

Micro transactions, incomplete games and crappy dlc, that's something we see a lot in this generation.

[Yi-Long]

Probably 'Games as a Service', be it good or bad. And with that, I mean releasing a base-game, then following it with years of support afterwards.

Prime example this gen might be No Man's Sky, which undoubtedly had a very rocky (negative) release, due to many gamers feeling they didn't get their money's worth, and their personal expectations weren't met. Agreed or disagreed, that's a discussion we're not gonna repeat here, but Hello Games have since kept working extremely hard on it, expanding it, improving it, to the point where it's now a far more complete package than it ever was.

We've seen this in other games as well. Battlefront 2 has kept adding new content, Gran Turismo Sport keeps releasing new tracks and cars for free. Overwatch still only asks you to buy the base-game, but has kept adding new content and maps to keep its community alive and happy. And the recent Battlefield V was announced to have all post-launch maps coming for free to everyone who bought the base-game.

To me, that's mostly a very positive development compared to the earlier situation, where poorly received games were often just left to die. And now you buy a shooter you like, and you don't have to worry about the online community dying out once paid DLC divides them between haves and have nots.

In an industry often criticised, rightly so, for it's often downright offensive greed, this is a good road to be on, and it seems more developers are now realising this. It spreads good will and positive word of mouth, which will build a loyal and happy fan-base, which will also support their next release(s), while greedy devs are often quickly disregarded by the gaming community and will have to fight an uphill battle to win back those former fans.

[Relientk77]

Probably The Witcher 3 as a whole, the story quests, side quests monster hunts, open world, characters, cities/town, and Gwent. Just everything this game has done or aspects taken from other games and perfected. It is definitely the best WRPG I have ever played and one of the best games this generation and of all time. Also the game has no greedy loot boxes, microtransactions, or any of that BS.

[-Ghost]

VR. I feel like it will continue to grow as years go on. Being immersed in a horror game like Resident Evil 7 is amazing but scary at the same time, not knowing what's around the corner.

[mockzer0]

I think the embracing of cross platform play in games like fortnite can really start to move the industry in a more cohesive direction.

[ISHU]

I think the removal of loading screens in Open world games not to mention the use of in-game cutscenes instead of pre rendered cutscenes is a huge deal for me. It's such a overlooked thing in a world full of RTX, TressFX(hair physics), Gsync etc etc but it really matters and keeps you really immersed in a game. I remember playing infamous second son and just getting jaw dropped by how the cutscenes and gameplay changed so seamlessly. Amazing stuff.

[Razzer]

Production values of story-based games have really risen dramatically. God of War and Spider-man this year alone have been two of the best produced stories in a game that I have ever seen. I'm talking the voice acting, the animations, the writing, to the overall story. This has really come a long way this gen with games like these.

[XtraTrstrL]

I'd say the open-world sandbox concept has been evolving to include everything(Shooter, RPG, Action, Strategy, Stealth).

[Newmanator]

I'd say the merge of free to play with demos with AAA. No one would have thought about releasing their game for free 5 years ago and now look, complete proliferation!

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

The concept of free-to-play games not matching up to AAA experiences got an "OBJECTION!" this year, I think.

The examples are not very numerous, but the one I think stands out, is Warframe.

99% of everything in the game can be bought, and built, with in-game currency and resources; even many of the "Prime" frames and gear, which are sold on the in-game market in packs and specials for Platinum [the paid currency], can usually be acquired bit by bit through just playing, gathering resources and parts, then waiting a while [admittedly long, sometimes 72 hours for actual big frames, but some others only a few hours] for the Foundry to put them together.

The few things that can't, are cosmetic in nature, or are capacity slot upgrades to be able to hold more frames and gear.
But they subvert even this with the fact that you can trade in-game stuff to other players for Platinum, later on, which makes it a breeze to acquire enough Platinum for all your basic slot needs, and after that, you'd only ever spend real money to support the devs for all the hard work they've done on making this game so amazing. [Well, that and because the cosmetics are legit amazing-looking]

There's some cosmetics, though, that can also, and in some cases only, be earned in-game, so none-payers still have some fashion options.

The only exception to this, are items awarded back when the game was still new, to early supporters of it; Prime frames like Excalibur Prime, for instance.
But even things like this usually have equivalents out, now, that players can get through playing the game, and some even earn you free frame or gear slots when you find them in-game. [For example, Excalibur Umbra as the Excalibur Prime equivalent]

Many game reviewers have come out to say that this game is so packed full of content that it feels, and even looks, like a AAA game, and really has no business being free like it is.

But it is.

And it's standing as a shining example that many other FTP games should take note of.

It lets you take what you can with your own efforts, doesn't block story progress behind a paywall, and shows that the concept of free-to-play games doesn't have to be a nickle-and-dime-fest that's inferior to a $60 experience, or a "you get nothing!" kind of game like Fortnite, where the only things you get to keep once you've got them, are the cosmetics you pay for.

[stefd75]

Resident Evil 7 on the PSVR blew my mind, yes it does not look as good as on the screen and yes the PSVR is not as good as VR on the PC but boy the atmosphere playing that game in VR was amazing. Now i dont get scared in games and but playing Res Evil in VR was some of the most intense gameplay I have ever played. I even had to stop at some points because i noticed how fast my heart was beating. That was pure horror just like the early Res Evil games.....and on a side note Google Earth VR ( i know its not a game ) is one of the best concepts ever.

[Scapton]

I think Virtual Reality is one the biggest game concept changes in this console cycle when compared to previous generations. When we look at gaming as an immersion medium, a way to escape from the everyday, no other current delivery method is as effective in immersing audiences as VR. This is the first generation we have seen where VR is used to benefit the way we surround ourselves in gaming worlds.

When we look at past technology, 3DTV became prevalent during the seventh-generation console cycle, it’s obvious that this technology is the precursor to most modern-day VR headsets. VR is starting to effect markets beyond just gaming. We are seeing virtual museum tours, prefabricated house viewings, and full-scale movie theatres recreated in VR which I find is incredible. This is a future technology that could affect social experiences, space exploration, and people’s quality of life. Experiences like ‘Beat Sabre’ and ‘Gorn’ are giving people that play video games the opportunity to be active whilst playing, an avenue which we have not seen attempted since the days of Wii fit.

The barriers of entry are slowly becoming more manageable, with prices of headsets becoming reasonable for the everyday consumer and a wide variety of games and genres to choose from. Sony has its PSVR headset in the hands of over 3,000,000 users which is only going to increase as the price comes down and the technology becomes more refined in future revisions. This year alone we have seen amazing games such as: ‘Moss’, an adventure/puzzle game ‘Astro Bot’, a 3D platformer ‘Firewall’ an online FPS and ‘Tetris Effect’ a remade classic which shows the versatility of modern experiences that VR can provide.

VR as a technology is still in its infancy, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sony, Microsoft and Valve tackle VR head first moving into the next generation given the current success of the platform.

[EraGamer]

- "Immersion in open world games"

For me, this gen brought greater consistency interms of graphical fidelity, npc/object interaction and world design that worked wonders for open world titles. Looking back at say the uncharted series, its more linear and controlled level design allowed for immense amount of detail; even the way Drake interacted with the environment was quite believable. Now you look at games like RDR 2 and HZD and what they have accomplished on a much larger scale, it sort of blows your mind.

[annoyedgamer]

Microtransactions. Every game this generation has been revamped to utilize it. Entire franchises now support it. Last generation, this was only an issue with F2P titles.

[johndoe11211]

Releasing broken and unfinished games and then releasing ginormous day 1 patches for them. We basically only get half a game on discs for large AAA games now.

[Blackwalt]

The expansion of Open World Games. I always liked them but now they have a depth to them. NPCs have lives, conversations. And the out of the way places are as interesting as the main quests.

[knickstr]

I have to go with the added realism and physics in game. An example would be red dead redemption and breath of the wild. I like games where you have to consider food and sleep to make sure your character is fully nourished before they undertake their journey for the day. I also like that you have to consider how cold or hot the environment is and adjust accordingly. This adds a level of immersion in a game that I love. This concept is risky though because it can be tedious and boring if not implemented correctly. However, these two games do a really good job to add immersion to the game.

Physics has also made a huge leap this gen. One good example of this would be uncharted 4. I love that you can shoot a rock on a hill and you can see all the rocks on the hill start cascading down the hill. I love the small and subtle details that add immersion to a game that you dont even realize sometimes.

[pabadamus1]

The living world/shared world/persistent world concept. Games like Destiny, Anthem and Sea of Thieves didn't exist in the console space prior to this generation. World events and random collaborations with strangers to complete tasks were key features of RPGs on PC. Nowadays more games are using elements of the persistent world concept to push the idea or concept of gaming as a service. Whether you are a fan of this trajectory or not GAAS is probably where the industry will inevitably be heading. There are way too many opportunities for monetization. I am not a fan of GAAS but I see great potential for developers to make games with worlds that are even more "persistent".

[Vegamyster]

Micro-transactions have been the biggest thing unfortunately, the amount and different ways they're being used has been pretty prominent this generation compared to any other.

[Emilio_Estevez]

Open world games in general. From lifeless cities to bad graphics and fetch quests, the power of newer consoles has allowed these games to really come into their own and feel alive. More/better AI, less graphical concessions and combining more RPG elements has produced a litany of excellent open or semi-open worlds that you can really get immersed in.

[DarkOcelet]

Nemesis system is my favorite innovation this gen but sadly devs hardly use it which is a shame because it could create a superb replay value system.

[Goldby]

I'm going to have to go with Dreams.
even though it isn't out yet, with the beta around the corner we are all in for a treat.
the fact its a full fledged game engine along with having the ability to create custom music, sound effects and anything else you want in the game (incl. destructible environments)
dreams will be bringing in the next batch of creators for sony.

[Petebloodyonion]

What concept will remain of this generation?
GAAS
Now I know that a lot of peoples like to see the negative about it but there have been huge benefits for the gamers and the industry as well.
1) There have never been so many options to plays games for next to nothing, be Free to play games like Fortnite or the numerous subscriptions models like PS+, Humble Bundle or Xbox game pass.

2) Plenty of games got real longevity thanks to this. (GTA5, PUBG, Fortnite, FFXV, etc)

[thepatientgamer]

The resurgence of the JRPG. There was honestly a time where the industry was moving away from JRPGs and considered them old and tired (some still do). But the criticisms only led developers to buckle down, refine, and innovate. I also think these games are the perfect example of how to perfect core mechanics while streamlining and creating new systems that enhance the gameplay and storytelling experience. Ex. Nier Automata, Dragon Quest XI, Bloodborne, Persona 5, and many more.

[Fullmetalevolust]

Indie games have made great strides this year to come to the forefront of what everyone is playing and talking about. Hollow Knight, Monster Boy, Celeste, Owl Boy, Dead Pixels, just to name a few.
The fact that even Nintendo embraced them and placed on their featured list in the Eshop proves that Indie games have been extremely successful this generation. Their quality has improved as well, and it's allowed independent studios to thrive and remain independent to preserve their vision and integrity.

[-Foxtrot]

Shadow of Mordor - The Nemesis System...something other developers have literally not even tried to replicate yet

[Kurisu]

Putting on my PSVR headset for the first time last year introduced me to a whole new style of gaming. For me, personally, that was a defining moment right there.

[viperman240]

Sadly I would have to say the implementation of free to play micro-transactions in fully price $60 games. It is a hindrance yet a blessing in disguise.

Factoring in inflation and the price increase of almost everything we buy from food to houses to cars, the prices of everything have gone up minus gaming. It's only gone up $10 since the last generation. Gaming is cheaper now more then ever. A $60 game from 2006 today would be around $75 when factoring in inflation, yet we still only pay $60.

As much as we hate it, we have to thank micro-transactions for keeping the price barrier of gaming the same. As the so called "whales" are the ones keeping games from going up in prices. For the uninitiated, whales are people who spend an exuberant amount of money on micro-transactions ranging from 100s if not 1000s of dollars if not more.

[darthv72]

I will say... cross platform play. It has existed in some form or another in years past (like quake 3 pc vs dc) but it never really opened up from actual console to console until recently. Now many may go on about how it could have happened last gen but that was last gen. Things were different then as they are now and I for one am glad this wall is crumbling down that separates console players.

In the online space, all games talk the same language and so they should be allowed to play with/against each other. this gen cross play hit a huge milestone and I hope it continues on throughout generations to come.

[Sgt_Slaughter]

Weather effects and dynamic tire wear in racing games, mainly simulators. iRacing now has real time tire wear and you can now wear in a certain groove on say the high side or the low side. Some tracks can have multiple grooves, so you'll see two to three areas of dark rubber getting filled it over time. Being able to have rain and weather effects in real time on consoles as well has severely improved. Before, PC was the only place you would find the latest in racing tech, but now console racing simulators are giving them a run for their money, and I hope to see more improves/breakthroughs in the future.

[Valiar]

For me its Skyrim and the endless content and addons available. thanks to the modding community and the developer making it easy to do.

[Garethvk]

I would say multi-engine gaming. Rage, Mass Effect, etc where first or third person perspective combines with vehicles has been a big development.

[LeeFender]

Forza Horizon is a good of cross style racing game. I feel like Forza Horizon 4 has evolved the combination of single player, open world, racing and multiplayer all in 1 place with amazing car handling, visuals, amount of content and game progression.

[xHeavYx]

VR is getting bigger

[Vokun13]

Geez, probably the battle royale genre as a whole. So many games have chased it, the big names have copied it, and now with most releases (shooters specifically) they're is always talk for " Is BR gonna be in this game?!?" Is a crazy genre that could've possibly been popular in any generation, but just exploded this year.

[anonymousfan]

Hmmm I would have to say the ability of modern games to make you feel like your actions and decisions matter like the nemesis system in Shadow of Mordor. I wish to see more of that though. I like similarly how the world seems to remember players im a game like RDR2 (though I haven't played it myself yet)

[septemberindecember]

I think it's the detail in games now. Not just graphically, but gameplay wise. Sure we've had spreadable fire before, but games like BotW and RDR2 have really stepped up the kinds of details and gameplay mechanics you can put in a game. Zelda goes for the more gamey type mechanics, but the chemistry system is really amazing in that game. I mean, just how many different ways you can cook an apple is pretty interesting.

RDR2 goes for more realism. The fact that horses have animated testicles that respond to the weather in an organic fashion is incredible.

Anyway, I think those are going to be the defining moments this generation.

[gobluesamg]

I completely agree with the cross-genre type of games. I really enjoy games that give you an option of how you want to attack objectives. Do I want to use stealth, go in guns blazing or talk my way out of a situation. Games have made some strides toward accomplishing this in this generation.

[DemonChicken]

i have to go with cross-play. Previous generation we always saw players locked to a particular platform for multiplayer. But now (on certain games) with the abundance of good online infrastructure and technology besides playing with players on same platform we also have the ability to cross play with other gamers. Adding to the fact with increase social media presence and streaming as well (twitch and YT)

[ThiagoMysterio]

The beginning of the Cross Platform Gaming though Sony wants to be absent.

Since so many gamers are playing the same games nowadays, and now they are getting the right to populate the same online networks regardless of the console. In other words: people are starting to be able to play online games with their friends, regardless of platform.

[rlow1]

The quality and quantity of games. This Gen seems to have a huge amount of games and the quality has improved. Yes you have the negative trend of games being released and not finished but that tends to be only on a few of the games. The Majority usually have decent controls and overall solid mechanics. Compared with older gen it was much more hit and miss.

[SaveFerris]

Virtual Reality. I think it is still in the early days but hopefully the technology will improve rapidly as more consumers jump in, especially if more quality content can be released.

[ThePsychoGamer]

I think with the success of games like the regnited trilogy, N.sane trilogy, A Hat in Time, and Yooka Laylee we are starting to see a resurgence of 3D Platform platformers especially compared to last generation.

[optimus]

i would say open world games in general. with the latest technology they have become much bigger in size and content than ever before. just look at the latest zelda, assassin's, and of course, red dead 2.

[thorstein]

VR. Hands down. It is amazing and this is just first gen. It is quite mindblowing how great it is to experience.

When I first sat down and popped in SWBF and played the VR mission. It was like I was IN an X-Wing.

VR is here to stay and the future is so, so bright (except for those who hate it).

[coolbeans]

"It is amazing and this is just first gen."

It's really not 1st gen though. VR's been coming and going since the 90's (perhaps some archaic device even before then). It's just sticking around this time.

[slang201V]

Realism.RDR2 did this better than anyone else.The animations teh way that you can interact with every NPC,attention todetail was amazing

[BrayanA]

Loot boxes for sure! I'm just not sure if this advancement should be viewed as something positive or negative.

[Fragger2k8]

The (re)introduction of Virtual Reality has been the only real advancement, and certainly is the best thing to come to gaming this generation.

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are the future of just about everything, and eventually they will be the next big thing (especially Augmented Reality), though we really are still a way off from these things becoming the standard. While these types of technology are probably still in a come-and-go state for gaming, any push towards them from companies is a good thing for not only gaming, but for anything that could make use of them.

The future of gaming really is going to be amazing. I just hope we get there sooner, rather than later. That is all going to be up to consumers, though. The more demand there is for such tech, the quicker it will develop into great things.

[DefenderOfDoom2]

For me ,it is DESTINY .First time we had a console MMO type FPS .

[darksied]

By advancement, I'm going to assume that refers to something that is pushing others to jump on the bandwagon. I'm going to say two:

Open world
Micro transactions

Both are being pushed hard with games nowadays, despite what you feel about them.

[JRPGsAreTheBest]

The camera in God of War was mighty impressive. The transition between the fights to the cut-scenes were the smoothest I've ever seen in a game and I hope other games adapt that in the future. It was such a noticeable difference to the standard screen black out to a much nicer cgi after a gameplay segment and back.

[Shadowtaster33]

Although its already been said by many, I still think it has to be the VR.

Theres something special putting that headset on and totally immersing yourself in a different world like Skyrim or having a heart attack in resisdent evil. Its a huge leap forward compared to even 10 years ago and we still have a long way to go, Can't wait to see what the next generation has on store for the VR.

[mattkelly1991]

The game industry has grown significantly this generation in a lot of ways. Online play and connectivity has soared into the forefront of everyone's mind and has taken the world by storm. Players being able to seamlessly play with people all around the globe and in certain instances across different platforms has become something that gamers who play this generation frankly take for granted. Last generation was the beginning of this, and services like Xbox Live helped this happen, but today Nintendo, Sony, Windows, and Xbox have all showed extreme growth in the online space.

Last generation we would have never been able to play a game like Fortnite, Rocket League, and many more as fluidity and as seamlessly as we can today. Services like Grand Theft Auto Online and now Red Dead Redemption 2 Online have showed that massive interconnected worlds can compliment single player games in a way that we could have never thought possible before.

Next generation I expect that we will see even more connectivity between not only common devices like Playstation Consoles, but between console and phone, console and PC, and PC and phone. The future of online only gaming where you stream games online like you watch a movie on netflix is coming eventually and next generation may show that to be true, especially as a supplemental service like Xbox Game Pass. The future is bright and this generation is leading the way in the same way the previous generation paved the way for the services that we use today.

[voidviper]

Mid generation hardware upgrades

[salmonade]

VR gaming without a doubt. First of all it's real and for everyday consumers, but games like Resident Evil 7, Moss and Astro-Bot have PROVED you can have a significant amazing experience that you just simply can NOT have by normal gaming means. VR has showed that it will be part of the future and have an extensive chunk of the gaming market. It will evolve in future generations and become a 'must-have' part of everyone's gaming hobby.

[coolbeans]

While hybridization of mobile/console with Nintendo Switch or VR gaming are incredibly tempting, I'll have to go with a more malleable concept: the proliferation of "live services" within games, or "Games as cycles" (working out the kinks in my phrasing but I think that encompasses it better). Now, Updates could be quite a common thing to see on PS3 & 360 but the way they've advanced is more overwhelming than you'd think--for better or worse. For one, there's been countless examples disproving Miyamoto's old "[...]a rushed game is bad forever" claim. MCC, Driveclub, No Man's Sky, The Division, Sea of Thieves, Destiny series, and more have adopted an update-heavy strategy that makes the 1.0 version look unrecognizable in the span of 6 months, a year, two years, etc. And this changes everything about our expectations:

-Gameplay changes/Quality of life (touched on above)
-Monetization Practices
-Community/Feedback
-Review culture

I could go on and on; in fact, maybe I'll write up something about it in the future.

[coolbeans]

Congrats to SpaceRanger btw!

[Mr_Commander]

God of War, one shot camera. it was amazing. another level.

[Smokey55511799]

Indies for sure have advanced to the point where some almost rival AAA production titles. And have more creative expression over some with huge publishers looking over their devs shoulders.

[KingMulti]

I like the way Warframe has evolved, the mechanics, the graphics, the story, oh god. And the better part: is free. The community is very friendly, I like very much the style of the game. If anyone is willing to try something new, just go to Warframe. In my opinion, is best than destiny 2.

[Hardiman]

Storytelling and character development in gaming for me. Games like A Thief's End, HZD, God of War, Wild Hunt, What Remains of Edith Finch, Gone Home, Fire Watch, Nier Automada, Shadow of The Colossus, The Last Guardian, The Order, Lost Legacy, Detroit and Spider-Man have been just some of the games whose narrative and characters have taken me on a roller coaster of emotions!