What was the most innovative game last gen?

[Exhuminator]

Ultimately after thinking it over for a while, I think Ingress is the most innovative game from last gen. It uses new concepts made available by fresh technology to incorporate forward thinking gameplay that is both strategic and social. It's a big deal in a lot of ways but most folks haven't caught on to it yet. I tried to get into it two years ago, but I'm a bit hobbled since I live out in the sticks.

[ejamer]

I really hate to be that guy, but...

What do we mean by innovation in this context?

I think this is a good question, and it does matter in context of this discussion.

Are games that don't change the larger industry really innovative, even if they are showcasing new and exciting tech?

Innovation and influence have at least some relation. Doing thing in a new and different way is an attempt to be innovative - but unless those changes catch on and have a larger effect on the overall industry, did the attempt succeed? No. Change must occur!

[Tanooki]

From an innovative design stand point I'd throw it to Wii Sports. It was their pack-in test demo that showed the potential of the control design, but it did it so well it sold tens of millions of systems to adults and the elderly as an exercise and fun box that was so mindlessly easy to use anyone could do it. Though in turn many systems never sold any games or maybe 1-2 other trivia, exercise or motion titles. I don't really think Kinect qualifies any better than Wii did in this as there were already mono a/v jack quality tv plug in junk that had a camera that saw you already before it was around, they did it just far better.

Now as far as a game itself, I'd have to give it above all to Uncharted 2. Sony knew what they had with those 'it's like going to a movie' ad spots where people didn't realize it was a game. The modeling not just of the people but the environment and how much it would change around the player. The dynamic camera work, smart designs of cover and control. Then the amazing summer blockbuster style adventure script start to end there was nothing to top it, even the sequel was a let down in comparison and it was solid too.

[ejamer]

Ultimately after thinking it over for a while, I think Ingress is the most innovative game from last gen. It uses new concepts made available by fresh technology to incorporate forward thinking gameplay that is both strategic and social. It's a big deal in a lot of ways but most folks haven't caught on to it yet. I tried to get into it two years ago, but I'm a bit hobbled since I live out in the sticks.

Sell me on this.

* AR games have been around since '96. This seems like is an interesting application in that genre, but not a new idea per se.
* Even the wikipedia entry says this game is very similar to a previous game named Shadow Cities.
* What change has this really brought about? How has it successfully left it's mark on gaming, compared to other games of last generation?
* Also interesting that it's outside what I presumed to be the scope from original post ("[a]s in, Wii/PS3/360 Gen").

Not saying it's wrong, but you seem very certain of what you say so I'd like to hear some real backing arguments.


MineCraft is mentioned above. I could get on board that train pretty easily - hugely influential, innovative in how games are developed/delivered, and had a massive impact on what people expect games to offer and/or consider games to be.

[Exhuminator]

Are games that don't change the larger industry really innovative, even if they are showcasing new and exciting tech?

If you're going by the pure dictionary definition of "innovative" then the answer to that question is a resounding yes.

Narbacular Drop wasn't a success. But Portal used Narbacular Drop's core idea and did become a massive success. Does that make Portal the innovative game or the influential game?

As for Wii Sports, OP asked; "What was the most innovative game last gen?" OP did not ask; "What game regurgitated previously existing concepts successfully enough to become a massive market influence?"

There is nothing truly innovative about Wii Sports. Every aspect of the game had existed before in some state or another. What Wii Sports did do well, was to make those aspects easily accessible to the lowest common denominator in a relatively cheap package. That's not innovation in my book, that's just smart business. In that regard, I would go so far as to say that Nintendo's business practices during the Wii and DS era were innovative in a financial strategy sense. At least insofar as the video game market was concerned during that time.

[Exhuminator]

What change has this really brought about? How has it successfully left it's mark on gaming, compared to other games of last generation?

Again, innovation does not equate to influence. But in 2015 Niantic told Tom's Hardware that they had 7 million players. (Not a slant, but I wonder if 7 million people are still actively playing Wii Sports?)

Also interesting that it's outside what I presumed to be the scope from original post ("[a]s in, Wii/PS3/360 Gen").

I consider mobile to be a viable platform from last year's gaming generation. (Mobile gaming has been a market since the early 00's actually.)

Even the wikipedia entry says this game is very similar to a previous game named Shadow Cities.

You conveniently left out the big difference stated right there in the article:

"There are clear differences, however. In the Shadow Cities players are in the virtual world, which is dynamically mapped around them, and can teleport within the virtual world, whereas in Ingress the portals are real world locations that players always have to actually move to in order to play."

AR games have been around since '96. This seems like is an interesting application in that genre, but not a new idea per se.

Ingress has a lot of unique factors, but the most impressive to me is the ability to incorporate massively multiplayer real time strategy interspersed over the real world, controlled by factions of actual humans via GPS and social media. The way that XM Anomalies further change the strategy elements is something I've never seen before in a game. The way that portals are placed in the world encourages people to visit and discover interesting things in real life, like landmarks, nature spots, museums, or local architecture. I've also never seen a game using transmedia storytelling like Ingress does. Ultimately the most innovative thing to me about Ingress, is its ability to bring gamers together in real life who do not know each other, yet work together for a common goal to control virtual territories overlaid the real world. This technique has served to not only utilize existing tech (smartphones) in a new and exciting way, but also to foster many friendships and relationships between people who otherwise never would have met in real life.

[prfsnl_gmr]

What game invented micro-transactions? I pick that game.

[ejamer]

@Exhuminator
Well, your responses convinced me of one thing: instead of a discussion it's going to be you telling everyone why you are right in a snarky tone. This thread was fun.


I'm still not sold on Ingress at all, when the biggest innovation appears to be adding a physical component to (mostly) pre-existing gameplay.

The others would be definitely worth discussing, if I was sticking around. I'm not.
Cheers,

[Exhuminator]

Aww come on now, my responses were meant to be objective not snarky. Just because I have strong opinions doesn't mean they're right! If anyone wants to believe Wii Sports was the most innovative game from last generation, then that's perfectly understandable and possibly even correct.

[KayJay]

I really hate to be that guy, but...

What do we mean by innovation in this context?

Lol, sorry! I wasn't clear enough on the definition.


What i mean is a game which, regardless of popularity, made a substantial impact on game design, and was an all-around creative game.


If a game changed an entire genre, like GTA or something, than that counts.


Also, Hybrid games are highly encouraged, like Mirror's Edge (FPS platformer), or Portal (FPS Puzzle game).


@Exhuminator, Fun fact: the people who made Narbacular Drop is made by the same people who made Portal. Valve picked them up after they saw the amazing job they did.


@Tanooki, I'm glad Uncharted 2 gets love gets love in the Retro Gaming community. It's truly an amazing game.



BTW, this is a great topic. glad you guys are enjoying it.