The funny thing about a question like this is ultimately we don't really get the answer until the next generation starts. At the beginning or even middle of the last generation I would have said the DVD format was the most important thing because it eliminated space constraints, but ultimately it ended up being online gaming. Once MS nailed it with XBL it became the must and now games get criticized for not having online aspects.
So far, the HD formatting has made the biggest impact, but looking at it long term I think I'd go with motion controls. Right now I don't think it's that big of a deal. It's cool, but there aren't many games on the Wii where motion control really make or break a game. But we're starting to see that change with the Motion Plus games like Red Steel 2 and Sports Resort. If Natal works out well I think it will nail it down though and make it the biggest innovation. Time will tell.
I think, more than anything else, price became relevant again.
Downloadable Content
I'm not nearly as expectant of the domination of downloadable games as some, but it's not going away, and it's become a serious way to rake in cash.
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The next step: Built-in rechargeable controller battery as standard for all consoles. Sony has it (mostly) right this gen. Hopefully M$ and Nintendo will follow their example next gen. A user replaceable battery would be nice, though, Sony.
I like pointer feature, I think that does allow a totally different way of aiming and we do a lot of that on games now. Motion controls are good but they still need work, so many are just substitutes for button presses, I rather press a button.
Achievements is awesome, so happy to have them.
I mean this:
Ravenprose said:Wireless controllers as standard. I HATED that stupid wire tethering me to my console, especially when my dog decided to run between me and my console. I also hated the mess of wires near my TV. I jumped on the wireless bandwagon with the Gamecube's Wavebird controller, and never looked back. I even bought a wireless Logitech controller for my Xbox 1 (which my sister now owns, and still uses).
The next step: Built-in rechargeable controller battery as standard for all consoles. Sony has it (mostly) right this gen. Hopefully M$ and Nintendo will follow their example next gen. A user replaceable battery would be nice, though, Sony.
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I think Achievements. Smallest idea, but it's what the 360 has that makes their user base select their format over Sony for multi-plat games. And you know they'll roll over into the next gen. All the PC gaming systems and PS3 have adopted them as well -- I think they are here to stay.
Price is a good one too. Now they know we'll pay $60 USD at launch there is no turning back.
aspro said:I think Achievements. Smallest idea, but it's what the 360 has that makes their user base select their format over Sony for multi-plat games. And you know they'll roll over into the next gen. All the PC gaming systems and PS3 have adopted them as well -- I think they are here to stay.
Price is a good one too. Now they know we'll pay $60 USD at launch there is no turning back.
why are trophies not quite as good as achievements? i'm not being argumentative, i just heard this notion before and having never had a 360 (and not being particularly concerned about my PS3 trophies) i don't quite understand why.
back to the main question, i think it's hard to say. online play is here to stay, so are achievements, and so are, i hope, motion controls. if tiger PGAT10 and RS2 are a sign of things to come, then developers will come up with great gameplay concepts around precise motion controls and it won't be just waggle to replace a button press like dvader said.
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bugsonglass said:why are trophies not quite as good as achievements? i'm not being argumentative, i just heard this notion before and having never had a 360 (and not being particularly concerned about my PS3 trophies) i don't quite understand why.
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A large part of it is just that MS was first, so they had a 2 year headstart on Sony. Plus not all game support trophies, and the Trophy system is more complex, not just a number.
I'm not a proponent or detractor of Achievements in games, I just think they are the biggest takeaway from this gen.
aspro said:= Use of HD in gaming. Helps bring out details, shoot from a great distance/ see from a great distance.
= Motion controls. Allows games to control the way the human mind is used to controlling things -- with your hands.
= Pointer controls. Brings mouse-like precision to shooters.
= Wireless controllers as default.
All these.
Not sure if motion is a forever concept, but yeah for the next 10 years or so it will be in fashion. HD though, everything will be HD eventually and there will be no need to degrade that.
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I would have to say achievements. Simply a brilliant idea.
Ravenprose said:Achievements are cool. Ironically, the only "achievements" that I've actually tried to get were the Stamps in Wii Sports Resort. So far, I've completely ignored them in 360 games, lol.
i got all of the table-tennis ones, because that's by far my favourite. it's so annoying how half-assed the implementation is though. there is no online leaderboards or any intuitive way in which to share your hi-scores or achievements which i didn't think would be so hard for nintendo to include. as it is, those achievements are about as rewarding as wanking
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Coopersville said:Even though I still don't trust it, digital distribution.
That might be the next-gen's takeaway. Right now we are just seeing the seeds of it. Along those lines though, if you include XBLA, WiiWare and the Virtual Console, those would be HUGE new innovations that were wildly successful this generation.
What do you think is the the best concept that arose from this generation of console that will forever be a part of gaming from this point forward? Submit your nominations if I have forgotten anything, just off the top of my head I'd say we've got:
= Use of HD in gaming. Helps bring out details, shoot from a great distance/ see from a great distance.
= Unreal Engine/ Havok and other middle-ware that that lets developers focus on content, not engineering.
= Motion controls. Allows games to control the way the human mind is used to controlling things -- with your hands.
= Pointer controls. Brings mouse-like precision to shooters.
= Achievement points.
= Wireless controllers as default.