Best & Worst in Videogames — 2016
Part 1: Related Highlights of the Year
Before we get into games, let’s look at some other related highlights of the year.
Jack Into Reality
Virtual reality! VR here, VR there. Lots of talk about getting into reality within reality. Right… give it a couple of years before we call it the year of something completely new. I happily managed to consume all of the new ‘VR only’ by watching other people play.
Watching not Playing
In general video is growing in and outside of gaming. Many people are still asking “Why should I watch what I should play?” Especially with VR and other unique experiences many people now get it. Personally I grew fond of the Giantbomb community over the years and their VRodeos have been a great coverage. In any case, Youtube is the place to go for the big and small shows.
Pro Gaming
Professional e-sports leagues enjoyed its 2016.
Going mainstream in US with some big deals and more universities offering scholarships. Just like with anything videogame, people question the ‘sports’ part and most likely will continue to do so before they get replaced by the internet generation.
Why is this side of games industry important to those who don’t care about sports? It legitimizes the medium in a wide spectrum. Hopefully it’ll do that and won’t backlash, just like the whole ‘whale catching’ casual mobile games.
Game Awards
My hopes are still up for Geoff Keighley’s show to become the Academy Awards of the industry, once again to legitimize the medium. This year though it made me doubt it for the first time. Really missed the Sierra and Dune moment of last years, but instead of getting into all what I found wrong with the (just) 3rd year of the show, let’s look at what can get better:
- Make it about all types of games — board, card whatever else games to broaden the reach and pool of interesting people.
- Bring in actually passionate people to start giving speeches — whatever happened with No Man Sky, it was a very passionate presentation back in the day.
- Run the show in January/February — reviewers will find time for all the games of the past year to be considered.
- Make voting more transparent — every year feels a bit bought out and we are seeing mostly blockbusters.
- Let’s aim for that Professional Red Carpet Experience — the industry is mature enough to stop being this insecure about itself.
No. Just no.. to the man on the left. (Mr. Hydro at least brought in cash, guy brought neither a good joke or button shirt)
Agree, disagree? That’s why some sites still have comments!
Part 2: Best Game and Positive Experiences— Check out the second part with my personal favorite and other notable positive experiences
Part 3: Biggest Disappointment and Negative Experiences — Check out the final part where I get mildly melodramatic about games that should have been great and weren’t.
