Most Important games since 2000

[Shaan Gamma]

I want to know what you guys think are the most important games since 2000. When I talk about important, I do not mean best or favorite. I mean those games that have changed the gaming world forever.

I think of a few.

1. World Of Warcraft
2. Half-Life 2
3. Unreal Tournament 3
4. Halo
5. GTA 3

 

[Mini]

Day of defeat source, obviously. And then the last of us for ps3 is pretty amazing!

 

[Snipeye]

Are you saying games in general, PC and console? Or PC only?

If irregardless of platform (side note: I got tired of typing halfway down so I didn't do full reasons why):
World of Warcraft: Set the MMO standard that has remained for nearly a decade (10 yr anniversary this Nov)

Half Life 2: Amazing story line, amazing gameplay, amazing graphics for PC gaming when it was released in 2004, and the graphics still hold up pretty well. Most importantly: It was the first single-player game that required online product activation (DRM) through Steam. Arguably, it MADE Steam the biggest and most popular online gaming retail marketplace.

Minecraft: Has proven that graphics alone, nor an awesome storyline, means success or failure for video games. It's simple gameplay and ability to evolve into a variety of different modes, especially for PC gamers, has shown that imagination and creativity is all it takes for a game to be fun.

Halo (FPS): Was the first FPS hit for the Xbox, and has become a gaming legacy for the Xbox 360, and most likely for the Xbox One. Has spawned the hilarious machinima series of Red vs Blue; and pretty much replaced Goldeneye as the number one multiplayer game that millions of gamers can cluster around a TV to play and talk smack at each other.

Gears of War (TPS): Not as huge as Halo in terms of game-changers, but it created a popular visual of gaming of playing from the third person perspective, over the shoulder. The finely tune mesh of gaming mechanics like reload, melee, and taking cover, combined with an amazing story line and fluid gameplay allows this game to sit shotgun, if not in the driver seat, next to Halo.

Warcraft 3: RTS

GTA III: Open World, Action adventure game for the PS2. This game is what made the GTA series so popular, with its use of a 3D game engine, with its open-ended concept of exploring the world and doing what they want. In addition, it's violent and sexual content has also spewed a series of lawsuits against gaming for excessive violence (mostly by ex-lawyer Jack Thompson), and most likely will continue to be cited as evidence for future lawsuits or laws against M/MA games.

Angry Birds: Mobile gaming arguably took a huge leap forward with this blockbuster hit.

The Sims: Will Wright is a genius, who took a concept that wouldn't become popular until Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPod. Ignoring all the then-current standards of gaming (RTS, FPS, Action-Adventure, etc.) he created a life-simulation game where players could create alternative versions of themselves(or anyone) called Sims, and help them live virtual live on their screens. Through no definite explanation of how this concept could work, it became the best selling PC game in history in two years after it's release, with more than 6.3 million copies sold. You could almost say that the Sims has more sequels and expansion packs than Everquest and Everquest 2 have (not really, EQ alone had 19 expansions versus the 7 for Sims)

Farmville (or one of those other mega Facebook games)

Argument: I don't see how DOD: Source and Last of Us would be considered "Game-changers." Namely because Last of Us was just released, and there are other amazing, drama-inspiring games that were released before it. Example: The episodic game series of Walking Dead comes to mind of being an interactive game that inspires a huge emotional rollercoaster as it propels you through the story. In regards to DOD: Source, my argument is that the original DOD was released in 2000, so that would take precedence. It's gameplay modes were in place before Medal of Honor: Allied Assault and Call of Duty were released for the PC in 2003.

I'm pretty sure I'm missing a Nintendo-related game, related to Mario.

 

[kYuKi]

Did no one like San Andreas?
The first Call of Duty was mind blowing.
You also forgot about Starcraft.
My first FPS games were Return To Castle Wolfenstein and Enemy Territory.
Let's see, hmm. I will definitely have to thoroughly search my head for more.

 

[Mush]

League of Legends?

Biggest prize pool in eSports of all time in one single event

http://esportsearnings.com/tournaments



I partially disagree about HL2, although the story was well thought out however the ending was disappointing

 

[Noiziv]

For the time being, DayZ has become the sole reason for the amount of zombie survival games that have come about in the recent year.

 

[Sexy Beast]

I want to know what you guys think are the most important games since 2000. When I talk about important, I do not mean best or favorite. I mean those games that have changed the gaming world forever.

I think of a few.

1. World Of Warcraft
2. Half-Life 2
3. Unreal Tournament 3
4. Halo
5. GTA 3

I agree with everything but Unreal Tournament 3 and possibly Half-Life 2. Though with Half-Life 2 came the source engine so I guess that was a big important thing.

Unreal Tournament 3 on the other had I just don't get. I mean it wasn't anywhere near as good as UT 2004 nor was it the first game to use Unreal Engine 3...that title went to Gears of War. So yeah, what gives?

 

[Simon]

1. Star wars battlefront.
2. Half-life
3. Metal gear solid
4. Battlefield
5. GTA: San Andreas

 

[Shaan Gamma]

I agree with everything but Unreal Tournament 3 and possibly Half-Life 2. Though with Half-Life 2 came the source engine so I guess that was a big important thing.

Unreal Tournament 3 on the other had I just don't get. I mean it wasn't anywhere near as good as UT 2004 nor was it the first game to use Unreal Engine 3...that title went to Gears of War. So yeah, what gives?

Depends on your POV. I think Unreal Tournament 3 showed off the engine better then Gears. Remember, this is all opinion based.

 

[Duelpwn]

Guys what about the first unreal tournament Goty Edition, Warcraft 3. I loved san andreas. I loved that game.

 

[Snipeye]

Did no one like San Andreas?
The first Call of Duty was mind blowing.
You also forgot about Starcraft.
My first FPS games were Return To Castle Wolfenstein and Enemy Territory.
Let's see, hmm. I will definitely have to thoroughly search my head for more.

Between Sand Andreas and GTA III, I honestly think GTA III takes precedent as it solidified the GTA series as a gaming franchise.

I want to say Call of Duty, but technically speaking, it's multiplayer gameplay is based on what was created for Day of Defeat. MOHAA is also another contender to look at, with its use of vehicles in battles as well.

Starcraft was released in 1998, so it doesn't qualify.

What makes Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Enemy Territory so important and what have they done that influenced or changed the gaming world they belong to? Beyond a single player gaming experience with multiplayer, you could say it's the equivalent of CoD. Ironically speaking, CoD actually was released about 2 years after RtCW.

League of Legends?

Biggest prize pool in eSports of all time in one single event

I partially disagree about HL2, although the story was well thought out however the ending was disappointing

I debated League of Legends because of how it has become one of, if not the, biggest game for e-Sports (remember when CS, Starcraft, and others were the primary games? No love for me in CoD). I'm withholding final judgement on this one.

As for HL2, it's not just the gaming aspects that makes HL2 a requirement for the list. Look at my explanation about how it solidified Steam use, THE BIGGEST online distributor for gaming entertainment.

 

[Spitfire'd]

I've been thinking about this for several days and the thing is, I don't know that any of these games really changed gaming.

All the good ideas came out before 2000. A lot of the great games listed are just examples done right.

I mean sure, WoW put MMO's in the limelight, but there were a few before it, I remember being in high school wanting to play Ultima online but knowing I wouldn't because of the costs. If anything in the MMO market defined that genre better it would have been Dark age of Camelot. Or the Call of Duty/Battlefield/Halo series may have set the current standard for FPS games, but Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Doom and Quake were out long before they were even though of. Day of Defeat? Just a HL mod, just like CS. Starcraft was out before 2000. GTA may have awakened the sandbox genre but is it really that different from the old GTA games? I would argue no, it was just done a lot better. Even the Wii is just the realization of technology first seen with Duckhunt!

If anything, I would say what has defined the last decade and changed gaming are the unique ideas that dared to try something new and different. The guitar hero series brought something new and unique to the table, the DoTA mod spawned the MOBA genre and a host of great games with it. Angry Birds and Nintendo have done great things to make gaming more casual and accepted as fun for everyone. Steam has ushered in the start of the digital era, and set the standard from the start on how to do it right.

In my opinion though, the biggest thing to impact the industry: Indie Games. The dawn of an age where you don't have to slave under a big company to make a great game that costs an arm and a leg. Indie games are driving the industry right now.

Just my 2 cents. I don't mean to downplay all the great games that are listed, but for me many of them are just a fuller expanded experience of an already realized idea.

You want real excitement and impact? Watch the next few years.