[General Discussion] 2009 was the year of...?

2009 is drawing to a close now with the last few note-worthy titles squeezing onto shelves this week and so it is that various discussions are starting to take place around the web and gaming media in general about the year as a whole. Saving GOTY discussions until next month (keep an eye out for details of that at some point in the near-ish future) I got to thinking about what the big thing in gaming was this year.

I know at one point, probably at the point I was playing my fifth racing game in as many weeks (or possibly fewer) I found myself saying to people that it's been a really good year for racers. But then there's also been a lot of other stuff being pushed this year: motion control (again, and as part as a peripheral push in general), pre-order and limited edition shenanigans, digital distribution, DLC (and DL games), PS3 taking off, Wii sales slowing down, about seven new DS models (or so it seemed), co-operative play, and more besides.

So my question is: as far as gaming is concerned, 2009 was the year of what?

How ya doing, buddy?

Personally I can't think of anything I could say was 2009's own. We had some excellent titles, both retail and DLC, wonderful indie gems, and horrible games that sold well regardless. Just like last year.

I say 2009 was the year of more of the same, in both good and bad.

Although again personally, 2009 was the year that reintroduced me to the wonders of modern PC gaming. I'd been reintroduced to the wonders of PC gaming a bit earlier, but upon realizing that nearly every multiplatform release ran smoother, looked better and cost less on my PC, as well as providing built in 360 controller support, I can no longer justify buying console versions if I my PC can run the game. And that's not even thinking backwards compatibility or custom content and improvement.

So yeah, 2009 was the year of the love for PC, for me.

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2009 has been the first (and possibly only) year I've seen a large amount of people brave the threat of a hurricane for a single, albeit extremely successful, video game. Modern Warfare 2, obviously.

There were some pretty kickass titles and some awesome announcements for next year. All in all though, 2009 wasn't quite as good as 2008, and 2010 looks to kick a fair amount of ass right from the get-go.

How ya doing, buddy?

2009 was the year of populist rage in gaming.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

The only thing that comes to mind is the coverage indie games have been getting, and that's a continuing trend from 2008, as Qwarky said. Still, the big heavies didn't land until late 2008 (Braid, World of Goo), and 2009 has had prominent stuff like Flower, The Path, Zeno Clash, and Machinarium. The "art game" hubbub was probably bigger in 2008, though.

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2009 was the year of being a blizzard fanboy and waiting for Starcraft II.

I dun had a gud enuf puter tah ran dem famcy puter games.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Year of Sony makin' its comeback.
PS3 slim + Uncharted 2

Also year of Wii motion control knock-offs

Was also the year that I ran out of money to pay for games

FELIPE NO

2009 was the year I realised that their are still games getting made that are fun without going online and that I really can't be arsed with online FPS games any more. In fact, I'm playing on Live less and less at the moment and when I do it's only with friends. Playing strangers has really lost it's appeal for some reason.

There have been some decent games released this year but I've not been excited enough to really buy any of them.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

The year that I didn't buy anything until July, because there wasn't anything good released until then. The year in which every game I bought was a sequel of some sort, except Dragon Age. The year in which my Xbox didn't red ring.

How ya doing, buddy?

2009 was the year of old properties getting the best games involving their characters. Ghostbusters, Arkham Asylum, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (possibly more? I forget). Pretty much the best games for any of those IPs.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Punch-Out was rather good, wasn't it? Street Fighter IV as well...

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

2009 was the year of gaming with friends.

( ´・‿- ) ~ ♥

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

For me it was the year of the PS3. I never thought I'd play so many games on this Blu-Ray player of mine.
Not that the PC or Wii has collected dust. There was just so much more to play on the PS3 this time around.

I'd be content if it wasn't for the lack of time on my hands.
Moving to a new apartment effectively kicked a whole month's worth of gaming time to the groin.

I was speaking idiomatically.

2009 is the year that I realised that my level 24 self in real life is more important than my uber level 100 and something avatar in [insert game]. Consequently, I only completed TWO games this entire year: Shadow Hearts Covenant and Punch Out Wii. But at least I now know how to fix a toilet and roast a bird.

2010 may be the year I buy a PS3. For the Blu-ray, of course.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

2009 was the year of finding out Mario isn't the best hero of all time...

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Torte

2009 is the year that I realised that my level 24 self in real life is more important than my uber level 100 and something avatar in [insert game]. Consequently, I only completed TWO games this entire year: Shadow Hearts Covenant and Punch Out Wii. But at least I now know how to fix a toilet and roast a bird.

2010 may be the year I buy a PS3. For the Blu-ray, of course.

Originally Posted by The Wise Vivi

2009 was a year of completing, repeating, and ups and downs...

Oi. Idiots.

2009 is the year of _________ in terms of the GAMING world. No one gives a fuck about your journal entries. They are boring, pointless and the stories behind these little blurbs are no doubt even more dull and meandering without any sort of meaningful payoff.

2009 was the year of the PC for me. Machinarium and Dragon Age saw to that. Add in the new Tales of Monkey Island, Sam & Max, Wallace and Gromit stuff as well as a bunch I'm no doubt forgetting and wham. Year of the PC.

Jesus, how hard is it to read an original post?

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Denicalis

Oi. Idiots.

2009 is the year of _________ in terms of the GAMING world. No one gives a fuck about your journal entries. They are boring, pointless and the stories behind these little blurbs are no doubt even more dull and meandering without any sort of meaningful payoff.

2009 was the year of the PC for me. Machinarium and Dragon Age saw to that. Add in the new Tales of Monkey Island, Sam & Max, Wallace and Gromit stuff as well as a bunch I'm no doubt forgetting and wham. Year of the PC.

Jesus, how hard is it to read an original post?

I did read it... again... And changed the post as you were writing your rant...

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Okay now I'm curious. What destroyed Mario as the hero for you?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Denicalis

Okay now I'm curious. What destroyed Mario as the hero for you?

I just hoped everyone else thought the same as me when gamespot had their contest...

But I GUESS... he is still my hero... However, it was disappointing to see it go not to Mario... Kind of big news... maybe not?

I think the biggest non-story was the continued lack of coverage and overall update on GT5.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Who picked it up?

If you say Cloud I will murder at least six Japanese people tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by Denicalis

Who picked it up?

If you say Cloud I will murder at least six Japanese people tomorrow.

SOOOO tempted to say Cloud right now....

I think it was Master Chef..... Or is it Chief?

I was speaking idiomatically.

I think 2009 was the year gaming left behind people who enjoyed playing games alone. While games like Gears of War, Guitar Hero, TF2 and WoW existed before '09 and made online or co-op multiplayer a very viable choice, this was the year that seemed to hammer home the idea that if you're not relying upon other people for your gaming experience, you might as well not be playing games at all.

Left 4 Dead 2, Forza, Street Fighter IV, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Little Big Planet, MW2 and numerous others I'm not thinking of because I just haven't been exposed enough have thrust online multiplayer into the forefront. It seems like developers are now creating games with the multiplayer experience first in priority. Single-player, offline playthroughs are something of an afterthought; it's an option, but the experience will intentionally no longer be as rich. A good example is Resident Evil 5; though it could be experienced alone, it was designed to be at its best with a friend by your side.

I don't blame the industry, since broadband technology pretty much mandated that gaming go in this direction, and the surge in social networking's popularity probably hasn't hurt the idea either. And it's not like there weren't unique single-player games available. Scribblenauts, Ghostbusters, Punch-Out Wii, Brutal Legend and Uncharted 2 were all worthwhile solo experiences. But the pulse of the industry was clearly on multiplayer this year.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Didn't it go to Gordon Freeman?

FELIPE NO

Do we care?

Also, I'd make the argument that there are just as many quality SP experiences to be had as MP, you're just not looking in the right place if you're lacking.

This "focus on online MP" has been sort of the thing for 4 years on consoles, more if you include simpler, less prevalent implementations from a generation ago, and if you even have a PC in your peripheral vision you're looking at over a decade, so.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Qwarky

Didn't it go to Gordon Freeman?

Jam it back in, in the dark.