Best video games 2017-18

Best of 2017: video games

Perhaps the segment of the tech market with the vastest array of possibilities for changing the way we interact with the world, video games are no longer the domain of the lazy child or the introverted teenager. The ones who grew up playing Final Fantasy and Resident Evil are now the ones actively evolving the idea of what a video game is supposed to be, especially with the advent of virtual reality (VR) platforms. Here is a list of the biggest developments from 2017, and what we can expect to see going forward into 2018.

Consoles: the domain of versatility

In some aspects, the scene remains similar to what it was fifteen years ago. If you want the best graphics, go Microsoft Xbox; if you want the best selection of games, go Sony PlayStation. And of course, the more things change, the more they stay the same: Nintendo is still the most innovative manufacturer of consoles, proving it once again with the 2017 release of their Switch platform. Switch not only allows for the enjoyment of gaming on a home entertainment system by way of a docking device, but for a seamless transition to mobile gaming with the use of detachable “JoyCon” side controls. In spite of the fact that the Switch’s predecessor, the Wii U, experimented with hybrid mobile/home gaming and sold poorly, the Japanese game giant doubled down on the concept, adopting for a more inclusive approach in their marketing to adult audiences as well as kids, and cooperation with game developers large and small. The result was the fastest selling home gaming console since the company began producing video games over forty years ago.

What’s old is new again...

Both video games and the concept of how we play them are evolving, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a craving for retro gaming in the market. In addition to the wildly successful Switch, Nintendo has spent the last couple of years thrilling the market with “classic” versions of their NES and Super Nintendo systems. These consoles, rather than requiring the use of cartridges, are pre-loaded with dozens of classic games originally ported to their respective platforms. Nintendo has been playing a precarious game with respect to making these products available, taking a start-stop approach to production. 2.3 million units of the NES Classic were originally made available November 2016 to April 2017 before Nintendo announced it was ceasing production. CEO Reggie Fils-Aime pledge to re-release the NES Classic in 2018 while still continuing to produce the Super Nintendo Classic. Now that’s how you build hype and sell a product.

...but what’s new points toward the future

VR gaming is very young, developing markets, but they are capturing the imaginations and the desires of the people at an accelerating rate. Manufacturers of different gaming platforms are taking note of this, from Sony for consoles to Samsung for mobile devices to PC-based platforms like the high-end HTC Vive, and it seems like everyone is making a mad dash to cash in on this emerging trend. However, it seems safe to say that the crowdfunded Oculus Rift is, as of this moment, the go-to VR platform for consumers – it’s more wallet friendly than its nearest competitor, the aforementioned Vive, while somehow providing a satisfying headset-controller-audio package according to MakeUseOf. com.