Gaming Experiences Unique to the Eighth Generation.

[Jon-Erich]

Let's just put it this way:

1st Generation: Interaction with the television screen (sort of)

2nd Generation: Consoles with a cartridge slot that allow and endless number of games to be played. This opened up endless possibility for game ideas, given that they could be done within the restrictions of the console. We start to see handheld systems hit the market.

3rd Generation: Scrolling across the screen and fast movements. Most games now take place on more than one screen. Usage of password systems and battery packs allow players to beat the game in multiple sittings, allowing for longer games. The RPG genre thrived because of this.

4th Generation: The Golden Age of 2D gaming. Also, the ability to rotate sprites as to give the impression of 3D allowing for games to have pseudo 3D gameplay. Other technologies such as the FX chip allowed for actual 3D gameplay. First real attempts at CD-based gaming. We also start to see a competitive handheld market.

5th Generation: 3D gameplay becomes mainstream as do the use of CD's for gaming. Several genres such as the platform genre and RPG genres are forever changed. Other new genres such as survival horror become well known on home consoles. The analog stick makes 3D movement easier. Rumble feedback makes games even more interactive.

6th Generation: Online play on home consoles becomes mainstream. 3D graphics and gameplay have become perfected.

7th generation: Further advances to online gaming. Online stores are now a norm. Motion controls dominate the gaming scene for a few years. Handhelds now have dual screen gameplay, touchscreen gameplay, online interactivility and we have an even more competitive handheld market.

8th generation: Broken, glitchy game releases followed up by an apology from the publisher become the norm as well as long download times, poorly designed user interfaces, and a constant overhyping of games brought on partly by public demonstrations of acting coming from gaming publishers who insist on lying about their early game footage, insisting that it is indeed the real game and not a movie.

We've come a long way, sigh.