What has modern gaming done right?

[gtmtnbiker]

- more games for the casual crowd
- ability to play games with others asynchronously (e.g, Words with Friends, Draw Something)
- no physical format for games option

[gtmtnbiker]

-Wireless controllers more common (No more tripping on controller cord and causing chain reaction of crap falling off shelves.)

Yes, this was one of the best features for the 6th generation. I also hate the fact that wired controllers for 4 would end up in a tangled mess.

[pankakes123]

no physical format for games option

That better stay an option. Physical copy or no copy for me. With the exception of Super Meat Boy that is.

[isiolia]

With regard to consoles (since some/most of it was done earlier on PC)

- Standard, reliable delivery methods for patches, DLC, or direct-digital sales (PS3 and 360 mostly). While it might have resulted in some trends that we're not all fond of, having the capability is a good thing either way.

- Multi-user systems. Much like with computers, this does add complexity, and thus potential annoyance...but it also means it's easier to truly share stuff without stepping on toes.

- Resurgence of social elements of gaming. Online play, gamer scores/trophies/etc as a high score mechanism, and so on. Sure, it might not mean actually going down the arcade, or over to a friend's house, but it's also easier to jump online to play with friends. Possibly with readily accessible voice chat (360 particularly, as it's the only console where it's fully integrated).

If you do look at local play, wireless controllers do help a lot for seating, comfort, and not needing a multitap.

- Far better support for indie or low budget/niche titles. Sure, many of them are direct-download only, but at least they're there. MS and Sony (at least) seem to try to cultivate those releases as well with developer tools and adjustments to their standards (IE, XBL's original size limit that was lifted).

- Increased accessibility of titles, along with better ways to present additional challenges for those who want them. Sure, you might not appreciate the tutorial level, or long for a 300 page spiral bound piece of required reading...but they do help the learning curve some.
Another angle of trophies and achievements is that they give the developer the opportunity to both issue challenges, and allow players to display what they've done. Plenty serve as virtual pats on the head, sure, but others are a new version of those high-score/beat the game photos from magazines.

- Better support for standard devices and interfaces. USB storage and controllers on the PS3 and 360, HDMI, SD cards on the Wii, Bluetooth, or even stuff like swapping a PS3 HDD able to use an off-the-shelf drive. It's not universal, and there still are some random little adapters to get, you aren't looking at specialized everything like a lot of prior consoles.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

-a great post-

Well, there goes my ability to contribute to this thread.

I don't have much to add after that post.

In general though, modern gaming gives you a lot of options. More so than we've ever had before.

[Erik_Twice]

Well, that depends on what modern gaming is!

I see two possible definitions: This last generation and gaming after "the next generation", ergo Doom 3, Far Cry and so on.

They are very similar, as one lead to the other. The positive things I have seen are:

CURRENT GENERATION

1) Indie gaming and niche appeal are starting to get a significant part of a market, leading to more diversity, better creative control and better games than after the "Next gen".
2) Triplehead becomes easy, cheap and easily accesible for anyone that wants it. For 100€ you get a very good videocard and getting two more screens isn't incredibly expensive anymore.

"NEXT" GENERATION

1) Steam's launch, which significantly lowered barriers of entry
2) Portables reach a sweet spot of technological advancement that allows many good games on them and a significantly better experience than the previous generation.
3) 3D graphics reach the point where art direction isn't as compromised by technology

I think those are the trends that help the production of good, interesting games.

[Nintendork666]

- Wireless Controllers
- Home menus
- Consoles self-capable of memory storage
- New ways to play (especially Nintendo... I love their gimmicks; sue me)
- Netflix/Hulu/etc.
- PS3 Media Server

Awesome controllers (excluding Wii)

Really? Between the Nunchuck + Remote, Remote only, Classic Controller Pro, regular Classic Controller, and GC Controller... you couldn't find one that you liked?

Just curious, is all. I personally think Nintendo may have handled the controller situation a little better than the other two with so many official options.

no physical format for games option

That better stay an option. Physical copy or no copy for me. With the exception of Super Meat Boy that is.

Meh, I'm not really fearing the possibility of an all-digital future. I have more physical games than I know what to do with, and the thought that soon I won't have to worry so much about physical storage sorta takes a weight off my chest.

I just downloaded my first Virtual Console title, Kirby Superstar, with some Club Nintendo points I had left over. The difference between playing on a GC Controller/Classic Controller Pro rather than the SNES pad like I did when I actually owned the game, really doesn't concern me as much as I anticipated.

[noiseredux]

really doesn't concern me as much as I anticipated.

I know. I still prefer physical media, but there are definitely times that I'm glad I got a digital game for $5 instead of spending $50 or more on it physically. And as you alluded to, sometimes it's nice to not need to find more space for physical games. I'm starting to realize there's a place for digital games. I don't want them to be the only option. But I like that there is an option.

[GameMasterGuy]

-Free DLC/ post-production DLC (not day 1 DLC)
-Patches (when they're not relied upon)
-More powerful (as long as the game doesn't rely on graphics alone)

So yeah, all the pluses have minuses, too.

[Goregasm]

quality games