Hello everyone,

I'm quite happy that I can say that after one very slow week, we had a very active one. Discussions had a new turn since some users new to the discussion wanted to discuss the concept of the video game canon we are trying to build. I found this discussion to be very interesting, and I'm going to use this Blog entry to give some insight into my own opinions:
I also think that the video game canon that already exists and which is official (check the very first Blog Entry on video game canon to see it) is not very representative for the medium. So, I can totally understand why some refuse that official video game canon alltogether.
I also want to make clear, that our canon, which is created and discussed by the members of the Destructoid Community, is not an official one. But it is one created by the only authority gamers actually respect: other gamers.
If you want to participate in the discussions, please do this here.

Ok, now to the list. Which changes happened during the week? Castle Wolfenstein 3D, Total Annihilation, Gran Tourismo, GRID and Motocross Madness made it on the list. The fact that they are listed under [Confirmed] only means that nobody voiced a different opinion when it comes to these games, so feel free to discuss.

I also noticed a certain lack of Handheld games, apart from Pokémon and Tetris, not a single one has made it to the list yet. Also, there are many games where there was not a reason given yet to include them. It would be awesome if some of you could give reasons for their inclusion, as you can see, if you give one, your name will be mentioned.

Here is the full list:


Jump 'n Runs

[Confirmed]
Super Mario Bros (NES) : This was the first platformer to have scrolling. (Count_Zero) (alternate reason would be required)

Super Mario 64: The concept of a 3d platformer was relatively alien at the time yet this worked so well first time out. (garrfunkel)
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

First Person Shooter

[Confirmed]
Half Life Series: Since the very beginning the people at Valve have been pushing the boundaries of interactive narrative with the Half Life series. On top of that the controls are perfect and the graphics have always been cutting edge. (DaedHead8)

Castle Wolfenstein 3D: it opened the eyes of the gaming community as to the possibilities of the FPS-genre... there were a few games before it, but it was wolf3d.exe that convinced everybody that this was a great new style of gaming. (mistic)

[Questionable]
Bioshock: The game that proved you don't need multiplayer to sell millions in the internet era. A beautiful combination of innovative gameplay and masterful story telling, this game deserves to be a part of the video game canon. (DaedHead8)

[Proposed]
System Shock 2 - Need more opinions on this!

Deus Ex - Need more opinions on this!


__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Action/Adventure

[Confirmed]
Metroid: Extremely good combination of action gameplay, both in terms of platforming and shooting, in an action framework (massive world to explore). (Count_Zero)

The Legend of Zelda: Similar reason, a fairly simple - at first glance - quest game, with a massive world (for the NES) to explore, but with fairly simple and accessible gameplay. (Count_Zero)

Metal Gear series: All of them really but most importantly the first Metal Gear game and Metal Gear Solid. Both of which were responsible for creating and popularising stealth gameplay. (dmgi)

Ocarina of Time: One of the few retro series to jump into 3d so well and adapt so quickly. (garrfunkel)

Tomb Raider: this was the break through game in the mid-90s. I can't think of any other video game character that was on the cover of non-videogame magazines. (Ali D)

[Questionable]
Shadow of the Colossus: One of the most moving stories in a game ever. Massively expansive landscape and every fight is a boss fight. (garrfunkel and DaedHead8)

GTA 3: The staple of sandbox games and the point of comparison ever since (How many times have you heard the words GTA-Clone in the past few years?). Sure other games had done it before, but nothing like what GTA had to offer. (dmgi)

[Proposed]
Ace Attorney Series – Need more opinions on this!

Silent Hill - Need more opinions on this!

Monkey Island Series - Need more opinions on this! Specify which one.
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Casual
[Confirmed]
Wii Sports: Like it or not it is something that completely defines what the Wii is and will always be remembered. (garrfunkel)
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________
Puzzle
[Confirmed]
Tetris: It pretty much single-handedly popularized the Game Boy (and more importantly, portable gaming in general). (Clyde and Badstar)

Braid: A masterpiece in every sense of the word. (DaedHead8)

[Proposed]
Portal – No Reason given yet.

Katamary Damacy - Need more opinions on this!
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

RPG
[Confirmed]
Fallout: It was different and innovative for its time, doing brand new things that heavily, heavily influenced the RPG genre. (Angra)

[Proposed]
Final Fantasy Series – Specify which ones and why!

Seiken Densetsu - Need more opinions on this!

Diablo - Need more opinions on this!

Ultima 4 - Need more opinions on this!

Pokémon - Which one? Need more opinions on this!
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Fighting Games
[Confirmed]
Street Fighter 2: fighting games came of age here. (Ali D)
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Music and Rhytm Games
[Proposed]
Rock Band – No Reason given yet.

Dance Dance Revolution - Need more opinions on this!

[Refused]
Guitar Hero
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

RTS

[Confirmed]
Total Annihilation: the first RTS with 3D units, and so great and well balanced that people are still playing it nowadays (was released in 1990), some fans even built a full free version of it (taSpring) (mistic)

[Proposed]
StarCraft - Need more opinions on this!


__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

MMORPG
[Proposed]
World of Warcraft - Need more opinions on this!

Everquest - Need more opinions on this!
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Simulation
[Confirmed]
Elite: the first successful space simulator. Everything from Wing Commander, to Freespace, to X3, to Eve Online comes from Elite. (Count_Zero)

Grant Tourismo (Series): for popularising the simulation-racing genre. (Mistic)

[Proposed]
Hidden Agenda: Need more opinions on this!


__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Beat 'em up
[Questionable]
Double Dragon: for jump-starting (if not starting outright) the genre of the side-scrolling beat-em-up/brawler. (Count_Zero)
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Shmup
[Proposed]
Ikaruga - Need more opinions on this! (Call Topher Cantler!!!)
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Racing
[Confirmed]
GRID: for implementing the time-back-feature that racing-gamers have been praying for since the very first racing game where you could crash your car. (mistic)

Motocross Madness (2): for the insane sandbox that they gave us. (mistic)
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Again, if you wan to participate, please join the discussion here.