Best Thing For Gamers In Last 5 Years.

[Gunstarhero]

Well, whats the best, or most important thing to happen to US, the Gamers, in the last 5 years? Quite a few things have progressed exponentially(Ebay), and some have stayed stagnant(Nintendo online strategy). I've put a few important ones down to discuss.

[jaydubnb]

eBay. Without it I wouldnt have any of my PC Engine hardware or games. I would also say the internet as a whole, it really made hunting and acquiring game related items soooooo much easier.

[Dire 51]

It sue as hell wasn't games becoming mainstream... that's contributed to the decline in quality, imo.

[dave2236]

I chose internet because of the challenge of playing new people and being able to play aainst so many people.

Ebay is also a huge factor. I don't think I would have half as many games or rare games for that matter if ebay didn't exist.


God Bless America

[zektor]

I chose Ebay. I used to have great SMS and TG16 collections when I was younger, but as time and newer systems came about I foolishly got rid of that good stuff. When Ebay came about I was able to find my good old favorites once again...and some others I hadn't even had back then! Say what you want about ebay, but the bottom line is that I have alot of great games I used to love (and still do) because of it. I would never have gotten as much as I have now without it.

[Videogamerdaryll]

I didn't choose Ebay...But That would be the best answer....for me atleast.

I've really added a ton of stuff to my collection with the help of Ebay...

But I was looking at the poll question in a more gaming/gamer point of view.
I would think Online gaming would be a very big thing to happen in the last 5 years...for gamers..

[briskbc]

It was a toss up between online gaming and eBay. I made the decision based on the impact eBay has had on my interest in gaming. It has been educational as well as interesting. It was key in sparking my interest in collecting games. It has also gotten me out of some financial scrapes that would have otherwise taken a significant toll.

[YoshiM]

I had to say Ebay. If you couldn't find something you wanted and you or someone you knew had Internet access, all it took was a quick jump to Ebay and you usually found the item in question. And that's not just for classics. When the PS2 came out and stores got about 2 to distribute amongst 50 people who slept outside in the cold and rain, those people dried off and went to Ebay to find their system. Not only did it benefit the buyer as there was a plethora of systems available but it benefitted the sellers as the price was driven up two or three times what they purchased the system for in the stores.

[FrankLee]

I chose online gaming becuase i like playing agaisnt other people etc.

[ghsqb]

I would have to agree with the earlier replies that mentioned Ebay.
Nothing can duplicate the availability of all these items.
True, the price you pay for this convenience has continued to escalate, but it is a great resource.

[le geek]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Sega Dreamcast. The quality of games on that system was phenominal!!! Having been spoiled on it makes the games on other systems lose a lot of their next gen luster...

Cheers,
Ben

[maxlords]

eBay, no question. Never have the obscure games and systems been so available to so many. I doubt I'd have my TG16 collection or Saturn imports or other imports if it wasn't for eBay. It opened gateways to collectors and gamers everywhere.

[dave2236]

le geek, Are you voting for the 128 bit graphics or the dreamcast itself?

Also ebay is a huge factor, BUT by far the boggest advancement HAS to be the Digit Press Forums. without the forums we wouldn't even be discussing this and pretty much no one her would know each other, except the MODS

Thank you Digit Press, thank you for giving geeks like me a home. :D

[swlovinist]

Although I voted for Ebay, I feel that the internet in general has helped gamers and collectors in general like me for collaborating together and to find the games that are no longer in the spotlight. Ebay has its faults and definately has fraud, but overall it has helped me not only make money but find EXACTLY what I am looking for! As for games being mainstream, I think has really hurt the business, with mass quantity of games being made now with little quality control in the equation. I just saw that they are going to make an American Idol game.............I didnt think that Mary Kate and Ashley games could be outdone for pure schlock! LOL

[Gunstarhero]

I picked Ebay because I can get any game I want now, as long as I'm willing to pay for it. Sure games are still rare, but they are no longer inaccessible thanks to ebay.

[Scoots]

I vote for "everyone buying next gen systems and dumping all their old games for me to buy in thrifts and yard sales"

[chadtower]

Actually, I wouldn't say any of these things. Ebay has been great for collectors but not as great for gamers. It's driven the prices of everything so high that the truly great games are often priced beyond the average gamer's price range (Panzer Dragoon Saga, anyone?). The 128 bit graphics are pretty but they've made game designers so lazy that they don't bother making playable games nearly as often. The GBA is nice but not everyone enjoys lugging an expensive piece of hardware around with them.

I'd have to say the reemergence of real competition in the hardware market. Sega clearly couldn't cut it in the US market even though they were making great consoles with great games. Nintendo really only produces great things when they're forced to do so by competition. The emergence of Sony and Microsoft has resulted in gamers having a lot more choices than they had 5 years ago. Each of those systems has its own vibe and its own strengths and weaknesses so that possibly for the first time anyone can get something that really caters to their preferences rather than trying to merge their preferences with what is available.

[Nature Boy]

I decided to pick the Mainstream option.

The way I see it, being more mainstream means that more companies become interested in getting into the hobby. And more companies means more competition. Which means lower prices on new stuff, and also that, with the market being crowded, the games should get better too. It also means that finding games becomes easier (if the hobby were obscure you might have to drive a fair distance in order to get stuff for older systems say).

eBay I might call important for classic gaming, but I'm not sold on eBay's impact yet (and it does nothing for modern gaming IMO). I think too often of the losers hyping that "RARE E.T." cart all the time, and that can't be good (some inexperienced gamer is going to buy it, feel burned, and turn away).

Online gaming I have no interest in at this point, so I wouldn't call it important. It'll be intersting to see how it progresses in the console world.

[Arqueologia_Digital]

Ebay!!!!!, the nº 1 resource for classic video gaming buys...