What do you think was the Golden Age of PC gaming......

Got to agree with those who mentioned 1997, easily one of the best years in gaming :)

Maroxad

Yeah look at this lineup for '97:

• Diablo (full game)
• GLQuake + both expansions
• Quake 2
• Dungeon Keeper
• Fallout
• Longbow 2 (probably still the best 'copter sim ever)
• Curse of Monkey Island
• Close Combat: A bridge too far
• MDK
• Total Annihilation
• Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2
• Age of Empires
• X-Com: Apocalypse
• Tomb Raider 2
• The Last Express
• Seven Kingdoms
• Twinsen's Odyssey
• Hexen 2
• Dark Reign: The Future of War (most overlooked strategy game ever?)
• Warlords III: Reign of Heroes
• Nuclear Strike
• Panzer General 2
• The Space Bar
• Realms of the Haunting
• Wing Commander Prophecy
• Myth: the Fallen Lords
• Outlaws
• Blood
• Blade Runner
• Interstate '76

wow, thats 30 games in just 1 year! Nearly all these were made for PC first :)

nowadays you are lucky to have half that number of excellent games :(

Some of these have faded out over time because the company fell under or they just can't be played on todays systems outside of buying on Gog.com, but excellent games nevertheless.

2004-2006 because of Half life, counter strike, WoW, Guild Wars, battlefield 2, and other great games made primarily for the PC.coolmonkeykid

Give me Starsiege: Tribes and Half-Life+mods with a lively, active online community and I'm set for life.

Late 90s for the win.

1998-2002 definitely.

However 1997 still remains the best PC gaming year for me personally. I have a good feeling 2011 is going to be remembered for some time. Many fantastic, high quality games are on the way.

I will actually say up to 2005 when the Xbox 360 launched. Until then the PC had the absolute advatange. The current generation of consoles really blur that advantage that PC gaming has. Gaming is now not really held back by console games. Sure PC games look better and can play better, but more and more console titles are just as quality as PC games.

It's not sad to see to be honest. I love the fact that the game market is expanding. The consoles have enough juice in them to keep pushing games while still expanding the market.

There will always be a place for pure PC gaming, no matter how big the console market gets. I think PC gamers are to threatened by the console market. We all need to realize that it's not harming us like we think. We are getting far more quality titles than ever before because of it. Never before has so many AAA games reached the market as they have since 2005. We may whine and moan how consoles games are ruining everything, but look back on PC gaming, AAA titles didn't come in the quantity they do now.

It's all just something to think about.

The Golden Age = The Big Box Age. As far as I'm concerned, PC gaming started going downhill once they started using those mini-boxes, which happens to be around 2001.

I will actually say up to 2005 when the Xbox 360 launched. Until then the PC had the absolute advatange. The current generation of consoles really blur that advantage that PC gaming has. Gaming is now not really held back by console games. Sure PC games look better and can play better, but more and more console titles are just as quality as PC games.

It's not sad to see to be honest. I love the fact that the game market is expanding. The consoles have enough juice in them to keep pushing games while still expanding the market.

There will always be a place for pure PC gaming, no matter how big the console market gets. I think PC gamers are to threatened by the console market. We all need to realize that it's not harming us like we think. We are getting far more quality titles than ever before because of it. Never before has so many AAA games reached the market as they have since 2005. We may whine and moan how consoles games are ruining everything, but look back on PC gaming, AAA titles didn't come in the quantity they do now.

It's all just something to think about.

Wasdie

[QUOTE="KHAndAnime"]1998-2002. No contest. :) PC Gaming was pretty solid up until 2004/2005, and has been sort of sliding downhill for me since. Xtasy26

I agree with this. Even up to 2005 PC gaming was solid. I believe over the last 5 years the two exceptions would be Crysis and Crysis Warhead which was specifically developed for the PC. It seems it has been medicore over the last 5 years due to consilitis. Just look what happened to the F.E.A.R., the first F.E.A.R. was great for the PC than the second one was a flop, they didn't even have a lean button because of "consolitis".

Crysis? Crysis? Crysis? Really? Good job on researching PC only games developed in the last 5 years...

Late '80s, early '90s. Landmark innovations, breakthrough technologies, entire genres were invented. All this through smallish companies that really put a personal touch on their games.

2002 - 2006, definitely.

Silent Assassin, Blood Money, Max Payne 2, Mafia, Oblivion, Far Cry, Half-Life 2, Doom 3, Quake 4, and a lot of other great titles that I enjoyed.

The Golden Age = The Big Box Age. As far as I'm concerned, PC gaming started going downhill once they started using those mini-boxes, which happens to be around 2001.

DOS4dinner

[QUOTE="DOS4dinner"]

The Golden Age = The Big Box Age. As far as I'm concerned, PC gaming started going downhill once they started using those mini-boxes, which happens to be around 2001.

dos4gw82

agreed.....then I won't go so crazy over Steam

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

I will actually say up to 2005 when the Xbox 360 launched. Until then the PC had the absolute advatange. The current generation of consoles really blur that advantage that PC gaming has. Gaming is now not really held back by console games. Sure PC games look better and can play better, but more and more console titles are just as quality as PC games.

It's not sad to see to be honest. I love the fact that the game market is expanding. The consoles have enough juice in them to keep pushing games while still expanding the market.

There will always be a place for pure PC gaming, no matter how big the console market gets. I think PC gamers are to threatened by the console market. We all need to realize that it's not harming us like we think. We are getting far more quality titles than ever before because of it. Never before has so many AAA games reached the market as they have since 2005. We may whine and moan how consoles games are ruining everything, but look back on PC gaming, AAA titles didn't come in the quantity they do now.

It's all just something to think about.

TerrorRizzing

It's not just that. Now that consoles are nearly as limiting as they once were, we see a decline in PC exlusives. The age of the PC is really over. Next generation of consoles will close the gap even more.

Can I add another category for 1995 - 2004?

After 2004 everything seems to have begun its long, slow death. Not saying there are no good games there, but with exception of some RPGs and the occasional shooter everything is basically a console port.

It was always golden, and will forever remain like that.

DOS times in the early 90s. The 3DFX times are over-rated. But the early GeForce times were very good.

Can I add another category for 1995 - 2004?

After 2004 everything seems to have begun its long, slow death. Not saying there are no good games there, but with exception of some RPGs and the occasional shooter everything is basically a console port.

Fusionmix

Thats good but I still say the ultimate "sweet spot" for PC gaming is 1997-2000 (4 years inclusive)

I like 2002 and 2004 but I think each of the year's in the "sweet spot" are better.

I'd go so far as to say the years 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000 are the top 4 PC Gaming years ever, in whichever order you choose.

DOS times in the early 90s. The 3DFX times are over-rated. But the early GeForce times were very good.

nameless12345

hmmm....have to disagree there, the rise of CD-Rom games, Windows '95, and 3dfx launched us into the "sweet spot", the years I described in my last post.

As I've said before, even the PC gaming magazines were at their peak.....unfortunately 2 of the big 3 are now gone.

i have several games still installed on my pc from 1999-present, my absolute best gaming experience has always been on the pc... If pc gaming declines anymore than it has and consoles take over I'm done with gaming.

From XCOM in '93 to Half Life 2 in '04. There were a few slumps and a few exceptions, but those years were the best. Not to say there arent still good PC devs, but they sure as hell don't work for any major publishing houses.

[QUOTE="TerrorRizzing"][QUOTE="Wasdie"]

I will actually say up to 2005 when the Xbox 360 launched. Until then the PC had the absolute advatange. The current generation of consoles really blur that advantage that PC gaming has. Gaming is now not really held back by console games. Sure PC games look better and can play better, but more and more console titles are just as quality as PC games.

It's not sad to see to be honest. I love the fact that the game market is expanding. The consoles have enough juice in them to keep pushing games while still expanding the market.

There will always be a place for pure PC gaming, no matter how big the console market gets. I think PC gamers are to threatened by the console market. We all need to realize that it's not harming us like we think. We are getting far more quality titles than ever before because of it. Never before has so many AAA games reached the market as they have since 2005. We may whine and moan how consoles games are ruining everything, but look back on PC gaming, AAA titles didn't come in the quantity they do now.

It's all just something to think about.

Wasdie

It's not just that. Now that consoles are nearly as limiting as they once were, we see a decline in PC exlusives. The age of the PC is really over. Next generation of consoles will close the gap even more.

At the end of the day lets face it, pc still has by far the most high quality exclusive content and is the only place that can satisfy todays pc gamer.

I can't decide whether Steam has had, in the short term, a negative effect or a positive effect on the state of the platform. On one hand, the dwindling retail distribution gives the platform a bad image to outsiders, perhaps discouraging potential players. On the other hand, it has embraced the internet as a method of distribution and seems to be creating some structure for its chaotic nature (i.e. discouraging piracy). If Steam hasn't created a 'Golden Age' now, then I suppose it will do so some time in the future. Opinions?kdawg88

Quite the conundrum dawg, I'll have to give that some thought. Good thinking. I'd expect no less from you!

Just going by the poll options, 98-02 easily for me.
-Rainbow Six

-Rogue Spear

-Age of Empires 2

-Everquest (pre-Luclin)

-Starcraft

-Jedi Knight/Mysteries of the Sith

-Battlefield 1942

-Baldur's Gate 2

-Half-life

-Unreal Tournament

-Quake 3 Arena

I can't decide whether Steam has had, in the short term, a negative effect or a positive effect on the state of the platform. On one hand, the dwindling retail distribution gives the platform a bad image to outsiders, perhaps discouraging potential players. On the other hand, it has embraced the internet as a method of distribution and seems to be creating some structure for its chaotic nature (i.e. discouraging piracy). If Steam hasn't created a 'Golden Age' now, then I suppose it will do so some time in the future. Opinions?kdawg88

[QUOTE="Maroxad"]

Got to agree with those who mentioned 1997, easily one of the best years in gaming :)

AFBrat77

Yeah look at this lineup for '97:

• Diablo (full game)
• GLQuake + both expansions
• Quake 2
• Dungeon Keeper
• Fallout
• Longbow 2 (probably still the best 'copter sim ever)
• Curse of Monkey Island
• Close Combat: A bridge too far
• MDK
• Total Annihilation
• Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2
• Age of Empires
• X-Com: Apocalypse
• Tomb Raider 2
• The Last Express
• Seven Kingdoms
• Twinsen's Odyssey
• Hexen 2
• Dark Reign: The Future of War (most overlooked strategy game ever?)
• Warlords III: Reign of Heroes
• Nuclear Strike
• Panzer General 2
• The Space Bar
• Realms of the Haunting
• Wing Commander Prophecy
• Myth: the Fallen Lords
• Outlaws
• Blood
• Blade Runner
• Interstate '76

wow, thats 30 games in just 1 year! Nearly all these were made for PC first :)

nowadays you are lucky to have half that number of excellent games :(

Some of these have faded out over time because the company fell under or they just can't be played on todays systems outside of buying on Gog.com, but excellent games nevertheless.

Great list. Brings back memories. For me 1998 will always be a watershed moment for me in PC gaming. I think this was the year where we had ground breaking titles starting with Half-Life which revolutioned the FPS genre. Not to mention great titles like Thief, Unreal, Forsaken, the original Need For Speed Hot Pursuit, Shogo: Mobile Armour Division, Starcraft, Heretic II, Sin and I could go on and on.

Also, I think this was also the year where games really started to take advantage of 3D acceleration because we were well on our way onto the second generation of 3D accelerator starting with the Voodoo 2. Games really started to take advantage of 3D acceleration which in my mind was the greatest leap in graphics in gaming. Alot of the games from 1997 didn't use 3D acceleration due to the fact that 3D acceleration was still in it's infancy. 1998 was the year where it really took off.

[QUOTE="Xtasy26"]

[QUOTE="KHAndAnime"]1998-2002. No contest. :) PC Gaming was pretty solid up until 2004/2005, and has been sort of sliding downhill for me since. SkullShooter17

I agree with this. Even up to 2005 PC gaming was solid. I believe over the last 5 years the two exceptions would be Crysis and Crysis Warhead which was specifically developed for the PC. It seems it has been medicore over the last 5 years due to consilitis. Just look what happened to the F.E.A.R., the first F.E.A.R. was great for the PC than the second one was a flop, they didn't even have a lean button because of "consolitis".

Crysis? Crysis? Crysis? Really? Good job on researching PC only games developed in the last 5 years...

Hey those were the two FPS's on the PC that were developed specifically for the PC that I actually liked. Can you name any other FPS shooter developed for the PC over the past 5 years?

Present. The most dynamic and diverse PC gaming landscape ever, and just as innovative.

right now

with steam , d2d, impulse..etc....all giving amazing deals fairly often.....indie game development exploding...not just shovelware games but stuff that is actually fun and has replayability...technology is starting to allow features to be added to games that would have never been here before...

1999 FTW. Gaming heaven.

I'm hoping you guys will let this topic drop so i can put up a similar topic with better divisions in the future.

Though of course I didn't help matters here by posting.

To me the most original games came between 1998-2002 most notably Age of Empires and the Total War games.

Its because of those games I've been reluctant to upgrade my PC...

the categorizations are just horrible, imho. first, where do years 1998, 2002, and 2006 belong, since they're mentioned in more than one 'era'?

but the bigger problem is the pre-94 categorization. perhaps most people here are too young, but that's a poop-ton of games. i don't know if any of the other categorizations can possibly beat the following list of games:

castle wolfenstein, lode runner, most of the sierra adventure games, including most in the king's quest, quest for glory, space quest, police quest, and leisure suit larry series, jumpman, many of the lucasarts adventure games, including maniac mansion, the best of the monkey island series, loom, and indiana jones series, sim city, civilization, out of this world, lemmings, alone in the dark (original), lands of lore, star control series, the best of the ultima, wizardry, and might & magic, series, ultima underworld, red baron, aces of the pacific, dune 2, darklands, commanche: maxium overkill, links 386, and probably a poop-ton more that i'm forgetting or haven't played.

and that's not even mentioning the excellent 1993: maniac mansion: day of the tentacle, x-com: ufo defense, gabriel knight: sins of the fathers, master of orion, veil of darkness, eric the unready, sam & max hit the road, betrayal at krondor, caesar, star wars: x-wing, simon the sorcerer, doom, leisure suit larry 6: shape up or slip out, space quest 5: the next mutation, quest for glory 4, shadows of darkness, the 7th guest, dark sun: the shattered lands, might & magic 5: darkside of xeen, etc. i mean, seriously, are you going to say that any 'era' is going to beat the pre-94 'era'?

the categorizations are just horrible, imho. first, where do years 1998, 2002, and 2006 belong, since they're mentioned in more than one 'era'?

but the bigger problem is the pre-94 categorization. perhaps most people here are too young, but that's a poop-ton of games. i don't know if any of the other categorizations can possibly beat the following list of games:

castle wolfenstein, lode runner, most of the sierra adventure games, including most in the king's quest, quest for glory, space quest, police quest, and leisure suit larry series, jumpman, many of the lucasarts adventure games, including maniac mansion, the best of the monkey island series, loom, and indiana jones series, sim city, civilization, out of this world, lemmings, alone in the dark (original), lands of lore, star control series, the best of the ultima, wizardry, and might & magic, series, ultima underworld, red baron, aces of the pacific, dune 2, darklands, commanche: maxium overkill, links 386, and probably a poop-ton more that i'm forgetting or haven't played.

and that's not even mentioning the excellent 1993: maniac mansion: day of the tentacle, x-com: ufo defense, gabriel knight: sins of the fathers, master of orion, veil of darkness, eric the unready, sam & max hit the road, betrayal at krondor, caesar, star wars: x-wing, simon the sorcerer, doom, leisure suit larry 6: shape up or slip out, space quest 5: the next mutation, quest for glory 4, shadows of darkness, the 7th guest, dark sun: the shattered lands, might & magic 5: darkside of xeen, etc. i mean, seriously, are you going to say that any 'era' is going to beat the pre-94 'era'?

succulent_toes

Tried to make that point but you did it so much better. I've had fun and that's my criteria for liking games in all the times mentioned but I think I've had the most fun with these early games. If I use what I remember most fondly as a barometer then it really is no contest.

For me, it was the mid to late 90's. The age of flight sims like X-Wing, TIE-Fighter, Freespace 1 & 2, and some seriously indepth RPGs like Baldur's Gate, Planescape, Arcanum (patched of course).

Diablo II came out in 2000...end of story :P.

Seriously I like all times though, but I will pick 98-02 anyway.

[QUOTE="SkullShooter17"]

[QUOTE="Xtasy26"]

I agree with this. Even up to 2005 PC gaming was solid. I believe over the last 5 years the two exceptions would be Crysis and Crysis Warhead which was specifically developed for the PC. It seems it has been medicore over the last 5 years due to consilitis. Just look what happened to the F.E.A.R., the first F.E.A.R. was great for the PC than the second one was a flop, they didn't even have a lean button because of "consolitis".

Xtasy26

Crysis? Crysis? Crysis? Really? Good job on researching PC only games developed in the last 5 years...

Hey those were the two FPS's on the PC that were developed specifically for the PC that I actually liked. Can you name any other FPS shooter developed for the PC over the past 5 years?