Don't want to get into a "GW2 is geat" vs "GW2 sucks" debate, but most of what you have listed there is either untrue or has been done before (ergo not innovative).
You're making the same mistake many other posters make. "Innovation" doesn't mean the same thing as "invention". Even if Dynamic Events have been done before, the role they play in GW2 is quite different, which is why I'd call them innovative.
"Innovation differs from invention in that innovation refers to the use of a better and, as a result, novel idea or method, whereas invention refers more directly to the creation of the idea or method itself." -Wikipedia
"Innovation: In technology, an improvement to something already existing." - Merriam-Webster
Basically, Rift / Whatevergameyouthinkitwas invented DE, but GW2 made them the center of its PvE and improved the formula, so it fits this definition perfectly.
Theres a reason why GW2 has gotten GOTY from most places, because its alctually one of the most innovative games to ever hit the market.
Full on Dynamic Events used to level, not some minor system put inj place to mix up the ? or ? WoW quest system like in WAR or Rift.
No Trinity, making group dynamics so different and varying its astounding how anyone could even think removing the trinity and spreading the power of the group across the entire makeup instead of the tank & Healers is anything but innovative.
Horizontal progression.
only the 2nd time in 14+ years of MMO development has 3 way RvR been implemented.
Open World freeform exploration.
unique and exciting jumping puzzles.
Skills tied to weapons
The ability to make your class the way you want, whether it be a ranged tanky mage or a Healing heavy armored Greatsword wielding healer/support type.
Legendary crafting system which entails months of dedicated activites to satiate the apetite of the most hardcore player.
So many other elements make the game truely innovative but jsut because you hate the game or have an agenda doesnt make your statement any less true.
Don't want to get into a "GW2 is geat" vs "GW2 sucks" debate, but most of what you have listed there is either untrue or has been done before (ergo not innovative).
Dynamic events have been done before.
No trinity has been done before.
It has ladder level progression.
3 way RvR has been done before.
Open world freedom? You are kidding surely. Eitherway that has been done before (and far better) so it's not innovative.
There are restrictions on items/weapons based on class.
A number of games crafting systems have "hardcore" items to try and make.
It is though different to the recent standard themepark model people are used to of late, hence people have taken somewhat more notice of it. It also does some things very well. Hence GW2 probably does deserve the mmorpg of the year (last year) because it was a decent enough game which felt different to WoW in some ways. That and everything else that came out that year sucked balls.
But lets not go OTT, the game is not "muh freedomz open world" nor is it anywhere near as innovative as some try and suggest.
You forgot something. Unique and exciting jumping games. This ranks right up there with WoWs Pokemon garbage. I got over jumping games when Donkey Kong was popular.
In the end all the yearly awards are only guiding folks towards the best releases. Its up to everyone themselves to decide which is the best and suited for you. Just like movie critics.. Cant really argue about tastes. Better yet its silly.
But its certainly not for everyone. Weird as hell, extremely violent, breaks the 4th wall a lot, probably most fast paced game I've played, very "arty" like a commentary on gaming itself.
I have a theory about innovative games. The second a truly innovative game comes along and tries to change the MMO paradigm, the same people who are constantly rambling on about "innovation" will be the same people who moan about it being too different. These game companies could deliver an amazing experience and some of the vets on this forum would find a way to hate it. It's pretty exasperating to read some of the posts here.
Grossly exaggerated... sorta, examples.
"Yea, that game looks good, but it's Asian."
"Game is B2P. Played for 600 hours. Should have unlimited completely dyniamic content. Hate it."
"No open world FFA, full loot PVP? Terrible!"
"Lack of endgame content. I played for 10 hours a day and completed all the raids one month in. Please fix."
"It's a clone of a clone in a clone of a clone. Inception."
"Games are too easy nowadays. I wish games would punish me for mistakes by making a giant fist come out of the monitor and punch me in the dick. That'd be hardcore."
"The game just launched. It needs every feature from the last decade."
"I'm a hardcore PVP'er that loved DAOC. You haven't said your game will have great DAOC style PVP, but I know it's going to and when it doesn't I'm going to complain a lot."
"I want to have to like... pee and poo in an MMO. I want it to be a virtual world. I want to have to eat and drink. Have a wife and kids etc."
If I were in a position to make one of these games, I wouldn't bother listening to forums either because most of the time nobody knows WTF they want, and even if they got it, they'd complain about it.
You may as well get used to the trusty ol' musclecar with a few new parts because no company is going to risk huge sums of money catering to the 1% minority who wants MMO's to be innovative and genre changing.
Just wanted to get that off my chest. Despite my bitching, I still do like this forum, and I usually find excellent posts whenever I read it, but some people here will NEVER be happy with an MMORPG even if it's "the one."
Comments
You're making the same mistake many other posters make. "Innovation" doesn't mean the same thing as "invention". Even if Dynamic Events have been done before, the role they play in GW2 is quite different, which is why I'd call them innovative.
"Innovation differs from invention in that innovation refers to the use of a better and, as a result, novel idea or method, whereas invention refers more directly to the creation of the idea or method itself." -Wikipedia
"Innovation: In technology, an improvement to something already existing." - Merriam-Webster
Basically, Rift / Whatevergameyouthinkitwas invented DE, but GW2 made them the center of its PvE and improved the formula, so it fits this definition perfectly.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/12/25/136421/#more-136421
That's a great list. Not that I agree with all of it, but those are all great games.
I prefer genre-separated lists. Trying to choose between XCOM and FarCry 3 is... well, rather stupid, to be honest. Apples and oranges, etc.
You forgot something. Unique and exciting jumping games. This ranks right up there with WoWs Pokemon garbage. I got over jumping games when Donkey Kong was popular.
IMHO
In the end all the yearly awards are only guiding folks towards the best releases. Its up to everyone themselves to decide which is the best and suited for you. Just like movie critics.. Cant really argue about tastes. Better yet its silly.
Catch you on the planetside!
But its certainly not for everyone. Weird as hell, extremely violent, breaks the 4th wall a lot, probably most fast paced game I've played, very "arty" like a commentary on gaming itself.
i stay here .