1up has compiled a list of game features that, at the time of their releases, influenced the entire industry and all the games that came afterwards. Features that have become staples, in-jokes or both. The only things suspiciously absent are the ubiquitous crates and 'sploding barrels of FPS fame.

On "character customization":

Nothing draws you into a videogame like designing your own character — literally. You can give the onscreen hero your own hairstyle, your own facial features, your own skin tone, and even your own weight! Well, maybe you don't want him resembling you quite THAT closely.

HA HA GAMERS ARE FAT.

Each feature has a screenshot, rundown of the history and specifics of the device, when it was first used, and when it was last used. The latter can be a bit weird; isn't the whole point that every game, at least those in the indicated genre, uses these things now?

An example would be the claim that boss fights were "last used" in God of War and Metroid Prime? How about... nearly every game currently available? Yeah, that sounds good, let's go with that. Eliza Gauger

Playing with Power [1up]

Contact information for this author is not available.