Before I begin I'd like to make an apology for my lack of contributions to the board this year.. and last.. probably the year before too.  Parenthood takes up most of my time now day's.  Whilst being busy I have managed to keep track of this years events and thought it was such an interesting year that it was worthy of a little article. 


2015 has been quite a roller coaster for the gaming industry.  This was one of those year's which affected gamer's in only one of two ways - good or bad.  No intermediates or in-bet weens. I personally can't exactly remember the last time we've had such a year of advancement and diversity.  It has also been a year of development branch closure - or consolidation (whichever way you look at it) with many major companies buying out smaller companies.  The era of AAA games is shining brighter than ever with less minor releases and now an emphasis on developing fewer but more rich-blockbuster titles.

This year shows the first real signs of a slow and painful last-gen closure, with many new games only available on current-gen.  The PS3 and XB360 have provided us with many years of enjoyment and if your looking to play the latest titles it seems now the time has come to upgrade. 

This year's more "popular" events in brief:

- Sony sold it's "Sony Online Entertainment" to Daybreak Game Company (known for MMO's like Everquest, Star Wars Galaxies and Planetside)
- Nintendo and DeNA created a partnership to develop games for smart devices.  SDK's were deployed.  
- Microsoft deploys its Windows 10 + Xbox One cross platform program.  
- Microsoft begins its backwards compatibility program
- Major developmental signs of VR with Playstation showing a very keen interest.  
- Activision and Blizzard establish film studio - Activision Blizzard Studios.  
- Hideo Kojima breaks free from Konami and reestablishes independant studio Kojima Productions.  
- Tatsumi Kimishima is apointed Nintendo's new president following the death of Satoru Iwata.  

This years more anticipated releases:

- Bloodborne
- Dying Light
- Evolve
- The Order: 1886
- Batman: Arkham Kight
- Battlefield Hardline
- Mortal Kombat X
- The Witcher 3
- MGS: Phantom Pain
- Assassins Creed: Syndicate
- Starwars: Battlefront
- R6: Siege
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Fallout 4
- COD: Black Ops III

Just about all of this year's anticipated releases made it on schedule with the exclusion of Tom Clancy's The Division.  The major title which is being developed across 3 studios -  Ubisoft Red Storm, Ubisoft Reflections and Massive Entertainment; was originally due to be released in full working order this year.  Due to set-backs, a Beta version was due this decemeber, this also was set-back.  Instead a
select few were offered a closed-alpha testing with the new completion deadline of early 2016. 

Among this years top sellers, there were 5 titles in particular which held up almost equally as good this year, as last.    

- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (released November 2014)
- GTA V (released september 2013)
- Minecraft (targeted release date sept 2014)
- Super Smash Bros (released oct/nov 2014)
- NBA 2K15  (released oct/nov 2014)

As you may have noticed GTA:V has held up particularly well as always.  This is partially due to its late release on PC platform.  

On a more personal note; the game that won this year for me was Fallout 4, what a game.  

I'd like to wish all of the vizzed board a very Happy Christmas and stay safe.  

- Garth

Nice article.

It certainty was an interesting -and in my opinion, incredible- year in gaming. I'm really wondering where we could go from here, I'm sure it'll be fun finding out regardless. Looking forward to it...in ways. Lol

I loved 2015, yeah you had the big games you mention like Black Ops 3, Fallout 4, and Battlefront, but then you have some of the smaller games that may have left a bigger impact such as Rocket League and of course Undertale.

I prefer last year's titles over this year's, but that doesn't mean this year was bad. Some of my favorites from this year include Black Ops III, Star Wars : Battlefront, Undertale (bby), and several others that I can't think of at the top of my head. 2014 was chock FULL of amazing games, though. At least, more than this year. Examples of this are Super Smash Bros. 4, Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, The entire FNAF series (this can be included with 2015 as well), Bravely Default, Titanfall, and several, several others.