As someone who watches this industry closely (and is no longer particularly impressed by hype or “flavors du jour” I like to look back at a year and think about what happened in the game industry to change things. Past examples are Xbox Live, the Nintendo DS, Guitar Hero, and last year I picked the Nintendo Wii for it’s potential to bring mainstreamers into the fold and expand the market, and acceptance, of video games. So, what’s the significant happening this year? (Is GamerDad going to talk about Rock Band again?)

No, though I truly believe Rock Band is significant and impactful for putting the emphasis on at home multiplayer, instead of Internet play, that’s not my choice. Though my choice is decidedly casual.

My choice? Game Show games.

Really.

The reason why I’m calling this a trend is because the three major console makers seem to agree with me. This year, Smartypants from EA, debuted as a Wii exclusive. A gameshow style game that uses up to four remotes to answer trivia. Microsoft entered into a partnership with popular DVD game Scene It? and despite the fact that the gamepad would work just fine for this, they ship the game with four solid, attractive, and wireless controllers that are satisfying to use and friendly to non-gamers. Sony is pushing Buzz: The Mega Quiz for the supposedly defunct PlayStation 2 (including Buzz Jr., which features children’s minigames) and that game ships with four wired controllers that feature four colored buttons and a big glowing red buzzer button.

What better way to play games with friends and family -whether they play games or not- and ensure a level playing field (okay Wii Bowling is pretty good at this too) and enjoyment for all?

Of the three games Buzz is the strongest and most fun. Scene It? is a game that is normally played by watching a DVD and writing down your score with a pencil. On the 360, the pencil is not required. At least the controllers are pretty though. Smartypants is just okay, but it proves that the Wii can compete with it’s own fancy controllers – new controllers not required.

I’m not sure how well these games are selling (the rapid release schedule of the Buzz games implies they’re selling well), but the concept is long overdue and a long time in coming. Remember back in the day when all we had was crappy versions of Wheel of Fortune and You Don’t Know Jack?

Hmmm, where is You Don’t Know Jack in all this? Sounds like a good time for a come back.

Disagree? Let me know your Trend in the comments section below. You don’t even have to buzz in first – or phrase your answer as a question.

Tags: Misc