TIME Magazine Picks GT3 as one of 50 Best Videogames of All Time

[Pfei]

Link here: http://time.com/4458554/best-video-games-all-time/

It scored #45 out of 50.

"As Microsoft Flight Simulator to the flight sim genre, so Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismoseries to hi-fi motorsport hot-rodding. Of all the Gran Turismo games, 2001’s Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec for the PlayStation 2 remains the series’ apotheosis, a madly ambitious encyclopedia of lovingly modeled vehicles and vistas surpassing the wildest gear nut fantasies. Here was a racing game to rule all others, that on its surface promised endless championship events framed by thrillingly realistic physics and painstakingly replicated visuals, but that also catered to armchair grease monkeys, who might spend hours fine-tuning then gawking at their drop-dead gorgeous rides."

There are some real classics on that list. Brings back lots of memories! I am not happy to see multiple versions of Mario Bros and Zelda.

And #6 was very surprising given how "new" it is.

 

[dice1998]

Huh. I'm somewhat surprised Metal Gear didn't make the list.

 

[Pfei]

Huh. I'm somewhat surprised Metal Gear didn't make the list.

I am also very surprised at that omission. For sure instead of repeating some games with sequels they would have selected things like Metal Gear or even Metroid.

 

[MeanElf]

So, that's the state of journalism now?

 

[Pfei]

So, that's the state of journalism now?

I personally despise TIME magazine and most other print media. That said, no matter who penned the list, it was evidently based on many factors (popularity, sales, cultural influence, etc...).

GT3 making any list like this is a pretty big feat for a PS exclusive racing game. Mario Kart is the only other "racing" game on the list.

 

[Jawehawk]

Might just be one of the worst top ?? video game lists I've ever seen

 

[BKGlover]

TIME made this list? Christ they must be desperate for material. That said, the title automatically sets the wrong precedent. 50 Greatest? OK, maybe. 50 Best? #50 is a Sierra Text Adventure, even if it's the best one that ends the argument there.

I am not happy to see multiple versions of Mario Bros and Zelda.

On the flip side, I'm relieved it's only two apiece as too many people would populate a list with nothing but nintendo crap.

Might just be one of the worst top ?? video game lists I've ever seen

Well...They made their list, why shouldn't we, and we can do it better.

 

[niky]

I don't see what's wrong with the list.

I mean, all "Top" videogame lists, unless they are based purely on sales/downloads (in which case, Flappy Bird would crap right over a lot of these classics), are completely subjective.

As it is, it's a nice, balanced view of the games market over the past few decades and some of the more influential games out there.

All I'd add to the list, perhaps, is Diablo, MGS2 and Prince of Persia (or Karateka).

 

[MeanElf]

I personally despise TIME magazine and most other print media. That said, no matter who penned the list, it was evidently based on many factors (popularity, sales, cultural influence, etc...).

GT3 making any list like this is a pretty big feat for a PS exclusive racing game. Mario Kart is the only other "racing" game on the list.

No problems with the list as such - more the word usage. That one contributor's style was like trying to read a the words aloud on choppy water, in a speed boat.

Preferences I suppose. Still, it's good as you say that the fringe genre of racing even got a mention.

 

[Tornado]

It's a rather bizarre list. Number placement notwithstanding, most of them seem to be based on influence and impact they had on the industry more than anything, which is fine and probably the "fairest" way to do it since games that are terrible don't usually set standards like games that were excellent do. Then it changes up and makes some be based on how trendy it is to talk them up, like Fallout 3, the Tomb Raider game from literally last year and NFL 2K5. To write this with a straight face:

Fallout 3 showed us what a haunting and freewheeling post-apocalyptic masterpiece could look like.

Just makes the guy sound like an idiot. Fallout 3 probably belongs on the list anyway, but the person should actually have experience with the history of the tropes it contains before he tries to justify it.



King's Quest III and Call of Duty 2 in particular are very odd compared to the original and fourth game (respectively), as well; since the former was nothing more than another sequel to what was the original killer app for PC games on a conceptual level and the latter came out when fatigue over the genre was already in full force. And then you get the more middling things, like who would put Final Fantasy VI over Chrono Trigger? And Galaga is just kind of weird if Space Invaders is already on there,

Brings back lots of memories! I am not happy to see multiple versions of Mario Bros and Zelda.

I am also very surprised at that omission. For sure instead of repeating some games with sequels they would have selected things like Metal Gear or even Metroid.

There are some surprising omissions on the list (Symphony of the Night, MGS and Super Metroid are the biggest that come to mind) and a handful of games that are blatantly out of place for their inclusion (the original Mortal Kombat was always trash, for example; and including it instead of at least Mortal Kombat II makes Street Fighter II's exclusion all the more conspicuous), but it would be patently ridiculous to limit either of those two series to a single entry because of some sort of quota. Frankly, 50 games isn't a lot to cover the spread of the entire history of the industry across all platforms, particularly when you are throwing in things like games about American football because of an Internet conspiracy theory, so something big is going to have to be left out when the list is that needlessly broad.

On the flip side, I'm relieved it's only two apiece as too many people would populate a list with nothing but nintendo crap

Yeah, damn those people for populating a "best games ever" list with games by a company with one of the better batting averages in the industry.

 

[Pfei]

I also have trouble following why there are so many sequels on the list when the original was the real ground-breaker.

Talking sports games, another game missing is Winning Eleven (or PES as it's known now).

And then there's Ultima. I was surprised to not see any of them on the list.

Anyway, the important thing here is that GT3 is on this list no matter how much we disagree with the article content. Of the 50 games in the list, GT3 really is an "odd man out" and I think it's great to see the mainstream press give the series the recognition it deserves...

 

[BKGlover]

Yeah, damn those people for populating a "best games ever" list with games by a company with one of the better batting averages in the industry.

You've been around the internet a hell of a lot longer than I have, you know what I meant.

 

[Wolfe]

Mario Kart is the only other "racing" game on the list.

Mario Kart is as much a racing game as the likes of Blur or WipEout. SMK also predates the uncontrolled mayhem of MKWii, which does undermine the point of racing with its cruel equalization. SMK is the fraternal twin of F-ZERO and arguably more of a racing championship, since you compete for points instead of just surviving by finishing on the podium against the same three opponents.

But I do think the handling physics in SMK haven't stood the test of time like F-ZERO has.

...And then you get the more middling things, like who would put Final Fantasy VI over Chrono Trigger?

I might. It's hard to choose. However, given the apparent appeal to influence/impact like you said, I actually thought FFVI was unnecessary with FFVII on the list. It could be replaced with Earthbound, with its lasting cult appeal as shown recently by the Undertale phenomenon, or Xenoblade Chronicles, which helped resuscitate the JRPG genre and was influential enough to imprint itself on Final Fantasy XV, no small nod considering how large of an undertaking that latter game has been.

 

[Tornado]

You've been around the internet a hell of a lot longer than I have, you know what I meant.

No, I really don't. Perhaps tone down the righteous indignation a tad and explain what the issue is.

 

[BKGlover]

No, I really don't. Perhaps tone down the righteous indignation a tad and explain what the issue is.

Wait...seriously? Well...now that I've managed to garner your distain as well because I'm stupid as 🤬, The issue comes from idiots who "compile" a similar list, usually smaller but not always, where they claim to be un-biased, then proceed to list off about 15 Mario games (with half being the spin-off sports games), 7 LoZ games (sometimes including that crossbow trainer thing), A couple Metroids (a handfull actually listed Other M), Smash Bros., and any number of Pokemon games. Maybe a little exaggeration, but there were, and from time to time still are, moments where I have to stop reading the list and re-read the intro paragraph and titles to make sure it wasn't/isn't a Nintendo-only list. I've had the displeasure of dealing with a few of these fanboys in person as well, and they hammered home the notion that people choose to remain ignorant.

I'll take my idiocy elsewhere now.