It's the end of the year and gaming sites everywhere are pumping out token top 10 lists where people go to have their precious opinions validated. So I found these sibling lists from gamesindustry.biz refreshing and provides a good overview for the status quo and how things are changing.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-12-27-game-on-the-winners-of-2013

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-12-26-game-over-the-losers-of-2013

Winners:

1. Twitch

2. Finland and Sweden

3. Respawn (Titanfall)

4. Oculus VR

5. Indies

6. MOBAs

Losers:

1. Microconsoles (Ouya)

2. Wii U

3. Insomniac Games (Fuse)

4. Digital Pricing (Consoles and microtransactions)

5. id Software

6. Microsoft

What I find the most interesting is how big game streaming and video personalities have become (the most popular YouTube channel is a gaming one) so it's interesting how Twitch is moving forward strongly, while simultaneously YouTube seems intent on driving a lot of their channels away. Twitch could probably stand to gain a lot from that if they expand their service. Then there's also the ever-looming Oculus Rift which has recieved nothing but universal praise from the people who have experienced it. This thing might just explode to the point where it'll render the latest consoles hopelessly outdated within a few years (unless they can find some way to make them feasibly VR-compatible).

Twitch?

It really svcks how unpopular the Wii U is, considering it's easily the best next-gen system in terms of it's game library.

I still don't see this Oculus thing taking off. For the same reasons that none of the display headsets have ever taken off. No one wants to wear them. No wants to be seen in them, nor does anyone want to be seen playing a game wearing one of these.

Wii U has had a bit of a second wind in Japan lately, no doubt spurred by the latest batch of Nintendo games. I don't think they can count on their strategy of first party titles driving the console's success anymore though.

Get celebrity sponsorship and market them as fashion accessories. Worked for the hideous looking Beats by Dre!

I really wouldn't say indie games are winners this year at all. I can't name one that isn't just another money pit into development hell that came out in the last year.

I agree, the exact same reason why 3D TV's failed.

If someone doesn't feel comfortable wearing this. http://www.sonyinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/PIA0001002059.png

They won't want to wear this. http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/51d1949aecad04ad3e000000/heres-what-happened-when-we-strapped-a-bunch-of-people-into-the-oculus-rift-virtual-reality-headset.jpg

Rockstar obviously.

How so?

Here we go...

GTA V