History MediaNotes / TheSeventhGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames

Also, the presence of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' as well as the new IP, ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'', caused a resurgence in the 2D FightingGame genre's popularity. Like 2D platformers, it was thought to have been fallen by the wayside due to the presence of more "modern" 3D fighters such as ''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter'' and ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}''. Many other games followed this resurgence like ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'', which restored credibility to a franchise that had long fallen to the PolygonCeiling, ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom'', and ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3''.

** UsefulNotes/XboxKinect

** ''Monster Hunter Freedom Unite''

** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunter2004 Monster Hunter Freedom/Portable]]''

** ''Monster Hunter Portable 3rd''

Ahead of the competition by a year, the first major console launch of the generation was Microsoft's UsefulNotes/Xbox360 in 2005. While it wasn't the first console with the ability to output in [[UsefulNotes/HighDefinition HD resolution]],[[note]]The [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 PS2]] and UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} already had that ability to an extent. Some games do output natively at 720p, but others merely upscale it from a smaller resolution for fairly obvious reasons.[[/note]] it was the first to implement it as a standard for games. It eschewed the PC-based architecture of its predecessor, but used development tools very similar to those used for PC games, retaining the ease of development the original Xbox was famous for. Unfortunately, the early launch was plagued with hardware issues, most infamously the "red ring of death".

This generation cemented online connectivity as an integral feature of gaming on all platforms. In the previous generation, only the Dreamcast and Xbox were designed with online connectivity in mind; the [=PlayStation=] 2 only implemented Internet support after the success of Xbox Live, and Nintendo pretty much gave up on online support for the [=GameCube=] after just a handful of titles. This time, however, all 3 consoles launched with online services. This included not only support for online multiplayer, but UsefulNotes/DigitalDistribution as well. At first, digital offerings were limited to smaller and/or indie games and re-releases of older titles, but by the end of the generation most if not all major Xbox 360 and [=PlayStation=] 3 games[[note]]The Wii's limited storage space of 512 MB precluded the digital distribution of retail games[[/note]] were being made available digitally at the same time they launched in retail stores, a trend that would continue into the next generation.

* ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption''
** ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemptionUndeadNightmare''

* [[/index]]''Franchise/DestroyAllHumans'':[[index]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Devil Summoner}}''

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro''
*** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyroANewBeginning''
*** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyroTheEternalNight''
*** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyroDawnOfTheDragon''

** ''VideoGame/SplinterCellDoubleAgent (Version One)''

** ''[[VideoGame/SpongeBobsTruthOrSquare]]''

* ''VideoGame/TheGrinch2000''

** ''Densetsu no Starfy 4''

** ''Monster Hunter Tri''

Another interesting genre development in this era was the surprising resurgence of the 2D PlatformGame. It was a genre that went by the wayside by the time of the [[UsefulNotes/TheFifthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames fifth generation]] due to the more open polygonal worlds and the success of ''VideoGame/SuperMario64''. However, Creator/{{Nintendo}} revived the genre's popularity with the release of ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'', which overjoyed fans who wanted a new 2D [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]] game last generation. This sparked a movement of classic franchises returning to their roots, especially but not exclusive to those who were met with crushing {{polygon ceiling}}s, such as ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' with ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4 Sonic 4]]'' and ''Franchise/MegaMan'' with ''VideoGame/MegaMan9'' and ''[[VideoGame/MegaMan10 10]]''. NSMB's influence also lead to a good number of original [=IPs=] of 2D platformers such as ''VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet''.