Which game had the biggest impact on the gaming world for its genre?

[Pr⊕phet]

Which game had a big impact on the gaming world for its genre?

...Let's try this again. Much simpler way

Simply say which game you think in it's genre had a big impact. Also give a reason


Let's work with RTS, FPS, RPG, MMO and Point and click (?). If I've missed one of the mayor catogories please note the addition in your reply.

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FPS
Quake - because of the graphics engine using polygons. (Pr⊕phet)
Half life - good depart from just run and gun, the mechanics wow. (Pr⊕phet)
Half life - telling a story in the game world instead of just using cutscenes and manuals (MOnk)
Half life - It was the first very lengthy FPS that played out like a suspence/action film (in game) and has spanned over a decade into a legacy (Glordit)

Point and click
Maniac mansion - for introducing the scumm engine. (Jabberwocky)
Gabriel Knight Series - (Glordit)

RTS
Command and Conquer - Defining it (_Caboose_)
StarCraft - Perfecting it (_Caboose_)
Dune 2 - Defining it as a whole (Solitude)
Dungeon Keeper 1 & 2 - very unique game play/story (Glordit)

RPG
System Shock / System Shock 2 - Combining RPG elements with an FPS, giving your character progression beyond just having access to more guns (MOnk)

Expansion packs
Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction - how good expansion packs can be (Eugene)
Half-life: Opposing Force - how good expansion packs can be (Eugene)

[Jabberwocky]

Point & Click - Engine - Maniac mansion for introducing the scumm engine

[Pr⊕phet]

Point & Click - Engine - Maniac mansion for introducing the scumm engine

Scumm engine, now that was a beauty. Added

[Pr⊕phet]

OP changed to be more simplistic less bloat approach

[MOnk]

Well Quake wasn't the first game to use Polygon graphics this was.

When you are talking about Half-Life it would probably be best know for being the first FPS game to tell the story in the game world, rather than cut scenes or manuals.

[Maxil]

FPS - COD4:
It was (is) great.
MP: moddable. very small to large maps. hosting side customizability. leveling with the unlocks. perk unlocks. weapon customization. many gameplay types. scaleable (applicable at the time) from low end pcs upwards. LAN. Great community!

SP: great story.

not a lot was COD specific, but it brought it in a ALL-IN-ONE package.
changed my FPS gaming forever.

MMO - Wow
it was huge. so much to do with so many friends.
Massive timesink. YOU ALWAYS HAD SOMETHING TO DO.
It basically broke other RPGs/MMOs.

[Pr⊕phet]

Well Quake wasn't the first game to use Polygon graphics this was.

good to know

When you are talking about Half-Life it would probably be best know for being the first FPS game to tell the story in the game world, rather than cut scenes or manuals.

yeah, other than mechanics HL had story. Added.

[_Caboose_]

RTS - Command and Conquer (Defined it) but StarCraft (Perfected it)

Both a worthy mention

[Solitude]

RTS - Command and Conquer (Defined it) but StarCraft (Perfected it)

Both a worthy mention

That's a difficult one. See, Command and Conquer probably did define some RTS elements but Dune 2 is the original and for me defined RTS as a whole.

[Glordit]

RTS - Dungeon Keeper 1 & 2 (very unique game play/story)
Point and Click - Gabriel Knight Series
Half-Life (It was the first very lengthy FPS that played out like a suspence/action film (in game) and has spanned over a decade into a legacy)