2. Team Fortress 2
Its difficult to think of a time without Team Fortress: a name thats pervaded PC gaming in one form or another since the mid 90s. Originally a user-created mod for Quake, Team Fortress enjoyed underground success before being gobbled up by a growing Valve and ported to the Half-Life engine. A proper sequel was first announced in 1998, but it would be another decade until Team Fortress 2 finally saw release as part of The Orange Box compilation. The ten-year history of TF2 is a fascinating read about ambition, scale and the speed of technology, but thats not why were here. Were interested in the modern history of the franchise, its impact on this generation and the likely influence on those to come. That influence began when TF2 proved it wasnt just another drop in the class-based bucket by abandoning the realistic wartime scheme in favor of an affable cartoon-shooter with a sense of humor and a little heart. Yet under that stylish surface lies remarkably fast, balanced gameplay that fosters competition without losing that inviting atmosphere. Its a complete package for newcomers and the hardcore alike, something you could fawn over and take seriously all at once. The Team Fortress 2 wit, intelligence and larger-than-life personalities -- thanks in part to infectiously viral marketing videos -- softened up a genre that regularly takes itself too seriously, earning an army of loyal fans in the process. Its easy to see these strengths mirrored in titles like Super Monday Night Combat or Gotham City Imposters, cartoonish class-based shooters that have found success with similarly light-hearted personas. Despite the superficial influences of tone or style, Team Fortress 2 made a much larger impact years after its release with the decision to go free-to-play, offering the entire experience for nothing. The free-to-play model had been well-established for years in the PC community, though developers have begun to target this space with renewed vigor and casual titles. Team Fortress 2 can claim no small part in shifting the stigma of free-to-play shooters from third-tier titles, ushering in the realization that quality and polish will cultivate a meaningful audience, regardless of the price model. The quiet introduction of microtransactions established a revenue stream in the form of collectible hats thatlets face itcaught on faster than anyone would have predicted. The later addition of purchasable items that actually effected gameplay allowed players the choice to invest in power, while making sure that those same items could alternatively be collected and crafted for free, by farming materials through standard play. This wisely allowed more frugal players the chance to stay competitive without spending a single red cent. This perfect storm of quality, personality, accessibility and optional investment spawned a movement that continues to thrive, boasting a following that would make most developers swoon. Thanks to Team Fortress 2, big-name publishers are taking chances on quality free-to-play shooters like Tribes: Ascend, Blacklight: Retribution, the upcoming Loadout and even testing the console market with Dust 514. It might not be fair to say Team Fortress 2 ushered in the free-to-play era for quality shooters, but you certainly wouldn't be far off.