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[shotgunbob04]

I don't think so when you have:

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• Horizon: Zero Dawn
• Persona 5
• Super Mario Odyssey (just a wild guess it'll be good)

and you can't forget Knack 2 baby

 

[Rodelero]

How witty.

I'm sorry that you don't see that games can go beyond 'fun'.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

Perhaps the fault is on my part. I thought most people put a little more consideration into their game of the year pick than 'this is the one I had most fun with'.

Y'all gotta stop trolling.

 

[Orayn]

Aside from everything else, 'most fun' isn't really the same as 'best. Games are about a great deal more than pure 'fun', at least to me.

Perhaps the fault is on my part. I thought most people put a little more consideration into their game of the year pick than 'this is the one I had most fun with'. If that is all it comes down to, then sure, I can see why PUBG might be GotY for lot of people.

What other criteria should be in play? Should people make GOTY lists based on what they think other people liked? Biggest budget? Most talked about? It turns into a weird exercise in roleplaying as Average Joe Gamer and/or awarding ad campaigns when you try to qualify it much more than saying your favorite.

 

[Rodelero]

Y'all gotta stop trolling.

I'm not trolling. Perhaps it's semantics, but a lot of the games I consider to be the best (and like the most) I wouldn't necesarily consider to be fun.

 

[Cartman86]

How witty.

I'm sorry that you don't see that games can go beyond 'fun'.

I don't know what kind of argument you think you are having, but PUBG is not the hill to die on for this. This is a smart game with a ton of interesting perspectives that have been written on it. Fun is shorthand for this particular game. Some of my favorite games ever are not "fun" either.

EDIT: and yeah it looks like we are getting the backlash to your post from people who think games can maybe only be "fun"? I don't think that's fair either.

 

[Magwik]

Aside from everything else, 'most fun' isn't really the same as 'best. Games are about a great deal more than pure 'fun', at least to me.

Perhaps the fault is on my part. I thought most people put a little more consideration into their game of the year pick than 'this is the one I had most fun with'. If that is all it comes down to, then sure, I can see why PUBG might be GotY for lot of people.

Are we not supposed to play video games for fun??

 

[VeryGooster]

It's a contender in the way that just about any game released in a calendar year can be a contender. I'm sure for plenty of people it will be.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

I'm not trolling. Perhaps it's semantics, but a lot of the games I consider to be the best (and like the most) I wouldn't necesarily consider to be fun.

Then you should play fun games and actually get what the medium is intended to be about out of what you're playing.

 

[Ferrio]

I'm not trolling. Perhaps it's semantics, but a lot of the games I consider to be the best (and like the most) I wouldn't necesarily consider to be fun.

Why do you hate yourself? Why would you play something you're not enjoying?

 

[Huge Succeeded]

How witty.

I'm sorry that you don't see that games can go beyond 'fun'.

That post of mine genuinely took more wit to formulate than the heady nonsense you're positing right now. I am not a games journalism outlet whose choices reflect anything more than the experiences of one man. My game of the year is going to be the video game I enjoyed the most. That you don't understand that concept is telling, but hey, at least you understand that the fault for that misunderstanding does lie with you.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Aside from everything else, 'most fun' isn't really the same as 'best. Games are about a great deal more than pure 'fun', at least to me.

Perhaps the fault is on my part. I thought most people put a little more consideration into their game of the year pick than 'this is the one I had most fun with'. If that is all it comes down to, then sure, I can see why PUBG might be GotY for lot of people.

Fun is just a buzzword when you can't actually think of any real reasons as to why the game is good.

Spoiler

/s

 

[swearing-circle]

For fun factor alone I'd say yes. Which in my eyes is what's most important to making a good game. Graphics and story are secondary to me.

 

[Team Filler]

What other criteria should be in play? Should people make GOTU lists based on what they think other people liked? Biggest budget? Most talked about? It turns into a weird exercise in roleplaying as Average Joe Gamer and/or awarding ad campaigns when you try to qualify it much more than saying your favorite.

I feel like a game only need be officially released in that year to be a candidate, myself. In which case, PUBG could very much be a possible GOTY once it's out of early access.

That post of mine genuinely took more wit to formulate than the heady nonsense you're positing right now. I am not a games journalism outlet. My game of the year is going to be the video game I enjoyed the most. That you don't understand that concept is telling, but hey, at least you understand that the fault for that misunderstanding does lie with you.

For fun factor alone I'd say yes. Which in my eyes is what's most important to making a good game. Graphics and story are secondary to me.

If fun is the only criteria then Super Metroid remains my game of the year for its 23rd year in a row.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Then you should play fun games and actually get what the medium is intended to be about out of what you're playing.

The medium doesn't always have to be about "fun".

The Last of Us, for example, isn't really a "fun" game.

That being said, 90+% of the time, my GotY is the one I had the most fun with.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

The medium doesn't always have to be about "fun".

The Last of Us, for example, isn't really a "fun" game.

That being said, 90+% of the time, my GotY is the one I had the most fun with.

It's not fun to me, I don't like TLOU but I would hope that people who picked it for their GOTY had fun with it.

 

[Orayn]

I might replace "fun" with "worthwhile." You don't need to be thinking "Wow I'm feeling good and having a great time" for 100% of a game to think it was memorable, worth playing, and good. Just like we have movie genres that make us sad, scared, tense, etc. games can do all those things and frustrate the hell out of us but do it all for a greater purpose.

I still think there's nothing wrong with picking GOTY based on what a game did for YOU instead of trying to make it some abstract contest about artistic merit, historical relevance, and that sort of thing.

 

[Huge Succeeded]

If fun is the only criteria then Super Metroid remains my game of the year for its 23rd year in a row.

so then pretend I used the phrase 'enjoyed the most' instead

 

[WarpathDC]

PUBG Should be in the mix, even in early EA, along with BoTW. If either of those two games win I'll be a happy camper.

PUBG will probably be GOTY 2018

Spoiler

2019,and 2020 lol with each major update

 

[swearing-circle]

If fun is the only criteria then Super Metroid remains my game of the year for its 23rd year in a row.

All the more power to you.

 

[Huge Succeeded]

PUBG Should be in the mix, even in early EA, along with BoTW. If either of those two games win I'll be a happy camper.

PUBG will probably be GOTY 2018

Spoiler

2019,and 2020 lol with each major update

pubg is a pretty lowbrow choice, you'd think real gamers would save such declarations for bigger games, like this AAA single player console exclusive over here. you know, something that matters in the industry. not simply the game that you happened to enjoy more than any other this year

 

[Rncewind]

It's not fun to me, I don't like TLOU but I would hope that people who picked it for their GOTY had fun with it.

i think this is communication problem here


i think what the point here is that something of quality is not = fun.


Requiem for a Dream is one of the best movies i saw.


But i would not describe the experince nowhere as "fun". Its fucking borderline depressive

 

[Crazy Diamond]

i think this is communication problem here


i think what the point here is that something of quality is not = fun.


Requiem for a Dream is one of the best movies i saw.


But i would not describe the experince nowhere as "fun". Its fucking borderline depressive

Did you enjoy the experience tho? Isn't that what it should be about?

 

[Exploratory]

You'll want to mute people in the lobby that's for sure, which is a simple fix. I rarely hear people talk shit out in the actual game though.

How do you mute JUST the lobby?

 

[Hugstable]

PUB:G looks pretty cool, saw that some of the new outfits they are updating kinda play off costumes of characters from Battle Royale. Should definitely give it a try sometime

 

[hououinkyouma00]

For me so far it’s my GOTY, and of course that can change especially having not finished Persona 5 yet.

Which is actually surprising for me because I’ve never played a game like this before, and never had much of an interest in it at all. But this game is more fun then I’ve had for a very long time. I have over 60 hours in it so far spread between modes. It’s almost like 3 different games for me. Solo is slow and methodical and super tense, duos is faster with less worrying constantly, and squads turns into a tactical shooter half of the time and super fun spreading out loot between everybody.

I don’t even care about the early access thing or the slight jankiness, they update it often, they give updates and let us know about what’s going on.

So yeah personally, GOTY so far. Definitely buying some crates for those BR costumes, my favorite movie.

Also finally broke the 600m kill last night!

 

[Clearos]

How do you mute JUST the lobby?

Ctrl T. Just hit it again in the plane to unmute.


Sweet deal on the 600m, I was pumped when I got 501m.

 

[ZiZ]

No, if you nominate it the GOTY police will put you in jail.

 

[Leafhopper]

It's not out yet fully. I don't really have a big interest in it but it seems it does scratch a certain itch that isn't in other games. I think it's too janky for me personally and that's the arguments I would have against it.

That said though people on this site will be upset if it gets anywhere high up in the GoTY awards. They were upset at Overwatch because it was a multiplayer game, as if that makes it as less of a game or something.

 

[Exploratory]

I just don't get the single player only elitists. The people who say Zelda, Horizon, Mario (not even out yet) and that's it.

 

[Rodelero]

I might replace "fun" with "worthwhile." You don't need to be thinking "Wow I'm feeling good and having a great time" for 100% of a game to think it was memorable, worth playing, and good. Just like we have movie genres that make us sad, scared, tense, etc. games can do all those things and frustrate the hell out of us but do it all for a greater purpose.

I still think there's nothing wrong with picking GOTY based on what a game did for YOU instead of trying to make it some abstract contest about artistic merit, historical relevance, and that sort of thing.

I broadly agree with this. Perhaps some people see fun as a slightly more general thing than I do, and perhaps that's pretentiousness on my part, but a lot of the time I'm gaming I am not necessarily having fun, though I certainly enjoy the games I play. I see Overwatch as 'fun', especially outside of Competitive, but Competitive is my favourite mode. I'm not sure I'd consider The Witness to be particularly fun - yet I loved playing it. A lot of my time playing racing sims isn't fun, but it's one of my favourite genres.

I also agree it's fine to pick a GotY on the basis of most enjoyed, though it does somewhat destroy the fun (!) of discussing/debating GotY.

 

[Leafhopper]

I just don't get the single player only elitists. The people who say Zelda, Horizon, Mario (not even out yet) and that's it.

"If a game can't be played alone it doesn't count." I don't know it's weird.

 

[Script of the Bridge]

"If a game can't be played alone it doesn't count." I don't know it's weird.

Gaffers don't have friends confirmed!

 

[Randomizer]

I haven't played it yet but having watched a few gameplay videos and read a few articles and developer interviews. Not seeing that much different from DayZ, just no Zombies.

Sure it has an actual winnable objective. But outside the changes such as the last man standing objective, shrinking map, helicopter start etc. it's very core gameplay mechanics are entirely based on DayZ. Unless I am missing something?

I wonder if those who would consider it GOTY have ever played DayZ or it's other clones? I'm not saying it couldn't earn GOTY on its own merits as I have yet to play it, it's just that from people's impressions it sounds like they are new to the genre. DayZ was very popular and the gameplay felt extremely fresh when it came out too. I remember feeling it was very special and that if a capable developer just took the idea and made an extremely polished product it could be a massive success. That may be the case here.

They trimmed the fat by removing the pointless Zombies and focused on the main draw of the genre, exploring for good gear and the tenseness of avoiding and confronting other players. Giving it a winnable objective is also a big plus for competitive players. I know a few people who intentionally avoided DayZ as there was no winner which confused them and they therefore concluded the game was pointless and dumb lol.

 

[Rncewind]

Did you enjoy the experience tho? Isn't that what it should be about?

i think orayn described it well:

I might replace "fun" with "worthwhile." You don't need to be thinking "Wow I'm feeling good and having a great time" for 100% of a game to think it was memorable, worth playing, and good. Just like we have movie genres that make us sad, scared, tense, etc. games can do all those things and frustrate the hell out of us but do it all for a greater purpose.

I still think there's nothing wrong with picking GOTY based on what a game did for YOU instead of trying to make it some abstract contest about artistic merit, historical relevance, and that sort of thing.

Wortwhile is the more fitting term here because no i didnt really "enjoy" getting depressed lol

 

[Leafhopper]

Gaffers don't have friends confirmed!

I don't wanna outright say that lol. I think people kinda value a good story or a more guided experience more I guess.

 

[DKF590]

Aside from everything else, 'most fun' isn't really the same as 'best. Games are about a great deal more than pure 'fun', at least to me.

Perhaps the fault is on my part. I thought most people put a little more consideration into their game of the year pick than 'this is the one I had most fun with'. If that is all it comes down to, then sure, I can see why PUBG might be GotY for lot of people.

I understand the argument you are trying to make, but it really really doesn't make sense in this context. Horror is probably my favorite genre and good horror isn't always "fun." But to try to paint PUBG as a mindless multiplayer game just makes me think you aren't giving PUBG the credit it deserves. I've waited years and years for Persona 5, but it really has had no where near the impact on me that PUBG did.

The game has enough praise thrown around that it doesn't need another long-winded post defending it, so I'll just say that it's anything but a mindless throwaway shooter. The design decisions and general flow of gameplay are pretty much the exact opposite of modern shooter design. It really is a breath of fresh air to the genre and will have a huge impact on the industry for years to come.

 

[Biscotti]

Doesn't the community keep getting angry at stuff like the paid boxes and the fact that once the games come out you wont be able to get them for free at all?

 

[Huge Succeeded]

I haven't played it yet but having watched a few gameplay videos and read a few articles and developer interviews. Not seeing that much different from DayZ, just no Zombies.

Sure it has an actual winnable objective. But outside the changes such as the last man standing objective, shrinking map, helicopter start etc. it's very core gameplay mechanics are entirely based on DayZ. Unless I am missing something?

I wonder if those who would consider it GOTY have ever played DayZ or it's other clones? I'm not saying it couldn't earn GOTY on its own merits as I have yet to play it, it's just that from people's impressions it sounds like they are new to the genre. DayZ was very popular and the gameplay felt extremely fresh when it came out too. I remember feeling it was very special and that if a capable developer just took the idea and made an extremely polished product it could be a massive success. That may be the case here.

They trimmed the fat by removing the pointless Zombies and focused on the main draw of the genre, exploring for good gear and the tenseness of avoiding and confronting other players. Giving it a winnable objective is also a big plus for competitive players. I know a few people who intentionally avoided DayZ as there was no winner which confused them and they therefore concluded the game was pointless and dumb lol.

Yeah, as someone who's been playing ARMA for years (and I've posted about it in this very thread), PUBG is still my GOTY. The changes to the formula that you pointed out do a lot to recontextualize the game and make it accessible, as well as far more intense than your average DayZ/ARMA mod session. To the point where I don't think they should be reduced to an aside.

It's worth reiterating that DayZ was never anywhere near as popular as PUBG is right now. DayZ is also a lot harder to get into, requires much, much more investment, and for a long time, required players to mod Arma 2 to play. PUBG nails a balance between depth and accessibility that ArmA mods and DayZ Standalone can't by nature, and is much more grounded and tactical than its nearest like alternative, H1Z1.

 

[Riposte]

"Single player bias" probably has more to do with people wanting to be absorbed into a narrative or setting (both in the loosest sense of these terms) than the number of players.

From a multiplayer perspective, I wonder if the messy sandbox concept would also count against it.

 

[Niceguydan8]

PUBG isn't getting replaced. You'd know why if you knew anything about it, but that you think games like Rust and PUBG look 'the same to you' tells me you really don't

It's possible that it gets replaced. I doubt it will, but to straight up say it won't is awfully presumptuous.

 

[Huge Succeeded]

It's possible that it gets replaced. I doubt it will, but to straight up say it won't is awfully presumptuous.

Nothing is impossible, but it's highly unlikely.

 

[saskuatch]

I bought the game and regretted it. It's gets boring very quickly for me.........it's a shell of a game hardly enough to be a goty when compared to games like Zelda...

 

[zenspider]

I just don't get the single player only elitists. The people who say Zelda, Horizon, Mario (not even out yet) and that's it.

Didn't Overwatch win most GOTYs pretty convincingly?
Never played PUBG, but if people think it's the game of the year, why not? It's certainly talked about enough.

 

[InaudibleWhispa]

I broadly agree with this. Perhaps some people see fun as a slightly more general thing than I do, and perhaps that's pretentiousness on my part, but a lot of the time I'm gaming I am not necessarily having fun, though I certainly enjoy the games I play. I see Overwatch as 'fun', especially outside of Competitive, but Competitive is my favourite mode. I'm not sure I'd consider The Witness to be particularly fun - yet I loved playing it. A lot of my time playing racing sims isn't fun, but it's one of my favourite genres.

I also agree it's fine to pick a GotY on the basis of most enjoyed, though it does somewhat destroy the fun (!) of discussing/debating GotY.

Yeah I think this largely just comes down to your definition of fun. I'm sure you'd conclude that a lot of the experiences people have when they play PUBG wouldn't fall under "fun". For example, I think it's the most fun game I've played this year (I'd say the same about The Witness last year) but it's also the tensest game I've ever played and it leaves my palms sweating and heart racing. I'm guessing this would fall under your "not fun, but I love playing it" differentiation. But I've also had some of the funniest moments I've ever had gaming with friends playing it. There's a lot of really good reasons people love this game so much.

 

[Spenny]

It's overtaken NieR as my GOTY. I see no reason why it couldn't be the GAF GOTY unless it doesn't officially release.

 

[Leafhopper]

Didn't Overwatch win most GOTYs pretty convincingly?
Never played PUBG, but if people think it's the game of the year, why not? It's certainly talked about enough.

He means specifically on GAF.

 

[Neo Sentai Gafman]

Why can't something cool like "Pyre" be GOTY

it's like a football/Oregon Trail/Dating Sim/RPG Game

but I understand why people would Hail something like PUBG as GOTY, it's multiplayer and everyone loves it.

 

[Renekton]

Then you should play fun games and actually get what the medium is intended to be about out of what you're playing.

Last of Us wasn't that fun in the sense of devotion to mechanical rewards and catharsis. He is right, there is more to it.

 

[Randomizer]

Yeah, as someone who's been playing ARMA for years (and I've posted about it in this very thread), PUBG is still my GOTY. The changes to the formula that you pointed out do a lot to recontextualize the game and make it accessible, as well as far more intense than your average DayZ/ARMA mod session. To the point where I don't think they should be reduced to an aside.

It's worth reiterating that DayZ was never anywhere near as popular as PUBG is right now. DayZ is also a lot harder to get into, requires much, much more investment, and for a long time, required players to mod Arma 2 to play. PUBG nails a balance between depth and accessibility that ArmA mods and DayZ Standalone can't by nature, and is much more grounded and tactical than its nearest like alternative, H1Z1.

Thanks, very insightful post. Yeah, I suppose I did understate the importance of the gradual decrease in size of the safe-zone. Funnelling players into a smaller and smaller map for a final confrontation sounds incredibly tense and rewarding for those that survive that long. And the accessibility and general polish certainly helps.