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[Exploratory]

The very sad reality is despite the populace shifting more towards multiplayer games for years, awards do not reflect that. I honestly believe that's because of two reasons. One because games media does not play multiplayer games for a long period of time due to the nature of their work. And two because if you don't put in the effort to "git gud" you'll lose which can lead to frustration and you won't experience the higher level of play multiplayer games have to offer.

Looking at the history of Spike's Video Game Awards it's clear that games media is unlikely to EVER give a game Game of the Year due primarily to its multiplayer component.

Before I list these off I want to make it overwhelmingly clear that I love a lot of these winners and some of them absolutely deserve the win.

In 2004 GTA San Andreas won over Halo 2.
In 2005 Resident Evil 4 won over World of Warcraft.
In 2006 The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion won over Gears of War.
In 2007 Bioshock won over COD4 (which wasn't even nominated) and Halo 3.

Spoiler

And Mass Effect. Nothing to do with MP I just had to note that.

In 2009 and 2010 Uncharted 2 and Red Dead Redemption won over both COD titles, both Halo games, Left 4 Dead games etc. You get the idea.

Fast forward to 2014 to the first annual Game Awards. Dragon Age Inquisition (jesus christ) wins over Destiny and Super Smash Brothers Wii U. That was just a bad year for gaming.

This year 2 multiplayer games are in the Game of the Year nominees. Overwatch and Titanfall 2. Titanfall 2 was lauded for its single player campaign so it got nominated while Battlefield 1 which is being lauded for its multiplayer didn't make the cut. Other than Hearthstone Overwatch is the only multiplayer only game nominated in over a decade.

So yeah it seems like unless games media pivots hard from a decades worth of history Overwatch won't win game of the year regardless of quality. I hope they do though.

 

[see5harp]

Overwatch should win GOTY easily.

 

[Ralemont]

Yes and it's a shame. MP games winning are like comedies winning in the Oscars.

 

[Ooccoo]

online-only (for the most part) means Overwatch won't win

 

[wenis]

Overwatch? more like Overrated!

DOOM is the real GOTY

 

[Anno]

I think Overwatch will win plenty of GOTY awards.

 

[Vital Tundra]

Uncharted shouldn't even be a nomination. Uncharted 2? Sure. But 4 is not an amazing game.

 

[JayEH]

Doom should beat both.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

I don't think there should be one unamimous game of the year. Some people might have liked Uncharted (or something else) more than Overwatch, and that's okay.

 

[georly]

I mean, neither one is 3D picross 2, so neither one even has a remote chance at being goty.

 

[Nirolak]

The nominations for The Game Awards were a lot more broad this year than they historically have been, so I think it honestly has a chance.

That said, I think that's true of most of the five games on the list.

 

[DNAbro]

I don't think U4 should win because it's nothing particularly special imo. But yeah there is a bias towards single player games.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Uncharted shouldn't even be a nomination. Uncharted 2? Sure. But 4 is not an amazing game.

Totally agree. I never even finished it.

 

[mp1990]

Uncharted shouldn't even be a nomination. Uncharted 2? Sure. But 4 is not an amazing game.

If Uncharted 4 manages to be worse than 2 I don't even want to know how bad this game is.

 

[Trigonometrize.]

I don't think there should be one unamimous game of the year. Some people might have liked Uncharted (or something else) more than Overwatch, and that's okay.

You can still like what you like whether or not they have an ultimate GOTY. I don't really see the issue.

 

[Boke1879]

Every game on that list deserves GOTY

 

[Guevara]

I think we're all forgetting Dark Souls 3 came out this year.

 

[Interfectum]

I honestly think Overwatch will get it this year.

 

[Veelk]

For me personally, Overwatch is a historical landmark. I've loved plenty of shooter games, but none of them have ever made me love their multiplayer. The closest was Halo, but it's more because I wanted to love the complete package of Halo, when the singleplayer campaigns have what largely resonated with me.

Overwatch is literally the only multiplayer that I've ever become so obsessed with that I come back to it. I currently have more than a hundred hours into it, and I don't see myself stopping soon. It is literally preventing me from playing other games I might enjoy, Titanfall 2 being one of them. I have it, and want to finish the campaign, but Overwatch is in my PS4, and I always end up thinking "Just one match before I play it" and it never ends up being just one.

 

[Sephzilla]

The real GOTY is neither of them - it's Doom

 

[RoboPlato]

The Game Awards aren't the only GotY awards. I'm sure Overwatch will gain a few.

I think this year we'll see a huge variety of games taking it across all outlets. Quality has been insanely high in a lot of different genres and platforms.

 

[deadduck]

Really dont get the hype for Overwatch.

 

[DNAbro]

If Uncharted 4 manages to be worse than 2 I don't even want to know how bad this game is.

It's like you take all the fun parts of U2 and remove them and replace them with climbing and family drama.

 

[ScottSullivan]

I love Overwatch, UNcharted, and Doom, Wouldn't be upset about any of those winning really.

I haven't actually played hitman yet but from all the Giant Bomb Videos,it seems to deserve consideration as well

 

[Boke1879]

If Uncharted 4 manages to be worse than 2 I don't even want to know how bad this game is.

Uncharted 4 is amazing. That's reflected in its reviews and sales and people outside of the GAF bubble loving it.

 

[jaypah]

I don't think there should be one unamimous game of the year. Some people might have liked Uncharted (or something else) more than Overwatch, and that's okay.

I think the OP showed an interesting fact in that no matter how well received or game changing a multiplayer game may be it seems like it'll always lose to a good single player game.

As an aside I'm playing through UC4 for the first time and it's not blowing me away. Something seems off with the pacing for me and the enemy encounters are kind of annoying more than fun. The story is pretty interesting, the puzzles are fun and the graphics and sound are pretty damn good. Drake seems to control better and the climbing seems snappier too. So not a bad game but probably won't end up being my favorite UC game.

 

[TaterTots]

I agree. However, Overwatch is my GOTY.

 

[S1kkZ]

doom is the goty.

 

[Not Drake]

Overwatch will be robbed

 

[BadWolf]

U4 is excellent, any awards it wins will be well deserved.

 

[Hupsel]

People think UC4 will win, really? It was mediocre at best... really boring at worst.

Doom would be a fair choice. Best single player FPS campaign in a long, long time. Amazing gameplay, long campaign and amazing weapons. OW would be okay as well!

 

[Z..]

Why are US award shows so bad? It's the money, isn't it?

 

[UpDownLeftRight]

Uncharted 4 is amazing. That's reflected in its reviews and sales and people outside of the GAF bubble loving it.

I didn't even realize GAF had a problem with it? It was fucking brilliant. Standards here have been getting ridiculous to the point that nothing is ever good enough anymore.

 

[Mr. Patch]

If Uncharted 4 manages to be worse than 2 I don't even want to know how bad this game is.

It's more boring than outright bad. I dozed off playing it.

 

[Gai Murakumo]

In 2005 Resident Evil 4 won over World of Warcraft.

This one I would agree with the pick for game of the year for 2005 since Resident Evil 4 to me is the far more superior game. No offence to MMO's but World of Warcraft to me even today is still kind of meh.

However I agree with you OP that Overwatch should win GOTY over something like Uncharted. I still go back to it from time to time since it is straight out fun to hop in and play a few match's. With the implementation of the 1 vs 1 mode I have enjoyed Overwatch even more since it really brings out the competitiveness in me and makes you see how good some players are with some characters over others. In particular it shows those players who do not learn or try to adapt to playing other characters instead of just sticking to a main.

 

[Oersted]

In 2004 GTA San Andreas won over Halo 2.
In 2005 Resident Evil 4 won over World of Warcraft.
In 2006 The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion won over Gears of War.
In 2007 Bioshock won over COD4 (which wasn't even nominated) and Halo 3. And Mass Effect. Nothing to do with MP I just had to note that.
In 2009 and 2010 Uncharted 2 and Red Dead Redemption won over both COD titles, both Halo games, Left 4 Dead games etc. You get the idea.

Fast forward to 2014 to the first annual Game Awards. Dragon Age Inquisition (jesus christ) wins over Destiny and Super Smash Brothers Wii U. That was just a bad year for gaming.

On which outlets is that based on?

 

[Jumeira]

Not sure about overwatch, but I agree that UC4 isn't GOTY imo

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

but Uncharted 4s multiplayer is just as fun as Overwatch



and isn't Titanfall 2's campaign supposedly incredible?? If there is a MP bias, then Titalfall would get it over overwatch

 

[Nokagi]

Uncharted shouldn't even be a nomination. Uncharted 2? Sure. But 4 is not an amazing game.

Totally agree.

 

[Donniewahlberg]

The real GOTY is neither of them - it's Doom

Mmm I was thinking, multiplayer or no, it would be between doom and uncharted for me anyway, overwatch wouldn't come into it.

 

[FelipeMGM]

I think Overwatch has a great shot this year. A bunch of non tradiotinal media (youtubers, podcsters and such) are also voting this year, and those types of medias are driven by community power, just as Overwatch, they might overlap there

Anyway, Im cool with anyone of the five winning tbh, all amazing games

 

[Spirit Icana]

Overwatch is also my game of the year so far. I did not expect to enjoy the game as much as I still am, and I'm hungry for more lore/story.

 

[Blackleg-sanji1]

I didn't even realize GAF had a problem with it? It was fucking brilliant. Standards here have been getting ridiculous to the point that nothing is ever good enough anymore.

Give it enough time and gaf will have a problem with everything at some point. It's how it goes

 

[entremet]

I still don't get this Uncharted 4 love. It's beautiful game, but boy did it drag at parts.

 

[Gaz_RB]

I need to really sit down and take a look at all the games I've played this year. Seriously, as I think back... this has been an excellent year for gaming. This gen is hitting its stride.

Honestly, I probably will end up going with Overwatch. That game enamored me. But I can say that for a lot of games this year.

but Uncharted 4s multiplayer is just as fun as Overwatch

lol?

I dropped UC4 multiplayer like a lit Molotov cocktail as soon as Overwatch came out, and never looked back.

 

[jmaine_ph]

Overrated.

 

[Spacebar]

I didn't even realize GAF had a problem with it? It was fucking brilliant. Standards here have been getting ridiculous to the point that nothing is ever good enough anymore.

That's how gaf is. When a game first comes out like Uncharted it's the goat. Six months later and it's trash. Then give it a year or two and it will be goat again.

 

[NinjaCoachZ]

I think overwatch deserves it. That game has had a ridiculous impact. So much fanart and investment in the lore and injokes and characters even from people who haven't played the game. Just like Splatoon, it's a game that's so addictive and fun and easy to come back to over and over again.

Uncharted 4 was cool, but it didn't define the year in the same way Overwatch did.

Fast forward to 2014 to the first annual Game Awards. Dragon Age Inquisition (jesus christ) wins over Destiny and Super Smash Brothers Wii U. That was just a bad year for gaming.

Honestly the real crime there is that Dragon Age won over Bayonetta 2.

 

[Mechanized]

Fast forward to 2014 to the first annual Game Awards. Dragon Age Inquisition (jesus christ) wins over Destiny and Super Smash Brothers Wii U. That was just a bad year for gaming.

What the fuck gross. Destiny year one was a bit disappointing but holy shit it was a much better game than DAI from a gameplay standpoint.

 

[JoeNut]

Overwatch is sure to win some awards, but to be honest it's the only game i've bought since F4 so i can't really comment on the quality of other games apart from NMS, and that's not winning fucking anything except the wooden spoon.