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GameIndustry.biz: Xbox is the game publisher of 2021

Zathalus

Member
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-11-15-xbox-boss-phil-spencer-laments-halo-infinite-delay

Take the fanboy goggles off. You can't give publisher of the year for basically 1 new title, 1 delayed by a year and still missing content at launch, a reissue/port and a couple of titles that they essentially got as part of acquisitions!
Wait, does Returnal, Ratchet and Clank, Demon Souls, Spider-man, and Miles Morales not count as Sony developed games as they essentially got them as part of acquisitions?
 

oldergamer

Member
Good god guys, let the green rats have this one. Prior to this year, the last couple of years of xbox gaming be like:
tumbleweed GIF

Your perception of me matters not one bit, when I'm entirely correct and entirely reasonable in my arguments.

Just admit you don't like to hear it, that's fine. I'm not looking for validation, my entire post history should demonstrate how little I care about saying things that people find disagreeable. Don't like my truth-bombs; disprove my points with good faith discussion or simply ignore me.
That's cool, you're still full of crap though and totally wrong. No offense.

MS had a good year, first one in a very long time. Nothing truthful about what you wrote. It was a petty excuse to dismiss games to reach a weak point of view. Hope it made you feel better. Myself I'm going to enjoy playing fun games this holiday.
 

kingfey

Banned
Your perception of me matters not one bit, when I'm entirely correct and entirely reasonable in my arguments.

Just admit you don't like to hear it, that's fine. I'm not looking for validation, my entire post history should demonstrate how little I care about saying things that people find disagreeable. Don't like my truth-bombs; disprove my points with good faith discussion or simply ignore me.
I will take that you are pissed off, at the fact xbox delivered good games then, instead of releasing that bad halo in 2020.
 

Dr Bass

Member
Wait, does Returnal, Ratchet and Clank, Demon Souls, Spider-man, and Miles Morales not count as Sony developed games as they essentially got them as part of acquisitions?
Sony has always been the publisher for those games, even pre-acquisition. Not the same as Bethesda, Double Fine, etc, at all.

Also just a reminder to everyone ... this is just a single dude's opinion piece. No need to get your jimmies rustled over it either way.
 

kingfey

Banned
Sony has always been the publisher for those games, even pre-acquisition. Not the same as Bethesda, Double Fine, etc, at all.

Also just a reminder to everyone ... this is just a single dude's opinion piece. No need to get your jimmies rustled over it either way.
We can't have drama, if one person isn't satisfied. That how these posts usually derail with heated arguments.
 

kingfey

Banned
That's cool, you're still full of crap though and totally wrong. No offense.

MS had a good year, first one in a very long time. Nothing truthful about what you wrote. It was a petty excuse to dismiss games to reach a weak point of view. Hope it made you feel better. Myself I'm going to enjoy playing fun games this holiday.
I still don't get why he is mad about it. Ms released games, and that is what Xbox gamers want. They didn't get craps like cyberpunk2077, and battlefield 2042.
 

CatLady

Selfishly plays on Xbox Purr-ies X
What difference does that make?, games get delayed all the time, its still releasing this year.
And Microsoft funded Phychonauhts after the aqqusition, even the director said that and how the scope changed after being bought. Age of Empires is a big franchise on PC, and Flight Sim launched this year for consoles. We are talking about best publisher here, not GOTY, it doesnt matter if FS launched last year for PC, the Xbox versions were published this year.
I wonder if he'll be saying the same thing next year if Sony hits it out of the park and gets Publisher of the year with HFW and GT7 that were supposed to release this year :pie_roffles:
 

Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
Does that mean Playstation won't get this award next year? Since gow and hfw got delayed according to you? Same for the game awards?

Seriously, this is exactly the problem. You're turning this into a platform war because I had the temerity to criticize awarding publisher of the year based on such thin grounds.

See here's thing: I understand what a publisher's functions are, and make my judgements based on how well they perform those tasks. So, if a publisher greenlights a chancy project - I give credit. If they run projects well and hit their release dates with the product in good shape, I give them credit. Stuff like that.

Publishers are not necessarily platform holders. If so, how can you give credit to smaller outfits like Annapurna or Devolver who maintain steady slates of interesting and often innovative products without billions in funding? Or do they not count?

This precisely is why I mentioned fanboy goggles, even after I tried to distance myself from conflation with console warring by stating up-front that I actually own an Xbox! Look at the outraged response for simply calling bullshit on a decision to promote a candidate for publisher of the year on grounds I felt were weak.

Immediately we have people rushing to defend the mothership, when I made no attack on it. I simply listed the slate of titles that were being bandied about in justification and why I didn't consider them sufficient.
 

Riky

$MSFT
No way. Next year is all about squeezing the last remaining poo (cross gen) out the anus. 2023 is when the new frontier reaches our fingertips. 2022s game reveals will be legendary.

I don't know if Microsoft have anything announced for last gen consoles next year? Starfield is Series exclusive so it looks like they are moving on and just using Cloud Gaming for Xbox One users.
 
I think this is dope. First half of the year I was all in on my PS5 and for the second half my Series X/PC has been flying with some nintendo switch/oled mixed in the middle. I'm happy with all of the consoles and PC Gaming right now

Now back to trying to sneak and play stuff to tackle this backlog while at work lol
 

Banjo64

cumsessed
I don't know if Microsoft have anything announced for last gen consoles next year? Starfield is Series exclusive so it looks like they are moving on and just using Cloud Gaming for Xbox One users.
Starfield and Redfall are next year and Series only.

Deathloop and Tokyo Ghostwire are next gen only.

Xbox One is finished now as far as MS first party goes.
 

Stuart360

Member
I wonder if he'll be saying the same thing next year if Sony hits it out of the park and gets Publisher of the year with HFW and GT7 that were supposed to release this year :pie_roffles:
I mean its just such a weird take. I wouldnt be surprised if 80% of the games released in the last 3 years have been delayed, probably numerous times. In fact if a game being delayed meant its not eligible to be included, Sony would never win publisher of the year lol.

This is a publisher award, its got nothing to do with why a game launched on a given date. This is a weird one even by cosnole war standards.
 

Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
I mean its just such a weird take. I wouldnt be surprised if 80% of the games released in the last 3 years have been delayed, probably numerous times. In fact if a game being delayed meant its not eligible to be included, Sony would never win publisher of the year lol.

This is a publisher award, its got nothing to do with why a game launched on a given date. This is a weird one even by cosnole war standards.

Read my post #61. Maybe then you'll drop the wrong end of the stick you are flailing at me with.

Once again: This isn't about platforms, its about publishers. I'd honestly find a contention of Xbox as platform of the year way more acceptable than publisher of the year, because that would widen the criteria.
 
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Stuart360

Member
Read my post #61. Maybe then you'll drop the wrong end of the stick you are flailing at me with.

Once again: This isn't about platforms, its about publishers. I'd honestly find a contention of Xbox as platform of the year way more acceptable than publisher of the year, because that would widen the criteria.
But thats what this is, 'publisher' They look at each publisher, and what they relesed that year. They dont look at what they released, then go into that games history, rocky roadpath, delays etc. Its got nothing to do with that, its to do with publishers and what they released that year.
 

Concern

Member
Considering the meltdown over this, im just wondering. Do we get some kind of bonus, free game, or even incentive if our favorite dev/pub or whatever win an award?

Cuz fuck this is looking like serious business over one stupid award that absolutely does nothing for us. Fuckin embarrassing lol
 

kingfey

Banned
Seriously, this is exactly the problem. You're turning this into a platform war because I had the temerity to criticize awarding publisher of the year based on such thin grounds.

See here's thing: I understand what a publisher's functions are, and make my judgements based on how well they perform those tasks. So, if a publisher greenlights a chancy project - I give credit. If they run projects well and hit their release dates with the product in good shape, I give them credit. Stuff like that.

Publishers are not necessarily platform holders. If so, how can you give credit to smaller outfits like Annapurna or Devolver who maintain steady slates of interesting and often innovative products without billions in funding? Or do they not count?

This precisely is why I mentioned fanboy goggles, even after I tried to distance myself from conflation with console warring by stating up-front that I actually own an Xbox! Look at the outraged response for simply calling bullshit on a decision to promote a candidate for publisher of the year on grounds I felt were weak.

Immediately we have people rushing to defend the mothership, when I made no attack on it. I simply listed the slate of titles that were being bandied about in justification and why I didn't consider them sufficient.
That is you.
Flight Sim was 2020, Halo should've been 2020 but they failed to hit the date, Psychonauts and Deathloop were started pre-acquisition, which basically leaves this years iteration of Forza Horizon as their sole major first-party release.
According to your words, Sony wont get those awards, since they delayed their games, which was supposed to be released this year.

There is no console war from my side.
 

Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
That is you.

According to your words, Sony wont get those awards, since they delayed their games, which was supposed to be released this year.

There is no console war from my side.

When did I mention Sony at all?
 

Dr Bass

Member
We can't have drama, if one person isn't satisfied. That how these posts usually derail with heated arguments.
There is plenty of goading going on from the people who land in the Microsoft-only camp though:

"There is no debate!"

That's going to start up the arguments for obvious reasons.

I would say there is a debate. I mean maybe by default MS "wins" since they published the most games overall this year maybe? But you know ... personally, I think it's kinda hilarious that a platform lambasted for being a "Halo/Gears/Forza" box is now being praised for launching.... Halo and Forza? And they look identical to what's been released for those series for decades. Like seriously, you play Forza 4 then Forza 5 and the only thing that is different is the setting. All of the Halo reviews are mysteriously referencing "The Silent Cartographer" ... as a reference of how the game is good again? It's oddly present in all the major pubs, almost as if they were told what they needed to mention. :pie_thinking: But anyway, sort of beside the point. Can you imagine if Breath of the Wild 2 came out and all of the reviews said something like "Finally, we get a dungeon like the OoT Water Temple"? Why are they referencing things from 20 years ago?! Move. On! It's just kinda sad to read really.

Then you have Psychonauts 2 which is ... ok. And Flight Sim 2020 which is again, a cool piece of software for learning about piloting, but not really a "game." Age of Empires is cool. Not on console of course.

Like, that's your winner? Again, it feels like it's by default. IMO both Returnal and Metroid Dread have far better gameplay than anything MS released this year. And I know that will draw the "laugh" emoticon responses from the MS-only crowd here, but I've played Halo, Forza, Psychonauts, Flight Sim, and Age of Empires. I bet they haven't played Returnal (an incredible new series with pitch perfect gameplay, an extremely well told story, and some of the best music of the year) or Dread (a fantastic leap forward for Metroid in the gameplay department, with the best control I've ever experienced in a 3d side scroller). Ratchet and Clank also have better visuals than anything in the list from MS (Sorry, it's true, go play the game if you don't believe it. 🤷‍♂️). So I guess out of the big three I would pick Nintendo or Sony still. But maybe a third party has pushed out more good games overall than any of those three. I honestly haven't looked at everything out there.

So it's a matter of opinion. I would take one or two industry benchmark games over games that don't seem to ever change and are on their 16th, and 14th games over the last 15-20 years, a non game, a standard RTS, and a platform that looks like an indie game. And again, the games are fun. It's great that MS is finally putting out new games for the Series X. But publisher of the year? Hey, whatever floats that guys boat.

But like I said, doesn't matter, just like the game awards don't matter. Awards don't matter in general, and this is not even that. It's a dude writing an opinion piece as it states in big ol' letters at the top of of the article. Nobody should really care. And everyone is free to have their own opinion and be perfectly satisfied

Edit: Hey Banjo64 Banjo64 You might want to actually read a post before putting the "laugh" response on it, and basically proving my point. I got the notice for that seconds after this was posted. Try to engage in good faith.
 
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kingfey

Banned
There is plenty of goading going on from the people who land in the Microsoft-only camp though:

"There is no debate!"

That's going to start up the arguments for obvious reasons.

I would say there is a debate. I mean maybe by default MS "wins" since they published the most games overall this year maybe? But you know ... personally, I think it's kinda hilarious that a platform lambasted for being a "Halo/Gears/Forza" box is now being praised for launching.... Halo and Forza? And they look identical to what's been released for those series for decades. Like seriously, you play Forza 4 then Forza 5 and the only thing that is different is the setting. All of the Halo reviews are mysteriously referencing "The Silent Cartographer" ... as a reference of how the game is good again? It's oddly present in all the major pubs, almost as if they were told what they needed to mention. :pie_thinking: But anyway, sort of beside the point. Can you imagine if Breath of the Wild 2 came out and all of the reviews said something like "Finally, we get a dungeon like the OoT Water Temple"? Why are they referencing things from 20 years ago?! Move. On! It's just kinda sad to read really.

Then you have Psychonauts 2 which is ... ok. And Flight Sim 2020 which is again, a cool piece of software for learning about piloting, but not really a "game." Age of Empires is cool. Not on console of course.

Like, that's your winner? Again, it feels like it's by default. IMO both Returnal and Metroid Dread have far better gameplay than anything MS released this year. And I know that will draw the "laugh" emoticon responses from the MS-only crowd here, but I've played Halo, Forza, Psychonauts, Flight Sim, and Age of Empires. I bet they haven't played Returnal (an incredible new series with pitch perfect gameplay, an extremely well told story, and some of the best music of the year) or Dread (a fantastic leap forward for Metroid in the gameplay department, with the best control I've ever experienced in a 3d side scroller). Ratchet and Clank also have better visuals than anything in the list from MS (Sorry, it's true, go play the game if you don't believe it. 🤷‍♂️). So I guess out of the big three I would pick Nintendo or Sony still. But maybe a third party has pushed out more good games overall than any of those three. I honestly haven't looked at everything out there.

So it's a matter of opinion. I would take one or two industry benchmark games over games that don't seem to ever change and are on their 16th, and 14th games over the last 15-20 years, a non game, a standard RTS, and a platform that looks like an indie game. And again, the games are fun. It's great that MS is finally putting out new games for the Series X. But publisher of the year? Hey, whatever floats that guys boat.

But like I said, doesn't matter, just like the game awards don't matter. Awards don't matter in general, and this is not even that. It's a dude writing an opinion piece as it states in big ol' letters at the top of of the article. Nobody should really care. And everyone is free to have their own opinion and be perfectly satisfied

Edit: Hey Banjo64 Banjo64 You might want to actually read a post before putting the "laugh" response on it, and basically proving my point. I got the notice for that seconds after this was posted. Try to engage in good faith.
Your points applies to PlayStation too.

Ratchet, miles and demon are series that was on the system. Only new is returnal.

People are praising xbox, because they have games now. Instead of the dry xbox one era.
 

Riky

$MSFT
"I bet they haven't played Returnal (an incredible new series with pitch perfect gameplay, an extremely well told story, and some of the best music of the year)"

I'll take that bet, how much?
 

Banjo64

cumsessed
All of the Halo reviews are mysteriously referencing "The Silent Cartographer" ... as a reference of how the game is good again? It's oddly present in all the major pubs, almost as if they were told what they needed to mention.
This is the level we have reached :messenger_tears_of_joy:

Then you have Psychonauts 2 which is ... ok.
:messenger_tears_of_joy:

Ratchet and Clank also have better visuals than anything in the list from MS (Sorry, it's true, go play the game if you don't believe it. 🤷‍♂️).
And? Are you actually creaming yourself over visuals when talking about publisher of the year? Does gameplay mean anything to you, or do you just like eyeporn?

would take one or two industry benchmark games over games that don't seem to ever change and are on their 16th, and 14th games over the last 15-20 years
Oh yeah? You mean games like… Ratchet and Clank? Are you high? :messenger_tears_of_joy:

I can’t lie, I have put a laugh emoji on your post. It’s not because I’m Xbox only though. I really enjoy Xbox, PS and Nintendo. I’m laughing at the mental gymnastics, contradictions and comically piss poor takes like ‘Psychonauts 2 is… ok’ :messenger_tears_of_joy:
 

Fredrik

Member
I hope the new Fable is good.

I love RPGs, especially fantasy ones. But, I've played Fable 1 and 2 all the way through and hated both. They're not good. And I'm surprised they have a following at all.

But, Playground Games IS good. They are capable of making a great RPG, I believe. I just really hope they don't try and duplicate the previous games too much, because they feel tied to it. Get rid of the horrible British bathroom humor. Make actual characters I can get invested in. And please add some depth to the character building, world exploration and gameplay.

Fable could become a great action RPG under the new development team - but if it's more of Fable 1 and 2 (and from what I've seen, 3), count me out.
Nah Fable without the tongue-in-cheek humor isn’t Fable, fortunately MS has plenty of that in-house now with Tim Schafer and also Obsidian, and going by the playful announcement trailer Playground already know what to do there.

I agree on the character building and exploration though, they need to nail that. But I’m not really worried, only way things will go terribly wrong is if MS don’t let the teams talk and share ideas, with Bethesda, Obsidian and inXile in-house they shouldn’t fail with a RPG.
 
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Chukhopops

Member
There is plenty of goading going on from the people who land in the Microsoft-only camp though:

"There is no debate!"

That's going to start up the arguments for obvious reasons.

I would say there is a debate. I mean maybe by default MS "wins" since they published the most games overall this year maybe? But you know ... personally, I think it's kinda hilarious that a platform lambasted for being a "Halo/Gears/Forza" box is now being praised for launching.... Halo and Forza? And they look identical to what's been released for those series for decades. Like seriously, you play Forza 4 then Forza 5 and the only thing that is different is the setting. All of the Halo reviews are mysteriously referencing "The Silent Cartographer" ... as a reference of how the game is good again? It's oddly present in all the major pubs, almost as if they were told what they needed to mention. :pie_thinking: But anyway, sort of beside the point. Can you imagine if Breath of the Wild 2 came out and all of the reviews said something like "Finally, we get a dungeon like the OoT Water Temple"? Why are they referencing things from 20 years ago?! Move. On! It's just kinda sad to read really.

Then you have Psychonauts 2 which is ... ok. And Flight Sim 2020 which is again, a cool piece of software for learning about piloting, but not really a "game." Age of Empires is cool. Not on console of course.

Like, that's your winner? Again, it feels like it's by default. IMO both Returnal and Metroid Dread have far better gameplay than anything MS released this year. And I know that will draw the "laugh" emoticon responses from the MS-only crowd here, but I've played Halo, Forza, Psychonauts, Flight Sim, and Age of Empires. I bet they haven't played Returnal (an incredible new series with pitch perfect gameplay, an extremely well told story, and some of the best music of the year) or Dread (a fantastic leap forward for Metroid in the gameplay department, with the best control I've ever experienced in a 3d side scroller). Ratchet and Clank also have better visuals than anything in the list from MS (Sorry, it's true, go play the game if you don't believe it. 🤷‍♂️). So I guess out of the big three I would pick Nintendo or Sony still. But maybe a third party has pushed out more good games overall than any of those three. I honestly haven't looked at everything out there.

So it's a matter of opinion. I would take one or two industry benchmark games over games that don't seem to ever change and are on their 16th, and 14th games over the last 15-20 years, a non game, a standard RTS, and a platform that looks like an indie game. And again, the games are fun. It's great that MS is finally putting out new games for the Series X. But publisher of the year? Hey, whatever floats that guys boat.

But like I said, doesn't matter, just like the game awards don't matter. Awards don't matter in general, and this is not even that. It's a dude writing an opinion piece as it states in big ol' letters at the top of of the article. Nobody should really care. And everyone is free to have their own opinion and be perfectly satisfied

Edit: Hey Banjo64 Banjo64 You might want to actually read a post before putting the "laugh" response on it, and basically proving my point. I got the notice for that seconds after this was posted. Try to engage in good faith.
All those words just to say that it’s a matter of opinion, good job on your debate skills!

Also I personally own Returnal and I think it was decent as a shooter but awful as a rogue-like. I cannot remember a single track of its soundtrack, all I remember is the annoying Brrzwwpp sound that happens whenever your alt fire is available (every 10 secs or so). It’s a mediocre game and that’s why you can find dozens of copies of it in any second hand store.
 

Stuart360

Member
There is plenty of goading going on from the people who land in the Microsoft-only camp though:

"There is no debate!"

That's going to start up the arguments for obvious reasons.

I would say there is a debate. I mean maybe by default MS "wins" since they published the most games overall this year maybe? But you know ... personally, I think it's kinda hilarious that a platform lambasted for being a "Halo/Gears/Forza" box is now being praised for launching.... Halo and Forza? And they look identical to what's been released for those series for decades. Like seriously, you play Forza 4 then Forza 5 and the only thing that is different is the setting. All of the Halo reviews are mysteriously referencing "The Silent Cartographer" ... as a reference of how the game is good again? It's oddly present in all the major pubs, almost as if they were told what they needed to mention. :pie_thinking: But anyway, sort of beside the point. Can you imagine if Breath of the Wild 2 came out and all of the reviews said something like "Finally, we get a dungeon like the OoT Water Temple"? Why are they referencing things from 20 years ago?! Move. On! It's just kinda sad to read really.

Then you have Psychonauts 2 which is ... ok. And Flight Sim 2020 which is again, a cool piece of software for learning about piloting, but not really a "game." Age of Empires is cool. Not on console of course.

Like, that's your winner? Again, it feels like it's by default. IMO both Returnal and Metroid Dread have far better gameplay than anything MS released this year. And I know that will draw the "laugh" emoticon responses from the MS-only crowd here, but I've played Halo, Forza, Psychonauts, Flight Sim, and Age of Empires. I bet they haven't played Returnal (an incredible new series with pitch perfect gameplay, an extremely well told story, and some of the best music of the year) or Dread (a fantastic leap forward for Metroid in the gameplay department, with the best control I've ever experienced in a 3d side scroller). Ratchet and Clank also have better visuals than anything in the list from MS (Sorry, it's true, go play the game if you don't believe it. 🤷‍♂️). So I guess out of the big three I would pick Nintendo or Sony still. But maybe a third party has pushed out more good games overall than any of those three. I honestly haven't looked at everything out there.

So it's a matter of opinion. I would take one or two industry benchmark games over games that don't seem to ever change and are on their 16th, and 14th games over the last 15-20 years, a non game, a standard RTS, and a platform that looks like an indie game. And again, the games are fun. It's great that MS is finally putting out new games for the Series X. But publisher of the year? Hey, whatever floats that guys boat.

But like I said, doesn't matter, just like the game awards don't matter. Awards don't matter in general, and this is not even that. It's a dude writing an opinion piece as it states in big ol' letters at the top of of the article. Nobody should really care. And everyone is free to have their own opinion and be perfectly satisfied

Edit: Hey Banjo64 Banjo64 You might want to actually read a post before putting the "laugh" response on it, and basically proving my point. I got the notice for that seconds after this was posted. Try to engage in good faith.
I can feel your pain Dr Bass. Like you said, its a nothing award and doesnt really matter anyway.
 

Lupin25

Member
Sounds about right, but most publishers/developers have taken a hit from the pandemic with many delays this year.

MS capitalized more than anyone late in the year now, since they hadn’t released their flagship games during launch.

This generation has begun pretty slow.
 

Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
Read this line

Then go back to my respond.

Failure to hit a release date, especially a key launch date like one that coincides with a platform launch is a massive failure of organization and planning for any publisher. It represents a massive loss of money, confidence with partners and the buying public, its embarassing. Especially when they had literally years to ready in time, knowing full well its strategic importance.

You don't give credit to them for delivering what should have been there a year prior, because that's rewarding incompetence. Same deal with rewarding them for products that were greenlit prior to their incorporation within XGS, because that's like rewarding a manager for transfers made by their predecessor... its circumstance not design.

And as I keep stressing, to me its about merit, not handing gongs out because you're a fanboy for that particular side.

That's basically it. If you can't wrap your head around where I'm coming from and insist on dismissing my perspectives as purely bad faith... Well there's not much I can say to that!

Apart from the fact that continuing this discussion is a complete and utter waste of time.
 

Fredrik

Member
Sounds about right, but most publishers/developers have taken a hit from the pandemic with many delays this year.

MS capitalized more than anyone late in the year now, since they hadn’t released their flagship games during launch.

This generation has begun pretty slow.
Yeah MS had a terrible last year and start of this year so second half of this year became awesome instead when the floodgates finally opened.

Sony had great last year and also a good first half of this year but a less exciting second half, their floodgates will open early next year with GT7 and HFW instead while MS will slumber until Starfield from what we know so far.
 
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kingfey

Banned
Failure to hit a release date, especially a key launch date like one that coincides with a platform launch is a massive failure of organization and planning for any publisher. It represents a massive loss of money, confidence with partners and the buying public, its embarassing. Especially when they had literally years to ready in time, knowing full well its strategic importance.

You don't give credit to them for delivering what should have been there a year prior, because that's rewarding incompetence. Same deal with rewarding them for products that were greenlit prior to their incorporation within XGS, because that's like rewarding a manager for transfers made by their predecessor... its circumstance not design.

And as I keep stressing, to me its about merit, not handing gongs out because you're a fanboy for that particular side.

That's basically it. If you can't wrap your head around where I'm coming from and insist on dismissing my perspectives as purely bad faith... Well there's not much I can say to that!

Apart from the fact that continuing this discussion is a complete and utter waste of time.
:messenger_expressionless::messenger_expressionless::messenger_expressionless::messenger_expressionless::messenger_expressionless::messenger_expressionless::messenger_expressionless::messenger_expressionless:

I guess you are the type that likes the turd that is called cyberpunk2077.
 

Markio128

Member
I’ll always be where the games are, no matter who publishes them. Series X hasn’t truly tickled my gaming taste buds just yet, but as soon as Starfield is released:
Excited Lets Go GIF by Travis
 

Topher

Gold Member
Yeah MS had a terrible last year and start of this year so second half of this year became awesome instead when the floodgates finally opened.

Sony had great last year and also a good first half of this year but a less exciting second half, their floodgates will open early next year with GT7 and HFW instead while MS will slumber until Starfield from what we know so far.

That's a good summary. I think Microsoft delivering a great Halo game gave them the edge this year. And that was in doubt for quite some time. If Horizon Forbidden West had released this year then this would be a much different conversation. But I'm thankful that this is actually debatable. I skipped Xbox last gen but Microsoft created one hell of a comeback story with Xbox Series and gaming on Xbox is finally a compelling choice. I'm glad I finally own both PS and Xbox again.
 

ZywyPL

Banned
There is plenty of goading going on from the people who land in the Microsoft-only camp though:

"There is no debate!"

That's going to start up the arguments for obvious reasons.

I would say there is a debate. I mean maybe by default MS "wins" since they published the most games overall this year maybe? But you know ... personally, I think it's kinda hilarious that a platform lambasted for being a "Halo/Gears/Forza" box is now being praised for launching.... Halo and Forza? And they look identical to what's been released for those series for decades. Like seriously, you play Forza 4 then Forza 5 and the only thing that is different is the setting. All of the Halo reviews are mysteriously referencing "The Silent Cartographer" ... as a reference of how the game is good again? It's oddly present in all the major pubs, almost as if they were told what they needed to mention. :pie_thinking: But anyway, sort of beside the point. Can you imagine if Breath of the Wild 2 came out and all of the reviews said something like "Finally, we get a dungeon like the OoT Water Temple"? Why are they referencing things from 20 years ago?! Move. On! It's just kinda sad to read really.

Then you have Psychonauts 2 which is ... ok. And Flight Sim 2020 which is again, a cool piece of software for learning about piloting, but not really a "game." Age of Empires is cool. Not on console of course.

Like, that's your winner? Again, it feels like it's by default. IMO both Returnal and Metroid Dread have far better gameplay than anything MS released this year. And I know that will draw the "laugh" emoticon responses from the MS-only crowd here, but I've played Halo, Forza, Psychonauts, Flight Sim, and Age of Empires. I bet they haven't played Returnal (an incredible new series with pitch perfect gameplay, an extremely well told story, and some of the best music of the year) or Dread (a fantastic leap forward for Metroid in the gameplay department, with the best control I've ever experienced in a 3d side scroller). Ratchet and Clank also have better visuals than anything in the list from MS (Sorry, it's true, go play the game if you don't believe it. 🤷‍♂️). So I guess out of the big three I would pick Nintendo or Sony still. But maybe a third party has pushed out more good games overall than any of those three. I honestly haven't looked at everything out there.

So it's a matter of opinion. I would take one or two industry benchmark games over games that don't seem to ever change and are on their 16th, and 14th games over the last 15-20 years, a non game, a standard RTS, and a platform that looks like an indie game. And again, the games are fun. It's great that MS is finally putting out new games for the Series X. But publisher of the year? Hey, whatever floats that guys boat.

But like I said, doesn't matter, just like the game awards don't matter. Awards don't matter in general, and this is not even that. It's a dude writing an opinion piece as it states in big ol' letters at the top of of the article. Nobody should really care. And everyone is free to have their own opinion and be perfectly satisfied

Edit: Hey Banjo64 Banjo64 You might want to actually read a post before putting the "laugh" response on it, and basically proving my point. I got the notice for that seconds after this was posted. Try to engage in good faith.

There's more than the simple "what" they offer, there's also "how" they offer it. And sorry but with offering all those games throughout the year not only not for the 70€ so-called next-gen tax as the rest of the publishers, but actually even for a dirty cheap monthy fee, and on top of that on both the consoles and PC simultaneously so you don't have to buy the same game twice, they really left the competition (who seem to be jumping on the NFT bandwagon now after lootboxes, MTX and DLC) in the dust.
 

Men_in_Boxes

Snake Oil Salesman
A game being cross gen isnt indicative of the quality. TLOU2 isnt a worse game cause its last gen only. So why would any other game?

I genuinely believe gaming is exiting its infancy phase. 2023 onwards will hopefully show that.

Pacman was a great game back in 1982. I have no interest in more Pacman.
 
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Zok310

Banned
lol, these guys finally get some OK games and everybody supposed to stop and look. None of their games were goty by the way......
 

Fredrik

Member
That's a good summary. I think Microsoft delivering a great Halo game gave them the edge this year. And that was in doubt for quite some time. If Horizon Forbidden West had released this year then this would be a much different conversation. But I'm thankful that this is actually debatable. I skipped Xbox last gen but Microsoft created one hell of a comeback story with Xbox Series and gaming on Xbox is finally a compelling choice. I'm glad I finally own both PS and Xbox again.
I don’t have much to add there, totally agree on the positive ending, having both is going to be awesome going forward 🙏 I actually kinda like that they’re a bit off sync on big releases too, it means that one platform might have something big while the other has a bit of downtime. Right now I’m all in on Xbox, feb-mar I’ll be all in on PS.
 
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