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[Bobby Roberts]

I get the sense "Best Downloadable Game" will end up being a ghetto in the same way "Best Animated Film" is one at the Oscars. It won't win any real Game of the Year awards because it has a category you can tuck it into so you don't HAVE to consider it for Game of the Year.

It's why something like "Up," which was for many critics the best film of that year, only barely got a nomination for Best Picture. Because they knew it'd win their consolation prize "Best Animated Feature."

So far, "The Walking Dead" is my game of the year, but even with a retail release, it's going to be classified as a Downloadable game, and there's already a category for that at most publications. Once you have a nice place to file something, that's where you file it, because otherwise you muddy up all your neat, tidy classifications.

 

[Messofanego]

Mark of the Ninja, YES.

 

[Zia]

Interesting to see TTT2 being mentioned as a contender in the same year VF5:FS came out. I didn't know people still played Tekken.

 

[Brandon F]

Really don't get the Journey love. Played it through and left feeling it was savagely overrated. Gorgeous game, but the epiphany or dramatic soul searching that so many others had when completing it was completely lost on me. Just did not have an emotional connection at all with the events or situations. Touching moments here and there, but I really questioned what the big deal was. As a game I found it incredibly lacking.

Mark of the Ninja is great however.

Dragon's Dogma would still be my front-runner if it had a meaningful difficulty curve, especially for NG+. Otherwise, this year really has left me cold so far, very few games ever resonated. I am digging Halo 4 a lot surprisingly though, but I am only two missions in(Legendary solo so it is going slow).

 

[Sayah]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg8Ss61yJWs

I really liked this one.

This one was also nice.

Those are smalltime.

Obviously best listened to within the game itself, or at least with some context of what the game's about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qlpdVYrvgA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH0gzD1IwGk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNOX-L-TcdA

Thanks a lot. Listened through a few and liked them a lot. Especially Hydrogen. Listening to the rest right now. I didn't even know this game existed.

TTT2 could be a good contender but I am highly biased.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYiuv7SziJc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVFlG0bmaog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgrdlLpFEEM (reach 0:51)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj1XRs2y0Uo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s154t9cvz7A

 

[shintoki]

I get the sense "Best Downloadable Game" will end up being a ghetto in the same way "Best Animated Film" is one at the Oscars. It won't win any real Game of the Year awards because it has a category you can tuck it into so you don't HAVE to consider it for Game of the Year.

The industry sides with the AAA, Blockbuster experience. And I don't expect it to change this year.

But we will get a strong turn out for Downloadable titles this year. More Gaffers use Steam, more become disinterested in the largely productions, but shallow play.

I'm not saying miracles will happen. But I wouldn't be surprised if Journey cracks the top 10. And Mark of the Ninja + Miami Hotline do fairly well. I see a lot of positive vibes going for them.

 

[Doomshine]

I didn't know people still played Tekken.

That's an interesting choice of words considering the game you're comparing it to.

 

[Sayah]

That's an interesting choice of words considering the game you're comparing it to.

LOL

 

[Zeliard]

Those are smalltime.

Yeah that one's the jam. Play that shit loud.

Crystals

Electric Dreams

 

[Zia]

That's an interesting choice of words considering the game you're comparing it to.

I didn't intend to offend. I meant in a serious, competitive setting, and anyone that enjoys the game enough to put it at the top of their list probably takes the game pretty seriously. It always struck me as the Cruis'n USA to VF's Daytona USA, so I just figured folks had moved on to more modern casual fighters.

 

[j0hnny_385]

My GOTY of 2012 so far is .... this thing of beauty:

 

[rmanthorp]

Mark of the Ninja.

 

[pantsmith]

Journey was the first game I've played comparable to a Pixar movie (in both quality, framing and execution), and The Walking Dead is the perfect blend of new ideas and good video game design applied to a compelling, episodic narrative. Both are outstanding GOTY material.

2012, taken as a whole, has been full of 8/10 or 9/10 games that have tended to be more niche, but also full of wonderfully original ideas and creativity. All my favorite games were downloadable, like:

-Journey
-The Walking Dead
-Lone Survivor
-Hotline Miami
-Dyad (not GOTY material, but GOMY material
-Tokyo Jungle
-Sound Shapes
-Fez

And I'd consider most of the games of equal quality, so it really is a toss up in my mind.

Dishonored was good, but flawed. Halo 4 was excellent, but didn't do enough to warrant a GOTY. And Kid Icarus, while excellent as well, was a labor of love rather than the gold standard of good design (see counterintuitive controls, for example).

We'll really have to wait and see if there are any surprises waiting in store, because there really hasn't been one lone standout from the pack.

 

[Shorty11857]

Journey is my GOTY easily, nothing really comes close

 

[OldJadedGamer]

I haven't purchased a single new retail game this year and all my games have been downloadable. So many good games this year to keep up.

I loved Journey and Mark of the Ninja the most though but if I had to choose between the two I would go for Mark of the Ninja based on playtime. Journey was sweet but a little too short.

 

[Messofanego]

Mark of the Ninja is pretty good and if I was making a goty list solely on stealth games it would be #1.....and also the only game on the list.

But depending how Walking Dead ends it could be my goty. I have it at #1 now but a good conclusion is extremely difficult to pull off. I've never had a downloadable game so high on my list before.

You finally got the game? Good man.

 

[Sissel]

Journey is flawless. A true masterpiece. Both it and The Walking Dead (another amazing game) would deserve GOTY.

 

[RobbieNick]

Walking Dead for me.

 

[Socreges]

Wow. Somehow overlooked Mark of the Ninja. Sounds like a game I'd love. I'll have to try it out.

And had no idea The Walking Dead was so highly regarded. The review scores seemed solid, but not outstanding.

 

[Dr.Hadji]

If I could I would give FEZ negative GOTY votes. As an expression piece FEZ is genius. Playing the game I was often struck with the notion that this game is SOOO Phil Fish (as he is portrayed in Inde Game: The Movie). It just turns out that the mind of Phil is a little (way) too nonsensical for my liking. Looks nice though.

And with all these Walking Dead mentions I guess the "we need to kill gameplay" guy has a point right?

 

[StuBurns]

I was really disappointed with Mark of the Ninja, I hate the way it looks and it's sticky controls, reminds me of InFamous.

 

[Dyni Crippler]

And had no idea The Walking Dead was so highly regarded. The review scores seemed solid, but not outstanding.

It's really Telltale's greatest game in my opinion. Writing is the most solid of the last years along with Ghost Trick.

And with all these Walking Dead mentions I guess the "we need to kill gameplay" guy has a point right?

It's an adventure. Sure, it's less gamey than Monkey Island and sort, but it has gameplay.
Also, nothing wrong with something different once in a while. Just know why it's good.

 

[Doomshine]

I didn't intend to offend.

Neither did I, I like the game, but I'm being realistic here.

 

[B.O.O.M]

My personal GOTy so far is gravity Rush. I thought it might be Max Payne but it was kind of a disappointment sadly.

 

[SapientWolf]

I didn't intend to offend. I meant in a serious, competitive setting, and anyone that enjoys the game enough to put it at the top of their list probably takes the game pretty seriously. It always struck me as the Cruis'n USA to VF's Daytona USA, so I just figured folks had moved on to more modern casual fighters.

Tekken is that casual fighter. At least, compared to VF.

 

[Soma]

KATAWA SHOUJO IS GAME OF THE YEAR SO YEAH

That's definitely going on my GOTY list somewhere at least.

Gotta give that a replay one of these days.

 

[Haunted]

Surely this is Brad Shoemaker's most favourite GAF thread.

 

[Sayah]

Tekken is that casual fighter. At least, compared to VF.

It's both casual and hardcore. Caters to both audiences.

 

[BLACK AMERICAN PSYCHO]

Ummmm no......
BL2
Dishonored

 

[Zia]

Tekken is that casual fighter. At least, compared to VF.

Ah, I see. I don't closely follow the FGC, and enjoy and hear a lot more about other fighting series with a comparable skill ceiling, such as Smash Bros, so I'd assumed its time had passed.

Sorry for the brief tangent.

 

[Derrick01]

You finally got the game? Good man.

Yup and it's almost as good as a lot of people here were hyping it. Not the best stealth game ever but definitely a worthy entry into the discussion.

 

[Mileena]

Interesting to see TTT2 being mentioned as a contender in the same year VF5:FS came out. I didn't know people still played Tekken.

I got VF5 for free on plus, played it for a day or two, thought it was boring/hated all the characters and stopped. TTT2 has been awesome since day one. It has much more style.

 

[Cheech]

I think this year will be closer thanks to there not being an obvious front runner, but I don't see any obvious downloadable games that blew me away. Really enjoyed Legend of Grimrock, but Journey was grossly overrated.

Xcom, Dishonored, ME3, Halo 4. I think those will be the big 4.

 

[Sissel]

I think this year will be closer thanks to there not being an obvious front runner, but I don't see any obvious downloadable games that blew me away. Really enjoyed Legend of Grimrock, but Journey was grossly overrated.

Xcom, Dishonored, ME3, Halo 4. I think those will be the big 4.

how so?

 

[Dr.Hadji]

It's an adventure. Sure, it's less gamey than Monkey Island and sort, but it has gameplay.
Also, nothing wrong with something different once in a while. Just know why it's good.

That thread title (and my reference to that thread) is misleading. He was saying, to create those very emotional moments ,that are highlights for many people when playing games, gameplay might need to be sacrificed. Walking Dead has gameplay, but I'm guessing that's not why people are nominating the game.

 

[Riposte]

That was last year: Hard Corps: Uprising.

 

[Crash Station]

Huh, now that I think about it, there isn't a single console retail GOTY contender for me this year. I mean it's probably going to be NSMBU, but right now it's between Tokyo Jungle and Virtue's Last Reward.

 

[Reluctant-Hero]

From me, yes: The Walking Dead

Once again, first post nails it. The Walking Dead is my front runner with Halo 4 in second place.

 

[snowdog1971]

I'm convinced that ZombiU is going to win a fair few GOTY Awards.

 

[Dyni Crippler]

That thread title (and my reference to that thread) is misleading. He was saying, to create those very emotional moments ,that are highlights for many people when playing games, gameplay might need to be sacrificed. Walking Dead has gameplay, but I'm guessing that's not why people are nominating the game.

Well, I guess. Writing has to be especially solid, though.

 

[StuBurns]

I'm convinced that ZombiU is going to win a fair few GOTY Awards.

I'm convinced it's garbage and will get trashed at review.

 

[OldJadedGamer]

I'm convinced it's garbage and will get trashed at review.

Have any reviews even come through?

 

[BrokenEchelon]

Journey has a retail copy now though.

I'm convinced it's garbage and will get trashed at review.

Me too.

 

[StuBurns]

Have any reviews even come through?

Not that I know of.

 

[Dyni Crippler]

Me too.

Me three.

 

[szaromir]

Mark of the Ninja is pretty good and if I was making a goty list solely on stealth games it would be #1.....and also the only game on the list.

But depending how Walking Dead ends it could be my goty. I have it at #1 now but a good conclusion is extremely difficult to pull off. I've never had a downloadable game so high on my list before.

All your endless crap about how games are streamlined and you'd give the GOTY award to The Walking Dead of all games on the market? Oh, the irony.

 

[spirity]

My GOTY of 2012 so far is .... this thing of beauty:

Most people would have posted that and anyone interested who wasn't familiar with the game would be shit out of luck because the poster rarely, if ever, names the game they're showing off.

You haven't disclosed the name of the game, but you've gone one better. Clicking on that gif leads me to the OT, and all the information I or anyone else needs.

So, thanks.

 

[braves01]

Have any reviews even come through?

Don't think so, but ign's comes out the 15th, so I'm guessing thats the day embargo lifts.

 

[Derrick01]

All your endless crap about how games are streamlined and you'd give the GOTY award to The Walking Dead of all games on the market? Oh, the irony.

I don't recall ever complaining about adventure games before.

 

[szaromir]

I don't recall ever complaining about adventure games before.

The Walking Dead is extremely streamlined compared to something like Tales of Monkey Island which was already streamlined compared to something like Monkey Island 2.