I think some where on their website or maybe on a twitter post they say that scores are decided by a review team, one reviewer does the review but the score is something they all come up with together.
The fact that there would be no horror to be found (at least supernatural horror) was clear after ten minutes in the house really (even though there is possibly a twisted and quite horrifying secret to uncover with regard to the past inhabitants of the house).The answer is no. I came in expecting horror. The game knew that and used my expectations to make me slowly creep through the house in mounting fear and tension fueled along by carefully placed red herrings and my own faulty assumptions. It did it so well (in my case, at least) that it made me laugh at myself when I finally realized what was happening.
If you come in knowing the "twist," your experience would be drastically different. It would just be a boring, gated, ham-fisted story about growing up different in Anytown, USA.
The game has literally no replay value and the experience is really a one-off thing. It was good for what it was, but I strongly believe, judging by the past trend of Polygon articles, that the subject matter of a young lesbian coming into her own and finding freedom of sorts has more than a little to do with the choice.
I wonder what it'll be in February.
Brian Altano's impression of Arthur Gies is swirling in my head.
Ilúvatar;97216463 said:Gone Home was an interesting novelty, not GOTY material... but even Giant Bomb got swept up in the hype for it. So now I'm just confused.
They said that TLOU was an average game and yet it´s one of the best games of the year on their list
Where´s the criteria? oh wait, yeah, maybe in February after the DLC for TLOU gets released and they update their review because reasons.
I think some where on their website or maybe on a twitter post they say that scores are decided by a review team, one reviewer does the review but the score is something they all come up with together.
One reviewer reviewed the game and listed his issues with the game, which are in my mind fairly reasonable even if you disagree. The other editors disagreed with that reviewer's judgment and voted for the game at some level of their GOTY list, leading to its placement here.
The criteria used for each were:
http://www.polygon.com/game/the-last-of-us/3040 <-- here's the original review which you can read
http://www.polygon.com/2014/1/14/5305024/polygons-games-of-the-year-2013-4-tie-last-of-us <-- here's the editorial consensus putting it on the GOTY list.
This isn't rocket science. There's no deeper puzzle. There's no conspiracy. There's no secret club conspiring to undermine the greatness of based naughty gods. It's just that their reviewer who originally played the game had some issues with it that the voting editorial team as a whole did not.
They review DLC separately because it's separate content. They update game reviews when base game content changes (through ongoing updates that change the game or through issues with multiplayer services after launch. There's no secret agenda in updating review scores. When they do, which is rarely, they explain why they update the scores.
It's amazing that people have constructed this elaborate narrative. What do you think these people do in their offices all day? Do you think there's a creepy flowchart with box arts and baphomet signs and burning candles and written in blood "DEATH TO GOOD GAMES LONG LIVE HIPSTERS" or something?
WolfForager said:I think that Polygon see themselves as the Hipsters of the gaming press.
It's amazing that people have constructed this elaborate narrative. What do you think these people do in their offices all day? Do you think there's a creepy flowchart with box arts and baphomet signs and burning candles and written in blood "DEATH TO GOOD GAMES LONG LIVE HIPSTERS" or something?
I think that Polygon see themselves as the Hipsters of the gaming press.
2014's most inappropriate use of the term "red herring".And then there's Kaitlin's sister Samantha, whose story is the driving force behind Gone Home delivered through audio notes deposited throughout the house and whose absence is a red herring until the game's final moments.
It's amazing that people have constructed this elaborate narrative. What do you think these people do in their offices all day? Do you think there's a creepy flowchart with box arts and baphomet signs and burning candles and written in blood "DEATH TO GOOD GAMES LONG LIVE HIPSTERS" or something?
Core mechanics and mechanics-oriented or deep games have not been a major focus at most outlets for quite a few years now....
Game is interesting, but I'm tired of the Gone Home and Brothers worship lately. I'm glad people enjoy the games, but I hope we don't start seeing more casual games and less skill-based games collecting GotY awards in the future.
I wonder what it'll be in February.
I think Gone Home and The Last of Us are both pretty similar actually, just on slightly different levels on the same scale.
A lot of people think its odd to give Gone Home the GOTY award because its so unbelievably minimal, by design, that it has basically no gameplay. That's not very far from how I feel about The Last of Us, which is praised precisely for its emphasis on minimalism as opposed to detailed and in depth gameplay systems.
Its pretty much the exact same thing we see with games like Journey, that have very little gameplay, or The Walking Dead, which has even less.
Its very, very, very popular right now to worship minimalism. They've been sweeping the GOTY awards for 3 years now.
Personally, I respect the evolution of detailed gameplay systems and while I may like some things these games do stylistically, they sacrifice way too much gameplay for the sake of that minimalist style for me to consider them the very best examples of a game this year. I can't truly enjoy any of them to that extent, and I think far better games were made for the last 3 years, in every year.
They have the right to pick whatever game they want though, but I disagree with their choice, as it really represents a fundamental shift away from emphasis on gameplay systems. It presents the player with far less actual game, but praises it like it was more. I think its totally fine to even like these games, and to compliment the different direction too. I enjoyed Journey for one play through. But personally, I just see so many better examples of gameplay each year that get completely ignored.
On some level you almost have to wonder if these people enjoy gameplay. Maybe the older 30+ audience is going to be characterized by short 4 hour games with extremely limited gameplay? With more demands in real life, maybe this is what they enjoy now?
I just hope that sites don't start to look down on pure gameplay, and consider it unsophisticated, and simplistic. I think its the main thing this medium does well that is unique. But with Journey, The Walking Dead, Gone Home, and The Last of Us sweeping awards, I don't see the trend slowing down any time soon.
One reviewer reviewed the game and listed his issues with the game, which are in my mind fairly reasonable even if you disagree. The other editors disagreed with that reviewer's judgment and voted for the game at some level of their GOTY list, leading to its placement here.
The criteria used for each were:
http://www.polygon.com/game/the-last-of-us/3040 <-- here's the original review which you can read
http://www.polygon.com/2014/1/14/5305024/polygons-games-of-the-year-2013-4-tie-last-of-us <-- here's the editorial consensus putting it on the GOTY list.
This isn't rocket science. There's no deeper puzzle. There's no conspiracy. There's no secret club conspiring to undermine the greatness of based naughty gods. It's just that their reviewer who originally played the game had some issues with it that the voting editorial team as a whole did not.
They review DLC separately because it's separate content. They update game reviews when base game content changes (through ongoing updates that change the game or through issues with multiplayer services after launch. There's no secret agenda in updating review scores. When they do, which is rarely, they explain why they update the scores.
It's amazing that people have constructed this elaborate narrative. What do you think these people do in their offices all day? Do you think there's a creepy flowchart with box arts and baphomet signs and burning candles and written in blood "DEATH TO GOOD GAMES LONG LIVE HIPSTERS" or something?
It's amazing that people have constructed this elaborate narrative. What do you think these people do in their offices all day? Do you think there's a creepy flowchart with box arts and baphomet signs and burning candles and written in blood "DEATH TO GOOD GAMES LONG LIVE HIPSTERS" or something?
I think Gone Home and The Last of Us are both pretty similar actually, just on slightly different levels on the same scale.
A lot of people think its odd to give Gone Home the GOTY award because its so unbelievably minimal, by design, that it has basically no gameplay. That's not very far from how I feel about The Last of Us, which is praised precisely for its emphasis on minimalism as opposed to detailed and in depth gameplay systems.
Its pretty much the exact same thing we see with games like Journey, that have very little gameplay, or The Walking Dead, which has even less.
Its very, very, very popular right now to worship minimalism. They've been sweeping the GOTY awards for 3 years now.
Personally, I respect the evolution of detailed gameplay systems and while I may like some things these games do stylistically, they sacrifice way too much gameplay for the sake of that minimalist style for me to consider them the very best examples of a game this year. I can't truly enjoy any of them to that extent, and I think far better games were made for the last 3 years, in every year.
They have the right to pick whatever game they want though, but I disagree with their choice, as it really represents a fundamental shift away from emphasis on gameplay systems. It presents the player with far less actual game, but praises it like it was more. I think its totally fine to even like these games, and to compliment the different direction too. I enjoyed Journey for one play through. But personally, I just see so many better examples of gameplay each year that get completely ignored.
On some level you almost have to wonder if these people enjoy gameplay. Maybe the older 30+ audience is going to be characterized by short 4 hour games with extremely limited gameplay? With more demands in real life, maybe this is what they enjoy now?
I just hope that sites don't start to look down on pure gameplay, and consider it unsophisticated, and simplistic. I think its the main thing this medium does well that is unique. But with Journey, The Walking Dead, Gone Home, and The Last of Us sweeping awards, I don't see the trend slowing down any time soon.
They wanted to differentiate themselves (because they are different hurr durr) with choosing an unusual game but they ended up choosing a shitty game... yep sounds just like Polygon.
This is an amazing post and I couldn't agree more. It's like you are channeling my exact feelings these past few years. I loved TLOU and enjoyed Gone Home, but I do crave more complex experiences, which many games this year have delivered but been somewhat overlooked.
This is an amazing post and I couldn't agree more. It's like you are channeling my exact feelings these past few years. I loved TLOU and enjoyed Gone Home, but I do crave more complex experiences, which many games this year have delivered but been somewhat overlooked.
I wonder what it'll be in February.
Made me think of Metal Gear Rising, absolutely amazing 3rd person action combat, haven't heard many people talk shit about it, but hardly anyone mentioned it in any of the GOTY discussions/pieces I've seen this year. Gameplay takes a backseat to being artsy I guess. Shinta's post is 100% on the money.
I never saw this. I'd LOVE a link.
What's the joke behind this?
What's the joke behind this?
I just hope that sites don't start to look down on pure gameplay, and consider it unsophisticated, and simplistic. I think its the main thing this medium does well that is unique. But with Journey, The Walking Dead, Gone Home, and The Last of Us sweeping awards, I don't see the trend slowing down any time soon.
I wonder what it'll be in February.