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[Bloodworth]

Should just record videos of all the discussions and release those instead. Or if they prefer to do it this way, at least record the discussions and release them after all the GOTY videos are out. I want to know the reasoning behind it all, that's more interesting than knowing who won.

We'll see if we can look into it again next year, but I think people underestimate the time and effort it takes to set up cameras and put a video together. Huber got sick when we were going to have our first meeting too, which put us behind on the whole thing as it was. And PSX getting shoved into the beginning of December sure doesn't help.

 

[Meccanical]

I found it highly repetitive but not in the good trial and error way. It's certainly not that great that it beats everything by default.

TW3 has boring/shallow combat, MGSV has a terrible story/pacing, none of the AAA titles last year felt anywhere near deserving.

Games like Tales from the Boderlands and Ori and the Blind Forest just blew everything on that list away. They had so much more soul, so much more charm, they felt like unique and memorable experiences.

If TW3 had excellent combat it would have been number 1, imo.

Good thing it does.

#controversialopinion

 

[jimboton]

That is not at all how reviewing or scoring games works.

Like, from where I stand, Bloodborne is kind of a shitty game. I'm not saying that to be contrarian or anything--I make my living explaining game mechanics, and I genuinely feel I could back up the claims I have to make. I think there's a lot of shit it's actually pretty bad at, from gameplay to graphics (You'd think FROM would have figured out how to make good skyboxes with proper atmospheric distortion by now), and it wouldn't be anywhere near my game of the year list!

But I'm, y'know, me! I have weird opinions. I think that the best game of the year was The Witcher 3, and I think I could make a ton of arguments for why that is.

There's no such thing as "objective best game of the year," and the insipid fanboyism of the Bloodborne crowd only makes me like the game a great deal less.

I think your understanding of 'game mechanics' may be a lot more 'insipid' than anyone's fanboyism here.

 

[wenaldy]

Robbed was Bloodborne.

 

[30yearsofhurt]

Don - not involved in voting

Witcher 3
-Blood
-Brandon
-Matt

Bloodborne
-Ian
-Kyle
-Brad
-Ben

Unable to Choose
-Huber

Next year you should make a video of the meeting where you sit down and nut these awards out. Watching you guys fight it out (preferably with arm wrestling) would be great.

 

[Draper]

Well, opinions.

Witcher 3 is the best game of the last decade while Bloodborne was one of the biggest disappointments this year (for me).

So at what point did you quit on Bloodborne?

 

[Drencrom]

That is not at all how reviewing or scoring games works.

Like, from where I stand, Bloodborne is kind of a shitty game. I'm not saying that to be contrarian or anything--I make my living explaining game mechanics, and I genuinely feel I could back up the claims I have to make. I think there's a lot of shit it's actually pretty bad at, from gameplay to graphics (You'd think FROM would have figured out how to make good skyboxes with proper atmospheric distortion by now), and it wouldn't be anywhere near my game of the year list!

But I'm, y'know, me! I have weird opinions. I think that the best game of the year was The Witcher 3, and I think I could make a ton of arguments for why that is.

There's no such thing as "objective best game of the year," and the insipid fanboyism of the Bloodborne crowd only makes me like the game a great deal less.

Why don't you explain your problems with the game if you believe you could back them up? Like why even bother start arguing with a blatant fanboy that says his opinion is "objective" in the first place if you're not even trying to explain your position why you think the game in question is bad. I'm genuinely interested in your reasoning why you find the combat horrible in BB either way.

Oh and your bolded statement doesn't make any sense at all. Comes of as petty and childish, tho it makes sense with you freelancing for Kotaku I suppose.

 

[Matrix XII]

Bloodborne is a Masterpiece. I'll be playing this game over and over for years to come.

Happy it won GOTY!

 

[level1]

That is not at all how reviewing or scoring games works.

Like, from where I stand, Bloodborne is kind of a shitty game. I'm not saying that to be contrarian or anything--I make my living explaining game mechanics, and I genuinely feel I could back up the claims I have to make. I think there's a lot of shit it's actually pretty bad at, from gameplay to graphics (You'd think FROM would have figured out how to make good skyboxes with proper atmospheric distortion by now), and it wouldn't be anywhere near my game of the year list!

But I'm, y'know, me! I have weird opinions. I think that the best game of the year was The Witcher 3, and I think I could make a ton of arguments for why that is.

There's no such thing as "objective best game of the year," and the insipid fanboyism of the Bloodborne crowd only makes me like the game a great deal less.

 

[Drencrom]

"I could tell you"

 

[Servbot24]

That is not at all how reviewing or scoring games works.

Like, from where I stand, Bloodborne is kind of a shitty game. I'm not saying that to be contrarian or anything--I make my living explaining game mechanics, and I genuinely feel I could back up the claims I have to make. I think there's a lot of shit it's actually pretty bad at, from gameplay to graphics (You'd think FROM would have figured out how to make good skyboxes with proper atmospheric distortion by now), and it wouldn't be anywhere near my game of the year list!

But I'm, y'know, me! I have weird opinions. I think that the best game of the year was The Witcher 3, and I think I could make a ton of arguments for why that is.

There's no such thing as "objective best game of the year," and the insipid fanboyism of the Bloodborne crowd only makes me like the game a great deal less.

That last bit is much more worrisome to me than any claim of objectivity. Letting outside factors such as fan reaction color your judgement of a game, which should be taken completely on its own terms, is not at all a prudent way to analyze a game. I realize we're all human and we may steer away from certain games for irrational reasons, that's fine, but in a place of discourse that mentality doesn't really belong.

That said I'd be curious to hear your more detailed criticisms of the game. It's certainly not flawless... though all things considered, it's not terribly far off in my opinion.

 

[zsynqx]

That is not at all how reviewing or scoring games works.

Like, from where I stand, Bloodborne is kind of a shitty game. I'm not saying that to be contrarian or anything--I make my living explaining game mechanics, and I genuinely feel I could back up the claims I have to make. I think there's a lot of shit it's actually pretty bad at, from gameplay to graphics (You'd think FROM would have figured out how to make good skyboxes with proper atmospheric distortion by now), and it wouldn't be anywhere near my game of the year list!

But I'm, y'know, me! I have weird opinions. I think that the best game of the year was The Witcher 3, and I think I could make a ton of arguments for why that is.

There's no such thing as "objective best game of the year," and the insipid fanboyism of the Bloodborne crowd only makes me like the game a great deal less.

I thought Bloodborne was slightly disappointing but this post makes me want to claw my eyes out. (Not because of your opinion on the Witcher or dislike of Bloodborne.)

 

[Hibiki Kurosawa]

That is not at all how reviewing or scoring games works.

Like, from where I stand, Bloodborne is kind of a shitty game. I'm not saying that to be contrarian or anything--I make my living explaining game mechanics, and I genuinely feel I could back up the claims I have to make. I think there's a lot of shit it's actually pretty bad at, from gameplay to graphics (You'd think FROM would have figured out how to make good skyboxes with proper atmospheric distortion by now), and it wouldn't be anywhere near my game of the year list!

But I'm, y'know, me! I have weird opinions. I think that the best game of the year was The Witcher 3, and I think I could make a ton of arguments for why that is.

There's no such thing as "objective best game of the year," and the insipid fanboyism of the Bloodborne crowd only makes me like the game a great deal less.

So give us those arguments. Everyone is waiting.

 

[Already Torn]

I found it highly repetitive but not in the good trial and error way. It's certainly not that great that it beats everything by default.

TW3 has boring/shallow combat, MGSV has a terrible story/pacing, none of the AAA titles last year felt anywhere near deserving.

Games like Tales from the Boderlands and Ori and the Blind Forest just blew everything on that list away. They had so much more soul, so much more charm, they felt like unique and memorable experiences.

If TW3 had excellent combat it would have been number 1, imo.

omg Ori has more soul than Bloodborne? Come onnn

Bloodborne's so fucking amazing

So give us those arguments. Everyone is waiting.

It's "kind of shitty"

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

Really can't wait to jump into Her Story though.

 

[Azzanadra]

I'm surprised Legacy of the Void is up there. Not that its not a good game (loved Starcraft need to get back into it), but isn't that an expansion? That would be like giving The Old Hunters or Hearts of Stone a nomination... besides the best part of SC2, which is the multiplayer, was already established by Wings of Liberty, so at this point its the addition of a few new units/mechanics and the campaign that earned the nomination... the campaign is the meat here though, and I don't know how many of you have played the LotV campaign, but the writing... I thought Blizzard couldn't get any worse.

 

[Nimby]

As much as I like to soak in mancry's of defeated Bloodborne fans, The Witcher 3 and Bloodborne are deserving of every award it gets. Best games of the year.

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

I'm surprised Legacy of the Void is up there. Not that its not a good game (loved Starcraft need to get back into it), but isn't that an expansion? That would be like giving The Old Hunters or Hearts of Stone a nomination... besides the best part of SC2, which is the multiplayer, was already established by Wings of Liberty, so at this point its the addition of a few new units/mechanics and the campaign that earned the nomination... the campaign is the meat here though, and I don't know how many of you have played the LotV campaign, but the writing... I thought Blizzard couldn't get any worse.

No its only an expansion in name. Its a massive addition.

 

[Bloodworth]

I'm surprised Legacy of the Void is up there. Not that its not a good game (loved Starcraft need to get back into it), but isn't that an expansion? That would be like giving The Old Hunters or Hearts of Stone a nomination... besides the best part of SC2, which is the multiplayer, was already established by Wings of Liberty, so at this point its the addition of a few new units/mechanics and the campaign that earned the nomination... the campaign is the meat here though, and I don't know how many of you have played the LotV campaign, but the writing... I thought Blizzard couldn't get any worse.

I personally am not a StarCraft guy, but on the team we're in agreement that it's a trilogy of games, not a base game with two expansions. Matt in particular thinks it's nonsense to just call it an expansion. It is a standalone product with a large campaign and a number of significant changes to multiplayer. There's no base game that's just "StarCraft II" either. To me, calling it an expansion would be like calling Assassin's Creed Brotherhood an expansion.

 

[hawk2025]

That is not at all how reviewing or scoring games works.

Like, from where I stand, Bloodborne is kind of a shitty game. I'm not saying that to be contrarian or anything--I make my living explaining game mechanics, and I genuinely feel I could back up the claims I have to make. I think there's a lot of shit it's actually pretty bad at, from gameplay to graphics (You'd think FROM would have figured out how to make good skyboxes with proper atmospheric distortion by now), and it wouldn't be anywhere near my game of the year list!

But I'm, y'know, me! I have weird opinions. I think that the best game of the year was The Witcher 3, and I think I could make a ton of arguments for why that is.

There's no such thing as "objective best game of the year," and the insipid fanboyism of the Bloodborne crowd only makes me like the game a great deal less.

"I make my living explaining game mechanics, but I freely admit my view of games is tainted by random internet posts a great deal"

 

[fastmower]

That is not at all how reviewing or scoring games works.

Like, from where I stand, Bloodborne is kind of a shitty game. I'm not saying that to be contrarian or anything--I make my living explaining game mechanics, and I genuinely feel I could back up the claims I have to make. I think there's a lot of shit it's actually pretty bad at, from gameplay to graphics (You'd think FROM would have figured out how to make good skyboxes with proper atmospheric distortion by now), and it wouldn't be anywhere near my game of the year list!

But I'm, y'know, me! I have weird opinions. I think that the best game of the year was The Witcher 3, and I think I could make a ton of arguments for why that is.

There's no such thing as "objective best game of the year," and the insipid fanboyism of the Bloodborne crowd only makes me like the game a great deal less.

This post is a mess...yikes.

 

[Innolis]

Gametrailers gets it.

 

[The perfect Dark]

So at what point did you quit on Bloodborne?

Never. I finished it because I love the souls games.

 

[Xeilyn]

Deserved, best game ive played in years

 

[grandwizard]

That is not at all how reviewing or scoring games works.

Like, from where I stand, Bloodborne is kind of a shitty game. I'm not saying that to be contrarian or anything--I make my living explaining game mechanics, and I genuinely feel I could back up the claims I have to make. I think there's a lot of shit it's actually pretty bad at, from gameplay to graphics (You'd think FROM would have figured out how to make good skyboxes with proper atmospheric distortion by now), and it wouldn't be anywhere near my game of the year list!

But I'm, y'know, me! I have weird opinions. I think that the best game of the year was The Witcher 3, and I think I could make a ton of arguments for why that is.

There's no such thing as "objective best game of the year," and the insipid fanboyism of the Bloodborne crowd only makes me like the game a great deal less.

Letting a fanbase color your opinion of a game's quality is a really dumb thing to do.

I'm surprised Legacy of the Void is up there. Not that its not a good game (loved Starcraft need to get back into it), but isn't that an expansion? That would be like giving The Old Hunters or Hearts of Stone a nomination... besides the best part of SC2, which is the multiplayer, was already established by Wings of Liberty, so at this point its the addition of a few new units/mechanics and the campaign that earned the nomination... the campaign is the meat here though, and I don't know how many of you have played the LotV campaign, but the writing... I thought Blizzard couldn't get any worse.

The writing is always bad but the campaign is still really great with the same varied mission design as the other campaigns had. So much effort goes into these releases that I think it's too reductive to label them as expansions.

I particularly liked the level where you have controls to move around a space platform that houses your base to various other platforms that have resources on. Creative stuff like that is why I love the SC2 campaigns.

 

[sora87]

What about EG and Destructoid then? You seemed to like those.

I appreciate them, I don't really visit them that much these days though sadly, probably because they lack personality.

 

[Lion Heart]

Really can't wait to jump into Her Story though.

I was really enjoying it until...well spoilers kinda

Spoiler

I felt they didn't properly give the players a true ending. You work so hard to uncover the secret but its too ambiguous.

 

[Kenzodielocke]

Yeah. I would like a Giant Bomb esque GotY discussion. Could be very heated and entertaining.

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

Yeah. I would like a Giant Bomb esque GotY discussion. Could be very heated and entertaining.

I have no interest in discussing anything the GB guys talk about that is gaming related. To much apathy for me.

Oop should have read your post with my eyes. Yeah doing a format like GB does would be pretty entertaining.

 

[nib95]

"I make my living explaining game mechanics, but I freely admit my view of games is tainted by random internet posts a great deal"

It would be nice to know his real name and/or whatever site he writes for so I can ideally disregard his opinions in the articles he writes on games from here on out. That post of his is just...Not what I expect from anyone who writes in any professional capacity, or even from some random poster on GAF. Letting fanboy posts dictate one's opinion of a game is simply childish and immature. You judge a game for exactly what it is, and your own experience with it, not what some random people do on the Internet.

As a side, you can bet that scouring for negatives and criticisms with any game will end up yielding copious results, including The Witcher 3, especially with respect to it's combat fluidity and precision.

 

[Drencrom]

I have no interest in discussing anything the GB guys talk about that is gaming related. To much apathy for me.

Tell me about it.

GB guys feel so jaded, apathetic and/or critical it's like a chore listening to them most of the times. They're not bad or boring or anything, but their discussions are just really tiring.

GameTrailers really got a nice blend between genuine enthusiasm, excitement and optimism when it comes to games and the industry and constructive criticism and cynicism/skepticism when it's due and deserved.

 

[JudgmentJay]

I have no interest in discussing anything the GB guys talk about that is gaming related. To much apathy for me.

Tell me about it.

GB guys feel so jaded, apathetic and/or critical it's like a chore listening to them most of the times. They're not bad or boring or anything, but their discussions are just really tiring.

GameTrailers really got a nice blend between genuine enthusiasm, excitement and optimism when it comes to games and the industry and constructive criticism and cynicism/skepticism when it's due and deserved.

Exactly how I feel as well. It's weird to me that GB has such a huge following.

But it would be cool to see GameTrailers do their GOTY discussions.

 

[UrbanRats]

I have no interest in discussing anything the GB guys talk about that is gaming related. To much apathy for me.

What has that to do with what you quoted?
Using the format doesn't mean adopting their attitude or opinions.

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

What has that to do with what you quoted?
Using the format doesn't mean adopting their attitude or opinions.

Oh sorry my mistake your right.

 

[Massa]

What has that to do with what you quoted?
Using the format doesn't mean adopting their attitude or opinions.

The format where people sit down to tear down each other's favorite games and push their own agenda? No thanks. I like how Gametrailers does GOTY, you actually get a sense that they enjoy the games.

 

[RespectThySole]

Don - not involved in voting

Witcher 3
-Blood
-Brandon
-Matt

Bloodborne
-Ian
-Kyle
-Brad
-Ben

Unable to Choose
-Huber

I would've liked to hear these deliberations GB-style as well.

 

[UrbanRats]

The format where people sit down to tear down each other's favorite games and push their own agenda? No thanks. I like how Gametrailers does GOTY, you actually get a sense that they enjoy the games.

You're being obtuse on purpose? The format where they record their deliberation for the GOTY awards and post them online for the fans to listen to.
Being cynical or positive has nothing to do with it.

 

[Burt]

I vote for everyone picking their game to represent and then determining the winner through a Street Fighter V Kumite livestream

It's literally exactly as correct as group consensus and at least twice as fun.

 

[robertlebrone]

Bloodborne was one of the only games I cared to finish this year, great game.

It was my first 'Souls' game and I hated it at first because I was dying so much and didn't know what to do, but once I got the hang of things it was amazing and I was glad I stuck with it until the end.

 

[Massa]

You're being obtuse on purpose? The format where they record their deliberation for the GOTY awards and post them online for the fans to listen to.
Being cynical or positive has nothing to do with it.

Well, let me put it this way. If the discussions behind Gametrailer's GOTY awards are a bunch of people enthusiastically talking about their favorite games of the year before doing a vote, then sure, sign me up for it.

If it's in any way closer to Giantbomb's format, where they bicker and plot and try to put down each other's favorite games? Then no, I'd rather they keep that stuff in the background and focus on producing the wonderful content like they did this year.

Basically, if their process is in any way like that, then I don't want to see how the sausage gets made. With Giantbomb it makes more sense since they're regularly like that on a weekly basis anyway.

Hopefully I've made my opinion clearer now.

 

[Alucrid]

That is not at all how reviewing or scoring games works.

Like, from where I stand, Bloodborne is kind of a shitty game. I'm not saying that to be contrarian or anything--I make my living explaining game mechanics, and I genuinely feel I could back up the claims I have to make. I think there's a lot of shit it's actually pretty bad at, from gameplay to graphics (You'd think FROM would have figured out how to make good skyboxes with proper atmospheric distortion by now), and it wouldn't be anywhere near my game of the year list!

But I'm, y'know, me! I have weird opinions. I think that the best game of the year was The Witcher 3, and I think I could make a ton of arguments for why that is.

There's no such thing as "objective best game of the year," and the insipid fanboyism of the Bloodborne crowd only makes me like the game a great deal less.

i think i see why your profile says you're looking for work

 

[UrbanRats]

^^^That's a shitty thing to say, dude.
Especially because somebody doesn't like a videogame you like.

Well, let me put it this way. If the discussions behind Gametrailer's GOTY awards are a bunch of people enthusiastically talking about their favorite games of the year before doing a vote, then sure, sign me up for it.

If it's in any way closer to Giantbomb's format, where they bicker and plot and try to put down each other's favorite games? Then no, I'd rather they keep that stuff in the background and focus on producing the wonderful content like they did this year.

Basically, if their process is in any way like that, then I don't want to see how the sausage gets made. With Giantbomb it makes more sense since they're regularly like that on a weekly basis anyway.

Hopefully I've made my opinion clearer now.

I don't care to see people put on a show and be "positive" to make me happy.
I want people to be honest (whether that's cynical GB style, or enthusiastic GT style) and be themselves.
Unless you think Huber stops loving and be hyped by games, once the camera turns off.
So yeah, we see it very differently on that front.

 

[Massa]

I don't care to see people put on a show and be "positive" to make me happy.
I want people to be honest (whether that's cynical GB style, or enthusiastic GT style) and be themselves.
Unless you think Huber stops loving and be hyped by games, once the camera turns off.
So yeah, we see it very differently on that front.

I don't need everything to be positive, I love when people are critical of games, but we get neither from GB's GOTY discussions. It's a process that I think goes against the point of game of the year lists.

 

[DocSeuss]

People obsessing over me not liking the statement "objective best" because I think statements like that are insipid. Neat. I'll talk about Bloodborne later.

i think i see why your profile says you're looking for work

haha I forgot to change it, hold up

I do find it ironic that as a great analyzer of mechanics you could in one breath denounce Bloodborne(with some of the most solid mechanics of any game this year) with the WC3(A game with probably the worst). Now I love both games but I do think you get a huge kick out of being contrary to a popular opinion which I love about your posts. I just had to call you out on this cause it's bs

Different strokes for different folks is all it comes down to. I also happen to think the Witcher 3 has pretty great mechanics for what it's trying to do. I thought this was a pretty good piece about how The Witcher 3's mechanics work and cannot agree with you that it's got anywhere near the worst mechanics, sorry.

I don't really feel like writing a lengthy post about why I feel the way I do in this thread as I feel that'd turn it into a "let's talk about mechanics" thread, and I'd rather not derail. I have every intention of talking about both Bloodborne and The Witcher 3 at a future date.

My point here was to simply illustrate that there is no such thing as "objective best." I find claims to that sentiment to be insipid fanboyism. There is no such thing as an objective best game of the year. I fully stand by that. Getting a threat about this thread via DM was hilarious, though.