Giant Bomb's Game of the Year Thread: Skyrim? Skyrim? Skyrim? Skyrim? Skylanders!

I'm pretty sure bayonetta was only DQ'ed from the best multiplatform award last year, which they don't have anymore.

Also jeff should have fought harder for MK, could have gotten it in over fucking LA noire, patrick and ryan would have probably agreed with a little push.
 
On Mortal Kombat "A back of the box feature like online was completely broken for months. Let's cut it for that. But it's working now!"

Meanwhile Skyrim is completely unplayable on one platform and broken on others with resistances not working. : /

Resistances were only broken for a two week period in between patches and wasn't game breaking.
 
Even if a gamer shouldn't care, shouldn't these gaming "journalists" care? Shouldn't they be the ones that hold companies like Bethesda accountable? Of course not, because in the gaming industry the journalists are just PR reps and free advertising. Putting aside opinionated lists, it's more a travesty that the entire community didn't rise up and say what the fuck to Bethesda. But the PC/360 gamers flippantly not caring about it doesn't help either.

What do you propose they do? If they feel that the 360/PC versions of Skyrim are the game of the year then they should, by all rights, give it GOTY. Discounting those versions, which they think are the GOTY, because of the PS3 one is far more disingenuous than 'people not caring about holding Bethesda accountable'.
 
How so? Why should I, as a 360/PC gamer not play a great game because the version on a platform I don't game on is broken? I just shouldn't buy it so I make a statement to the company? It's the PS3 gamers jobs to do that... Beth left an awful lot of money on the table for by burning those PS3 gamers, not to mention even if they make things right they lost a lot of good will with them as well. PS3 players should be returning and/or avoiding this game and they will take notice of that for sure.

I don't think it's poor form at all for a review site to award 360/PC as they see fit, as long as they write "AVOID PS3 VERSION AT ALL COSTS" in giant flaming letters across the sky. That's probably even more damaging to Beth at any rate, because at least lots of people are reading/watching GOTY awards. If Skyrim wasn't even in the running because of the PS3 version, that is so many less people that would even know about it.
No one's telling you to not play it on the 360 or PC. I'm saying it shouldn't be rewarded with accolades from review sites like it is right now. Giant Bomb is the only site I know that specifically mentioned that they played the 360 version. But if a game doesn't work on all the platforms it's released on it should not be nominated for game of the year. Which they followed through with Mortal Kombat, even though it's been fixed before the deliberation. You can't just pick and choose and say "oh this is for the 360 version and PC version but every other game is for all the platforms they're on but we're not going to note that, that's a given". Well I guess they can since it's their site, but I just don't agree with it.

Bethesda doesn't seem to give a fuck about the PS3 version not being mentioned looking at their facebook page, they seem plenty happy about winning game of the year.

It may not be up to you, and I don't think everyone can stick to their guns and not purchase one of the biggest games of the year, but it would be cool if gamers took a stance. People tried doing that with MW2 two years ago when PC gamers were getting fucked over, course it didn't really work, but hey I did my part and didn't buy it on anything.
 
Heart rate spiked during the short Dark Souls discussion.

It was so close to sneaking into the top 10. It's really a shame the game is so obtuse in the opening stages, those first 3-4 hours where you are getting used to the controls and figuring out what the hell is going on are really robbing a lot of people of one of the best games made in a long time.
 
What the fuck is up with Ryan who did not even have Skrim in his list, argues that his problem only real problem with Saints Row is that he wanted more and then votes for a game he explictly states that he hasn't even played.

Ryan made the shittiest justification for a vote I have ever heard for anything ever.

I have to agree with disagreeing with Brad's entire mentality and his tastes. Frankly, he just defends derivative games over and over again. He even went so far as to argue against the idea that constant sequels are a problem in the fourth podcast.

His arguments against games lke Deus Ex and Rayman we're also just off base, especially the later. Props to Patrick for defending Rayman but he did a poor job. There are many, many amazing levels in that Mae from parodies of Donkey Kong and Angry Birds to playing Breakout while riding a mosquito, to a level where a giant vomits the level in front of you and later swallows you forcing you to run from his internal acid reflux. It is filled with creative moments and NONE of them were brought up
 
What the fuck is up with Ryan who did not even have Skrim n his list, argues that his problem with Saints Row is that he wanted more and then vote , and then votes for a game he states that he hasnt even played.

Ryan made the shittiest justification for a vote I have ever heard for anything ever.

That's just how fucking good Skyrim is.
 
"Hey guys, Saints Row is my favorite game of the year! I just absolutely love it! I haven't played Skyrim. I'm not even going to argue for Saints Row for one second; Skyrim is the game of the year."

Really disappointing final hour of the podcast.

Oh come on. Ryan was the best part of the podcast. Motherfucker wanted blood. Dude was like Palpatine playing Brad and Jeff off each other while Patrick was waiting in the wings. Patrick so wants to be Ryan's apprentice Patrick was even laying waste to his own GOTY picks like Skyward Sword like they were younglings sacrificed to Ryan's shaky legs.

The only thing I was left wanting for was to Ryan to make an argument for Apples to Apples to be the GOTY. I want the Giant Bomb award for which game Ryan loves that is also a game that my 60-year-old mother and her friends think is the bees knees award. Because holy fuck, Apples to Apples is what I was playing Christmas Eve with my mom and our neighbors friends and I guarantee you have not played Apples to Apples yet until you have a judge that is married to a man named Bam. Apples to Apples also happens to be fucking awesome.

Please, please, please Giant Bomb find some way to convince old people to play You Don't Know Jack. They've just discovered Bejewled. It's not to late.
 
How spoilery are the podcasts? I know they have a disclaimer at the start of every one but I figure it's mostly just to cover all their bases...
 
I know Jeff has been burnt out on video games for a long while now, but does he ever unironically like anything? The only games he was enthusiastic about were Saints Row and Trackmania, which while he obviously enjoyed them, it also seemed like he was really overplaying his enthusiasm for the sake of a bit. When it came to Uncharted, Catherine, LA Noire, Rayman, or just about anything else, he always seemed more negative than positive. Just something I was a little disappointed with.
 
How spoilery are the podcasts? I know they have a disclaimer at the start of every one but I figure it's mostly just to cover all their bases...
There are broad spoilers, but they don't go into the fine details of anything. If you care though, you probably shouldn't listen.

I take it you don't watch many quicklooks
I do, but... that's more "Brad sucks at games" more than anything else. The Zelda and Shadow Quick Looks were funny because of that.

I know Jeff has been burnt out on video games for a long while now, but does he ever unironically like anything? The only games he was enthusiastic about were Saints Row and Trackmania, which while he obviously enjoyed them, it also seemed like he was really overplaying his enthusiasm for the sake of a bit. When it came to Uncharted, Catherine, LA Noire, Rayman, or just about anything else, he always seemed more negative than positive. Just something I was a little disappointed with.
Didn't he love the fuck out of Batman?
 
Oh come on. Ryan was the best part of the podcast. Motherfucker wanted blood. Dude was like Palpatine playing Brad and Jeff off each other while Patrick was waiting in the wings. Patrick so wants to be Ryan's apprentice Patrick was even laying waste to his own GOTY picks like Skyward Sword like they were younglings sacrificed to Ryan's shaky legs.

Except in the first half all he did was jokingly antagonize and in the final hour he made the dumbest vote/argument I ever heard. I literally can make no sense of why he votes for a game he has t even played over the game he says was his favorite game of the year.

And I don't have a dog I this fight. I think Sants Row and Skryim are both good, but neither are near my favorite.

Top five of my list (in no particular order) would include Witcher 2, Rayman, Dark Souls, Deus Ex, and Sword and Sworcery. Those are games that I would say REALLY were fresh and stood out as such this year. It sucks that really only one or two people on podcast played each of them for a significant period of time because it made it impossible for a real conversation to occur to argue for them.
 
I know Jeff has been burnt out on video games for a long while now, but does he ever unironically like anything? The only games he was enthusiastic about were Saints Row and Trackmania, which while he obviously enjoyed them, it also seemed like he was really overplaying his enthusiasm for the sake of a bit. When it came to Uncharted, Catherine, LA Noire, Rayman, or just about anything else, he always seemed more negative than positive. Just something I was a little disappointed with.

Mortal Kombat

go look at Jeff's reviews this year, the overwhelming majority are 4 or 5 stars. Just because he's not falling over himself to talk about how brilliant everything is doesn't mean he hates it.
 
I know Jeff has been burnt out on video games for a long while now, but does he ever unironically like anything? The only games he was enthusiastic about were Saints Row and Trackmania, which while he obviously enjoyed them, it also seemed like he was really overplaying his enthusiasm for the sake of a bit. When it came to Uncharted, Catherine, LA Noire, Rayman, or just about anything else, he always seemed more negative than positive. Just something I was a little disappointed with.

Jeff doesn't ironically like Saints, Mortal Kombat or Trackmania. He thinks they are legitmately great games.
 
I know Jeff has been burnt out on video games for a long while now, but does he ever unironically like anything? The only games he was enthusiastic about were Saints Row and Trackmania, which while he obviously enjoyed them, it also seemed like he was really overplaying his enthusiasm for the sake of a bit. When it came to Uncharted, Catherine, LA Noire, Rayman, or just about anything else, he always seemed more negative than positive. Just something I was a little disappointed with.

You don't have to be burnt out on video games to dislike those games.
 
Someone should tally up the number of times Brad says the phrase "Oh, dude that is amazing." It seems to be the basis for a lot of his critical judgements, which is, to be blunt, less than profound.

Vinny and Jeff's criticism of Skyrim totally outmatched him because all it seems like he had was "Dude Skyrim is amazing and o other game like it." and when pressed he couldn't eve back it up.

And again I'm not saying that because I think Saints Row should win. He just makes a pretty poor case.
 
Trackmania 2 is actually a pretty awesome game, I don't fault Jeff for enjoying it so much at all. I wish it caught on more...the community was pretty small last time I checked.
 
My initial reaction to SR3 not winning:

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Not surprised Brad got his way.
 
Phew, just finished listening to the last 'cast.
It's a shame Brad and Patrick hadn't played Witcher 2, I could see it being a spot or two higher on the list if they had.
And man, that SR vs. Skyrim fight got pretty ugly. I was fully expecting Ryan to do the right thing, but him taking a heel turn certainly made it more interesting.
Although, his reasoning for Skyrim over SR was one of the weakest arguments I've ever heard.
"I loved SR so much, I was sad when it was over. THEREFORE SECOND PLACE >:C"

Also, I don't really get why they cut MK from the list for being broken, but pushed Skyrim to the top, while bemoaning the same (well, Jeff at least.)

Man, I was playing SR3 the entire time I was listening. That damn game should have won. ;_;
 
Dead Space 2 over Uncharted 3? Go fuck yourselves GB.

I was surprised by how high DS2 was, but UC3 not showing up at all is the best thing about the list for me. LA Noire is the one blemish...really wish Jeff pushed MK harder, ANYTHING over that.
 
Just got to Portal 2 vs. Bastion
Opinions and all but...I thought Portal 2 was a faaaaar better game. Bastion is just kind of forgettable to me, from a gameplay perspective. Their arguments didn't really convince me either.
 
I loved Deus Ex 3 and am glad Patrick and Jeff both loved it, but man...Patrick's arguments for keeping it on the list were hitting some extreme fanboy level shit. So glad Jeff piped up with a bit of truth as you could really sense Patrick's sheer adoration for DX1 creeping into his memories of DX:HR almost twisting the reality of the actual experience. Again, love the game(got all 1000 points), but Brad(and Jeff) were more correct about the pathfinding experience despite him only having played a few hours. At least they acknowledge the shit endings.

Wish they discussed a bit more why Bastion is so high on their list. I am currently playing it and find it the MOST overrated game of the year right now easily. Just kinda wish they would quantify the love beyond "Oh it HAS to be in the top 5! So awesome!".

I am oddly curious to play LA Noire now. I was dead fine with ignoring it after the GAF blowback, but damn they mostly all really enjoyed that game.
 
Dead Space 2 and Vanquish (2010) are the best third person action games out there. I'm glad the former was able attain top 5. Over Gears, as it should!
 
Wish they discussed a bit more why Bastion is so high on their list. I am currently playing it and find it the MOST overrated game of the year right now easily. Just kinda wish they would quantify the love beyond "Oh it HAS to be in the top 5! So awesome!".
I'm honestly kind of surprised they didn't justify Bastion > Portal 2 more, considering how much stress they placed on not reviewing Bastion because of their ties to Kasavin. I'm genuinely curious as to why they think Bastion > Portal 2, but they just kind of dismissed it. I know Jeff said he didn't like the co-op, but I wonder if the others feel that way too, because I personally thought the co-op was a lot of fun.
Portal 2 was the type of game you don't get to see very often. I was completely engaged throughout the entire campaign, and the gameplay was as fun as ever. With Bastion...I like the way it looks and sounds, but man am I struggling to get through it, and not because of difficulty.
 
I'm honestly kind of surprised they didn't justify Bastion > Portal 2 more, considering how much stress they placed on not reviewing Bastion because of their ties to Kasavin. I'm genuinely curious as to why they think Bastion > Portal 2, but they just kind of dismissed it. I know Jeff said he didn't like the co-op, but I wonder if the others feel that way too, because I personally thought the co-op was a lot of fun.
Portal 2 was the type of game you don't get to see very often. I was completely engaged throughout the entire campaign, and the gameplay was as fun as ever. With Bastion...I like the way it looks and sounds, but man am I struggling to get through it, and not because of difficulty.

I enjoyed Portal 2 both campaign and Co-op, but I'm one of those people that wouldn't place it in my top 10 of the year. Blew through all content in a solid week but didn't walk away as attached to the characters or story as most seemed to. Great experience though and I definitely understand the adoration it receives, even if I don't share it.

Bastion though...goddamn what a letdown it's turned out to be given all the love it receives. I really wished for a more roundtable discussion, if just to understand their appreciation better. I see none of it so far either.
 
Man

The only thing I really had an issue with was Ryan voting for Skyrim for really, really spurious reasons.

Abstain if you haven't played the game and don't want to elevate what would be your other choice. Don't just go "Haven't played it, but Game of the Year!"
 
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