Justin McElroy's Top 10 Games of 2012

@bigsmoke77 said:

I don't know, man, I just like shooting dudes sometimes. It's got lots of, you know, guns and stuff and I just really like shooting guys with them. I don't know what to tell you.

This coming from the guy who got on his high horse after the newtown shooting and said that there should be less gun violence in games moving forward.

That's not what he said at all, and you're taking his Justin's comments completely out of context.

He was saying that it would be ignorant not to consider and discuss if violence in video games could be affecting on society. It's not an affirmation about the societal effects of violent video games have - it's simply a call that we shouldn't outright dismiss the idea without discussion and study because that would be just as terrible in itself.

Proud West Virginian and Time Belt watcher :P

I was wondering what had happened to Justin. I miss him at Joystiq. Ever since they changed their podcast format it's been REALLY dull. He would have been a pretty decent fit here at GB.

@heatDrive88 said:

@bigsmoke77 said:

I don't know, man, I just like shooting dudes sometimes. It's got lots of, you know, guns and stuff and I just really like shooting guys with them. I don't know what to tell you.

This coming from the guy who got on his high horse after the newtown shooting and said that there should be less gun violence in games moving forward.

That's not what he said at all, and you're taking his Justin's comments completely out of context.

He was saying that it would be ignorant not to consider and discuss if violence in video games could be affecting on society. It's not an affirmation about the societal effects of violent video games have - it's simply a call that we shouldn't outright dismiss the idea without discussion and study because that would be just as terrible in itself.

I hate wasting time talking about him, but since he did say it's a "fact that the medium has become too violent" how does that not mean there should be less gun violence?

CAKE BOSS!

justin mcelroy makes my top 10 list of internet games writers. probably my top 5.

solid list. some thinkers on there, like Dragons Dogma. i might have to go ahead and pick that bad larry up.

@Turambar said:

@SpunkyHePanda said:

@Turambar said:

@WMWA said:

@ike7779

Isn't this the guy who had a tantrum about the fishing in Nier? Funny to see Dragon's Dogma on his list.

Can we let that die now? Please?

Wait, what?

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/03/nier-review-fail/

Hey, whatever. The video is hilarious.

That is pretty hilarious. A little sad, but still hilarious. Also makes me want to laugh at Justin a bit, but in the grand scheme of things, its only balancing out the degree to which I bow to his musical rendition of Anor Londo.

Redeemed.

@Ehker: Would you not agree that a large majority of games created for the mainstream audience involve you taking a gun and firing it an an opposing enemy's head? Maybe you would, maybe you wouldn't. Granted, competitive opposition and warfare have been themes of all video games for a very long time.

I think what I'm trying to say is that I don't know if games have become more violent or not, and I don't 100% know if Justin is right or wrong either. All I know is that this is an enormous discussion that involves huge generational factors like age groups, technological advancement, economical advances, societal shifts and balances, and more. It's a gigantic topic to discuss.

To call him as being "on a high horse" or to diminish his opinion as a result is unfair because it's not like we know the right answer either. But what Justin does get right when you take all his comments in context, is that we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss possible issues without study and discussion either.

A top 10 list for the modjern era.

@heatDrive88: I agree that he talked about those other points but he said he would like to see less "shoot guys" type of game next year and BLOPS 2 is the perfect example of unnecessary and in my opinion bad use of violence and gun violence. The Newtown shootings shouldn't be the catalysis to change your opinion on gun violence in video games, bad use of gun violence was dumb before Newtown and to say BLOPS2 is ur favorite game because you get to shoot guys with guns is dumb.

Mildly sad at no SHIX, but not really surprised.

Kiss your dad square on the lips.

@Zamir said:

no Sherlock

That's the mystery.

@DougCL said:

justin mcelroy makes my top 10 list of internet games writers. probably my top 5.

Yes, quite. The eloquence and the inspired prose behind this list of games is truly something to behold. Only very large screenshots filling up the entire screen could've made this verbose and novel-like article better.

@aagaard: im not quite sure what you're getting at. maybe that you dislike polygon? that's fine, but don't hold that against Justin personally. hes really funny, check out MBMBaM

@aagaard said:

@DougCL said:

justin mcelroy makes my top 10 list of internet games writers. probably my top 5.

Yes, quite. The eloquence and the inspired prose behind this list of games is truly something to behold. Only very large screenshots filling up the entire screen could've made this verbose and novel-like article better.

Yeah, them vidja game guest top 10 lists are some serious bidness. Can never have enough tl;dr when it comes to top 10 lists.

@heatDrive88 said:

@Ehker: Would you not agree that a large majority of games created for the mainstream audience involve you taking a gun and firing it an an opposing enemy's head? Maybe you would, maybe you wouldn't. Granted, competitive opposition and warfare have been themes of all video games for a very long time.

I think what I'm trying to say is that I don't know if games have become more violent or not, and I don't 100% know if Justin is right or wrong either. All I know is that this is an enormous discussion that involves huge generational factors like age groups, technological advancement, economical advances, societal shifts and balances, and more. It's a gigantic topic to discuss.

To call him as being "on a high horse" or to diminish his opinion as a result is unfair because it's not like we know the right answer either. But what Justin does get right when you take all his comments in context, is that we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss possible issues without study and discussion either.

I can't be interested in that topic because it's as old as Doom and has been done to death, but you said he didn't say what he said, so I was giving an example. Justin calling for less violence while praising a game for guns as bigsmoke77 brought up was interesting.

But the guy says lot's of stuff, like wanting to be friends with NeoGAF until changing his mind and trashing them, all while still getting news from them. It's all fun to read, but in the end you can't put much weight behind his words.

@DougCL said:

@aagaard: im not quite sure what you're getting at. maybe that you dislike polygon? that's fine, but don't hold that against Justin personally. hes really funny, check out MBMBaM

Dislike? No. I haven't read it enough to have an opinion either way, but beyond that I just found it amusing that you chose the comments for this particularly article to call its author a great writer in.

@aagaard said:

@DougCL said:

@aagaard: im not quite sure what you're getting at. maybe that you dislike polygon? that's fine, but don't hold that against Justin personally. hes really funny, check out MBMBaM

Dislike? No. I haven't read it enough to have an opinion either way, but beyond that I just found it amusing that you chose the comments for this particularly article to call its author a great writer in.

what other article would he use? it's not every day GB has a justin mcelroy article

@mrcraggle said:

Wish GB snatched him up instead of Polygon.

This.

Could you imagine a Justin/Jeff Endurance run?

@mrcraggle said:

Wish GB snatched him up instead of Polygon.

This.

Could you imagine a Justin/Jeff Endurance run?

So many gamez I haven't played yet. Well, that's what bookmark is for.

My most favoritist podcast person. Everything he touches is gold. Also, please more SatDish. I need that dishhhhh.

I guess The Testament of Sherlock Holmes was number eleven.

Needs more Time Belt.

GOT IT IN 20-DOZ.

Justin McElroy bringing some needed Dragons Dogma love.

Kiss your dad square on the lips.

@notha said:

@aagaard said:

@DougCL said:

@aagaard: im not quite sure what you're getting at. maybe that you dislike polygon? that's fine, but don't hold that against Justin personally. hes really funny, check out MBMBaM

Dislike? No. I haven't read it enough to have an opinion either way, but beyond that I just found it amusing that you chose the comments for this particularly article to call its author a great writer in.

what other article would he use? it's not every day GB has a justin mcelroy article

heck yes, i take my opportunities to preach the gospel McElroy wherever i can get them.

@bigsmoke77 said:

@heatDrive88: I agree that he talked about those other points but he said he would like to see less "shoot guys" type of game next year and BLOPS 2 is the perfect example of unnecessary and in my opinion bad use of violence and gun violence. The Newtown shootings shouldn't be the catalysis to change your opinion on gun violence in video games, bad use of gun violence was dumb before Newtown and to say BLOPS2 is ur favorite game because you get to shoot guys with guns is dumb.

Oh you silly billy, he is talking about shooting guys in a video game. Shooting guys is fun, lighting them on fire with a fire arrow is even more fun.

Fuck yeah Dragon's Dogma!!...J-mac does it again

Seems like a good person but to say Mutant Blobs Attacks is better than Gravity Rush is way off

Strange list but that is what I expect from the time belt

At least one guy that listed Dragons Dogma. Most underrated game this year !!

Is that really a picture of him?

Fuckin' A Dishonored.

Anyone else weirded out that a professional writer can barely write more than one sentence about his ten favorite games of the year?

@LastNinja said:

Is that really a picture of him?

Yes, yes it is.

Dragon's Dogma is awesome, good choice.

@BigBossCB said:

Anyone else weirded out that a professional writer can barely write more than one sentence about his ten favorite games of the year?

Eh. I actually really like that it was really short. I don't need whole paragraphs for each one, especially given the sheer number of top ten lists on this site that all feature the same games for the same reasons. I thought Justin's was funny and well-written.

@DiceyDice said:

I guess The Testament of Sherlock Holmes was number eleven.

It was number Shix.

yeah super hexagon

@Residentrevil2 said:

@LastNinja said:

Is that really a picture of him?

Yes, yes it is.

Damn that is unflattering as someone said. I can see the resemblance but only barely. Was almost offended that they used somebody with downs syndrome as some sort of sick gag.

Lovely list Justin.