I get why Giant Bomb decided not to review this game. All that coverage and their personal relationship with Greg is understandably. But what about the Game of the Year deliberations? It sounds like a good game an a contender for best downloadable game, so they will have to look at it criticly. So what do you think about it? I know that Red Dead Redemption was almost a game of the year without a review, but it was not covered the way Bastion was.

Who cares

I can see it as a possibility in their personal lists, but not the awards. It'll probably get "Best game we have a huge connection with" or something similar joke award.

@Enigma777 said:

Who cares

very constructive. i think that the game of the year deliberations arn't as critically praising or damning as adhering a score, especially when the product is about to hit the shelves.

Yeah they have no idea how to handle the situation.

Let's not do a review. Cool, let's not do a Quick Look too. No, wait let's do a Quick Look! Are you sure? Yeah, but let's do it in a combat arena so people don't get spoiled. But won't they get spoiled by Building the Bastion and the podcast? I guess. Then why make a Quick Look that is unrepresentative of the game experience? I don't know. So how about that review then, let's do it! No! We already decided not to. And people will think we are biased because Greg is our bro and we did Building the Bastion. So how about the Game of the Year deliberations? I don't fricking know. Let's talk about it later. Ok. Laters.

Dont care either way, the guys know what there doing.

I didn't even think it was fucking out yet

I think it'll be a part of the GOTY stuff and will win best downloadable game.   
 
But yeah, who cares? The cool thing about the GOTY stuff is the deliberations.  They are going to talk about it some more and say how much they love it again even if they decide to disqualify it.

Gamers get grouchy during the summer, don't they? Holy hell

Guys know what they're doing. If it is as good as the word around the street is I'm sure it'll come home with a few GOTY awards from other sources.

I didn't even think it was fucking out yet

They can choose whatever game they want. The last time I checked, it was their decision.

@Matoya said:

I didn't even think it was fucking out yet

Its not. Comes out later today. He also isn't saying that its his GOTY, but is asking what Giantbomb will do for GOTY, since they are so connected with the game.

I dont see why it wouldnt be included. Theres a difference between reviewing something and picking a best of type thing.

They can choose whatever game they want. The last time I checked, it was their decision.

@Matoya said:

@Redbullet685 said:

@Matoya said:

I didn't even think it was fucking out yet

Its not. Comes out later today. He also isn't saying that its his GOTY, but is asking what Giantbomb will do for GOTY, since they are so connected with the game.

He probably shouldn't post it in the Bastion subforum then, as it's obvious what he's trying to connote

What? How does this not qualify for the Bastion forum? He's talking about Bastion.

I wouldn't have a problem with them including it in their deliberations, as the Game of the Year is a personal preference thing without critical 'worth' (so to speak).

A review has the potential to cause issues, both professionally and personally, but I don't believe GotY deliberations fall into that same category.

From what ive seen and hear of bastion not putting out a review might be the kindest they can do for it. 
That game just does not look very fun or special to me. 
 
They wont review it anyway as it would be biased by conflicting interests.
Edit: Just saw the reviews thread, guess i just dont get "it"

@dudy80 said:

Dont care either way, the guys know what there doing.

@GeneralZod37 said:

Guys know what they're doing.

Would you guys still consider Bastion for any Game of the Year awards?

I've been tossing this around for the past couple of days. I don't know. I'm tempted to say yes, we'd consider it. We'd have to disclose in or around that award, I suppose. We'll see how we all feel about it when the time comes.

jeffgerstmann responded to AdventC, 2 hours ago

It's pretty funny, they are so careful when it comes to this and ads and spoilers. Even if they should fuck up once, it's not like they haven't earned heaps of karma during the course of Giant Bomb. They should just go for it.

Let's not do a review. Cool, let's not do a Quick Look too. No, wait let's do a Quick Look! Are you sure? Yeah, but let's do it in a combat arena so people don't get spoiled. But won't they get spoiled by Building the Bastion and the podcast? I guess. Then why make a Quick Look that is unrepresentative of the game experience? I don't know. So how about that review then, let's do it! No! We already decided not to. And people will think we are biased because Greg is our bro and we did Building the Bastion. So how about the Game of the Year deliberations? I don't fricking know. Let's talk about it later. Ok. Laters.

I think it would be totally appropriate to include it so long as they still feel it is one of the best games of the year when the time comes for awards.

It's not GOTY anyway, so who gives a shit.

it either gets best indie of the year or it doesn't..  
 
case closed

I feel like it wouldn't be as big a deal if they included this game in GOTY talks as reviewing it is. A review is pretty directly buying advice when the game has just come out/is coming out. Reviews are many people's jumping point for deciding if they want to play a game.

By the time the GOTY deliberations come around, not nearly as many people will be influenced into buying Bastion from the team's thoughts. Most people will have made up their mind. It feels like it would be wrong to not include a game in the GOTY talks if they felt that the game deserved to be in them but are afraid of being crucified by the members.

No one would even be asking if they just reviewed the game. This seems so silly on their part, and especially taking themselves too serious. Just give the review to whom liked/played it the most. So Greg and the team get good pr from GB, and all these associated questions are moot. Who cares anyway, especially if they gave the game a great score, everyone who's followed Building the Bastion would get it, and keep those factors in perspective. And by not reviewing it, it can come off as if they're not wanting to reveal that the game has flaws.

it actually is the opposite they may overlook the game's flaws for being too close and enamored to the project itself.

I'll say this game's got Best Downloadable in the bag.

Its my Downloadable game of the year so far for sure, still some time left though for a new challenger

It may be a contender for downloadable console game of the year but my vote for full scale game of the year at the moment goes to The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings.

Its my GOTY so far. I'm not really even into games like Bastion, but the story, music, gameplay, narrator, graphics, etc. are all fantastic.

It has no chance to be GOTY realistically, the most busy Fall season ever is coming up and it's full of AAA potential GOTYs.

I think it's okay for the crew to put it on their personal GOTY list because then people really can't say "Giant Bomb chose this as one of the best games of the year". I'm sure the GB crew will do the right thing in the end...whatever that is.

Bastion is charming as all fuck, but game of the year material it's not.
 
As far as best downloadable game goes, my vote goes to Outland.

@pweidman: No, they're handling this issue exactly right. The number of complainers who would flood the forums in case they gave it a glowing review would be far greater than the occasional user, that still wants a review like yourself (their talk on the recent bombcasts should be enough to know what they think of the game). Why do you still need a review?