Giant Bombcast Game of the Year 2019: Day Five Deliberations

Jeff saying he didn't see any of the writing on the wall in Outer Wilds is like Dan not knowing about the environmental puzzles in The Witness

+Respect to Ben for how well he went to bat for the game that he likes.

Since there's no Hottest Mess category this year, I'll nominate a game for it: Outer Wilds.

Outer Wilds's PS4 port has a save corruption bug in it, and one that happens fairly frequently if the user response on Twitter and the developer's site is any indication. It happened to Fanbyte's (formerly Waypoint's) Danielle Riendeau. Suffice it to say this is the most deleterious issue a game can have - even a glitch that prevents you from completing the game means, at worst, you just have to sit twiddling your thumbs next the finish line until they fix it - and absolutely not one that should be in a finished product of any repute. Games are hard to make and bugs happen, granted, but there are issues of a certain severity that should never be allowed to see the light of day and that it's still there (figuratively) kicking people in the junk several months after release is pretty shocking.

Control chugs harder than The Little Engine That Could on a core PS4 and the decisions made for its checkpointing may be the Oldest House's biggest mystery of all, but at least it didn't consign hundreds of save games to the great beyond.

Yeah, not really into the format this year. In particular, I don't think spending two or three days discussing every game that came out this year really has a place. I'd rather they spend more time discussing things they are actually passionate about rather than spending 3-4 minutes a pop on games that have zero chance of being in the discussion. This is doubly true when they seem to have gotten rid of a lot of the "bad" categories.

Like, does Wolfenstein: Youngblood really need to be given any air time when it was, at best, really mediocre and isn't going to be on anyone's list for any category? It just seems like a huge waste of time to me.

I'd also much rather see them play some of these games, especially if someone is really into a game that others didn't get a chance to play. Then the debate can at least proceed on equal footing. Brad mentioned multiple times that he hadn't been able to play every game on their list, which just seems like a bad way to have a discussion.

Really disappointed with this year’s GOTY offerings. I have the most fun on this site when the staff is also having fun. Didn’t feel much of that this year with some of the missing categories and lack of group videos.

I miss some of the older categories but I enjoyed how civil and chill the discussions were this year.

I hope that most people are joking with the whole “Ron was right” stuff. If people really think that Outer Wilds is a pretentious game, that sucks. It’s not some avant-garde, barely-a-game, art piece. It’s a puzzle game.

It’s fine to not like it, but labeling something pretentious because it tries something new, and has the gall to not have combat I guess, is so detrimental to the growth of the medium.

Yeah, I’m jumping on board to say this year’s offerings kinda were underwhelming. Three days of recap has to go. Best Moment or Sequence is my favorite category and to see it gone is depressing. The videos have been meh, with Giant Bomb Feud being the only worthwhile one. Hitmas is the best content of each year, how could they cut that? Hoping this was just a off year for them rather than the norm. I know East was only out in San Fran for 1 week instead of 2, so maybe they did the best they could

I'm with others here in that I didn't like this new format for GOTY discussions. Been with the site since it launched and subbed for years and this is by far my least favorite year for GOTY stuff. What I predicted last year about the deliberations came to pass and I couldn't make it more than 30min - 1 hour on each of the new videos. I've just been reading most of the staff's Top 10 lists instead.

I understand these videos are time consuming and aren't easy to make but I don't see the point in recapping practically EVERY decent game that out this year and spend three whole days talking about them. The website is full of Quick Looks and Podcasts if I wanted to go back and hear the Staff's thoughts on a game.

I would like it if they came into these GOTY talks with a set list of finalists per category (possibly 5 per, maybe more, maybe less) beforehand and then debate on which game would win with a runner-up. They can even upload some "uncut" or "unedited" videos in a separate list that show why each games were chosen and which were cut for those that want the full picture/experience.

I get that the Staff felt the need for change with some of the old GOTY deliberations really draining them and debates started to throw logic out the window as fatigue started to set it. Some restrictions on amount of time spent on a topic or more breaks in between categories could have helped. Changes and compromises were needed but this year just felt like an extreme gutting of the content people liked and wanted. I want more goofy Hitsmas like videos and really miss the fun categories like "Biggest Mess", "Most Disappointing", and "Please Stop". The takeaway is I think these changes turned off more people rather than get more people invested in this format.

I thank the GB crew for all their hard work and adore the content on this site but I just wanted to throw in my two cents on the GOTY deliberations topic.

Really disappointed in this new format guys, still love you but.... yeah idk

@igort: Agree, I wasn't sold at first but it won me over and I much prefer this to the previous few years.

I agree with most of that statement, but will have to strongly disagree with you on 2017.

The GB GOTY Deliberations from 2017 was probably the worst I've exposed my ears and mind to that this industry has to offer.

I'd go so far to say that what took place in 2017 highly influenced and lead to the major format change in 2018.

2016 is probably my favorite, based on how balanced all of the discussions felt, and how genuinely humble everyone were with what would get cut.
I also think that the balance and calm that the 2016 deliberations very much made 2017 feel like the worst shitshow I've seen on GB.

Ben's filibuster for Disco is pretty great.

Thanks for all the hard work you guys did this year. I just wanted to give the feedback that I really missed the other categories and the spirited debate of the past GOTY content like Most Disappointing and Hottest Mess. I understand if you guys don't want to do that anymore going forward but I thought I would at least say what I prefer as a customer.

@skumberg: Calm down, there's a winter games video coming in an hour

I do enjoy that the site is trying new things, but as someone who first came to this site in 2013 for the GOTY podcasts being these legendary contests of weird categories and discussion, I'm not a big fan of the new format used this year and last year.

Spending the 3 days discussing the games kind of retreads the discussions had in previous podcasts/shows, which I understand is good for those that don't listen to the site year round, but it makes me sad that some great categories like "Hottest Mess" and "Best New Character" and even some of the more quirky categories get left out.

I DO really enjoy the "confessional" style solo videos that have helped fill the void of those missing categories, but I miss having the entire site come together to make the arguments and content. Hopefully 2020 will return some of that stuff.

@skumberg: Jesus dude. Vinny even expressed disappointment that they didn't have time to do group videos. I don't think it's a purposeful choice. Either way, the "point" of GOTY is to name a GOTY. That's literally the only point. Everything else is extra.

YAY FOR THE YAY SYSTEM

kinda meh towards this year's awards to be honest. Not usually the one to raise a stink about this stuff, at least not anymore, but it just felt a little... dry this year. I'd say the biggest bummer personally was the more limited "gaiden" vids that was just one on ones with the staffers. The Giant Feud video was great, was hoping for more stuff like that. And as far the deliberations, nothing as good as the big debates over games like Fallout 4 or RDR2 from year's past. overall not the best way to say bye to a decade where GB was so influential.

Lack of hottest mess and best moment/sequence is a big disappointment.

The staffs GOTY was obiovus when they were running through games the first three days

To end on a brighter note, thanks for all great content this year

@dashibuya: Thank you! Nice to see a few other people saying it.

actually i think i might skip this. i dont know if i can actually enjoy hearing sekiro and disco elysium get ignored for adventure game Minit

Alright, this conversation about Disco Elysium drills into what I was talking about with Control (as well as Disco Elysium) getting robbed in Best Story. Once again they got confused by their own categories. They removed Best World, but no one was on the same page with Brad about it being encompassed in Best Story. Instead it seems that they thought that worldbuilding just isn't a factor and the category is just entirely about plot (as dumb as that sounds).

@raszagal: amen

E: new game, take a shot whenever somebody says bummer in the comments

This is so much more fun than the fighting from the last year.

Jeff saying he didn't ever use the translator and so Outer Wilds is bullshit is just like saying Ocarina of Time is bullshit because you couldn't find the Kokiri Sword.

The guy who gives the translator tells you to go to the moon to make it work. You use your radio to find the guy on the moon, who tells you to go to the south pole of the moon to find the first rune to translate. This is the tutorial to make sure you know how to use your compass and radio scanner. If you miss that, then yes, I can't help you.

It sounds like Jeff needs to give Outer Wilds 2-3 years and then give it another try.

Hottest mess: Giant Bomb GOTY 2019.

Jeff: if a game gets voted down, just put it at the bottom in a seperate space so we remember what we cut.

Brad: instantly deletes Links Awakening

I haven't seen a list this poor since XCOM won. Only Controland Outer Wilds grabbed my interest this year out of these.

Thanks for the GOTY guys

I know, right? I must say man, i think i'm finally done with GB. I'm just not a fan of this more "casual/positive" approach. As someone who listens to old GOTY discussions on a regular basis, i'm severely disappointed. I wish them all the best in the future but this kind of content just isn't for me. Thanks for the memories Giant Bomb, you will be missed.

14:35. Another mark for Dans (& Bens too apparently) lack of knowledge about basic things. Its called Money in the Bank briefcase for a reason.

boring year of games, boring podcasts

hands down the worst GOTY series in GB history, that's all that really needs to be said.

Thanks for the videos this year guys. Really appreciate the lack of fluff stuff.

It was sarcasm.

Call of Duty above Disco Elysium?

Jeeeeeeeez...

Aside from a couple of passionate moments here and there, a rather bland, sterile, and ultimately boring GOTY discussion. A lot like my sex life.

It almost feels like they are deliberately sabotaging GOTY so they don't have to do it any more.

The new format sucked all the fun out of what's usually my favourite content of the year. I really expected there to be at least another 2 or 3 categories on day 5 but it really feels like they took a look at the usual format and said "Identify the fun, and remove it". And what we're left with is 3 days of "what we've been playing" from the podcast without any of the fun banter and the four most dull, utilitarian categories from previous years.

No "hottest mess", no "best moment", no "most disappointing", no "best debut" and people STILL adding games that immediately get removed despite the three days of laboriously talking about every game.

13 hours, 3/5 videos spent on recaps when most of the GB's audience follows both podcasts regularly each week...

everything GB did this month was bad, the group UPF was bad, the GOTY video content is bad, the podcasts are bad, they focused on everything that nobody wanted and completely shunned all the things people actually DID want.

are you guys even trying anymore? I do not have high hopes for giant bomb in 2020.

Wow that's short, I feel like the 2017 year had like a five hour top 10

I think these discussions were fine. I'm glad there's less pointless grandstanding for people's pet games, and they everyone had a more easygoing approach to it. It doesn't matter. These awards do not matter. No awards matter.

That said, this feels like a somewhat weak showing from GOTY in general. I usually skim through the deliberations, so think there should have been more group videos and one-off events. Shouldn't have gotten rid of the wackier categories. Ultimately, this site provides more than enough content in general. But I think they missed the mark a bit here.

Fine/10. Some of y'all need to really chill. And if some of you are on Reddit, acting the same way, and I've *SEENT IT*, y'all need to REALLY CHILL.

I shouldn't be surprised that Abby was harassed for not liking Disco Elysium, or specifically that her bouncing off sexism caused a bunch of dudes on the internet to flock at her. But I'm disgusted by it. If a game really did touch you in a meaningful way then you ought to be able to treat others compassionately over disagreements about it. And of course the people who harassed her made it so she'll never change her opinion of it, so great job, jackasses.

Its almost like people don’t read between the lines when it comes to this GOTY stuff. Vinny said that two weeks out west wasn’t manageable the last time around. They had less time, by choice. Jeff has a kid and a massive sinus infection. Brad too.

Voicing disappointment is fine. But acting like this is some plan to screw over GOTY or that the crew doesn’t care is just silly. This is nothing more than end of year crunch running into the reality that the site is run by humans who can get sick and have families. They are not here to dance for our entertainment at the expense of their other obligations(to family and health).

Seriously, my job couldn’t get me to work with a sinus infection.