Because he is able to convey emotions from his actions rather than being a speaking prtagonist

For as much as I love Doom and for as amusingly over-the-top as Doomguy's actions are, I think it would be kinda sad if he's "character of the year" material. I don't expect someone as complex as the Bloody Baron, really, but I'd rather see the award go to someone with more emotions than "angry" and more expressions than "violent"

He's basically just Kratos without a voice, so nah....

Doom guy is character of every year material.

If there's a badass of the year award, he definitely wins that.

Silent protagonist of the year for sure. Now that I think about it, we haven't had too many silent characters lately have we? Only ones that immediately pop to mind are COD games and the division

Persona is (hopefully) coming out this year...

No, the thing around him is a bit funny at best, but nothing more.

I feel like the only fascinating he did as a character that you see clearly through his actions is in the beginning when he tells the story to go fuck itself, but not much other than that.

I think people in this thread are underestimating the staggering achievement that is making the fucking Doomguy a memorable and entertaining character without even having to add in a personality that wasn't there in the original games.

If we're buzzing some words, I'd say he's a fascinating example of modern video games subverting ludonarrative dissonance

As much as I love Doom Guy, this is a year with Tracer Core in it. (Kidding...a little)

Considering we hopefully have Persona 5 coming out this year plus many more games yet to come, I don't think silent angry guy should take it just yet.

An entertaining shakeup to the stereotype, sure. Character of the year? Not seeing it.

If you mean new character of the year, well, he did technically first star in the first two Doom games so he isn't eligible. And besides, he's still barely a character anyway. The only way I could see anybody genuinely fighting for him is out of irony.

Setting aside the obvious "new character" problem, I think he's an excellent "character of the year"! Sure he's silent and you can only see his arms, but he's so awesome! Punching screens and crushing orbs! He's the best!

@dudeglove: 'Best DOOM thingie category of the year goes to Doom guy!'

I could go for a best story for its worldbuilding if we're talking about weird GOTY victories. Its complete nonsense story around Doom guy is so good and works so well for the game. :)

I could see it since we are almost halfway through the year and the competition is nonexistent.

@danteveli: I dunno, man. Firewatch already set the bar pretty high for this year.

Obilgatory:

Doomguy is still a shit character its more what the game does to frame his position in the lore and world that is what is amazing.

Jesus, you're right. He is just Kratos in space marine armour.

Jim actually conveys everything that I've thought about this character perfectly, so I felt like saving the essay and instead just pointing this out.

Of course. From the opening scene to his interactions with the environment DoomGuy speaks volumes with his rage.

Is this game's Doom Guy a different Doom Guy? I haven't played the game, but I assumed he was the DG from 1 and/or 2.

The reason I bring this up is because I think the category is "best new character", so that might disqualify him.

...besides, we all know Mei from Overwatch is the best new character.

Doom guy, while a protagonist, is far from a character. Sure they did try to add some lore with the whole "Doom Slayer" background, which could be explored in latter games, but as of now? He's just a brute who slaughters demons, which, given the context of the whole Doom series, works fine for the game by all means, but you're not exactly compelling when Master Chief of all people conveys more emotions than you.

The character? No, probably not the character.. But the game will have a place at the table with GOTY talks...or, so I would assume.

Important to remember that Persona 5 is (hopefully) coming out this year.

It will be a sad year for narrative games if this is true...

Doomguy has been character of the year every year since 1993, of course he'll be character of the year, he just dropped a hot new game.

If anything, Doomguy exemplifies the argument for silent protagonists in games. It's not hard to imagine this game starring a generic gravelly voiced protagonist talking back at Hayden and Olivia Pierce and making stupid Duke Nukem-esque quips after glory kills. When it comes to video game characters, sometimes less is more, and Doomguy perfectly demonstrates this.

Nah, Kratos is just a whinging child, Doomguy just wants to get shit done.

Kratos is one of the worst video game characters in existence please don't shame doomguy with that comparison.

I could see him getting a nod. But it would be more about how Id managed to use OG doomguy in a 2016 game.

Doomguy is fine and all but Overwatch, Uncharted 4, & (hopefully) Persona 5 are out this year.

Sam Drake gets my vote , so far .

I think he might hate computers more then Prototype 2's protagonist. That sounds like character of the year material to me.

He's a very simple character, but he's well executed. So, no, but hey, job well done ID.

No... He can be a decently presented character, and I am sure there is some irony if they consider him as a contender, but if they are going to be giving the award to FPS protagonists that convey personality through characterization instead of dialogue, half the cast of Overwatch should be on that table before him.

@hermes: I don't think that good dialogue should be a checkbox that has to be ticked in order to be character of the year. If a game can make a good character without needing any dialogue then that's great.

Doom guy is a good character because of the world they built around him. I doubt he's character of the year, but I certainly think he's pretty good. There's also a lot to be said for how he's almost a direct reflection of the person playing the game when it comes to the "fuck all of the shit in this room" attitude. Maybe "Character of the Year" should be like that Time's Magazine cover with the mirror.

@lunnington: Don't get me wrong. I think showing personality through characterization is every bit as important as making it through dialogue (perhaps more, since not many designers seem to get it); I just think that in this year, that particular style of character design is quite well represented already...

i think Doom is a pretty cool guy. eh kills demuns and doesnt afraid of anything

But no really the amount of praise I've seen being ushered over Doomguy is completely baffling to me. That Jim Sterling video just comes across as trying to make something from nothing.

Doomguy is to gamers what Bella Swan is to lovelorn teenagers. A blank slate. A cipher. He doesn't really have a character, he is a manifestation of the player's response to a dumb, nonsense plot. Fuck it, let me kill shit. This can make for a good experience, a great laugh, or even a clever meta-comment but a great character it is not.

Don't get me wrong, Doom is great. I also really enjoy that Doomguy gives about as much of a shit about the plot as the people who wrote it but let's not get carried away.

@darkeyehails: Link is a essentially a blank slate but the legend that surrounds him and his lineage in the zelda games makes him a great character. I would say that the mythos surrounding the doom marine in this game makes him a good character.

Having a mythos attached does not a character make. Much like Doomguy, Link is barely a character. Also, much like Doomguy, Link isn't the reason you play the game. Like I said, I don't think it is a mark against the game that Doomguy is essentially a barely-sentient weapons platform but I think it is ridiculous to consider him a great character. Doomguy is a fun character within the context of running fast and blasting demons. That's about the most you can say about him without severely overreaching.

no.

I think he is a great character. Seems like people think he is angry to be angry. I interpreted as though he is angry at the greed and corruption and waste of human life...especially since this is the second or third time he has had to deal with it. He is just tired of the same mistakes happening again and again.

Not sure he is "character of the year" material, but I hope he gets put on the list (then promptly removed).

I just love how he fucking PUNCHES EVERYTHING. Just, GRRRR! That game's so fuckin' great. Soundtrack of the year for sure though.

God, I hope not. I don't mean to say that he is a bad character, but I'd honestly be disappointed if the winner wasn't a nuanced character who made the player feel more than one emotion. That said, if narrative games are weak this year then I can see him being a deserving one-note-character. Regardless, we all know the winner is going to be from Persona 5.

NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE

Best moment? Sure. Best character? No, unless Gordon Freeman is also an amazing character. Spoiler: he isn't a character.

As silent protagonists go, he certainly has a great deal of personality to him...and by that I mean he has a 'fuck everything' attitude which surprisingly serves the story of Doom well. But I'm inclined to agree with those who don't see the fuss here. He plays his part well, we can relate to him due to the fact that he's there to do what we want him to do...which is shoot demons...and he's certainly better than a GTA protagonist who hates what he's doing but does it anyway. At the same time, there are better silent and iconic protagonists with personality ( such as Link from the Zelda games) and there are wittier characters out there in general. Being witty and personable should be the traits for the best character nomination and while Doom Guy may be the most witty and personable in relation to Doom's plot, he isn't going to be the best character of the year.

Obviously Doomguy is a character of the year. Do not forget that Doomguy is a character of the year since 1993. he just dropped a hot new game. He just took it and made a new gorgeous game that is hard to refuse