Giant Bomb's Game of the Year 2010: Day Two

Just summarizing what everyone else is saying:
 
Forgetting about God of War III and Final Fantasy XIII for best looking game is terrible.

Most of these awards are a joke. The usual discussion starts with 2 of them saying they never played it, one of them saying the played it for an hour, and the fourth one saying he played it and it's pretty good and then giving the game the award.
 
And not even mentioning God of War 3 on best looking game is a goddamn crime.

" @James0890 said:

 I'm glad that something bright and colorful won, the constant march of technology is seemingly only creating better shades of brown. "

Something bright and colorful always win best art awards, I'm frankly sick of it. It's like people have never walked into a museum or art gallery before. News flash: not all art has to be cartoony or colorful; the stylized and detailed depiction of real life or a fictionalized version of real life is equally artistic.    Kirby's Epic Yarn is fine this time around - it's art style is actually markedly different and it also weaves it into gameplay (ha, get it?). My problem is that if KEY weren't released this year, Limbo would've probably won. Neither are bad looking games, but it panders to the fallacious idea that art in games must be either abstract or cartoony, it whiffs of insecurity and ignorance.  "

Why are people getting so mad about the site awards? Go make your own top ten list and write a blog about what/who you think should win the award for the year. Everyone has their own unique opinion so don't hate on such an awesome site for sharing their honest opinions. 

Brad, with what you asking about the film-like aesthetic of Limbo with its credits, it would just be called a cut. If there's a space in between the game and credits, and it would be written as "CUT TO BLACK".

Not listening to the podcast and seeing VVVVVV as a runner-up for best download only game is ridiculous. Limbo is one of the best games this year, so it's unfortunate that Jeff hated it so much. 

Not even mentioning GOW3, FFXIII, and Just Cause 2 (yeah, remember how good that game looks?  No one else seems to for some reason) for best-looking game is utter blasphemy.
 
Oh, and fuck Dance Central.  You're telling me some mass-market-only-moms-would-buy-it-like-they-did-with-the-Wii-so-they-can-"work out"-then-never-use-it-again-wannabe takes precedence over Alan Wake for 360 GOTY?!  Ridiculous. 

" Not even mentioning GOW3, FFXIII, and Just Cause 2 (yeah, remember how good that game looks?  No one else seems to for some reason) for best-looking game is utter blasphemy. Oh, and fuck Dance Central.  You're telling me some mass-market-only-moms-would-buy-it-like-they-did-with-the-Wii-so-they-can-"work out"-then-never-use-it-again-wannabe takes precedence over Alan Wake for 360 GOTY?!  Ridiculous.  "

" Not even mentioning GOW3, FFXIII, and Just Cause 2 (yeah, remember how good that game looks?  No one else seems to for some reason) for best-looking game is utter blasphemy. Oh, and fuck Dance Central.  You're telling me some mass-market-only-moms-would-buy-it-like-they-did-with-the-Wii-so-they-can-"work out"-then-never-use-it-again-wannabe takes precedence over Alan Wake for 360 GOTY?!  Ridiculous.  "

" Super Meat Boy is getting a retail box for the PC version... so it should be disqualified for download only. "

I was shocked at the length of the DLC argument... and even more shocked that God of War III wasn't even mentioned in Best Looking - to me it won in a landslide.

I'd be interested to know what Jeff thinks about Out of this World/Another World, given his dislike of Limbo's gameplay. Or the original Prince of Persia, for that matter.
 
GoW3 is a stunning technical achievement fueled by an utterly adolescent design sensibility. But not mentioning it probably was an oversight. Who cares.

" @Video_Game_King said:

" I love how there weren't even runner-ups for Best Looking Game, like 2010 looked like shit except for Epic Yarn. "

Epic Yarn is a head-scratcher for that category. I guess they're trying to recognize originality. "

Shadow Broker DLC made me like Mass Effect 2 less.  Too much of it was combat and I had forgotten how bad the combat was in Mass Effect 2.  Still loved the game and the dlc, but less.  
 
Good to see Halo Reach getting love.  After 2 and 3 I had all but lost faith in Bungie.

Man, my memory must be all kinds of messed up because I can't remember if Limbo and Super Meat Boy have only been nominated or if they've won a category yet. I hope SMB wins something.

way too much time wasted on best dlc category. 
 
not because of the minutes spent, but because there was too much talking in circles. 
 
but i absolutely love the way you guys handle game of the year deliberations 
 
lastly, though i loved mordin, he comes in second for me to nigel west dickens.  he is the best game character i have seen in recent memory.

Not so sure about Epic Yarn for best-looking game. Original, yes. Best looking? Not really.

"To those confused about Mass Effect 2 not winning for best 360 title - it's no longer exclusive to 360. It arrives on PS3 in January... "

How was Kirby's Epic Yarn not even mentioned for best co-op? They bring up Kane & Lynch 2, but not Kirby's Epic Yarn?

I agree with most of the choices in this category, especially Kirby's Epic Yarn as best looking game. That game looks fantastic through and through, and is a testament to how developers should try to work around the technical limitations of the console rather than fight them. Haven't played God of War III because it's just not my kind of game, but the little I've seen of it (which admittedly is limited to the E3 footage) looked wholly unremarkable and unimpressive to me. Final Fantasy XIII looks absolutely breathtaking at  times, especially some of the locales, but the character designs, especially some of the supporting cast (blue-haired rebel guy, I'm looking at you) are so horrible that it really puts me off the whole game. 

Probably would've chosen Super Meat Boy over Pac-Man CE DX as best downloadable game, but whatever. And I guess it's time to boot up Bioshock 2 for the first time and play through Minerva's Den, even though the podcast pretty much spoiled the big twist for me (yeah, I know, my own fault).

Yeah, Brad def wrote this one.  It sounds right up and down how he talks.

It's a shame neither God of War games that came out this year got a mention.  Other than that pretty solid list.

Wow, that Best DLC argument was intense!

" @Vigil80 said:

" @Video_Game_King said:

" I love how there weren't even runner-ups for Best Looking Game, like 2010 looked like shit except for Epic Yarn. "

Epic Yarn is a head-scratcher for that category. I guess they're trying to recognize originality. "

I think this is their best looking artistic instead of technical...limbo/epic yarn are very stylized games, Hot pursuit has some interesting ass weather effects going on...I guess. Surprised some other games aren't on there though (God of war III) "

Couple of things I found wierd:
1. 2 people thought Limbo was the best downloadable game of the year and yet it didn't even get a nomination,
2. Limbo was one of the best debuts of the year. Something that VVVVVV wasn't even mentioned for. 
3. Metro 2033 is probably the best looking game ever.

So happy other people didn't really like Limbo. For me it peaked at around the forest aspect with the spider, never hit he same level of atmosphere or puzzle intelligence. A case of gamers desperately reaching for anything that purports to be artistic to further their argument that games are more than the refuge of the socially inept.

The Mass effect 2 and Bioshock 2 argument was epic, more please.

I would have given it to Shadow Broker, but Brad's filibuster was compelling. I really should pick up Minerva's Den sometime.

I am a bit disappointed in Shadow Broker losing, but I did not play the other one, so I can let that pass.  I do wish that two of my favorite downloadable games were at least mentioned - those being Toy Soldiers and Snoopy Flying Ace.  Maybe nobody played those?

God Of War 3 not even mentioned for best looking?

I completely disagree with the decision for Best Add-On, up to the point where either Giant Bomb needs to reexamine what "best" add-on is by definition, or scrap it entirely (as mentioned by Jeff in the podcast). 

Uh this is going to be quote heavy. I kind of do it to prove I do read all of the comments. 
 
@wsowen02 said:

" While I certainly appreciate the artistry in Epic Yarn (and Limbo), I am surprised God of War III did not at least get an honorable mention.  I know the staff aren't exactly fans but GOW's visuals are unmatched. "

 @Ghostiet  said: 

"I really think they knew Kirby would win, so they just took Limbo and a random game. Seriously, the same was last year - they've completely ignored Killzone 2. " 

 @snotboogie  said: 

" How can Metro 2033 not even rate a mention for Best Looking? Ludicrous! "

I know! This is the only other game that popped in my head while listening to the day 2 cast outside of the other two I mentioned above. Metro 2033 even beat out my love for the new Stalker game this year in my personal top ten. 

 @RiotBananas  said: 

" I am amazed that people still nerd rage about the staff picks. 
 
Just because they didn't pick what   YOU   think is the correct game doesn't mean they're wrong.  "

I’m not sure how I still let myself be amazed by the nerd rage on the site.. Like Jeff said in an interview with Adam Sessler a long while back: The internet is full of snark and it just gets "snarkier". 

 @dubios451   said: 

" I feel like the important part of the bombcasts on their debates is that they are being way more honest than other game websites. Other websites just put up their lists and their viewers either love them or hate them based on personal preference. They have no idea if the people making the lists played the entire game, or had previous biases. It may not be the funniest or most informative podcast but it gives us an honest look at how they decide. I personally really appreciate that. I don't agree with all of their choices but I respect them a great deal, and I like how an impassioned defense by one of them can sway the others.  "

 @100_Hertz  said:

" Not even mentioning GOW3, FFXIII, and Just Cause 2 (yeah, remember how good that game looks?  No one else seems to for some reason) for best-looking game is utter blasphemy." 

@Quintessence  said:

" I am a bit disappointed in Shadow Broker losing, but I did not play the other one, so I can let that pass.  I do wish that two of my favorite downloadable games were at least mentioned - those being Toy Soldiers and Snoopy Flying Ace.  Maybe nobody played those? "

Interesting choices. I really think Minerva's Den came out on top over SB more due to Vinny conceding and less than Brad giving a convincing argument. Brad really does unfortunately come off really annoying in that segment.  
 
But yes, a strange omission with God of War 3...

Lair of the shadowbroker won on the podcast so confused

I completely agree with what has been said earlier about the best looking game. FFXIII and GOW III should have definitely been mentioned and strongly considered. Especially above punk-ass Alan Wake..

" Kirby's Epic Yarn is a fair choice for best looking game overall, but Hot Pursuit as a runner up? Really? And no mention of the PC version of Metro 2033 which had technical graphics rivaling Crysis and a phenomenally cogent atmosphere, and is easily one of the best looking games ever released from both technical and artistic perspectives?
 
Clearly nobody there is informed enough about the PC platform to make the obvious decision to give Metro at least a nod, so why even have a Best PC Game category? Apparently GB's PC coverage simply amounts to one staff member playing Starcraft II (zero surprise it won that category btw).  
 
Not to mention Best Downloadable could've gone to countless indie titles but rather they chose the billionth Pac-Man rehash with graphics copied from Geometry Wars >.> 
 
If you guys aren't even going to try on the PC front could you at least label yourself a console site? I mean, Gamespot, IGN and Gametrailers are equally incompetent when it comes to PC gaming, but they're, you know, them. You can be more upfront about your lack of knowledge and your members would still love you I imagine.  "

Also, we're missing the key problem with Shadow Broker which completely invalidates it.
 
How do you have a "Broker", that word doesn't make any goddamn sense.

Jeff, Ryan, Vinny, you need to filibuster Starcraft 2's anticipated game of the year argument, just like Brad filibustered Lair of the Shadow Broker.  
 
C'mon Brad, 3 out of 4 people seem to believe that Shadow Broker is better, and I would bet that the majority of Giant Bomb users agree.
 
Edit: I just finished listening, and even Brad used the word filibuster to describe his argument.  You usually filibuster when you're in the minority . . .

" Also, we're missing the key problem with Shadow Broker which completely invalidates it.  How do you have a "Broker", that word doesn't make any goddamn sense. "

VOTE FOR GIANT BOMB IN CASTMEDIUMS PODCAST AWARDS!! http://tinyurl.com/26jhjuz    

" Also, we're missing the key problem with Shadow Broker which completely invalidates it.  How do you have a "Broker", that word doesn't make any goddamn sense. "

" I completely agree with what has been said earlier about the best looking game. FFXIII and GOW III should have definitely been mentioned and strongly considered. Especially above punk-ass Alan Wake.. "

I really think Casltevania: Lords of Shadow should have been brought up. Fantastic looking game!