Very different picks compared to my personal preference? Absolutely no problem. Reasoning for picks sometimes based predominantly on a strong personal attachment? Sure! Opinion is by nature very personal. The crew not having played, and/or finished plenty of games on the final top list? Ok. It is their job... But games can be 100 hours+, so being too busy to invest more time, or write down thoughts on them, seems valid.
Pretty negative circular discussion? This GOTY ceremony didn't feel to me like a celebration of one of the single best years in gaming, but heck even that's ok. Maybe its not supposed to be. If the crew feels that this format is the way to discuss a year in gaming, it's their choice. The fact that so many listeners name games that do not make this list, is more of a testament of the wonderful cornucopia of games released this year. Truely something wonderful was made for all. A bit more talk about Persona, Divinity, Hollow Knight, Gravity Rush, Horizon and The Sexy Brutale to name a few, would have been really appreciated. Seeing games that probably would/could have made a final list in any other year, get a nod and some love is always nice. It's more rewarding and interesting then discussing number 10 vs number 11 on an artificial list for close to 2 hours.
Now lastly, the only thing that truely bothered me was the argument regarding NieR. Naming it, might be confrontational, but it is important to me in remaining a consumer of this website’s content. It was argued that NieR is objectifying its female protaganist, "as a service for male fans". The opinion itself is fine, it's the lack of self reflection I find very problematic. Much, much, much more problematic than the way this crew member argues, raises voice, or interrupts fellow crew members constanlty, during these GOTY discussions.
Let's just say, the Nier critique comes from the same crew member that describes men that fit certain personal tastes in looks as "Hunks". The characters in a game thats “charming and positive”, according to the crew member, have perfect sixpack bodies, chiseled faces and spend screentime standing around full frontal in just their underwear. Then talks focus on having a “fun and meaningless” one night stand in the same game. That's fine, but a one night stand is basically the epitome of people using each other in concent as objects for sexual gratification. Lastly, apperently in a creative setting, "it's fun" to use to men dressed as pin-ups as a throne for you to sit on while on stage during a live performance. So thats a person having fun, enjoying their sexuality and personal freedom....But the other way around is considered degrading? I would have loved to hear this crew members opinion if a male character in a game would have used multiple women as a living throne. More over six other, usually extremely outspoken, adult people only respond to the NieR critique by saying "it's not that bad" as the only counter argument for this? Almost as if afraid the often joked about "HR" consequence? This is the first problem I've had with GB in all the many years visiting here, that is not OK just to let go. Please reflect on this stuff GB crew.
Let me say this: NieR features a "hunk of metal" with a bow tie in it's non existant hair and make up on its dome shaped face that identifies as female, while also featuring an almost pin-up like "android" that pretty much is a destilation of what modern society in general sees as an approximation of the perfect female form. Which is more female? Which is more human, are they very different or the same? This game shows both, no judgement except for the player's on what's what. How is that for a counter perspective?
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