So, what's up for Game of the Year so far?

[ProjectPat2280]

That's a lot of top-selling (and potentially top-selling) games you're kicking to the curb, there. And you left out one of the (already) biggest-selling sequels of all time: Gears of War 3. Plus, I have a feeling that the gamerpress is going to want to/ going to get bribed to play up this mythical "age of motion sensors" and give the top honors to one of the fitness/ sports/ dance games out there, which *always* outsell the stuff we "real" gamers latch on to.

Nothing you said will have any validity. Gears of War 3 won't win GoTY(not saying it couldn't get a nom as Gears 1 did win the award). Sales don't matter in determining the vote. GoTY, the only one that matter, is determined by industry professionals(i.e. the devs). They won't vote any motion control game as GoTY, in fact i don't think any one will, regardless of all the "bribes" the gamer press takes.

 

[Electro UK]

Zelda is going to be up for plenty of GOTYs, and that's motion controlled.

 

[cherokeesam]

Nothing you said will have any validity. Gears of War 3 won't win GoTY(not saying it couldn't get a nom as Gears 1 did win the award). Sales don't matter in determining the vote. GoTY, the only one that matter, is determined by industry professionals(i.e. the devs). They won't vote any motion control game as GoTY, in fact i don't think any one will, regardless of all the "bribes" the gamer press takes.

"Sales don't matter in determing the vote...." Okay, tell me, then, *which* AIAS GoTY *wasn't* one of the top-sellers of its win year?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_Achievement_Awards

The AIAS GoTY is a popularity contest, albeit with industry professionals making the call. They factor in how much buzz a game generates, how much innovation it brings to the table, the reputation of the studio, and yes, sales clearly factor in as well. They don't nominate sleeper hits or dark horses.

But yeah, you're right about Gears winning back in '06, and they (so far) don't repeat a franchise. You'll also notice that they award GOTY to the top franchises of all time. So I'd suspect that 2011 will award it to a franchise that has long deserved it, like Assassin's Creed.

 

[KALEL114]

If I recall, LBP, Uncharted 2, God of War, and Mass Effect 2 were way down the WW sales list each year they won. Willing to bet there are others on the list as well.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

"Sales don't matter in determing the vote...." Okay, tell me, then, *which* AIAS GoTY *wasn't* one of the top-sellers of its win year?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_Achievement_Awards

The AIAS GoTY is a popularity contest, albeit with industry professionals making the call. They factor in how much buzz a game generates, how much innovation it brings to the table, the reputation of the studio, and yes, sales clearly factor in as well. They don't nominate sleeper hits or dark horses.

But yeah, you're right about Gears winning back in '06, and they (so far) don't repeat a franchise. You'll also notice that they award GOTY to the top franchises of all time. So I'd suspect that 2011 will award it to a franchise that has long deserved it, like Assassin's Creed.

Assassin's Creed isn't going to win, I love the franchise, but it's never been game of the year quality. If it had any chance it would've been with Assassin's Creed 2. Brotherhood, and it looks like Revelations have just been building upon 2's success much like the any other franchise. For it to have consideration they're going to have to make Assassin's Creed 3 and make the jump in quality that 2 did over 1.

 

[cherokeesam]

Assassin's Creed isn't going to win, I love the franchise, but it's never been game of the year quality. If it had any chance it would've been with Assassin's Creed 2. Brotherhood, and it looks like Revelations have just been building upon 2's success much like the any other franchise. For it to have consideration they're going to have to make Assassin's Creed 3 and make the jump in quality that 2 did over 1.

I don't think AC:Revelations will turn out to be the best of the lot (it might, but we'll see), but the main reason I think it's a top contender is by trying to ferret out what the AIAS really looks for in a GOTY. And I think to a large extent, they look at the studio and the franchise more than the actual product. Meaning that Mass Effect 2, Ocarina of Time, Uncharted 2 and Half-Life 2, for instance, may or may not be the *best* of their individual franchises, but were instead picked as representative of the franchise and the studio as a whole. Just like the Oscars often skip over some of an actor or director's best work to give them a statuette for a less deserving film late in their career as a tribute to all the work they've done before.

That's why I look at Ubisoft as a favorite this year. They've made so many great innovative franchises --- Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell, Assassin's Creed --- and this would be the year they finally get a GOTY they deserve, even if it's not necessarily their best work ever.

 

[SpideyVille]

Assassin's Creed isn't going to win, I love the franchise, but it's never been game of the year quality. If it had any chance it would've been with Assassin's Creed 2. Brotherhood, and it looks like Revelations have just been building upon 2's success much like the any other franchise. For it to have consideration they're going to have to make Assassin's Creed 3 and make the jump in quality that 2 did over 1.

I agree. Part of me was disappointed with Brotherhood because the story felt much shorter than ACII, plus I felt like it was more of a DLC expansion rather than its own complete game, and I have fears that Revelations will feel the same, even though I will buy it because I love the franchise and I'm curious to see where the story goes from here. But I honestly don't expect it to get any mentions as far as GOTY is concerned.

 

[apartbyhorses]

I think this year more than ever we're gonna see different Game of the Years, from publication to publication. It's not gonna be like two years ago when Uncharted 2 swept GOTY awards almost all across the board or last year when it was clear that Red Dead Redemption and Mass Effect 2 were the top contenders. It's gonna be like 2007 when some were picking Call of Duty 4, others were picking BioShock, others Super Mario Galaxy, etc...

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

I've thought much the same thing myself.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I don't think AC:Revelations will turn out to be the best of the lot (it might, but we'll see), but the main reason I think it's a top contender is by trying to ferret out what the AIAS really looks for in a GOTY. And I think to a large extent, they look at the studio and the franchise more than the actual product. Meaning that Mass Effect 2, Ocarina of Time, Uncharted 2 and Half-Life 2, for instance, may or may not be the *best* of their individual franchises, but were instead picked as representative of the franchise and the studio as a whole. Just like the Oscars often skip over some of an actor or director's best work to give them a statuette for a less deserving film late in their career as a tribute to all the work they've done before.

That's why I look at Ubisoft as a favorite this year. They've made so many great innovative franchises --- Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell, Assassin's Creed --- and this would be the year they finally get a GOTY they deserve, even if it's not necessarily their best work ever.

All four of those bolded games were heralded as amazing. Ocarina of Time was undoubtably the best of the Zelda franchise at that time. Ubisoft has made great games, but they just aren't Game of the Year contenders, which is fine. Now, especially with Assassin's Creed being yearly, I think it just doesn't have the time invested in development to be a contender. The top tier games have spent years in development pushing the boundaries of the franchise and reinventing it. Assassin's Creed hasn't done that, it's a top franchise no doubt, but it's playing it safe this year, putting a new coat of paint on a proven system.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I think it will be between Uncharted 3, Skyrim, and Skyward Sword. The former 2 are highly anticipated. I have a feeling that Skyward Sword is going to surprise some people.

This year so far, I think my GOTY is Infamous 2. Even though it's the only new game I can recall playing this year, I thought it was a huge improvement from the first game and thought the good ending was great.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

Most Zelda and Mario games tend to garner critical acclaim well above other games.
They tend to be excluded from many of these GOTY type things though as they aren't games designed for the demographic the awards are targeted at. Much like pc and handheld games.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Every Zelda game since OoT, people have complained about immediately after it came out (despite critical acclaim) and then warmed up to it years later. I don't think that will be the case with Skyward Sword this year.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

Actually thinking about it, I forgot about Super Street Fighter 4, I think it still counts.
It basically made a great game even better. For me thats another one of the better games this year. Sonic Generations is also pretty great, only real gripe has been a single instance of a camera going awol.

Edit: Got that muddled up, it's the arcade edition.

 

[Troy_Parker]

Arkham City, Dead Space 2 and Uncharted 3.

 

[cherokeesam]

Arkham City, Dead Space 2 and Uncharted 3.

Uncharted 2 won the AIAS GOTY a coupla years ago....other than Call of Duty versus COD: Modern Warfare, no franchise has ever received a repeat win. So I'd say odds are against Uncharted 3....

I'm gonna say the main noms will be Arkham City, Dead Space 2, Assassin's Creed Revelations, L.A. Noire and Battlefield 3. Maybe Dark Souls. I think, again, they'll leave out repeat winners like Uncharted, GOW, etc.

 

[Oscorp]

I haven't played UC3 yet, but if it deserves another GOTY award, then it would be stupid not to give it that even though UC2 got it as well.

 

[KALEL114]

I think the AIAS GOTY will comedown to Uncharted 3, Batman: AC, Skyrim, and Skyward Sword. Should be a pretty tough decision for them.

 

[Soapy]

I think the AIAS award will be between Zelda and Skyrim.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

I think the AIAS GOTY will comedown to Uncharted 3, Batman: AC, Skyrim, and Skyward Sword. Should be a pretty tough decision for them.

Yea, that's how I see the ballot as well. We should find out some time in Jan as that's when the nominees are usually announced, with the actual awards happening in Feb

 

[TheDragonator]

L.A Noire might get a nomination. I'm about to start up the PC version, and I heard it's damn good.

 

[KALEL114]

L.A. Noire was a good game, but had so much more potential. I was a little disappointed by it, to be honest. I think the competition is just too strong this year and I'm not sure it has much of chance IMO.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

L.A. Noire was a good game, but had so much more potential. I was a little disappointed by it, to be honest. I think the competition is just too strong this year and I'm not sure it has much of chance IMO.

Yea i agree. I think it will be overshadowed by the others.

 

[SpideyVille]

L.A. Noire was a good game, but had so much more potential. I was a little disappointed by it, to be honest. I think the competition is just too strong this year and I'm not sure it has much of chance IMO.

Yeah, it was pretty good but my only gripe is that it wasn't what I thought and expected it to be. I feel like the "noir" aspect of it was a bit of false advertising because the presentation didn't really have that feel.

 

[Havok83]

LA Noire most likely will win many Biggest Dissapointment awards