Author Topic: IGN Game and Console of the Year (Read 14519 times)

GoldenPhoenix · « **on:** January 12, 2007, 09:07:13 PM »

In case any of you care, IGN has chosen Game of the Year and console of the year. For game, they chose Okami over Zelda: TP, now I have yet to play Okami but from what I understand this is a relatively controversial choice. Though this one I could let slide, but they gave Playstation 3 console of the year which makes no sense what-so ever by any standards, which makes me feel as if they were judging things based off "potential" . Anywhere here is a quote from their article here

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Nintendo's Wii launched to massive mainstream applause and a lot of hope has been placed in the potential for gaming innovation via the console's unique controller. Nintendo disappointed some, however, by choosing not embrace HDTV or to compete with Sony and Microsoft in processing power. The Wii can't even play normal DVDs.

Judging the consoles based upon a broad perspective that includes software now available and coming in the future an entirely different argument could be formulated. However, from a hardware perspective, the PS3 is by far the more interesting console. Though the launch software hasn't blown anyone away, the 360's launch titles were equally unimpressive, and the system will certainly mature. Sony's embrace of the PS3 as a computer rather than just a console, and the availability of supported Linux distributions for the console will also develop and will likely bear entirely unexpected fruit in future.

BlkPaladin · « **Reply #1 on:** January 12, 2007, 09:40:05 PM »

Well I can see them giving Okami (the proper spelling is with two o's) the honors since it is truly a work of art. Too bad Capcom butchered the developer that made it.

On the bright side they did give Nintendo the publisher of the year award, which is funny because I don't think they really did give any Nintendo game an honor.

And its IGN what do you expect. As someone said you cant have ignorant without IGN.

WalkingTheCow · « **Reply #2 on:** January 12, 2007, 10:04:40 PM »

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. . .which is funny because I don't think they really did give any Nintendo game an honor.

Nah. New Super Marios Bros. won best platformer, Tetris DS won best puzzler and Wii sports won best Sports Game and Best offline multiplayer.

WalkingTheCow · « **Reply #3 on:** January 12, 2007, 10:08:15 PM »

That, and I have my suspicion that Zelda is probobly considered the better game at IGN but they wanted the lesser known (and less bought) Okami to take the prize. . . I kinda don't blame them. Okami was incredible! That said, I do think Twilight Princess was the better game. Okami was the close second for me.

Luigi Dude · « **Reply #4 on:** January 12, 2007, 10:16:51 PM »

My guess is it was more of a sympathy vote because the game bombed so horribly they wanted people to just go out and buy the damn thing. Now Okami is a good game and all, but I have a hard time believing the guys at IGN really feel it's the best game of the year.

My guess is there must have been a pretty heated debate on rather Zelda, Gears of War or Oblivion should win and when they couldn't come to an agreement on those, they decided to give to a game that was lesser known that they all generally liked and so Okami is what they all decided upon as a way to honor it.

Infernal Monkey · « **Reply #5 on:** January 12, 2007, 10:32:47 PM »

Okami and Zelda TP are both rubbish, they should have given the award to Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties.

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #6 on:** January 12, 2007, 10:46:10 PM »

One thing I do know is that I have to give Okami a shot when I finish with OOT since good adventure games in the vain of Zelda are virtually impossible to find!

WuTangTurtle · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2007, 10:50:26 PM »

Could be worse Gamespy.com has the Overall Handheld top 10 as:

10. Metroid Prime Hunters (DS)
9. Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime (DS)
8. Elite Beat Agents (DS)
7. Mega Man Powered Up (PSP)
6. Tetris (DS)
5. Lemmings (PSP)
4. Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror (PSP)
3. Tekken: Dark Resurection (PSP)
2. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
1. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (PSP)

Where's Castlevania, Final Fantasy III, Yoshi's Island, Brain Age, Star Fox, Mega Man ZX, Contact, etc. However Gamespy did put Zelda as the Overall Game of the Year.

Infernal Monkey · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2007, 11:31:50 PM »

I swear, Konami could just release a clone of Asteroids, call it Metal Gear Solid: Snake's Stealth Ship and half the internet would still call it game of the year.

Artimus · « **Reply #9 on:** January 13, 2007, 05:14:37 AM »

The Okami win isn't surprising. It was likely the only game the Gears and Zelda fans could compromise on. But the PS3 reeks of Sony bias. It's disgusting, really. They basically say if you ignore the current games, and any possible future games, and any actual achievements, then the PS3 is the best system out there considering all the great things it'll be able to do in the future. This is why you guys need to lay off Matt, he's by far the smallest douche at IGN.

Pittbboi · « **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2007, 06:18:22 AM »

Devil's advocate time.

While the PS3 isn't my choice (Don't see myself buying one unless my predictions don't come true and FFXIII remains exclusive to it), but it makes sense that they chose it.

Artimus, it isn't about the games, or Xbox360 would have won by a landslide. I think it has more to do with what's under the hood this time around. And while it may be an expensive piece of you-know-what that nobody seems to be buying. Just based on what's in it the PS3 has mountains of potential. Now whether or not that potential will ever be realized is the debate (I personally think that the console will be abondoned by the casual market before its potential will be realized and only those big exclusives already announced for it will keep it afloat with the hardcore). But with all that power, and those extra trinkets, you simply can't deny the potential the system has.

One could argue that the Wii has comparable potential, despite being so underpowered, due to the Wiimote. But so far the huge amount of potential and fantasies of swinging swords in real timesand doing all these fun things has degenerated into simple gesture control (and wonky gesture control, in a lot of cases). What's sad is a lot of Nintendo fans are becoming okay with that. If Nintendo shows us something that really pushes the wiimote's potential into more than swinging rackets, next year it'll have Console of the Year in the bag.

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #11 on:** January 13, 2007, 06:39:19 AM »

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Originally posted by: Pittbboi
Devil's advocate time.

While the PS3 isn't my choice (Don't see myself buying one unless my predictions don't come true and FFXIII remains exclusive to it), but it makes sense that they chose it.

Artimus, it isn't about the games, or Xbox360 would have won by a landslide. I think it has more to do with what's under the hood this time around. And while it may be an expensive piece of you-know-what that nobody seems to be buying. Just based on what's in it the PS3 has mountains of potential. Now whether or not that potential will ever be realized is the debate (I personally think that the console will be abondoned by the casual market before its potential will be realized and only those big exclusives already announced for it will keep it afloat with the hardcore). But with all that power, and those extra trinkets, you simply can't deny the potential the system has.

One could argue that the Wii has comparable potential, despite being so underpowered, due to the Wiimote. But so far the huge amount of potential and fantasies of swinging swords in real timesand doing all these fun things has degenerated into simple gesture control (and wonky gesture control, in a lot of cases). What's sad is a lot of Nintendo fans are becoming okay with that. If Nintendo shows us something that really pushes the wiimote's potential into more than swinging rackets, next year it'll have Console of the Year in the bag.

Well Pittboi you may be right, except this was a category that was on 2006 NEW console basing the ranking based off what was the better console this year. If the category was best console, then I agree Xbox 360 should of won, but it was only for consoles released in 2006. This makes the choosing make even less sense, because based off 2006's performance whether it is sales, games, popularity etc etc Wii blew the PS3 out of the water.

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #12 on:** January 13, 2007, 07:57:02 AM »

I think this discussion needs merits and classification for judging console of the year.

Xbox 360

This last year, Xbox 360 finally got its wings to start soaring. A few outstanding games came out. There online presence is strong with Xbox Arcade bringing updated classic games to play. And overall, the system was available to purchase and most if not all of the earlier problems with the 360 were resolved. However, it is old news and almost all the hype for the system is gone. Basically, the magic of Xbox 360 is gone...and I don't know if even Halo 3 can bring it back.

Wii

The Wii is a cultural phenomenon. It's unique control system captured the hearts of media and the world bringing a new interest in gaming. Games became simple and fun again...and most importantly the entire system felt accessible. Nintendo really does have the potential to broaden the market with this thing. For this reason alone Wii should deserve the hardware of the year. It isn't about power as much as philosophy and importance of the system. And, the fact that Wii is the only system with actually new experiences with their games is important too. However, Wii is old technology, and nothing screams high technology...not even the controllers. Revolutionary yes...but high tech, not really. From a hardware point of view I can see why the Wii would be voted down.

Playstation 3

Remember when the Xbox was launched and it was heralded as the most powerful console of the generation and it was a huge deal...but then turned out to not be anything. Well the PS3 is in that situation now...however, this time the new most powerful system for the generation actually may live up to its promises. With Blu-Ray Disc for movies and game storage the PS3 is more ready to take on high definition graphics. It has the space required for HD textures, sound, movies and is powerful enough to display these games. From a hardware standpoint the PS3 is incredible at $600.00 and as one looks at the potential of the system, one could easily declare it hardware of the year. However, potential is nothing without games to play the system and without actual systems to sell to the public. In this regard Sony has failed miserably...and as much potential that PS3 has to be the console of tomorrow; it most definitely is not the console of today or 2006.

My opinion would sway towards the Wii being the true console of the year, because of that cultural shift it may be creating, and the media attention it has garnered. The Wii is a bold step in a DIFFERENT direction for gaming. One that still values simplicity over complexity in all areas of its philosophy. Cost, Design, Functionality, Games, Control. And it is even fighting to broaden the market of gaming not continue to shrink it.

IceCold · « **Reply #13 on:** January 13, 2007, 08:18:13 AM »

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Originally posted by: Infernal Monkey
Okami and Zelda TP are both rubbish, they should have given the award to Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties.

Elf Bowling was already the GoTY on DS for 2005.. imagine how good it could be with the Wii controller!

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The Wii can't even play normal DVDs.

And that affects games... how?

Blue Plant · « **Reply #14 on:** January 13, 2007, 08:44:28 AM »

It makes me cry that Nintendo didn't win the Invasive Living Room All-in-One Multimedia Entertainment Hub of the Year Award.

denjet78 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 13, 2007, 09:23:39 AM »

Weren't these the same people who were singing Sony's praises when the PSP came out and declared the DS more or less a dead system? Oh wait, that was EVERYONE, wasn't it.

Besides, Nintendo doesn't live or die by awards. Apparently Sony does however. Let them give the PS3 what ever awards they feel they need to in order to justify its existence to themselves. The market will do whatever it wants to do, with or without their permission.

MaryJane · « **Reply #16 on:** January 13, 2007, 12:57:33 PM »

I paid much more attention the fan choices than IGN's. When it comes down to it who really matters? The 6 or so IGN editors, or the tens of thousands of people who visit their site?

Obviously the site visitors, they speak for the population.

Note: You should know this already but when companies show statistics, like so many americans prefer this over this, or this amount of black people would vote for him as opposed this many white people, it based on the demographic of the country and it's used as an estimate. Which is why I say the IGN visitor speak for the population, they are made up of the majority of different types of video game players, and while not every videogamer voted, I'm sure they were represented.

Caliban · « **Reply #17 on:** January 13, 2007, 01:50:40 PM »

I watched the IGN-Weekly vid, it featured the GOTY nominees and winner and then reactions to winner.
Tp and Wii Sports got alot of negative bias from PS2/PS3/PSP/X360/PC editors, only Matt and Peer Schneider gave positive responses to both games.
What annoyed me the most is the "people" that were against TP based their discontentment on the fact that it was just another Zelda, when they were rejubilating on GoW, R6 Vegas, and what not. Hypocrites!

Peer Schneider is still the only sane person in IGN, at least that's what I think.

SixthAngel · « **Reply #18 on:** January 13, 2007, 06:24:30 PM »

I read a few people who said its "just another Zelda." My main problem with this is the extreme amount of time between Zelda titles. When you get 2 Zelda games a generation, if you're lucky, they hardly become just "another Zelda" as if they release a new one every year. They then lay praises on sequels and pretty unoriginal ideas like Caliban mentioned. When the next GTA, MGS, R6, hyped FPS shooter and sometimes even Madden come out they slap on the praise as if they never played one before.

What is "the potential of the ps3" I keep hearing? The potential to have the same games in HD graphics? That is exactly what the 360 showed so far I can't imagine the ps3 having much more potential then that besides its slightly better graphics and bluray movies.

Totally off topic but my biggest complaint about reviews recently is how they just don't care how long a game is. My friend beat gears of war in under six hours the first time. I understand it has multiplayer but how can a six hour long game be given so much praise and not be ripped into for being so short?

NWR_pap64 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 13, 2007, 07:31:42 PM »

And this is why I don't take IGN seriously, at ALL...

As for Zelda, I think NWR's review put it perfectly. The game is essentially the same as the earlier 3D games, but at the same time it feels like playing a brand new Zelda (thanks to the wolf transformation and such). It offers something new while providing the traditional gameplay we know and love.

Magik · « **Reply #20 on:** January 13, 2007, 11:18:02 PM »

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Originally posted by: BlkPaladin
Well I can see them giving Okami (the proper spelling is with two o's) the honors since it is truly a work of art. Too bad Capcom butchered the developer that made it.

On the bright side they did give Nintendo the publisher of the year award, which is funny because I don't think they really did give any Nintendo game an honor.

And its IGN what do you expect. As someone said you cant have ignorant without IGN.

Capcom butched Clover? I don't think so.

Capcom kept funding Clover even though their games were selling like crap. It just got to the point where they were losing too much money.

Ookami is a perfectly fine choice for Game of the Year and has nothing to do with being a sympathy vote.

I don't agree with the PlayStation 3 getting the Console of the Year since the console has only been out for 2-3 months.

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #21 on:** January 14, 2007, 02:42:19 AM »

The several people that say this is just another Zelda game are foolish. This Zelda game innovated the series much more than people imagine...and the only game that innovated more than it was OoT, because it was the first 3D Zelda.

1) Link's Wolf mechanics and the swapping between the two versions of Link has not been done before and brand new to the series.
2) On Rail mini-games have not been done before in Zelda (Snowboarding...and Fruit Collecting Game.)
3) Riding the Horse during combat situations really hasn't been done before.
4) The level of cinematic quality, and Action oriented plot devices outside of dungeons hasn't really been done before.
5) 3 Brand new Items introduced...possibly more if you stretch it.

To label this Zelda as simply another Zelda game without innovation is ignorance...but you know it will happen again when Mario Galaxy is released, but with Nintendo Quality isn't appreciated its expected and then ignored.

Nick DiMola · « **Reply #22 on:** January 14, 2007, 03:08:27 AM »

I stopped listening to the opinions of reviewers the day Zelda got reviewed. It shows the unbelievable ignorance in game journalism and the biases with no grounding. I don't understand Okami as GotY when they have the sleeper hit awards. If they wanted somewhere to showcase the game, that is the place. The PS3 vote for New Hardware of the Year is just ridiculous. There is no justification for the decision and it just blows me away that they could post that with a straight face. People vote with their hard earned dollars, and those people have voted Xbox 360 and Wii.

I think at this point I am more than capable of making my own decisions on games and what is good or bad. I know what I like and I know what I don't like, and I know that I don't need any of these asshats trying to tell me what I should/should not like. Whoever said Matt C. is the least douche at IGN and we shouldn't rip on him as much, I agree. I have always harbored a resentment towards him and some of his opinions, but it seems like he has separated himself from the crowd and paved his own way over there at IGN. Must be hard swimming in a sea of Nintendo haters.

denjet78 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 14, 2007, 04:38:17 AM »

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Originally posted by: Mr. Jack
I stopped listening to the opinions of reviewers the day Zelda got reviewed. It shows the unbelievable ignorance in game journalism and the biases with no grounding.

The funny thing is, this is the Zelda they all wanted. When WW was revealed everyone had a heart attack over the fact that it wasn't the uber realistic demo that Nintendo had previously shown. So angry were they that most proclaimed they would never play it. Eventually most relented and admitted that the game is fantastic. Flash forward a few years and Nintendo gives them the Zelda they said they wanted and all they can do is complain about how it's "just another Zelda", which only furthers the idea that gamers simply have no idea what they really want. They don't get what they want, they complain. They get what they want, they complain even louder. You just can't win no matter what you do.

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #24 on:** January 14, 2007, 05:03:22 AM »

Ahaha, I really can't stand it when people talk about the "potential" of PS3...I don't buy a 600 dollar game system for its "potential" (which may or may not be realized, most likely not) 3 or 4 or 5 years down the line, I buy it to play games NOW...I would have been fine with even 360 taking system of the year, but this is just a travesty...

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Author Topic: IGN Game and Console of the Year (Read 14519 times)