No love for Gears 3 as GOTY contender?

Lately, I've been reading quite a few forum posts and comments debating about which game deserves to be Game of the Year(GOTY). All off the big name games see their titles thrown around; Batman: AA, Portal 2, BattleField 3, Modern Warfare 2, Skyrim, Zelda: Skyword Sword, Uncharted 3. While most of these titles haven't been released and haven't proven their quality yet, we constantly forget about one game that is already out and that was praised by most critics. Throning at the top of metacritic Gears of War 3 seems to have been forgotten by it's fans.

So what happened there? there are a few explanations to this. We might think that, as the game has been recently released, gears fans are to busy playing rather than debating on gaming websites, but that sounds rather contrived. The two other reasons I have, are more plausible. People seem to get more exited for games that aren't released yet and once they are released, the hype dies down. This would explain the fact that all "GOTY contenders" aren't on the market yet. Portal 2 is the only released game of that list, but it also is non-coincidentally the only game topping Gears 3 on metacritic as of now.

The last point questions the quality of Gears 3, sure, it's a great game with a loads of content, but did the critics get carried away in their scoring? Up to now, I've been thinking that gears was over-rated, but kept it to myself thinking I was in a minority. Now, the lack of support for Gears 3 has pushed me in believing that people, after all, don't Love Gears 3 as much as would suggest the critics.

This is my first blog, any feedback would be appreciated. What do you think about the subject?

[Christopher]

1. Gears of War 3 isn't sitting at the top of the list. Even the just released Forza 4 has a higher score.

2. Game of the Year titles have primarily gone to a multiplatform game and aren't usually the highest rated game to come out that year. It's mostly about how the community feels about it after having played it a bit (aka hype).

GOTY awards, typically, are extremely unbalanced as recent hype tends to win out over any actual metric (scoring, sales, community feedback, time played, etc.) in determining who actually put out the best game that year.

[The Matrix]

Both of those statements are true. I'll add that I have closely followed the Gears franchise (read all the books, played the games a ton etc) but Gears of War 3 was just more of the same. Not that more of Gears is a bad thing but I like to see some attempt at innovation for a GOTY contender.

[JellyJelly]

I agree with that to a certain degree. The SP part of Gears 3 was more of the same while the MP was very refreshing with Horde 2.0, Beast mode etc.

And as for innovation and pure overall quality and immersion I'd like to add Deus Ex: Human Revolution to the GOTY candiates.

[WrAiTh Sp3cTr3]

GOTY? Probably not, but I think it deserves some of the other awards out, especially best shooter or best multiplayer. It seems as though the industry just wants to hand BF3 these awards without even waiting for the final product, oh well. But if you like 3rd person shooters to play online, Gears 3 is a must play experience.

As far as critics being carried away with the scores, I don't think so. I'm still seeing scores coming out and they haven't been less than 9s. These people giving these scores when the game has been out almost a month have had plenty of time to let the game soak in, I'm sure. I'd give the game a solid 9 myself. Whatever the SP may be lacking, the MP makes up for it, seriously.

BTW, you should see your blog with the new "Reader" ios5 update on the iPad, it makes it look like some type of scholar wrote it.

[gamingdroid]

Yup!

GOTY is pretty much based on each publications "internal" scoring. For all we know it could be one dude sitting in the backroom flipping coins.

Bottom line it is just like reviews, an opinion with no set guidelines or standard on how to really measure it.

GOTY for me is a year later, I'm still playing it! There aren't many games that are able to hold my interest that long....

Mass Effect and Ninja Gaiden 2 was two of them.

[grailly]

Edit: meant as a reply to cgoodno

I know gears isn't at the top, but forza isn't really in the running for GOTY, because, let's face it, sports/driving never get GOTY.

uncharted 2 and LBP did get quite a few GOTY awards, I don't think your second point holds water.

still has come out and was really well received, but it's already off everybody's radar. Is it because of the quality of the game or people are just looking forward to the next big thing?

[Christopher]

Notice I said 'primarily gone to multiplatform game' and not all. And LBP won primarily in Europe/UK, not so much in the U.S. GTAIV and Fallout 3 won more GotY awards than LBP. Uncharted 2 was definitely a big winner overall, but not the usual result.

And, as I said, it's all about the lasting hype. Gears of War 3 talk has been stagnant the last week. Perhaps people are overwhelmed with it? Perhaps it's because people are thinking about all the other games to come? Perhaps the games being mentioned left a lasting impression as opposed to Gears 3?

[grailly]

I just think GOTY awards are distributed regardless of platform, but there are just more multi platform games, so more awards are distributed to them.

you're agreeing with me in your second paragraph... doesn't sound like it though...

[SolDojo]

Y U SO MNY BUBLE

[-Alpha]

First, this year end is full of big games. Gears probably simply falls off because of this. WIth so many high profile games, everybody's priorities will be vastly different

It has nothing to do with its quality, it just cannot compete with the rest of what this year has. I'm sure it's a contender, but likely nowhere near a winner all things considered

Personally, I feel that the biggest things that GOTY winners ought to have going for them include: something unique (Gears is a shooter), innovative, and new (Gears is a sequel). Generally, a game has to have strong gameplay, but the above 3 help separate contenders from norms.

Being a shooter, for example, probably hurts a lot of games as the genre is extremely saturated and thus, concepts begin to overlap.

I consider Portal 2 and Dark Souls to be two very unique games, and compared to Gears (though honestly, I've never played it), both are very distinct from what I've seen in Gears.

[A-Glorious-Dawn]

Dark Souls is my GOTY so far.

I am a noob to the franchise but I am being more and more satisfied with every hour I play.

Best game this year IMO

[Kingdom Come]

Just because a game is part of the Shooter genre, it doesn't mean the title can't be considered innovative. And time and time again I see games with not a grain of innovation winning "Game of the Year". Uncharted 2 did nothing new, it borrowed from other games and created a hybrid/collage of their mechanics.

I could count over 30 New additions within Gears of War 3, all over sequels such as Uncharted 3 and Modern Warfare 3 are riding on their predecessors success.

Gears of War 3 is definitely deserving of Game of the Year.

[TheDivine]

Its def up there with portal 2, crysis 2, and dark souls for me out of games ive played. I also think skyrim, uncharted 3, and arkham city could take it depending on how awesome they turn out. Gears 3 was fantastic though. Amazing graphics, great campaign wih 4 co-op, good multi with bots, beast mode, hoard mode, and more polished than any other game ive played. Its one of the best games ive played campaign-wise and has so much content other developers should be ashamed lol. Hoard mode is honestly more fun than full retail games and worth $60 alone. I dont know why but i have a feeling it wont even get mentioned for goty also. Its definately the best fps/tps of this year and should be nominated. Im having a blast playing hoard and campaign co-op with my gf so thats enough for me.

[Brownghost]

crysis 2 sucked. i feel games like Batman AC and dark souls may win goty. I do love gears and horde 2.0 with beast mode

[-Alpha]

What forums? N4G? I doubt you are going to find many 360 players on N4G forums

[WildArmed]

lol, I take offense in that xD

[bunfighterii]

It's MP alone is GOTY contender.

[lumley666]

urrrm just no lol

[TopDudeMan]

I'd have to say my game of the year so far is dark souls. It succeeded in everything it set out to do.

[lumley666]

omg im loving dark souls, my fav game this yr so far, problem is tho its very neich and i dont think it will be goty

[Tanir]

actually demons souls won GOTY in some places when uncharted 2 wasnt the GOTY

[lumley666]

its not that gears 3 is a bad game, its a great game, its just not as great as many others, lets face it, its basically the same as gears 2 and the story wasnt that great tbh. now my 3 top contenders are skyrim, uncharted 3 and zelda, now those 3 havnt been released and havnt proved there quality but the 3 developers behind those games have proven there worth time and time again. the biggest problem for gears is its just gonna be over shadowed by too many amazing games

[SageHonor]

Do people really care about GOTY?

[KingKionic]

Its definitely goty material.

If Uncharted 3,and batman have been touted as goty gears 3 must be included.

All of these games are sequels as well.

Goty has nothing to do with new titles obviously. It`s about delivering a complete experience.

[LightofDarkness]

1. Who the hell cares

2. There is no "official" GOTY, just various publications and journals/websites who give their opinion on what is and isn't. No one gets a trophy, a golden sceptre or a crown from anyone.

3. GOTY is your personal thing at the end of the day. If you think GeoW3 is your GOTY, then it is.

Now your article is pointless. Go in peace.

[gamingdroid]

I kind of agree with this. GOTY is just like reviewes, based on opinion with no set universal standard/guideline.

How come they don't do user votes and base it on per platform? Maybe they do?

[Nitrox]

Amen Brother

[unkn0wn]

Not amen, more like ignorant.

There is no end all, be all statement. All popular opinion is subject to criticism. People picking the GOTY for their respective publication is important because that game receives fame in equal part. You people frustrate me to no end because you think the lack of public opinion will create Utopia. Sufficient coverage of an art form, in this case GOTY is healthy for what we all enjoy, as is individual's opinions by extension.

[Tanir]

normally when an uncharted comes out it normally takes GOTY, so it will probably be the same this year, though dark souls is my GOTY, we all know by track record it will be uncharted 3

[Abdou23]

Batman:Arkham City,
/thread

[Kingdom Come]

When did people start caring what particular publications name as "Game of the Year"? It doesn't or at least shouldn't change personal preference. I've been playing the Gears of War franchise since day one, being such a fanatic this game is obviously my personal Game of the Year. Nothing will change my opinion, Gears of War 3, to me, is the perfect game, I don't particularly give a crap what IGN considers the best, just like how I don't care for their reviews.

[Tarantino_Life]

Why was Gears forgotten? The same reason why LBP2 was forgotten ( Meta of 92 ). Ppl just get more excited for unreleased games.

[WildArmed]

It's true.
It's easier to associate games recently released / about to be released to GoTY status versus games that were released really early in the year.

If the game was released early on, it REALLY has to make an impact in the reviewers mind for it to last by the time they get to the GoTY round-table.

[Odion]

Will it be a contender? Prob, but it prob won't win, this year I am placing my money on either Skyrim or Deus Ex or possibly BF3