Microsoft Game Studios Head Reacts to D.I.C.E. Awards: Praises The Last of Us and Forza

Microsoft Game Studios Honcho Phil Spencer has always been quite fair when talking about the competition, and he shown the same attitude yesterday, when he commented on the results of the D.I.C.E. Awards, from which Naughty Dog's The Last of Us came out with a landslide victory made of ten top honors including Game of the Year, while sparing a word of praise for Forza 5 as well.

[Angels3785]

But the last of us is highly overrated guys!!!!!!

Just because critics....developers...
and the heads of the company that I devote my life to say its a masterpiece doesn't mean its good!!!! im not crazy!!! It sucks!!!

The last of us sucks!!!!!

PLEASE!!!!! BEEEEELIIIEEEEVVVEEE MEEEEE!!!!

OT: the last of us is truly a masterpiece and I enjoyed every minute of it

For those who don't get the sarcasm......its pointing at those who discredit the last of us' s accomplishments (usually from the Microsoft side) with literally nothing to back it up. Its acclaim is universal and they should be commended.

[hankmoody]

I'm borderline curious as to what the point of your point is.

[darthv72]

His point is to point out that there is no point in making points about anything.

[Angels3785]

You must not be familiar with n4g antics.......or sarcasm for that matter

Edit: Couldn't agree more dboy

And people read the first sentence and missed the sarcasm unlike you

[Thatguy-310]

People say that the game is overrated and that only sony "drones" praise it like no tomorrow. The game is loved by both gamers and developers.

[GribbleGrunger]

Yes but there's no need to draw attention to it. It's one thing 'responding' to people you disagree with, it's another bating comments you disagree with.

[creatchee]

@dboyc310

"People say that the game is overrated and that only sony "drones" praise it like no tomorrow."

The thing is, nobody says that. The game has universal acclaim with critics and gamers alike. Angels is stirring a pot that doesn't exist.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

***"The thing is, nobody says that"***

Define "nobody." I do recall, during VGX especially, a lot of people saying TLOU was overrated and doesn't deserve GOTY and that GTAV was much more deserving of the honor.

[MysticStrummer]

@creatchee - This is at least the second time you've said something that made me wonder if you even read what people say here. Yes, there are XB and Nintendo fanboys on here who do not fall into the "universal acclaim" category when talking about TLoU. They say it is overrated.

Edit - That's fine, by the way, but don't pretend it doesn't happen.

[creatchee]

Okay fine, maybe some idiots call TLOU of us overrated or just a game for "drones", but is it really that prevalent to post as Angels did?

[kickerz]

Do u speak a English

[Skizelli]

Opinions do vary. My brother and I personally loved the game. The gameplay itself wasn't anything to write home about, but the character performances, the environments, and the story were all pretty great.

A friend of mine disagrees, however.

[JodyCones]

Hahaha

[PudgeySan]

This comment made my morning haha, You my fellow friend are awesome.

[PeaSFor]

haters can hate all day long and whine about how Ellie dont go all "leeroy jenkins" when you play stealthy, it will never change the fact that i enjoyed the HELL out of the game.

[erathaol]

Wonder what Naughty Dogs trophy room looks like.

Uncharted 2 and Last of Us awards everywhere.

lol

[Angels3785]

They probably have a few rooms by now....and are getting a new one for their future projects :)

Don't forget uncharted 3 awards too!! Heck I think even the first won some.....

[PoSTedUP]

*goes to open door*... ... ... "the door wont open, something is blocking it from the other side".

its not a room anymore, its a solid square block of trophys once considered to be a "room" or "space". XD

[psman012]

@Angels - the first one was actually my favorite of the three! I think I beat that damn game at least 6 times...

[BOLO]

http://upload.wikimedia.org...

[SteamPowered]

Ok Angel,
Cant get the lid off your new meds?

[dasbeer88]

I'm still hesitant whether one should cuss the hell out of Phil Spencer or actually give him a pat on the back for saying something generous to his competitors.

[Spurg]

He always say good thing about the competition...
People tend to think he is one of those Ms douche bags when he's not...you're highly mistaken.
People think he a douche since he announced the price for the console at E3...he wasn't the one responsible for the pricing....the higher up were.

He is gonna be one of the reason why Ms will pump out more exclusives.

[B-radical]

Phil really is the best guy at MS he listen and talks to peeps on twitter and hes bringing some games along and giving updates

[Syntax-Error]

He didnt announce the price at E3, Mattrick did. Phil Harrison and Phil Spencer have always been the head honchos over there. He IS the higher up. Not only is he responsible for the pricing, he's also the one that defended it. With that being said, he's also a good guy. He has no problem giving credit where its due. He was the one that congratulated Sony on it's launch. He likes games...period. You're right, he will be the sole reason MS will make sure their exclusives are top notch.

[Angeljuice]

@dasbeer88
" give him a pat on the back for saying something generous to his competitors."

It's not like he could be very positive about anything Microsoft released for the 360 in 2013, so it's a case of "say something positive about Sony's titles and 3rd parties or say nothing at all."

Microsoft took another gap-year in terms of 360 development last year.

[Spurg]

@Syntax-Error
Wrong...it was Phil Spencer that was on the stage when the price was announced.
http://www.gametrailers.com...

Phil is head of Ms game studios....the console price, specs and all that should be in other peoples hands....(I might be wrong)

[hankmoody]

I mean, it's just an opinion that people have. If they come on here crying that it's overrated, it's just that. An opinion. If it wins GOTY at DICE, does that necessarily mean that anyone who disagrees is wrong? No, not at all.

Now, if people are saying the game is overrated without playing it, then that's just ridiculous. Not to mention stupid.

I did get the sarcasm in your remark but why waste your time with all that? To rub it in the faces of those who aren't crazy about the game? I just think that in order to make N4G a better site as far as forums and comments go, this kind of response is what we need to cut back on and we can all just go the decent, mature route and not feed the trolls while acting like one ourselves.

Me? I think the game is great and worthy of contention for GOTY status but I find that it lacks any kind of replay value personally. Like I've said before, you give me a choice between GTA V and The Last of Us to take to a desert island and GTA V will win that decision out. The Last of Us might have the better story but as an overall package, GTA V wins out.

Then again, that's just my opinion.

[SteamPowered]

I endorse this opinion.

[shinrock]

I like how you think. Bub up 2 u.

[thegreatklemba]

Well i personal think gta 5 sucked and that ending made me never want to touch the game again in my life and had such a bad time with the online i wanted to burn the game on a very large stick. The last of us i played at least 5 times over and still play the online from time time to time. I returned gta 5 after the 5th time my character got erased online.Trevor was the only saving grace for gta 5 that made it remotely interesting. I also think the sandbox game play is the freaking boring and the same since vice city and I've been playing gta games since the very first one. Vice city was the last very good gta game I could actually go back to and replay
then again, this is just my opinion

[ThePope]

Im an Xbox fanboy and The Last of Us is the best game I've ever played.

[cell989]

I know for a fact you are an xbox fan, so the honesty is well appreciated

[ThePope]

I was at my buddies the other day and he has a PS4, and we were playing Madden. I have to be honest while the new controller is awesome, its too wide. it felt really funny in my hands, especially coming from the Xbox One controller which is like holding a scale model of a controller, its just a lot smaller (which I like)

[Eonjay]

It was actually an xbox fanboy that told me about TLOU.

[trywizardo]

angel3785 used confuse ray , critical hit

[Sevir]

LMAOOOOOO!!!!! WIN COMMENT OF THE DAY!!!!

[Pogmathoin]

Angel looking for attention and a bubble? A lot of things are said on this site, but most of us agree Tlou was awesome..... Idiots from both sides attack great games because its on the other system, but Tlou stood above this.... I think your just being insecure and are being a bad losing fanboy..... Move on....

[Aghashie]

Is truly frustrating to notice that most people replaying to ur comment didn't actually read it.

Point and click generation :/

[MikeGdaGod]

please believe me!!!

TLOU was great!!!

[Vames]

Good game, and I have played. Still curious why fanboys rate it so highly, yet it only sold over 4 million copies. Every Sony exclusive is the same thing. It's like everyone be waiting on the game to hit PS+

[brich233]

Internet sarcasm doesnt work.

[Perjoss]

Sarcasm, the poor man's humour, I'll have nothing to do with this foolishness.

[kopicha]

well all they like to make up is that just because they think simply because their game sold more = being a better than then the counterpart's camp. But the fact is Sony has more exclusives to offer and gamers have a choice when come down to exclusives. But on the other hand you really dont have much choice when come down to 360 exclusives. There are some exclusives I didnt buy on PS3 does not mean they are bad game in anyway. It is just simply because I do not fancy the game. Eg, I didnt get resistance 3, simply because I not a huge FPS fan. But I bought Halo not because I love FPS, but I have no other choice on the 360 than that. You simply have limited selection each year to choose from. And besides that it is all 3rd parties which is on both platform. It just cannot justify owning a 360. Does that make Halo a better game to me? No... neither it is a bad game but definitely it does not mean better than other games.

I think end of the day true gamers should try to accept things with open heart. That way you can truly enjoy more good games. Than fanboying which bring hate in you towards games that should not be overlook.

[deafdani]

I'm one of these people that thinks TLOU is overrated. That doesn't make me a Microsoft fanboy, it just makes me someone with an opinion. (I don't even have a Xbox anymore, whereas I'm on my third PS3 now, and I hope to be able to buy a PS4 sometime this year).

Also, me thinking it's overrated does not equate to me thinking it sucks. Far from it. TLOU is a damn good game, I just don't think it's the timeless masterpiece almost everybody make it out to be.

[PudgeySan]

I think your dead wrong, and should be stoned for not knowing a great game when you see and that doesn't make an asshole, It's just my opinion.

[deafdani]

@PudgeySan: well, that escalated quickly.

Really now, are you serious? I already said in my post that TLOU is a "damn good game". I just don't think it will stand the test of time well, gameplay-wise.

Everything that the game did amazingly, it did it to serve the narrative. That is where it shines. But the gameplay, albeit well-polished, is absolutely nothing to write home about, and is, in fact, extremely limited and repetitive. There's very, very little depth to it.

On the other hand, I have a couple of people tell me that the experience changes a lot when you play in the harder difficulties, and admittedly, I played it only on normal mode. Maybe I should give it another go in the hardest difficulty. Yet I'm pretty sure that 99% of game critics out there that are lauding it as the best game ever made, only played it on normal.

[xxShadow-Shockxx]

Halo is overrated, the last of us is a masterpiece. You must have not played it

[deafdani]

Funny how opinion works, doesn't it? You call Halo overrated, yet call Last of Us a masterpiece, as a matter of fact.

Yet both games have had stupidly high critical acclaim. So, what makes you the bearer of the absolute truth to agree with the consensus in one game, and dismiss the consensus on another?

You are completely within your rights to feel like Halo is overrated. But then again, so do I on thinking TLOU is overrated, as well.

The fact I don't think as fondly of one game as you do, doesn't mean I haven't played it. Trust me, I have, and I actually loved the narrative, and most of all, the ending.

But I have just as much right to have an opinion of something as you do.

[xxShadow-Shockxx]

The fact that there's not 30 games for the last of us, along with movies, tv shows and every thing else. The only reason halo is talked about so much is because that's their flagship title, sony has a bunch of flagship titles

[GUTZnPAPERCUTZ]

Im want to say this real quick to all the Forza 5 haters. Does Forza 5 look bad? I have the game and I think it looks wonderful! I don't care if they dumbed down the lighting and crowd from the E3 model, as the game still looks great and runs perfect on my Xbox and never dips below 60fps. I know the PS4 is more powerful (Duh) but Im tired of people acting like the X1 can't run games at 1080p 60fps, hell, even the WiiU has games at those specs, it just the X1 can't handle the same graphics of PS4 games at the same specs so please... stop saying the X1 CAN'T do 1080p and 60fps, because it can and we all know it can. :)

[Crystallis]

LOL ,feel better now?

[Thatguy-310]

Think he busted a Kayne West!
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[-Foxtrot]

Better?...

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

........Better

[GUTZnPAPERCUTZ]

I do, as an open minded Xbox Owner (soon to be PS4 as well) it's hard to have the will power to be on this site most of the time :/ But I like it because of the quick news.

[-Foxtrot]

Forza 5 dosen't look bad, it's just a major downgrade from Forza 4 and I'm stumped to why it's getting so much praise.

It's showing me as a gamer that reviewers seem to either be oblivious to this or they are unfairly letting it slide for just this game.

The cars are always an improvement but everything else just seems...meh

[MightyNoX]

You hit the nail on the head. Why do you think we see all these 'acceptable' jokes? When you have no other bullets in the chamber, you'll hype acceptable till the cows come home. We'll be heating about Forza 5 all up to 2017.

Back on topic: congrats, Naughty Dog.

[DragonKnight]

As usual, Jim Sterling has the answer to your question.

http://www.escapistmagazine...

Which also ties nicely into his rhymedown about the Xbox One here.

http://www.escapistmagazine...

Skip to 2:30 and just laugh.

[cell989]

sure it can, if youre porting last gen graphic techniques.

[denero1]

it's okay the only console i've ever owned is a ps2,ps3 and soon ps4 and the fanboyism here from sony fans gets me facepalming sometimes

I didn't forget last gen when xbox 360 users would rag on ps3 users about resolution or framerates it's just to repeatly have to hear about one consoles lack of something is sooo tiresome

it's like me getting a extra cookie and constantly harassing the other kid for only getting one

[XanderZane]

Forza 5 is just awesome. I have the Drivatar features. True, the game is lacking in features do to the game being rushed out as a launch title, but what's here is still very good. I can only image what Forza 6 & Forza Horizons 2 is going to like. Pretty much all the games coming out after the E3 will be 1080p native 30fps/60fps.

[xxShadow-Shockxx]

It's not that the xbox can't, it can on the less resourced games like racers, fighters, but when it comes to the bigger games it can't like tomb raider, and cod. The ps4 can run 98% of games at it. Btw I have both systems and they are both awesome, the ps4 performs and looks better but that's obvious with the power difference. If your getting both then that's awesome.

[iceman1346]

you know what i just realized ?! TLOU is officially the most well recieved game of all time by critics

[XanderZane]

That would probably be Mario Galaxy & Mario Galaxy 2.

[PrinceOfAllSaiyans]

Yep TLOU is the most awarded game in video gaming history. I really hope ND releases a The Last of Us GOTY edition for PS4 with Left Behind dlc.

[isa_scout]

You just made my mouth water...
That's the only regret I have about selling my PS3 to buy my PS4. Don't get me wrong I LOVE MY PS4, but there's a sad feeling of dread knowing that the 14th is inching closer and I am going to be "Left Behind".

[deadfrag]

Dont sell the ps3!Problem solve!

[LKHGFDSA]

yeah I think it'd be great to have a Tomb Raider style port (less the price tag) with Dualshock 4 features.

Alot of people say it was good enough on PS3, but I think it deserves an enhanced version with no jaggies etc.

[Gore-Content]

What else are they gonna do? Their reputation has been down the toilet recently. This is a great opportunity to gain back some respect.

[DragonKnight]

Not really. People will still see MS as scummy and only giving praise because it's proper not because they mean it.

[carreirabr]

MS will win every "best upscaled ***** game" award next year. Mark my words.

[christocolus]

Phil spencer i agree with you.

Congrats to ND and Turn10, you guys did good.

[PaleMoonDeath]

Wow, some people on here take all this much to seriously, fan boy this, fan boy that, ugh. The Last of Us is dope, more of an experience than a game which is incredible, just awaiting the DLC now.

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

I can understand some of the awards last of us got. A lot of 'em deservingly, but other parts, not so much. From a technical standpoint it had frame drops. sometimes into the low 20s. That aside, it wasn't really innovative. Good game, but what did it really innovate?

[PaleMoonDeath]

Story telling, character development for sure, took me for one hell of a emotional ride, didn't expect to be so pulled in to the characters as I did, those stand out for me.

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

Having a good story, and good characters isn't innovation. They won awards in those departments. Innovation is something else entirely.

[PaleMoonDeath]

@Kenshin_BATT0USAI

I guess what I should have said, they did it better than any other have done before, blended cinematic alongside game play like no other, haven't experienced it done that well before.

surely you get where I'm coming from.

(Won't be able to reply, bubbles are up n' gone)

[DragonKnight]

@Kenshin: When you make a game like The Last of Us on hardware like the PS3, which was SEVERELY limiting for ND, and DON'T have frame drops, then you can complain and/or gloat.

Until then, the game is a technical marvel for the fact that it even exists on the PS3.

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

I didn't complain or gloat. I'm just pointing out that it didn't run flawlessly which is objectively true. Your argument is probably one of the weakest I've read.

[DragonKnight]

I didn't say you gloated, but you did complain to a degree. Your comment was made to make the statement that TLOU is undeserving of any technical awards, based on the fact that you just had to point out framerate drops, and you also don't think it's innovative.

The article is about TLOU recognition, not "that guy" syndrome.

I repeat, when you make a game like TLOU on a 512MB RAM console and have it look and play that impressively, with probably the best storytelling and character relationships to boot, then you can say something.

Until then, sour grapes.

[Gunstar75]

I personally didn't like TLOU. It is going in a direction I dislike (when games try to be movies)...however, I can 100% understand why a lot of people love it.

[IRetrouk]

The gameplay Is a lot more open than uncharted, gears, max pain and a good number of other similar games, the attention to detail and character animation are second to none, the story and the way that its told is truly a step up from what we are used to, all the while having nice big open areas to explore, I can fully understand that you dont like it, but the game got me right from the start, the opening level was without a dought the scene that stuck in my head the most, it was powerfull man lol, what would in you're opinion be a better game?

[Gunstar75]

I prefer more arcade style games, where I can dip I and out.

[IRNMUNKEY]

I got bored playing last of us. Looked amazing but I just didn't grt on with the controls felt too floaty in combat. Plus I played half of it when it still had the save game bug and I lost my progress. Just didn't have the patience to play it again.

[SamPao]

Ok I am on my 4th playthrough.

[fenome]

I'm on my fifth, survival mode, getting back into it while I wait for that DLC to drop

[XSpike]

I went into The Last of Us expecting something like Uncharted but with zombie like creatures, yep it pretty much is but the story is better, the gameplay is more fun with the crafting and all that.

But the biggest thing that I wasn't expecting which barely ever gets mentioned because of how great the SP is, the MP is one of the best MP games of last-gen. I was expecting some boring old gameplay with 4v4 kinda like Gears of War (sorry to say for those who like that MP. Or Uncharted MP...) just TLoU added that tactics to the battle, where running is used onto to escape (The enemy may find it hard to chase as they don't know if your backed up by your team mates) & the crafting online and just everything!! ITs action packed!

[SamPao]

jup the MP is uper fun! the game I keep coming back and back again

[manic_maniac]

I think TLOU was potentially a great game but I played a 3rd of the way through and got my save wiped because of whatever bug it was and then played through to round about the same point and had a really bad time with the ropey ai of the characters I was trying to look after when they would run around like crazy where clickers were causing me to be killed many times when they would keep running around me while I was hiding, like the aforementioned characters told me to and did not practice said techniques themselves. Also I didn't think it ever reached the heights of the opening level, which was a shame, it almost reminded me of the Dead island game trailer as it made we want it so bad but ultimately was a let down. Shame. People had said the story got better but it was too little too late for me I couldn't cope with erratic ai.
@foxtrot, mightynox. Forza 5 is quality compared to earlier versions, I know it's a bit lite on the content side especially compared to forza 4 and gt6 but the quality is way better in forza 5, the tracks and relative track feedback, the detail in every car, the sounds, especially through a home theatre system and the drivatar ai which is the biggest selling point for me. Kaz attempts so many things in gt6 and imo fails in so many of them unfortunately, Forza's forza vista mode is more for the car nut than any car count that gt offers. Really, some times less really is more.

[ado908]

Looking at your comment history why should anybody take a microsoft fanyboy seriously? Hey, had it been Gears of War that won all of these awards you would have no complaints lol.

[manic_maniac]

Hey child, you have no idea what you are talking about, of that I am sure.
Queers of war would of not had me frothing at the mouth like rabid sony fanboys, but I will voice my opinion when idiots overly praise something because it is on their system of choice. It really is that simple, like yourself. I've been gaming since 78 and have owned every console imo worth owning, all sega except 32x all nintendo to current wii u, all ps including psp but exluding vita and ps4 which I will be getting when there is some games worth getting, ie new uncharted or gt7, all ms systems including the one and I currently have a sli gaming pc valued @ £3,700. Oh sorry I must apologise because you are actually right, I am a fanboy, a gaming fanboy, I have no allegiance with one system as that would be foolish for a gaming fanboy. Now instead of buying wank mags and indie games on your ps4, save up and venture out into the big world of games, you never know you might enjoy it.

[ado908]

A man thats been gaming since the 70's and gets mad over a piece of plastic, good work. As for you saying it's your opinion, you are right it is your opinion and it is okay for you to criticize a game that gets heavily praised by the general public. But don't throw a hissy fit when people voice in their opinions and disagree with your taste. Im not saying your wrong, I'm just saying don't expect to voice in a comment like that and not expect reactions in return. If you can't handle it, then don't comment, simple as that.

[manic_maniac]

Ok,rewind,read posts again, analyse and point out to me where I threw a hissy.
My take on the events and how they unfolded.
I comment,as is my want, on n4g, about some games I have played. No harsh words were expressed and I expressed my opinion only.
Then up marches the internet warrior and questions why should anyone believe an xbox fanboy, judging by my comment history.
Internet warrior then states if it had been gears of war it would of been ok, insinuating that I am a hypocrite.
I then post in response in a light hearted manner but also patronising. He (internet warrior) returns and it's much of the same from him. In short warrior you threw the hissy and then became disrespectful for the usual reason which is not engaging in a circle jerk over every ps game.
Sweet dreams little man. Thank god I'm outta bubbles.

[goldwyncq]

Another thing that's been bugging me: I can understand if the story or soundtrack isn't your type but how on earth can anyone complain about the gameplay? It's one of the most intense games ever made, especially on higher difficulties. What other game in this generation made use of a health bar like TLOU did? In a time where regenerative health is the norm, having a health bar and enemies that could kill you in one attack on top of that deserves some recognition. Sure, the AI has issues but it's still miles ahead the other games of its genre.

[purp13m0nk3y]

As an overall package (graphics, sound, story, gameplay, controls ect) TLOU is truly a masterpiece. The crowning jewel in the ps3 library and a fitting end to the last gen consoles. The praise is well deserved.

Kudos to Mr Spencer for being honest and humble enough to acknowledge a rival companies success. We need more of this from the industry in general.

[SonyAddict]

MS..bow down to the masters!.

[urwifeminder]

Congrats Turn 10 well deserved Forza is a fun game kudos.

[captainexplosion]

Was just reading over the nominees and winners and how the hell did TLoU win best art direction over Rayman Legends, Tearaway, Mario 3D World, Puppeteer, and Bioshock Infinite? I thought Rayman Legends had pretty close to the best art direction Ive ever seen in a game.

[Stoppokingme]

Praise for your competitors is a sign of respect to your rivals and your craft.

Fanboys on both sides could learn a thing or two from these developers, give credit when it's due and don't resort to insults because someone isn't on your side of the wall.

[Akira2020]

I thought TLOU had some of the best graphics and sound I've seen in any last gen title AND deserved every award for such.

My only problem with TLOU was the gameplay. While playing, you get to one area, hide or shoot at the creatures/bad guys (which don't change their patterns throughout the game), get an object or open a door, go to the next area; then repeat. The only thing that was done to give you a break from the monotonous gameplay were the cut scenes or pushing objects to gain access to the next tedious area.

Gears of War had this problem (at least with me); however, was remedied with Gears 3 (which finally changed it's "hide/shoot" gameplay for each stage).

I know I'm in the minority, but at least the majority of gamers enjoyed this style of gameplay.

[S2Killinit]

Hahaha "and forza". The nerves. Trying to rub off on other people's success, nice technique.

[H0RSE]

I've never played TLOU, and never will, so I can't comment on the game from experience, but regardless how many people praise it or dislike it, how many awards it wins or doesn't, and how many people think they deserve those rewards or not, nothing is set in stone.

Everything is subjective, for those who want to type out long-winded responses trying to prove to others that their viewpoint holds credence over others - you're wasting your time, because no matter who well written or structured your comments are, it's never going to amount to more than this - https://www.youtube.com/wat...