Spike VGA 10: ‘Game of the Year’ Nominees indicative of a ‘down’ year in gaming?

SchollA from Console ControllUs pronounced control-us writes:
Spike VGA 10, the Networks 10th anniversary is around the corner and this year for the first time that I could remember there’s no standout title and essentially no clear cut nominees. Is this indicative of a ‘down’ year? Let’s dig in shall we!

[Riderz1337]

No stand out title? Journey? The Walking Dead? A game doesn't need to be triple-A and have a super long campaign to be considered good. What's wrong with some of you people. Most of the people complaining are mad because downloadable titles are beating out some of the bigger games like Halo 4. Last time I checked, Journey and The Walking Dead were both critically appraised more than Halo 4 was.

[Conzul]

yeah, some people are gonna be soooo butthurt. I went into the VGAs expecting disappointment, but they weren't so bad this year. Even Samuel L. Jackson's preening was amusing at times.

[LOGICWINS]

"I'm the REAL Black Ops!" lol

[360ICE]

Yeah, the VGAs are always good. Or at least they've been for a few years. Yet so many people complain. I mean, if you can announce Skyrim one year and the Last of Us the next year, you have put up some good shows. No matter how bad the rest is.

[TryMe]

Just goes to show not enough people have bothered to play The Walking Dead or Journey.

To many people have this strange pre concieved notion that downloadable =5 hours of medicore blah.

If they were actually open minded they would discovered some of the best gaming experiences of this generation....and games that actually MOVE you and MAKE YOU FEEL GENUINE emotion.

People, if you haven't played Journey, or the walking dead. For the love of god do it. The walking dead is like what, 20$ for 5 episdoes, and each episode goes 3-5 hours (depeneding on your pace)..while journey is a game that really shouldn't be judged by time at all

Regardless, enough of my rambling. Pick up these 2 gems. PLEEASE GAMERS. Support companies that actually try to PUSH this industry forward, rather than catering to the COD Dudebro needs.

[Scholla]

If you would've read on I said it would be cool to see a downloadable game of quality beat a Triple A game of quality. But overall this year the quality may have been down.

And when I say standout I don't mean the games not good It's just a reflection of it not being heralded by the game journalists or the gaming community.

No one was thinking TWD or Journey would be a nominee let alone a winner heck probably even you, you might of said once it got nominated "good choice" but going in I don't know if anyone would of argued if it didn't get nominated. It was more of a surprise than anything.

[sjaakiejj]

Walking Dead, Journey and Mass Effect were all standout titles this year. I don't know what the author of this article is smoking.

[Scholla]

See above comment.

[sjaakiejj]

"[Walking Dead:] No Time Left ventures into masterpiece territory" -Gametrailers

"Insert whatever cliché you like; The Walking Dead: The Game Episode 5 is phenomenal" -IGN

"Walking Dead isn't just Game of the Year material, it's one of those touchstone games that will continue to be referenced years from now." -Armchair Empire

"The Walking Dead: The Game won't just go down as one of the best examples of gaming as a storytelling medium, it isn't just one of the best licensed games ever made, and it won't just be known as one of the best games of 2012 (if not the best" -Strategy Informer

The game was heralded by game journalists and the community alike, and a lot of people were expecting it to be nominated. It's not just a standout title this year, it's a standout title in the past few years of gaming.

[SeraphimBlade]

Well, A LOT of stuff got delayed. So we had a slower holiday than most years, but this is gonna be the BEST SPRING EVER.

[pandehz]

Doesn't matter who wins.

I had a blast this year

[kagon01]

P4A won best fighting game of the year.

[PLAYER5095]

what happened to gears of war? did i miss it or did it not come on at all?

[Scholla]

yeah they showed it.

[Hicken]

That a game like Journey was even NOMINATED is a good thing. It's a shame it didn't win, but still.

[ginsunuva]

Journey was the only standout this year. And Far Cry but it didn't make the cut, which is weird. Why don't GotY awards wait until the END OF THE YEAR before giving awards?

[TheSuperior]

none of these games were games that i wasreally all that into. Good games, not disagreeing with anyone just saying for my personal gaming preferences this wasnt my year