Variety judge disagrees with majority of E3 award winners, loves public drunkenness

by Kevin Kelly { Aug 12th 2008 at 4:00PM }

Ben Fritz writes about video games for Variety and was one of the E3 judges this year -- and he's not too happy with this year's winners. He calls Mirror's Edge "gimmicky" and the Gears of War 2 improvements "minor." He was really pulling for Resistance 2, which he felt offered up a lot more than the original, and we'll admit that's a good point.

However, he really laments the fact that Fable 2 didn't win anything. He hated the original Fable, but thinks that "the human interactions, from multiple gay marriages to public drunkenness, seem really fun" in the sequel. He also admits that he didn't care for last year's Super Mario Galaxy and disliked Mass Effect. Which is probably why the second comment from Just A Guy is "You suck."

Update: Ben Fritz actually contacted us to let us know he didn't hate Super Mario Galaxy, he just "didn't lavish superlatives" on it. He goes on to tell us that the review he wrote of the game was "positive," but you can judge for yourself right here. With friends like that, who needs negative reviews? However, he did point out (and rightly so) that the headline implied that he doesn't like the E3 awards. In actuality, "I just personally disagree with the majority of the winners." Our bad, and we've fixed that.

Tags: Awards, Ben-Fritz, E3, Fable-2, judge, Variety

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Marty @ Aug 12th 2008 4:03PM

The guy doesn't like games like Mario Galaxy or Mass Effect... and he still expects us to take his gaming opinions seriously? O_O

Waqman @ Aug 12th 2008 4:06PM

Mass Effect wasn't all that good to begin with, oh wait I forgot its a Bioware game. That means it has to be good right?

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Aug 12th 2008 4:16PM

But it was good so what's your point?

Jakka (Not sure why he got banned?) @ Aug 12th 2008 4:16PM

Mass Effect sucked terribly gameplay wise.
Still the story was excellent and Wrex was simple the best character of 2008.Each of his lines is just pure gold.

Commander Shepard: You krogan live for centuries, you must've had something interesting happen.
Urdnot Wrex: Well, there was this one time when the salarians almost wiped out our entire race. That was fun.

Commander Shepard: We're not looking to start a fight.
Urdnot Wrex: Why not?

Urdnot Wrex: Bah, we're wasting time, we could have beaten him into cooperation.
Garrus Vakarian: No we couldn't.
Urdnot Wrex: Yeah we could; think he lifts anything
heavier than stacks of hard data?

Urdnot Wrex: Do your people ever talk about how you unleashed the geth on the universe and then got banished from your own world by them?
Tali'Zorah: Do your people ever talk about how you tried to take over the universe, but were struck with a virus to make you all sterile?
Urdnot Wrex : All the time.

Marty @ Aug 12th 2008 4:52PM

My point is that both games were mostly well-received... so it seems silly to take this guy seriously when his opinions are so backward.

theturtle363 @ Aug 12th 2008 5:29PM

I remember one time I was talking to the gianna parisinni lady on Noveria and she said something about the administrator costing the company money, and Wrex says "If he's costing your company credits he's a fool, you should eat him"

Vidikron (FU) @ Aug 12th 2008 8:12PM

I honestly didn't care all that much for either myself. Both games bored me in the middle and I never bothered to finish either one. I think I've just grown away from games like SMG. It was just sort of a chore to play. Everything in the game just feels pointless... I just didn't care about collecting stars. I also didn't really care for how you had to get only one specific star at a time. I preferred the Mario 64 method where you were given a clue for a specific star, but if you happened to find one of the others you could get that instead.

As for Mass Effect, I just couldn't stand the gimped combat. I know the game it's not a true shooter, but the combat was so close to being a shooter, yet it felt so crippled. If you're going to go down that direction, do it right or don't do it at all.

B3NITO @ Aug 15th 2008 5:00AM

1st

Always wanted to do that!!

I agree with Ben

Fernando Rocker @ Aug 12th 2008 4:08PM

Epic.Fail.

GridloQ @ Aug 12th 2008 4:10PM

Always wanted to do what? Fail at failing?

Wait, is that winning? If so, Variety wins this round!

Dovi @ Aug 12th 2008 4:17PM

There were other 3d platformers this gen?

boardincali82 @ Aug 13th 2008 12:56PM

Well I've been awaiting fable 2 and it does sound like it's going to be great. It has a big enough fanbase so why didn't it win anything! Mistria!!!

-The Motorokr

Waqman @ Aug 12th 2008 4:05PM

I'm glad to hear some "varied" opinions from this guy. I'm happy to know somebody didn't like Mario and Mass Effect from last year. They both had their flaws. And Gears 2 has NO improvements from the last, unless you count the human shield thing....oh wait I forgot "meat shield".

CliffyB is one clever guy, why can't he think of a better nickname?

Bloo @ Aug 12th 2008 5:12PM

You are an absolute tool. Please stick to commenting at PS3fanboy so as not to emmarass us other PS3 owners.

Waqman @ Aug 13th 2008 1:21AM

Oh I'm very sorry for "emmarassing" you. It won't happen again.

antsmarching @ Aug 12th 2008 4:06PM

he sucks

Zoot Suit Jedi @ Aug 12th 2008 9:52PM

OK Computer is one of the greatest albums of all time.

But Dave Matthews is a tool. Those ants can march themselves off of a rooftop.

Nadril @ Aug 12th 2008 4:07PM

In all honesty Mario Galexy wasn't amazing and Mass Effect was a huge letdown from Bioware. (especially when competing up against their other incredible titles)

That and I'm not really holding my breath for Gears of War 2 (don't really care about resistance 2 either though).

So was the point of this blog post just to pick at his tastes, or what?

Fernando Rocker @ Aug 12th 2008 4:10PM

Don't know about Mario Galexy, but Super Mario Galaxy is awesome.

Best 3D platformer this gen so far.

Nadril @ Aug 12th 2008 4:11PM

You know what I meant, typo's happen.

Jack of No Trades 85 @ Aug 12th 2008 4:14PM

Fernando

You have not played all of the platformer games this gen so you can't say that.

Fernando Rocker @ Aug 12th 2008 4:17PM

I have played a lot of platformers this gen, specially on the DS.

But please, don't mention Tools of Destruction (I have played it and beated it), because that game is more like an action adventure/shooter game instead of a platformer.

Jakka (Not sure why he got banned?) @ Aug 12th 2008 4:20PM

"Fernando

You have not played a the platformer games ON PS3 so you can't say that."

Corrected.

I'm pretty sure that Fernando did check out every Wii60 plat out there.

Shmil @ Aug 12th 2008 4:22PM

Galsxy is a typo, Galexy is just not knowing how to spell

Fernando Rocker @ Aug 12th 2008 4:22PM

Jakka

I have said several times that my cousin (his house is a couple of blocks from mine) has a PS3, and my friend also has a PS3.

I have acces to the PS3 anytime I want, and I have finished several games on the system.

His PSN is WayneX

Dovi @ Aug 12th 2008 4:23PM

There were other 3d platformers this gen?

Jakka (Not sure why he got banned?) @ Aug 12th 2008 4:52PM

...but...you're teh fanboyz!

*brain explodes*

Shadow El @ Aug 12th 2008 4:55PM

I've played every 3-D platformer this generation so far, and Super Mario Galaxy is indeed the best one yet, and from the looks of it, will be for some time.

Brad Lee @ Aug 12th 2008 6:18PM

Bah! Conformity...

It's sad when people get reprimanded for differing tastes. It's no wonder why review scores are all pretty much the same. If you don't like one-two "good" games then all of a sudden your entire taste in video games is put into question.

For the record, I thought Super Mario Galaxy was a bit of a let down. I was really into it at first, but after getting about halfway through it felt like the game was stretched out just to give it more playtime. That and Bee Mario and Boo Mario were horrible; you'd think Miyamoto could have made more interesting use of the Wiimote for new Mario suits...

Didn't much care for Mass Effect either; the gameplay was dull. I typically have a difficult time with these Action/RPG hybrids. They rarely have the thoughtful, strategic planning of a turn-based RPG, and yet, they are no where near as exciting as full action titles. I also have a difficult time plugging several hours of my life into a game before it "starts to get good."

So does this mean I have universally bad taste in video games? Not necessarily, it just means those two games didn't do it for me.

Leobebes @ Aug 12th 2008 4:08PM

Resistance 2 has more improvements over Gears of War 2? Really? Every video I have seen of the thing its the same exact game! Whoop de doo you have more multiplyer slots for Co Op and other game types.

But opinions are like assholes right?

Jakka (Not sure why he got banned?) @ Aug 12th 2008 4:26PM

"But opinions are like assholes right?"

Dude, that's totally not cool.

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

Fernando Rocker @ Aug 12th 2008 4:14PM

Joystiq: Giving free publicity to Variety and Edge this day?

Better use the effort to fix the comment section. Comments keep dissapearing.

Park Zero @ Aug 12th 2008 4:16PM

Galaxy is a great game, yet I had it since Christmas and I only have about 35 stars. I guess I’m not into platformers as much as I used to be. That or it’s a case of franchise fatigue.

Saria the Cat @ Aug 12th 2008 4:19PM

No game is without its flaws, and Mass Effect and SMG have theirs. But that doesn't change the fact that they are *good* games. I thought the first Fable was awesome, too. Personally, I can't really expect anything enlightening from this guy if I already fundamentally disagree with his game preferences. I just hope his praise of Fable 2 doesn't mean it will be an epic fail.

Hooligunn @ Aug 12th 2008 4:26PM

Obviously I'm biased since I only own a 360 and do not own a PS3 or a Wii (but do follow the games on each platform). My thoughts on R2 are from articles read on the game and the E3 stage video and trailer. Sorry if you don't like what you are about to hear.

Honest to god, I think he's Sony biased and this is not a true analytical opinion. Resistance 2 offers more, yes, but how he can call the improvements to Gears 2 "minor" is beyond me. Feature on feature, Gears 2 is offering a good deal more than Resistance is (remember, this is by amounts of features, not saying one game is better than the other) and a hell of alot more than it's original.

Resistance has a good amount of enemies on screen, but the graphical fidelity of it is slightly average (better than average, but comon, it's no stunner now is it?). Now look at Gears - some sites awarded it Best Graphics of E3 (look at IGN for example) so it's obviously a great looking game as we know, but look at the amount of enemies on screen combined with what's going on. It's immense. You didn't get that in Gears 1.

Frankly, like most analysts, this guy is talking right out of his backside.

Jakka (Not sure why he got banned?) @ Aug 12th 2008 5:06PM

"Obviously I'm biased..."

And who isn't?

Owning all three consoles doesn't make you any less of a fanboy and I hate those insecure assholes who try to give their statements extra credibility by saying stuff in the lines of "I own all three console so I'm totally unbiased and have more credibility than one-console-owners.".

I don't like the PS3 because it's way too expensive in UK and inferior to 360 imo.That's also why I don't own one.Now if I got a PS3 through another "Get a free..." phone contract, would it suddenly change the basis of my opinions? People, please stop being a bunch of pussies and apologizing for voicing out your opinions as well as those retards who use the PSWii60 excuse.If you have an opinion,stick to it to the end because after all, you can't possibly name a single person on this planet who ISN'T biased.

philmcphail @ Aug 12th 2008 11:15PM

Hooligunn, I just think that Gears 1 just offered a hell of a more fun experience than Resistance 1 (When both first came out of course). Resistance 1 was real generic shooter to me, even with all the crazy guns they had. They only thing that made me buy it was 40 online multiplayer. (which honestly didn't turn out to make it more fun) But looking at R2, it doesn't seem half bad. I mean way better graphics, new locales (which aren't generically grey, brown, and black), 8 player online coop with diff story, and rumors of the game having a cover system sound cool, but I still got mixed feelings for it. I think the thing with R2 is that the predecessor was such a letdown compared that its seemed drastically better with the new features. Gears 2 was practically destined to be good even when before it was announced.

Jeff Rebbeck @ Aug 12th 2008 4:28PM

Didn't like Mass Effect? I'm Asari, but Ben Fritz lives in another universe.

theturtle363 @ Aug 12th 2008 5:38PM

PUUUUUNS

theturtle363 @ Aug 12th 2008 5:38PM

PUUUUUNS

Zoot Suit Jedi @ Aug 12th 2008 9:54PM

http://www.instantrimshot.com

Yessir, you are correct sir! Heyooooooo!

Ed @ Aug 12th 2008 4:28PM

This is exactly how I feel!

Ranus Studios @ Aug 12th 2008 4:30PM

To be fair, Galaxy got on my nerves, too. I traded it in for Smash Brothers Brawl.

Which, by the way, is getting on my nerves too.

deadjesterx @ Aug 12th 2008 4:35PM

Eh, as if I go to Variety for gaming news/opinions.

I will say that Gears 2 doesn't look like that huge of an improvement, at least from a gameplay standpoint.

Ben Fritz @ Aug 12th 2008 4:42PM

Whoa this post is pretty unfair. First the title isn't right. I have no problem with the awards at all. I just personally disagree with the majority of the winners. And in fact as I note, I like most of the winning games ("Fallout 3," "Spore," LittleBigPlanet," "Left4Dead"), they just weren't my first choices in the categories they won. And I certainly never said I "didn't care" for "Super Mario Galaxy." I wrote that I "didn't lavish superlatives" on it and if you read the review, it's positive, just not as positive as most others.
And for what it's worth, all the commenters except "Just a guy" had at least some positive things to say. Yeesh.

Ludwig Kietzmann @ Aug 12th 2008 5:45PM

Hi Ben,

Please see the update to our original post. We totally agree with you. Well, except on Mirror's Edge. :)

Saria the Cat @ Aug 12th 2008 8:47PM

@Ludwig: Thank you! I was about to doubt Joystiq's integrity for a moment after reading Ben's article but you quickly remedied that with the fair post change. :) Another reason I love this place.

Deezigner @ Aug 13th 2008 3:59AM

Hi Ben
Sure... you say a couple of nice things about SMG, but let me give you some homework: Go back to your published article, and count the number of sentences where you have said something directly positive and then count the number of sentences where you use a negative connotation. I think you'll see why people perceive you as not caring for the game.