The New York Times gaming correspondent Seth Schiesel recently defied the mold for year-in-review video game wrap-ups -- rather than handing out commonplace awards such as "Best Action Game" or "Best Indie Game Fueled by Dew", his honorable mentions were awarded based on "Best Zombies" (Left 4 Dead, natch) and the fairly inflammatory "Best Explanation of Why Nintendo Hardly Needs Big Games Anymore" (the Wii).
However, at the bottom of his list of odds-and-ends, Schiesel follows the example of Time Magazine and the VGAs, ultimately choosing Grand Theft Auto IV as his Game of the Year. Schiesel was swooned by Rockstar's crime drama due to its mature writing, which makes GTA IV "one of the few games that even [tries] to take on the real world in any adult way." Obviously, he's never heard of a little game called 50 Cent: Blood in the Sand.
Reader Comments (96)
Posted: Dec 22nd 2008 4:40AM bigsofty said
Ah, the last GTA I will ever buy, its a big fat lumbering carcass of a game, repetitive and cutscene bloated... never again... this is also another reason I will NOT listen to crap like this that hypes a stunningly mediocre game to the point I actually pay for it, then regreted that I listened to the games media...
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Posted: Dec 22nd 2008 9:03AM EMaster said
Man I hope you killed off Dwayne before you do that. that guy is the most ANNOPYINg "friend" you can have epseically when you druink with him. I played the whole game again just to pop him when I had the chance cause he is so annyoing! I'm trying to do the "meet all random characters" one now.
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Posted: Dec 22nd 2008 12:49PM arrrgh said
fuck the haters.
to the haters: FUCK YOU
gta4 is a great game. Smacks of effort, and the multiplayer is insane. Some people were expecting feature bloated, confused gameplay like san andreas.
for you people there are a few games that are right up your alley. Saints Row, Saints Row 2, those shitty assed 50 cent games.
There now you can enjoy your over the top retardations in peace.
Leave gta4 alone. I'm sick of the bashing it is taking because it is closer in kin to gta3 (amazing), than san andreas (a giant mess...albeit fun as hell)
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to the haters: FUCK YOU
gta4 is a great game. Smacks of effort, and the multiplayer is insane. Some people were expecting feature bloated, confused gameplay like san andreas.
for you people there are a few games that are right up your alley. Saints Row, Saints Row 2, those shitty assed 50 cent games.
There now you can enjoy your over the top retardations in peace.
Leave gta4 alone. I'm sick of the bashing it is taking because it is closer in kin to gta3 (amazing), than san andreas (a giant mess...albeit fun as hell)
Posted: Dec 23rd 2008 4:01PM (Unverified) said
Amen aaargh. I don't get all the hand-wringing over these GTAIV GOTY selections. It has groundbreaking production values we've never seen in games before. It also probably had the highest pop culture awareness factor of any game ever made. And on top of that, it is an awesome game that is a total blast to play.
To all of the haters, what are you playing? No game kept me glued to my TV this year like GTA IV did. It shouldn't be penalized for coming out earlier in the year. Don't like GTA games? No wonder you don't like it.
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To all of the haters, what are you playing? No game kept me glued to my TV this year like GTA IV did. It shouldn't be penalized for coming out earlier in the year. Don't like GTA games? No wonder you don't like it.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2008 4:23AM myke6699 said
MGS4 is a geek fare- the story hardly appeal to the masses. I've played both games and GTA IV is clearly better in creating a more believable and immersive experience. Even technically, GTA IV has so much going for it compared to the rather sterile and static world of Metal Gear.
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Posted: Dec 21st 2008 8:13PM (Unverified) said
Oh man you put a link to that epic "wait 2-3 years" article. That was some good fun.
In other news NY times goes with most popular game of the year as the "best". Surprises for everyone.
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In other news NY times goes with most popular game of the year as the "best". Surprises for everyone.
Posted: Dec 21st 2008 10:05PM (Unverified) said
Because it was one of the greatest articles ever? I know that was one of the best times I had on here.
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Posted: Dec 21st 2008 8:13PM (Unverified) said
I dislike GTA4,
I dislike the fact that it keeps winning GOTY awards even more so.
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I dislike the fact that it keeps winning GOTY awards even more so.
Posted: Dec 21st 2008 8:43PM (Unverified) said
Look at me, I'm so cool, I hate [name of something popular], I prefer [name of something obscure], I am disrespectful to that which is mainstream, can you see that I am serious?
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Posted: Dec 21st 2008 8:59PM Jawmuncher said
WRE you're probably one of the people who like games, because the critics like games.
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Posted: Dec 21st 2008 9:05PM (Unverified) said
WRE, let me be the first to apologize for posting my opinion on the interwebs. I didn't realize that this wasn't the place people's personal feelings. I'll just shut up and go back to looking at porn; and from now on, I'll keep my opinion to myself.
/end sarcasm
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/end sarcasm
Posted: Dec 21st 2008 9:20PM (Unverified) said
THERE IS A "COMMENTS" SECTION ON CERTAIN PORN SITES?!!?!@?!@?!?
WHY WASN'T I INFORMED OF THIS EARLIER?!!?!?!?!
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WHY WASN'T I INFORMED OF THIS EARLIER?!!?!?!?!
Posted: Dec 21st 2008 9:41PM TheDarkWayne said
yeah a lot of them do.
Oh urr, uh i mean, i've heard they do
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Oh urr, uh i mean, i've heard they do
Posted: Dec 21st 2008 10:13PM (Unverified) said
Kelly, let me be the first to apologize for posting my opinion on the interwebs. I didn't realize that this wasn't the place people's personal feelings. I'll just shut up and go back to looking at porn; and from now on, I'll keep my opinion to myself.
/end sarcasm
You see what I did there?
Markez,
You nailed it!
Jawmuncher,
Sure, pal, you got me. Since we're guessing, I'll bet you're one of those kids that only likes something until it's cool to not like it? What do I win?
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/end sarcasm
You see what I did there?
Markez,
You nailed it!
Jawmuncher,
Sure, pal, you got me. Since we're guessing, I'll bet you're one of those kids that only likes something until it's cool to not like it? What do I win?
Posted: Dec 22nd 2008 1:57AM (Unverified) said
@ Markez
well if you liked meat spin, I have some more links that might tickle your fancy.
Reply
well if you liked meat spin, I have some more links that might tickle your fancy.
Posted: Dec 21st 2008 8:18PM (Unverified) said
"Best Explanation of Why Nintendo Hardly Needs Big Games Anymore" (the Wii).
+ what ever positive number you can think of.
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+ what ever positive number you can think of.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2008 6:45AM Foetoid said
Your 'good rig' is already out of date. What graphics card are you running? If you are running anything less than the 9000 series Geforce cards then i highly recommend upgrading to the HD4850 ATI Card (1gb version preferred). My 512 version run every game ever made maxed out and smooth, even Crysis. Tho on XP, Crysis only get to 'High' and not 'Very High'
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Posted: Dec 21st 2008 8:33PM (Unverified) said
How many people have actually finished the game?
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Posted: Dec 21st 2008 8:43PM (Unverified) said
I got something like 97% or 97.5% done, but there was 1 damn pidgeon I couldn't find and I didn't feel like going through all 200 places again just to find 1. I imagine I'll rent it some day and do it though.
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Posted: Dec 22nd 2008 1:22AM (Unverified) said
How could you not play through it "happily" when it's not exactly short? You poor baby, did you suffer through it like a dentist appointment? If you don't save the princess, the terrorists really do win?
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Posted: Dec 22nd 2008 2:44PM TheDarkWayne said
Yeah I did, because if I didn't finish it it would be unfair for me to criticize it if by chance it turned into an amazing game at the end, so don't be a fuck
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Posted: Dec 21st 2008 8:40PM (Unverified) said
I've been thinking about GTA IV recently, and I came to the conclusion that the game is good but the reason I disliked it was because I was ultimately disappointed by it.
I can see how people who don't have much experience with the series or games in general would love the game, and it is deserving of some awards.
MGS4 will always be my GOTY though.
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I can see how people who don't have much experience with the series or games in general would love the game, and it is deserving of some awards.
MGS4 will always be my GOTY though.
Posted: Dec 21st 2008 9:06PM MarkezJM said
As much as I hope you fall in front of incoming traffic someday, I have to agree with you.
It is a good game, very polished, has a lot of charm. But just disappointing when it comes down to it, and a huge missed opportunity to truly do something incredible with a videogame.
I can look past the fact that it has an utterly horrible story, but I can't look past the fact that the missions were mundane, boring, and repetitive.
I know it's a good game, but looking back, I can't help but still be stuck with the sentiment of "that game sucked ass", even though I know it didn't.
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It is a good game, very polished, has a lot of charm. But just disappointing when it comes down to it, and a huge missed opportunity to truly do something incredible with a videogame.
I can look past the fact that it has an utterly horrible story, but I can't look past the fact that the missions were mundane, boring, and repetitive.
I know it's a good game, but looking back, I can't help but still be stuck with the sentiment of "that game sucked ass", even though I know it didn't.
Posted: Dec 21st 2008 10:24PM MarkezJM said
Weeks back he posted about a link that I went to, and now I cannot unsee. It left me praying for death, but yet I post to this day. He did link to hamster morph @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hse1btS7jR0
so I guess he's not ALL bad
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so I guess he's not ALL bad
Posted: Dec 21st 2008 10:17PM (Unverified) said
Nope it's euphoria and it was awesome. Now every time I see regular-old-shitty-rag-doll physics I want to cry.
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Posted: Dec 21st 2008 9:01PM jhowlett said
after initially be really excited then frustrated that i couldn't tell what was really going on because i couldn't read the phone among other text in the game, i'm playing it pretty regular again. it's not as fun for me as san andreas, but i like it. i can tell whats going on now so thats a big help. i'd put it just below SA slightly above the city stories versions occasionally hitting VC and SA levels or going above some parts. i hope 4 is to 3 of last gen and keeps getting better.
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