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Batman: Arkham Asylum GOTY Edition includes 3D glasses
If you were planning to ignore the Batman: Arkham Asylum "Game of the Year Edition" (perhaps you're still stinging from the disappointing collector's release) you may not want to stop caring just yet. While we're unexcited by the promise of "six additional maps" on the disc (there are six available for download at the moment -- we have to assume those are the same ones), we're intrigued by CVG's report that the box will include special glasses for use with a newly added TriOviz 3D effect. The TriOviz tech, if you're unfamiliar, works with regular HD and SD sets, and doesn't rely on red and blue lenses, meaning colors are preserved. We'd love to give it a shot, but not so much that we'd re-buy Arkham Asylum to do so. Here's hoping there's a way for us early adopters to check out this new dimension of institutional insanity. [Update: Sadly, it sounds like this isn't gliding into North America.]
Science: Uncharted 2 is the best game of 2009
Who says so? Science says so. Just look at the numbers in this Metacritic round-up of the year's top games and it's pretty obvious that Uncharted 2 is the best. Also, according to math, the PS3 is better than the 360. This isn't us or even Metacritic saying it, people, these are innocent, irrefutable numbers. In all seriousness, while Metacritic has collected some interesting, worthwhile data in its report, we're not sure what the point is in trying to pick the best system or game of 2009 just going by statistics. We've relied on numbers just to help us organize our annual Game of the Year selection, and even so, just look how much damage they were still capable of.
GDC09: Fallout 3, LittleBigPlanet clean up at GDCA awards
In case you missed out on our liveblog last night (why do you hurt us so?), the list of winners from the GDCA awards is available for your perusal and, just as descriptive headlines would have you believe, Fallout 3 and LittleBigPlanet performed admirably. Fallout 3 walked away with the coveted Game of the Year award, whereas LittleBigPlanet took the "quantity over quality" route, snatching up various awards. Check past the break for the full list of this year's winners.
The Joystiq Network (except us) picks its GOTYs
While we at Joystiq like to be fashionably on time with our Game of the Year picks, our network of sites has already named some winners, and in case you've missed them: PS3 Fanboy Awards, now with one PSP category! More importantly, though, we've learned the staff is very good at making PSP and PS3 predictions. The Nintendo Fanboys couldn't play favorites, so they just chose their ten favorites for both Wii and DS and decided to put them in no certain order. The crew at X3F couldn't come to a consensus, either, so they did individual picks (Richard, Xav, Dustin) in addition to letting the readers choose for themselves. On the PC side of things, here's BigDownload and Massively's picks for the best of ought-eight. ... Oh, you want to see our GOTYs? Sorry, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow.
Fieldrunners and other great iPhone games for the holidays
Time Magazine has named Fieldrunners one of the top ten games of the year -- and the only game on the list for the iPhone. Very impressive. The App Store has only officially been out for half a year, and games have been in development for only a little longer than that, but already, we're getting some great games on the iPhone's touchscreen.And speaking of great games, I've only recently come across Warfare Incorporated, but I know some of our commenters have been waiting for it. I'm no good at RTS games, but the game was award-winning on other handtop platforms, and is apparently doing very well on the iPhone also. If you're looking for real-time strategy on the small screen, there you go.And finally, Tatomic, which is a game I've really enjoyed (kind of a cross between Lumines and Dr. Mario), sent us a note to say that their full version is on sale for the holidays, for only $2.99. There is still a free version, but even at the normal price of $4.99 Tatomic is a bargain if you at all like falling block games. At just three bucks, it's a steal. Terrific to see the iPhone holding its own with quality games this holiday.
Presenting the 2008 Spike Video Game Award nominees
With the end of the year hurtling towards us at an alarming speed, the time has come for prestigious critics and classy establishments to choose and reward the greatest video games of 2008. And because it's the fashionable thing to do, the Spike Video Game Awards will also let you folks know which games -- some "fueled by dew" -- were worthy enough to receive pointy gongs. Peer past the break for the full list, which includes categories such as Best Studio, Best Independent Game and Best Shooter. There's even one that somehow manages to toss Dame Judi Dench in with Liv Tyler, Eliza Dushku and Jenny McCarthy. Never going to happen again, ladies.
Call of Duty 4, Motorstorm walk away with AIAS awards
Critics really love Call of Duty 4. PS3 Fanboy's choice for GOTY took home the gold as the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences awarded Infinity Ward's shooter its most coveted award. PS3 fans that don't believe in multiplatform titles may be disappointed to hear that PS3 exclusives did not fare so well with the industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards. Motorstorm is the only game to take home an award, for Best Racing Game.See a list of PS3-relevant winners, after the cut.[Via Joystiq]
Microsoft announces Xbox Live Arcade Awards
Considering the glut of game of the year distinctions – best game fueled by Dew, for example – Microsoft figured one more wouldn't hurt and so, without further ado, we introduce the Xbox Live Arcade Awards! There's no fancy panels or sponsored awards here, it's all powered by the sweat of the people. Want to affect change in the well-appointed corner offices of corporate America? Let them know what XBLA games stood out in 2007!Though they say voting doesn't begin until 5am Joystiq Time tomorrow morning, we didn't have any trouble making our voices heard in categories like "Best Competitive Multiplayer Game" (Carcassone!) and "Best Original Game" (Pac-Man CE!) right now. You've only got until next Wednesday when they'll cut off access to the polls, tally our feedback and announce a winner at the Game Developers Conference next month. How does that sound, tovarish?
E3's Game Critics Awards do the Game of the Year thing
"Another GOTY award?" you say. Sure, but this one is different. Sort of. Tired of being relegated to the confines of E3 every year, the folks behind that event's Game Critics Awards have tasked themselves with determining not just the games of E3, but the best games of the year! Using a weighted process (not unlike the one used for Joystiq's totally definitive Game of the Year awards), the panel of 36 judges picked their top 10 choices and, using the magic of mathematics, whittled those choices into a list of ten games.The list is being trickled out all week, starting with today's numbers ten and nine: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and Assassin's Creed, for being "one of the most memorable games you can play" and being "one of the most unique gaming experiences of this, or any other year" respectively. Of course, we're all wondering just how closely the winners will match up to their E3 showings and, knowing that a win in one doesn't guarantee a place in the other, wondering if we'll look at future GCA winners differently. Let's see where Rock Band and Mass Effect wind up first, okay?
PS3 exclusives not nominated for IAA GOTY awards
The closest thing the games industry has to the film industry's Academy Awards is the IAA: the Interactive Achievement Awards. This year, PS3 has three games fighting for the honor of Overall Game of the Year -- all of them multi-platform titles. They include: PS3 Fanboy's Game of the Year, Call of Duty 4, Rock Band and The Orange Box. These are three great titles that are all available on your favorite platform. Bioshock and Super Mario Galaxy were both nominated as well.Fans of Uncharted need not worry, though. Although the game hasn't been nominated for any GOTY nods from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, it did get nominations in very deserving categories. The game got nods for Best Adventure, Original Music Composition, Story Development, Character Performance, Visual Engineering and Animation. Not a bad list of nominations, no? Best of luck to all the PS3 games on the list.[Via Gamespot]
Jeanne d'Arc and Ratchet fight for IAA awards
The closest thing the games industry has to the film industry's Academy Awards is the IAA: the Interactive Achievement Awards. This year, PSP has two games fighting for the honor of Handheld Game of the Year. They include: Jeanne d'Arc, Level-5's brilliant (and accessible) SRPG, and Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters. They will have to compete against Drawn to Life, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Good luck to our PSP nominees. [Via Gamespot]
Mass Effect (not BioShock) earns NY Times' GOTY
In video game award news that doesn't involve BioShock taking home every trophy, the NY Times revealed that BioWare's RPG-o-fun Mass Effect earned its Game of the Year vote. Let us repeat that. Mass Effect received GOTY honors from the NY Times and not BioShock. Sounds good, doesn't it? We only tease BioShock, because it has been winning big lately and we wouldn't want to force Mr. Levine to learn carpentry for the sole reason of needing to build a bigger trophy case. Congrats Mass Effect and everyone else (Halo 3 and yes, BioShock) who received shiny awards from the NY Times.[Via Joystiq]
Joystiq's significant others name Guitar Hero III game of the year
Our exhaustively debated, occasionally pretentious list of the year's top games will be on the way soon, but we wanted to try something a little different to whet your appetite. We polled our wives, girlfriends and boyfriends (all of whom fall somewhere between casual and medium on the hardcore gaming spectrum) and asked them to choose their favorite games of the year.We opted to be more casual with this list, allowing games that may not have been released in 2007 as long as the significant other in question spent most of their time with them this year. So, it's without further ado that we present the top five: 1. Guitar Hero III 2. Peggle 3. Rock Band 4. Super Mario Galaxy 5. BioShock Way to go, everyone! What was interesting as we collected this list was the wide variety of games that were represented, many of which wouldn't even get a mention in most GOTY debates. Now, is that because they haven't played as many games or the more frightening option: Because they've lived a 2007 unpolluted by hype and are unafraid of picking the games that really brought them the most joy? Honestly, we're still not sure.Check out all the also-rans after the jump.
BioShock kindly receives AP's game of the year award
The Associated Press put out a pretty good year-end list about games and named BioShock its game of the year. Sure, the AP almost invalidates the entire year-end round-up by mistakenly listing BioShock as available for PlayStation 3; however, because the wire service didn't simply phone in Halo 3 as their game of the year, we'll generously overlook their faux pas. Speaking of Halo 3, the AP actually says it was the "most overrated game" of the year ... not saying we agree, just sayin' is all.The AP gave more accolades to the likes of The Orange Box for "best deal" and Rock Band for "best game that involves getting off the sofa" while trashing Lair as the "best idea for a game gone horribly wrong." One sentiment that we think everyone can agree with: the federal law requiring all good games to be released within weeks of each other has to be overturned.[Via X3F]
Halo 3 crowned TIME's game of the year
TIME Magazine has revealed their top ten games of 2007 and wouldn't you know it, Halo 3 is their number one pick. Good choice. TIME says that Halo 3 is their game of the year because "every level is perfectly paced and balanced and graced with soaring architectural compositions" and that "it's graphically gorgeous". Well said. Other top ten finishers include The Orange Box at #2, Rock Band at #3, BioShock at #5, CoD4 at #6, Mass Effect at #8 and Ace Combat 6 lands in at #9. Anyone seeing a trend here? Xbox 360 games are teh awesome and are 100% TIME approved.
BioShock drowns competition at 2007 VGAs
We know you're on pins and needles, so we'll just come right out and tell you that Spike TV's latest Video Game Awards has lifted up BioShock as the year's best game, with Andrew Ryan's underwater extravaganza besting other notables such as Mass Effect, The Orange Box, and Halo 3. With Samuel L. Jackson once again at the helm, the awards show went down last night at Las Vegas' posh Mandalay Bay, and we imagine is now being carefully outfitted with extreme graphics and Mountain Dew ads for its television broadcast on Dec. 9 at 9PM. Besides its game of the year nod, BioShock also walked away with awards for being the best Xbox 360 game and having the best original score, making it also responsible for the event's most return trips to the stage. Now, for the complete list, would you kindly make with the clicking?
Nominees for Spike TV's 'Video Game Awards 2007' revealed
Time to get those office pools started up, boy and girls! What? No, the Oscars aren't till February 2008, morons. We're talking about the 2007 Spike TV Video Game Awards. Or, to those that know it best, the VGAs. The nominees were announced today and its time to ... wait, wait -- don't run away just yet. This year, the advisory board is made up of plenty of people whose opinions you read in magazines, on larger websites, and even some blogs. Even our esteemed EIC, Chris Grant, makes up this veritable group of "Super Friends" (he's their Wonder Woman). Unlike in previous years, Madden is not nominated for "Game of the Year," so already you know it's more credible. BioShock, Mass Effect, Super Mario Galaxy, and Halo 3 appear on the list, making up the usual suspects that'll be appearing on many an outlet's GOTY ballots, but some more unexpected titles might be crashing the party -- Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3, Puzzle Quest: Challenge the Warlords, and Portal. One question though: why remove the Best Song category the one year there's a video game song worth celebrating? For a full list of the nominees, would you kindly peer past the break?
LotRO and Burning Crusade victorious at Golden Joysticks
The 25th annual Golden Joysticks (not to be confused with Joystiq) awards in London are officially over, and the MMOs were out in force. While Gears of War snagged the "Ultimate Game of the Year 2007" award, The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar took "PC Game of the Year", and World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade was the victor in the "Gametribe Online Game of the Year" category.The full results can be viewed on the Golden Joystick website. While the majority of the winners were serious "no duh" picks, it's a little surprising to see LotRO honored as the overall PC game of the year. Not that we don't think it's not a terrific game, mind you, but an MMO (that doesn't have the word Warcraft in the title, anyway) taking the award over the glut of historically more popular shooters and strategy games is a bit shocking, though not unwelcome!
Gears of War wins Golden Joystick GotY ... 2007?
When we saw Gears of Wars hoisted up at the 25th annual Golden Joystick Awards, we scratched our heads and checked the calendar. Yep, it is 2007. So why is Gears still winning 'Game of the Year' awards?As it turns out, the people's choice ceremony was honoring games form last year, and a few, like God of War II, which sorta seem like games from last year. The rather untimely celebration featured nominees like Guitar Hero II and Call of Duty 3 just as their respective sequels prepare to enter the market. Halo 3 Beta was considered among the 'Innovations' of the year, but the actual game, well, that will have to wait until ... next year. Full list of award winners follows.
Barnyard Blast porks your DS January, 2008
Not wanting to steal Phantom Hourglass' title as the 2007 Game of the Year, DSI Games politely pushed the release of its Barnyard Blast to early 2008, January 15th to be specific. Yes, that's unfortunate for 2008's GOTY contenders, but there's a kitty with a thirst for its mother's milk whom you can refer your complaints to.Being avid readers of our site, you'll remember that Barnyard Blast is a 2D action platformer styled after the original Castlevania games on the NES. You play as Robert Belmart, a cowboy pig and monster slayer, blasting your way through a variety of parodied horror levels, such as "the old creepy wooden jail" and "the castle of intolerable pain."Developer Sanuk Software revealed more about the game in a recent interview with us just a couple of months ago. If you haven't read it yet, now's your chance to roll around in the mud with it!
