Skyrim wins RPG of the Year : V - Skyrim

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 4:14 pm

I loved the Witcher 2! But the orginal Books are better....And skyrim is better....

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:01 pm

Didn't Dragon Age 2 come out this year? Between that and Witcher 2, there is some competition.

Saying that Dragon Age 2 is competition against Skyrim for RPG of the year just proves what all the complainers have been saying all along.

Dragon Age 2 was a horrid RPG.

If you think it was good, you're either too young to appreciate the RPG pedigree out there, or you're a fool.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 6:25 pm

I always considered Zelda an action/adventure game, not much RPG elements besides the whole fantasy sword and sorcery thing. But I never played anything after Wind Waker so it might be different.

But yeah, Witcher 2, Dark Souls, and Dragon Age 2.

^Terrible RPG, but a good action game

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 4:18 pm

How many people can you play in Skyward Sword then?

--
I was expecting to thing The Witcher 2 was my RPG of the year.. and it almost almost does.. But Skyrim just pips it for the total playing experience. TW2 burns brighter.. but lasts not even half as long...

haha, good point! I totally didn't think about that while thinking about Zelda. To me the Zelda series has always just been a lite introduction to Action RPGs, there aren't really stats, just health and better equipment... as I've said, I didn't get TW2 so the most I could comment on is the lack of choice of main characters, I guess that does technically also apply to Zelda. I've always questioned why they're called Legends of Zelda tho, one of the games, Link's Awakening, she doesn't even appear in the game once.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 7:09 pm

Just to reiterate - That's exactly my point. It actually works. How can you win best of any category with something that consistently breaks, on all platforms? It's freaking mind boggling!!!

Have you ever heard of Call of Duty?

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 2:01 pm

Witcher 2 was nice, but the really flat and anti-climatic ending was the killer. The journey however was nice.

They could even have done what New Vegas did and just create epilogues containing text with a screenshot as the background, explaining how your decisions impacted the game. Surely that would cost minimal development time. I want to know how my decisions changed the game. But nope. Not even scraps like that were given.

Not to mention the controversial nature of Witcher 2.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 8:44 am

People who have crashes and glitches need to keep in mind that many people are playing without having their problems. That probably includes most journalists, too. Just because YOUR game is having problems doesn't mean the majority of players have problems.

Also, there is no way you can compare a huge, complex open world game like Skyrim to something like Assassin's Creed or Batman or other much simpler games. Look at Gears of War... sure, maybe it plays well, but that type of game is so much simpler than Skyrim that any QA tester/debugger would certainly prefer to verify GoW, unless they just prefer a huge challenge to their debugging skills, of course.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 7:12 am

Have you ever heard of Call of Duty?

Yeah, read my previous post like three comments up. That one's been pissing me off for years.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:32 pm

Yeah, read my previous post like three comments up. That one's been pissing me off for years.

Y'know, I think we can draw parallels between the two. I mean, just watch this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYHMYxR6W8A

:confused:

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:53 am

And the real question I have is - Did any of the competition have close to the number of issues and glitches as Skyrim? Nope. Not even close... I love Skyrim, but when I have three broken quests (one of which totally preventing me from completing companions quest), numerous other crazy glitches, and a game that now freezes after five minutes of play, and I know I'm not alone on this... So how the hell did it win? Dark Souls' only real issues were during online play (fixed as far as I know), and Zelda has virtually no issues. Unfortunately DA2 was too arcade style, and suffered from massive environment recycling so that's out, and I haven't played Witcher 2, but still... RPG of the year, GOTY, and dev of the year makes no sense when you look at these facts. Any 10/10 award is total BS. Any journalist that didn't knock a point off Skyrim for the insanely rampant glitches is full of [censored], and was just too afraid to tell the truth on this one. It's like the people who would never acknowledge COD has been a glitch filled $60 map pack ever since World at War (although some people seem to finally be acknowledging this), and that FFXIII is the biggest hand holding boring linear piece of trite to ever come out of Squaresoft.

Where's the journalistic integrity? Had I bought this game based on reading a 10/10 review I'd have been pissed, but I bought it of my own accord, despite being aware of Oblivion, FO3, and FO:NV's status. I wasn't surprised at all by the issues, but just because I expect them doesn't mean they should be dismissed. Meanwhile games like Batman: AC and Uncharted 3 are virtually glitch free because they've been polished to a blinding shine, but are being overlooked in favor of something that can barely run for more than two hours without a serious problem. Am I really the only one that sees the total lack of balance in these "professional judgements"? Again, I love Skyrim, but this seems outrageous to me. I always have misplaced high hopes that Bethesda will clean up its act and release a well polished game one day, but as long as they receive praise like this they'll probably never solve that issue - and it's a shame.

All of those games are very much of a different breed than Skyrim. The scope of the games are very different. This isn't to say bugs aren't a problem, but you see them in a very different light than some other people. Your view of a GOTY seems to be a negative one, "one that has no problems/ one that I wouldn't change anything in". Others may judge in a positive light, "what game has the most stuff I like in it/What game has drawn me in the most" *note that I am not saying you are a negative person, but comparing negative/positive statements. For those who find bugs totally game breaking and enjoyment ruining, you will never find a Bethesda game worthy of any awards. For those who take the opposite mind-frame, they see all of the awards as justified. I fall into the latter category for the most part. There are few bugs that really make me angry, I care much more about the positive aspects of the game that keep me playing. My only tip is not to assume that your mindframe is how the judges should vote. There are many games out there without too many bugs at all (it doesn't make them GOTY worthy). The trick is to try to balance both negative and positive judgments such that you take everything into account. The problems are important, but also the successes.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 10:48 am

People who have crashes and glitches need to keep in mind that many people are playing without having their problems. That probably includes most journalists, too. Just because YOUR game is having problems doesn't mean the majority of players have problems.

Actually, out of the dozen or so people I know playing this game across all platforms, I don't know a single one who has played more than a dozen hours without seeing some glitch, issue, freeze, or lag. In fact, on these forums I'm willing to bet the person who claims they've played the game with no issues is either one of three things - not very far in the game, in total denial, or one of the luckiest bastards on the face of the planet. In fact, most journalistic sites have now posted separate articles acknowledging the glitches, but somehow stand by their ratings - which sounds incredibly contradictory to me. Maybe it's just me, but the logic here just doesn't add up.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:39 pm

Actually, out of the dozen or so people I know playing this game across all platforms, I don't know a single one who has played more than a dozen hours without seeing some glitch, issue, freeze, or lag. In fact, on these forums I'm willing to bet the person who claims they've played the game with no issues is either one of three things - not very far in the game, in total denial, or one of the luckiest bastards on the face of the planet. In fact, most journalistic sites have now posted separate articles acknowledging the glitches, but somehow stand by their ratings - which sounds incredibly contradictory to me. Maybe it's just me, but the logic here just doesn't add up.

I would go with the latter in my case. In +250 hours of playing on 360, installed, unpatched I've had 6 freezes, 2 quest progression issues which were minor issues because I was able to work around them and maybe half a dozen to a dozen weird occurances like a horse freezing (Wasn't riding it, saw it stuck in a rock) or ever so often the sky fazes out or an object like an arrow doesn't go away but a simple reload gets rid of that. It's different for everybody though, the next person could say on 360, PS3 or PC that they had 6 freezes in 12-24 hours. Definite RPG of the year and it's GOTY in my books.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 5:39 pm

All of those games are very much of a different breed than Skyrim. The scope of the games are very different. This isn't to say bugs aren't a problem, but you see them in a very different light than some other people. Your view of a GOTY seems to be a negative one, "one that has no problems/ one that I wouldn't change anything in". Others may judge in a positive light, "what game has the most stuff I like in it/What game has drawn me in the most" *note that I am not saying you are a negative person, but comparing negative/positive statements. For those who find bugs totally game breaking and enjoyment ruining, you will never find a Bethesda game worthy of any awards. For those who take the opposite mind-frame, they see all of the awards as justified. I fall into the latter category for the most part. There are few bugs that really make me angry, I care much more about the positive aspects of the game that keep me playing. My only tip is not to assume that your mindframe is how the judges should vote. There are many games out there without too many bugs at all (it doesn't make them GOTY worthy). The trick is to try to balance both negative and positive judgments such that you take everything into account. The problems are important, but also the successes.

Right, I get that. Being just glitch free is not enough. However, several of the games I've named are excellent of their own accord, AND are nearly glitch free. I never said a game just needs to be glitch free to earn awards and praise, I'm just saying that overlooking other extremely well done games and the fact that Skyrim is full of glitches is a bunch of hypocritical hogwash. Zelda, for example, is an excellent game that went all out in just about every aspect to bring the franchise to new heights, and as far as I know suffers from no game breaking glitches. Yet Skyrim is better? I can see the opinionated person saying yes, but a reviewer, judge, or journalist should take an objective view (unbiased) rather than the subjective, biased view.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 8:43 am

Just to reiterate - That's exactly my point. It actually works. How can you win best of any category with something that consistently breaks, on all platforms? It's freaking mind boggling!!!

because it's about minority-majority. You may be able to play 1 game completely fine but the next 20 people could have bugs/glitches out the ying-yang. I play skyrim on PS3 and have hardly even come close to the amount of bugs people have listed in the 200-250 hours i've played.

It's like when black ops came out, it was almost unplayable for the majority of PS3 users that Activision was considering disabiling the online for PS3. There is an article to prove that btw.

OT Majority will always win against minority.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 6:43 am

Just to reiterate - That's exactly my point. It actually works. How can you win best of any category with something that consistently breaks, on all platforms? It's freaking mind boggling!!!

Spike VGAs is just a popularity contest is all. I am guessing the Slammy awards are less rigged lol

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 8:38 am

I haven't played DA2 or Skyward Sword, or Dark Souls. I've played The Witcher 2 though. Basically opposite from everyone here. I have to say though, Skyrim is far better than The Witcher 2 imo.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:37 pm

because it's about minority-majority. You may be able to play 1 game completely fine but the next 20 people could have bugs/glitches out the ying-yang. I play skyrim on PS3 and have hardly even come close to the amount of bugs people have listed in the 200-250 hours i've played.

It's like when black ops came out, it was almost unplayable for the majority of PS3 users that Activision was considering disabiling the online for PS3. There is an article to prove that btw.

OT Majority will always win against minority.

They were never going to disable that. Its all rumors.
No company would screw over an entire fanbase by taking out the main attraction of their game. (Except Bethesda might)

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:22 am

because it's about minority-majority. You may be able to play 1 game completely fine but the next 20 people could have bugs/glitches out the ying-yang. I play skyrim on PS3 and have hardly even come close to the amount of bugs people have listed in the 200-250 hours i've played.

It's like when black ops came out, it was almost unplayable for the majority of PS3 users that Activision was considering disabiling the online for PS3. There is an article to prove that btw.

OT Majority will always win against minority.

So you're arguing that those seeing issues with Skyrim are in the minority?? As far as I can tell that's a total fallacy - as I said previously, I know lots of people playing this, on all three different platforms, and not a single on of them has gone without some sort of problem, most of which have seen a major, game breaking issue. I suppose that's something up for debate, but I just flat out don't believe that the people seeing issues are in the minority.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 6:09 pm

Incredulity is unbecoming.

Congratulations Bethesda. Skyrim is great. Although I will withhold judgement on the "best rpg" of 2011 until I grab the Witcher 2.

Witcher 2 is an amazing game but it's very different than the type of RPG Skyrim is. Witcher 2 is heavily scripted... it's more of a story game... like a Final Fantasy type game where there are heavily forced events and you're kind of dragged along the main plot line... some love this, I myself prefer open world RPGs because open world RPGs are what have always set PC RPGs apart from consoles RPGs. However it's debatable who deserves it more because while Witcher 2 isn't exactly my cup of tea, it's very well produced from a technical standpoint. There are very few bugs, but it's a simpler engine... some things to consider. Anyway, definitely give it a shot because it's probably one of the most intelligent stories in modern medieval-fantasy writing.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 6:55 am

I think that the Witcher 2 is by far the best RPG to come out this year. Quite frankly (despite the games being close overall) TW2 destroys Skyrim in RPG terms.

Focused, branching, non-linear story. Interesting, varied and dynamic characters, and stunning visuals (the benefit of being developed for the PC first).

However, the massive freedom is the one thing that Skyrim offers that TW2 does not.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:23 pm

Hardly a surprise. Winning GotY is a tradition at Bethesda studios. Skyrim well deserves it.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 5:44 pm

DA2 was a mess. While people may rate Skyrim low on metacritic because of the bugs, they rate DA2 low because it fell so short of expectations relative to DAO (which is as good as Skyrim in my book).

Dark Souls is a PS3 only port that is a great action RPG but not much of RP in the RPG. Far too little for my tastes. But the gameplay is great, just not my style of RPG where you have no role playing.

Witcher 2 I didn't play yet, but I from what I've heard Skyrim is better just buggier.

What is a real issue is whether or not mutlitudes of bugs count against a game's chances? If Skyrim was as polished as say, a Blizzard game, it would deserve every award. But it's very hard for me (as a PS3 player although I now have a PC that can play it easily) is that the bugs cannot be separated from the game experience. And backwards dragons, broken resists, crippling lag/framerate drop, and countless graphic glitches and quest bugs are still in the game. DA2 had only a few bugs on release, despite having a terrible story (outside Act2) I don't know how to reconcile it.

But given the first 20 hours was fun as hell, I guess it's warranted.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:13 am

Donkey Kong Surfing?

Wtf why didn't that win...

It was a close second. Hell of an awsome game. And the rpg mechanics were just fantastic, got my Diddy Kong Kowabunga skill to level 72 in the first playthrough.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:27 pm

Skyward Sword and Skyrim are the only real contenders this year for best RPG, some might say witcher 2 and I've never played it but games that limit you to begin a single person aren't really deserving of being called an RPG, you hear me Dragon Age 2?

Then again I haven't played Dragon Age 2 either since I called that it would be a bad game...

I'm sorry but if you haven't played it you're in no position to say it's bad. Or good for that matter.

When you get right down to it the main restriction in DA2 is you're forced to play as a human. You can customize it's look. You can advance in many different ways so after awhile they're all different. Even in Skyrim if you play as say, a male Argonian, you're using the same model as every other male Argonian except for customizations. In the end the only limitation DA2 had which other games don't is you have to play as a human.

DA2 was certainly more polished although it did have a few bugs. However, as with all Bioware games it was heavily scripted and pretty much linear except for a few optional side quests. Also it was short. I could play DA2 through 3 times for the time I've spent on my one Skyrim character.

In the end DA2 was a nice game and I enjoyed it but Skyrim completely blows it out of the water. Skyrim has FAR more content, is nonlinear, and lets you do FAR more things then DA2 (or any Bioware game) would ever dream of. I love Bioware for their landmark games, but their DA2 just doesn't come within shouting distance of Skyrim..

However, I recommend DA2 to those who are so bent out of shape over bugs in Skyrim they can't see the game. DA2 isn't nearly the momumental work that Skyrim is but hey, DA2 doesn't have many bugs and it sounds like that's all some people care about.

» Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:22 am

Am I the only one to remember Deus Ex: Human Revolution came out this year?

Sadly, yes. From the people who have played Deus Ex, all I hear is good things aside from the boss battles. Spike TV had their awards too early, when the population was still in the honeymoon phase with Skyrim. Once people as a whole get past that and start looking at the faults of Skyrim, I think people will begin to understand that Skyrim doesn't just completely blow away the competition, although it is undoubtedly still a good title.

Skyrim is a fun game, but I'm not so sure it is a game I'm going to want to go back and play in 5 or 10 years. That's just my opinion though.