Place your bets for door twenty-four

[CMaster]

So, what do you think is most likely to be behind door 24 (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/12/01/the-games-of-christmas-11-day-twenty-four/) for RPS this year.

Down to the general reaction and the sheer volume of coverage afforded on the site, I'd have to say that the joint favourites are Human Revolution and Skyrim. Portal 2 is a contendor naturally, but I can't really see it beating out those two. Equally, even though it's a better game than 12 months ago, I can't see Minecraft getting in there for a second year either.

Anyone else's feeling on what the Hivemind are likley to prefer?

[thegooseking]

I'd go with Human Revolution, on the basis that it's good and also significant to PC gaming culture. Skyrim is arguably better, but also arguably less significant.

And Duke Nukem Forever is significant, but... well...

[Kadayi]

I'm expecting Saints Row 3 to poll quite high. It seems to be a reviewer favourite. However I'd say the safe money is probably on DX:HR. Skyrim is all consuming, but it doesn't hit the high notes enough to be No 24 imo, and although Portal 2 was a joy, the lack of flexibility in the puzzle solving Vs the original probably drags it down.

[Jams O'Donnell]

Question: Will Minecraft be featured this year?

[ntw]

I think they'll go with Skyrim.

The games I've had most fun this year with have been Just Cause 2 (can't beat walking away from explosions) and X3 : Terran Conflict. I think X3:TC just about shades it due to the sheer depth and variety of things to do.

Yes - I know they are not this year's games, but they are games that I first got this year. If Horace is kind to me this year then Skyrim may be a contender for my GOTY 2012...

[Auspex]

The Witcher 2 is my 'dark horse' pick.

[Tikey]

I can't even remember which games were released this year.

[Kadayi]

Question: Will Minecraft be featured this year?

Albeit I've a few friends who are into it, personally it leaves me cold. It just seems like digital Lego, with added grind involved.

In short: Unlikely.

[GraveyardJimmy]

Albeit I've a few friends who are into it, personally it leaves me cold. It just seems like digital Lego, with added grind involved.

In short: Unlikely.

Just because you ont like it doesn't mean it wont be featured as an RPS pick. I think it will be fairly high up, being PC only and showing the success an indie game (and not on steam at that) can get on the platform. Not usre it'll be top ten, but I think it will feature. It was fully released this year too.

[pakoito]

The rym from the sky, hands-down.

[Auspex]

Wasn't Minecraft featured last year? My internet is too slow to check but if so I think it's pretty safe to assume it won't feature again.

[pakoito]

Wasn't Minecraft featured last year? My internet is too slow to check but if so I think it's pretty safe to assume it won't feature again.It was 10char.

[Alex Bakke]

Albeit I've a few friends who are into it, personally it leaves me cold. It just seems like digital Lego, with added grind involved.

In short: Unlikely.

Assuming it wasn't featured last year, that's a very tenuous statement to make - It's undeniably an extremely significant indie game, and has the love of millions.

[Kadayi]

Assuming it wasn't featured last year, that's a very tenuous statement to make - It's undeniably an extremely significant indie game, and has the love of millions.

Yes, but as Pakoito rightly points out it was featured last year when it was in fact Day 24: -

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/12/24/the-games-of-christmas-%E2%80%9910-day-24/

So yeah, I'm inclined to go with 'Unlikely'.

(research, it's a wonderful thing).

[pakoito]

Plus, Terraria is better after comparing MC 1.0 and Terraria 1.1 anyway.

[Alex Bakke]

Yes, but as Pakoito rightly points out it was featured last year when it was in fact Day 24: -

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/12/24/the-games-of-christmas-%E2%80%9910-day-24/

So yeah, I'm inclined to go with 'Unlikely'.

(research, it's a wonderful thing).

That's fine - But in your original post, you made no mention to it having been featured on last year's list. You made a statement expressing your dislike for the game, and then (seemingly) made a judgement based on that.

[Kadayi]

That's fine - But in your original post, you made no mention to it having been featured on last year's list. You made a statement expressing your dislike for the game, and then (seemingly) made a judgement based on that.

I don't dislike it, I'm just indifferent to it. As a phenomena just like TV shows such as the X Factor or Strictly Come Dancing (beloved by millions BTW) I'm unable to muster any enthusiasm for it. Forgive me though, I didn't realise expressing a personal opinion on an 'indie' game that isn't one of unadulterated gushing praise was somehow verboten. My bad.

[GraveyardJimmy]

I don't dislike it, I'm just indifferent to it. -snip- Forgive me though, I didn't realise expressing a personal opinion on an 'indie' game that isn't one of unadulterated gushing praise was somehow verboten. My bad.

Way to miss the point. He wasnt criticising you not liking the game. He's criticising you saying " it leaves me cold" as a reason for it not being on this years advent calander.

[laneford]

Outside bet alert

SpaceChem.

[westyfield]

Outside bet alert

SpaceChem.

If Quinns were still here I'd agree with you. I'd love it if SpaceChem won, but I expect it'll be something like The Witcher 2 or Deus Ex 3.

[Kadayi]

Way to miss the point. He wasnt criticising you not liking the game. He's criticising you saying " it leaves me cold" as a reason for it not being on this years advent calander.

Mr Bakke is always niggling at me in posts when he believes an opportunity presents itself, thus why "leaves me cold" apparently translates into 'dislikes', a position that must be challenged (none shall ever question the awesomeness of any indie game ever). The guy needs to realise he isn't the forum police. If he were truly concerned about the thread he'd of been taking issue with ntws earlier post. It's not business, it's personal. I get that.

[DigitalSignalX]

On my list it would be Skyrim, but I think the RPS guys will go DX:HR because practically every single article for 5 years has mentioned Deus Ex directly or indirectly in the comments. Seriously, like 90% of every single post. I now this because I never completed Deus Ex and it twinges a little nub in the back of my brain every. single. time. someone mentions or compares anything else to Deus Ex.

[Alex Bakke]

Forgive me though, I didn't realise expressing a personal opinion on an 'indie' game that isn't one of unadulterated gushing praise was somehow verboten. My bad.



Mr Bakke is always niggling at me in posts when he believes an opportunity presents itself, thus why "leaves me cold" apparently translates into 'dislikes', a position that must be challenged (none shall ever question the awesomeness of any indie game ever). The guy needs to realise he isn't the forum police. If he were truly concerned about the thread he'd of been taking issue with ntws earlier post. It's not business, it's personal. I get that.

Hey, let's calm down. I harbour no ill will towards you, and do not seek out things to criticise you on - I originally posted in this topic not because of the opinion (We all have opinions of course, which is key to great discussion), but because I disagreed on the point that it would be unlikely to reach the 24th this year (Assuming of course that it wasn't on the list last year.), due to the widescale success it's had in the gaming industry - I was slightly baffled that you would suggest it wouldn't appear on the list.

Maybe this would have better represented my views:

"I disagree, Kadayi. Over the past few years, RPS' writers have written extensively about Minecraft. They've had numerous features, news on patches, interviews, diaries and even posts on what you can do in Minecraft with the help of a Kinect. Furthermore, Minecraft has been financially successful, with over 3 million purchases. For this reason, I believe it will appear on the Christmas Calendar this year."

I apologise if the original post may have seemed a little misleading. I certainly don't trawl the forums looking for anything that annoys me, from anyone. IIRC this is the first post of yours that I've actually replied to since the end of the old forums.


EDIT: Regarding NTW's post, nothing immediately appeared 'wrong' about it. He stated that he thinks the writers will go for Skyrim. Sure, no explanation, but I agreed with him so I glossed over.

Anyway, back to business.

__

For a while, I thought it would have been Batman: Arkham City that would have appeared on the 24th. But looking back, there's been quite a bit of criticism towards the writing (Bleed like a dead cat!) and the alleged sexism (Use of bitch etc.) in game.

And considering the amount of posts that have been directed towards Skyrim, I'd agree with other posters in the thread that Skyrim is probably going to be the #1 game this year.

Unless Jim *really* hates the interface that much. :P

___

[Kadayi]

For a while, I thought it would have been Batman: Arkham City that would have appeared on the 24th. But looking back, there's been quite a bit of criticism towards the writing (Bleed like a dead cat!) and the alleged sexism (Use of bitch etc.) in game.

Albeit I've not played BM:AC yet, my understanding is that part of the reason why it's 'bitch this, bitch that' is because it's a PG game and that's (for better or worse) one of the few vaguely 'naughty' words you can get away with Vs your more traditional mature gaming dialogue. I'm sure developers Rocksteady would of loved to have put a few strong expletives in there, but that would never wash with DCs family friendly licencing terms for a start (personally I'd be down with Batman laying down some adult smack talk tbh).


As regards Skyrim. Albeit I've sunk almost 100 hours into Skyrim now, and am really enjoying it as a gaming experience I just don't think it's doing enough beyond it's sheer enormity (building on the good work of Fallout 3) to take the top prize, Vs something like Saints Row 3 (which is pretty much redefining its space) or DX:HR which is bringing the new to a long lost game style. I think top prize has always got to go to something that is pushing outward. Case in point last year it went to Minecraft. Not my cup of tea, but I can understand why some people found it enchanting.

[Rossignol]

Give it a rest guys. Alex, Kad, I will ban you both for two weeks if you continue squabbling.

[Kadayi]

Give it a rest guys. Alex, Kad, I will ban you both for two weeks if you continue squabbling.

Sure Jim. BTW there might be something up with your comments database. I posted something in the CS:GO beta article, and although I could see it 'in the Respond to our gibber' side panel, it's not showing in the actual comments (despite refreshes).

[Jockie]

My outside bet is probably Binding of Isaac, otherwise I'd guess at either The Witcher 2 or Skyrim, I'd guess that the Witcher 2 might just edge it on account of being PC exclusive (until next year at least).

[Vexing Vision]

Given the amount of love-, hate- and poetry-articles Skyrim received, it's a pretty safe bet.

But as safe bets are horribly boring, I'm placing my bet on Trine 2. Because if ever there was an argument that games are not art, or art-games have no real value of play, Trine 2 is the one to prove that yes, real games can be real art.

[Grizzly]

Crysis 2!

(Always support the underdog :P)

[Flint]

I'd say DXHR and Skyrim are fairly safe bets for the final two, with DXHR rising as the victor because of all the UI/technical insanity in Skyrim pegging it down a notch.

[Juan Carlo]

They seemed to really like Deus Ex and Skyrim. Somehow Skyrim seems too obvious at this point, so I suspect they will go for Deus Ex.

Should be Witcher 2, I say.

[SirGeek]

I'm hoping for Terraria, if only because I've personally had tons of fun with it.

[Kadayi]

Should be Witcher 2, I say.

Unfortunately not

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/12/04/the-games-of-christmas-11-day-four/

Day four seems a little cruel (I'd of though it would be top 10 at least), however I think Jim makes some valid criticisms. Hopefully CDProjekt are listening.

[CMaster]

I thought the Witcher 2 was a good outside bet. I'd like to see some proper left-field but maybe could happen suggestions - I guess SpaceChem is on the mark then.

As for "day four being a little cruel" - one of the hivemind would have to confirm, but I don't beleieve that the games of christmas are supposed to be a sorted list, other than number 24 being the RPS GotY

[Kadayi]

Past form seems to dictate a certain order to things.

[Auspex]

The Witcher 2 is my 'dark horse' pick.

And this is why I no longer gamble.

[Auspex]

Past form seems to dictate a certain order to things.

I thought this was the case too but Horace is quite clear on this
"They can be indie, mainstream, anything, just so long as they're PC and grabbed our attention in 2011. Then we put them into the calendar in no particular order."
"Except for door 24, behind which is our unanimously voted game of the year. Can you guess what it will be? CAN YOU? Incorrect guesses anger Horace, so be careful"

[Sorry for double post]

[TailSwallower]

The no particular order thing is interesting. I assumed it was best to bestestestest, but I guess that would have been extremely difficult to gauge (especially with RPS not using numbers to help delineate this sort of thing).

As for Number 24, I'm leading towards it being Deus Ex or Skyrim. I think Portal 2 will be up near the top, just to keep us guessing, but I don't think it will take the top spot.

[Vague-rant]

Trine 2 will be out in time, right? (Obviously I don't think so, but I would've liked to play it in time for Christmas).

Deus ex seems like a good bet, but for some reason I didn't really get into it that much. There was just something missing... Also, I haven't played Skyrim so I don't really want to bet on it.

I'll go with... Magicka. Once it had the bugs ironed out, that game was just brilliant. Its gotten quite a lot of DLC keeping it fresh and it seems like something all members of the Hivemind can enjoy.

[DigitalSignalX]

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/12/04/the-games-of-christmas-11-day-four/

Day four seems a little cruel (I'd of though it would be top 10 at least), however I think Jim makes some valid criticisms. Hopefully CDProjekt are listening.

I was really surprised to see it so low on the list as well. Perhaps It's matter of day 24 being the only number 1, and all the rest are at the same degree of awesome? Otherwise yea, kind of cruel.

[Tikey]

Digital, that's the case. Door 24 is RPS' game of the year. The rest go in no particular order.

[President Weasel]

Given that the remit appears to include every game released in the year playable on PC, including indies and free games, I don't think showing up at number 4 is at all bad. In fact, I think being one of RPS's games of the year is something they can be genuinely proud of.

Incidentally, was that game where you'd accidentally killed the world and had only a few days to live released within this year? Because that would make my list despite being a few minutes long and free.