Month: March 2019

Game Developers Choice Awards 2019: Winners

The GDC winners for this year were announced about a week back, and so it’s back to me to check in with my predictions and see how I fared. Let’s just press start and go into it then:

Best Audio:

My pick: Red Dead Redemption 2

GDC: Celeste

Wrong on all fronts to begin with it seems. I had RDR2 or God of War taking this one, although in my brief defense as mentioned in my predictions, I was fairly unfamiliar with a few games on the list, Celeste being one of them. So I can’t say whether it was truly deserved or not, but I will congratulate it, while still saying one last time RDR2’s soundscape is sublime.

Best Debut:

My pick: Florence

GDC: Florence

A sort of default win for me, since I didn’t actually play any of the titles on the debut list this year, but had heard significant buzz/praise for Florence at the time of the nominees announcement, and so gave it the best odds to win purely based on that. Hopefully this coming year I’ll be able to check out more new/fresh releases and have more insight when 2020’s GDC rolls around.

Best Design

My pick: Into the Breach*

GDC: Into the Breach

Another backdoor-ish victory. Though I had assessed it might be a struggle between the three big AAA heavyweights; Spider-Man, God of War and RDR2, I did also state that Intro the Breach has a chance based on the high praise it received regarding design in the turn-based strategy sector, so I’ll count one for me, and give it the credit it seems it earned.

Innovation Award

My pick: Return of the Obra Dinn

GDC: Nintendo Labo

Not too sure how to feel about this. Obviously I missed the mark, but I’ve always had reservations about Nintendo’s Labo initiative. Not that I’m vehemently against it, it’s just that attaching a bunch of cardboard gewgaws to a controller etc. seemed odd to me as an idea for a “game.” But apparently it was fun/interesting enough to the community to win here. Although my pick Obra Dinn did take down…

Best Narrative

My pick: Spider-Man

GDC: Return of the Obra Dinn

This was a tough one, as I wanted Obra Dinn to be recognized for sure, just perhaps in a slightly different spot. Still, I’m not upset by any means it nabbed the nod here. Spider-Man might have been my personal choice, but Obra Dinn is a worthy pick and I still recommend checking it out. That only leaves us with…

Game of the Year

My pick: God of War

GDC: God of War 

At least my winning streak continues when calling GOTY, and really I don’t see any other choice but to put the masterful new iteration of the journey of Kratos (and his boy) in the top spot of the year. The GDC correctly agreed and of all the titles in this year’s running, this one was the most deserving of the recognition and heaps of praise it garnered. It is truly a milestone in modern games, and if there is any small sliver of positivity in the industry, it’s that more games will take notes from God of War and push themselves to the heights that it did. 

That about wraps-up the GDC 2019 winners. You can check out our own picks and thoughts on best (and not best) games of 2018 here. See you in 2020 for the next round of awards. 

 

Games & Gaming Culture: Top Games of 2018

We’re back with our picks for the best games of 2018, as well as some not-so-top, a few in-between, and a look at some of the intriguing forthcoming titles of 2019.

A few friends mentioned in this episode: Michelle Iannantuono of Octopunk Media, who we interviewed last year, has recently released a trailer for an upcoming game-based project.

And check out Steevo’s noted wine supplier/reviewer of choice: International Wine Report.

Finally, Scott has a breakdown of the GDC game winners over on Dialogue Tree.

Film & TV: Us

Facing our own dopplegangers, we take on Jordan Peele’s latest (and arguably greatest) modern horror film. [Aggregate score: 10]

Philosophy & Narrative: Bahktin and Discourse in the Novel

Our exploration into narrative turns to selections on why novels are not poems.

Reading: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~carlos/607/readings/bakhtin.pdf

Film & TV: Captain Marvel

TLS goes back to back in time to 1995 to discuss the newest Avenger who’s always been there, “Captain Marvel.” [Aggregate score 8.25]

Games & Gaming Culture: Industry Madness Wrap-up

TLS opens this new season of Games Culture with a look back at some of the big, and often bad, noteworthy occurrences from around and within the video gaming industry in the past year.

AFI Top 100 #062: American Graffiti

TLS travels back to 1962 to discuss number 62 on the AFI, George Lucas’ “American Graffiti.” The Wolfman says, have a popsicle! [Aggregate score 6.75]

Film & TV Special: Network (Broadway Production 2019)

We get mad as hell in a not-quite review, but more of an impression/discussion of the recent Broadway production of classic AFI film Network (which we did review previously) featuring Bryan Cranston in the role of Howard Beale.

Literature: The Game of Smash and Recovery by Kelly Link

TLS grapples with the problems of A.I. and identity in this intriguing although often opaque short sci-fi story. [Aggregate score: 7.5]