2010 AG Awards: Biggest Disappointment

Feature from Nat - Thursday, 16 December 2010 @ 11:29am

The 2010 AG Awards #4: Biggest Disappointment

This is the award where we highlight the biggest disappointment that gaming has brought us in 2010. Whether it be the closure of local studios or the total snoozefests certain games turned out to be, this award quantifies the crap parts of gaming in 2010.

The AG Nominations

I sold my PS3 last year, and bought a new one again this year when I heard the release date of GT5. As of writing this, I am still working on the review, but to say I'm disappointed would be a huge understatement. To put it mildly, GT5 does absolutely nothing to further the racing genre, brings nothing new to the table and in many cases is a massive step backwards. With quite possibly the worst interface EVER designed, and the most sterile, dull racing ever experienced in a racing simulator, GT5 completely failed to impress me. The game is beautiful beyond words, but in all other respects is dull, dull, dull. Streamlined user interfaces, customizable car decals, stunning collisions and car wrecks, detailed tuning and customization, wide and varied race modes, enjoyable career modes are all the things everyone else is doing that GT5 completely and utterly fails at.

Gorgeous visuals? Check. Ridiculously long development schedule? Check. Entertaining game? ....crap.

Or, technically, the lack of it. This is the only real gaming expo for Melbourne... well, pretty much Australia... and if used correctly by the gaming sector, it can be a great stage for new products and titles. So eGames 2009 wasn’t as good as previous years, but I believe that’s because it really wasn’t supported well enough by the ‘Big 3’. The stinking hot weather and lack of air con didn’t help either. I am really hoping that we see it make a comeback for 2011.... we can’t have the Mana Bar being the only place where games are showcased, can we?

If we can't ever see this booth again, we all lose. Easily one of the best booth designs of all time.

Matt's Nomination: Just About Everything.

Am I allowed to list the games that were supposed to be released and didn’t make it? Little Big Planet 2, Portal 2? Or should I just go with Heavy Rain, a title that was supposed to be a cinematic masterpiece and just ended up a kind of crap detective story with shitty acting? Or should I choose the Force Unleashed II, a game that should have been great and had moments of brilliance, but a total play length of about 18 minutes? So hard to choose!

What a turgid crapfest this turned out to be - it doesn't get the glory of a real gameplay image.

Nat's Nomination:The Call of Duty Effect

It seems that every major publisher, after getting their asses thoroughly handed to them at the release of Modern Warfare 2 last year were keen to avoid a recreation of fate, delaying major titles left, right and centre until 2011 or later. Count them with me, kiddies – Crysis 2, Portal 2, Max Payne 3, Driver: San Francisco, Gears 3, Little big Planet 2... The list goes on and on. Come on, devs – grow a pair and ship your games!

Hope you've got yours ready.

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