E184 Scores - inc GotY Awards

[The Mole]

Contra 4 only a 6 It is worth more than that for the extras, guess they didn't complete it to find those extras.

[JP]

I really didn't like Halo 3 but I'm happy to see it get the award for innovation!

The gameplay was decidedly old but it's the things like Forge and being able to save replays etc which have probably earned it. I wouldn't be surprised other games in the genre trying to include similar features over the next couple of years because Halo 3 has innovated them to do that.

A lot of the features have been available in PC games for years in some shape but not with the same ease of use that comes with the Halo 3 versions. Innovation is not about doing something new, it's about doing something better than it's been done before and innovating others to copy.

Was the DS Front Mission a remake? If it was then that may account for the average mark.

[MattyD]

What's their beef with Contra 4, then? It's unashamed fan service at its best, you can't really knock it for being what it is. I think it's the best entry to the series since the 16 bit days.

[Ouenben]

I really didn't like Halo 3 but I'm happy to see it get the award for innovation!

The gameplay was decidedly old but it's the things like Forge and being able to save replays etc which have probably earned it. I wouldn't be surprised other games in the genre trying to include similar features over the next couple of years because Halo 3 has innovated them to do that.

A lot of the features have been available in PC games for years in some shape but not with the same ease of use that comes with the Halo 3 versions. Innovation is not about doing something new, it's about doing something better than it's been done before and innovating others to copy.

Was the DS Front Mission a remake? If it was then that may account for the average mark.

Yep I agree and the online 4 player co-op works really well too.
Personally though for innovative award I think Portal or Crackdown deserved the award.

Dont see what problems people have with the online experience on halo 3 though. Despite a poor connection I've only had lag like once or twice out of the 100+ games I've played.
Half my friends list are usually playing it online in co-op or matchmaking. being able to invite people to a game or lobby is great. Then theres the online videos/screenshots you can share and even download custom maps and gametypes people have produced.
And Bungie have a new map pack out already which is great if you're not keen on the current maps.
Nothing has come close to the online experience for Halo 3 for me. nowhere near.

[sj33]

Best hardware for Rock Band is taking the piss tbh.

Strange, that sounds like one of the more reasonable ones. It's never been done before after all.

[Matt]

I really didn't like Halo 3 but I'm happy to see it get the award for innovation!

The gameplay was decidedly old but it's the things like Forge and being able to save replays etc which have probably earned it. I wouldn't be surprised other games in the genre trying to include similar features over the next couple of years because Halo 3 has innovated them to do that.

A lot of the features have been available in PC games for years in some shape but not with the same ease of use that comes with the Halo 3 versions. Innovation is not about doing something new, it's about doing something better than it's been done before and innovating others to copy.

Getting a bit pedantic but:

1. something new or different introduced: numerous innovations in the high-school curriculum.
2. the act of innovating; introduction of new things or methods.

Direct from dictionary.com. Certainly a nice streamlined way of doing the replays, but as you say, these things have been around for years on the PC. I know you could store and replay movies on Quake 10 years ago. I won't argue it's new to a console, but it's definitely not Innovative.

[EvilBoris]

If it's not innovative then surely it just means that every console developer from the last 15 years is unimaginative for not including something so obvious.

A good portion of the industries declared innovations, whether it is in narrative,game play or design will of been done before, but to actually have the same idea (or copy it) and use it in such a way that it becomes something that should be standard is surely innovative?

Take portal for instance, it took an idea/technology that was pioneered 10 years ago and refined to heights far beyond that of the original.

[Matt]

I'm sure there's something more Innovative that was released this year. Can't think what but I tend to stick with the mainstream games. Would have thought Innovative would be best going to smaller devs who are pushing gameplay boundaries. Echochrome looks very innovative to me.

My main point is I see nothing in H3 that I've not seen before. It's a good package but nothing new to a PC gamer. The fact I don't really rate the game may not make me too objective mind

[EvilBoris]

Even if you defy the idea of the actual saved films as innovations or not, the playable map editor , the community options, the file share , the fact you can clip the saved film down into a single moment and the interface that allows you to do all of this is very innovative. No command lines here

[Matt]

As I said, it's a good package. Well put together. Just not my definition of Innovative. That words implies, to me at least, a new idea; something not seen before. You can argue the package and interface is something not seen before, but not the content.

Besides, end of the day, I coudl happily argue Innovation should go to innovative gameplay.

[EvilBoris]

Can anybody think of any better innovative titles this year though?
Everyone is disagreeing but is yet to offer up an alternative

[Matt]

Afraid I stick to the mainstream, as I say. Would like to hear about some innovative gameplay from the past year. Obscure shareware should get a look-in

[jezzace]

Can anybody think of any better innovative titles this year though?
Everyone is disagreeing but is yet to offer up an alternative

Portal. Came 3rd, but should've come first.

[EvilBoris]

Portal. Came 3rd, but should've come first.

As already mentioned by people opinions here it cannot be called innovative. It's an incredible game built around a single gimmick (for lack of a better word) a gimmick that featured in a game released over a year ago and first shown almost 10 years ago.

I feel that Halo 3 brought features to the game that will become (I hope) standard features in many games to come. I can't see that happening with Portal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z25KY8b5u1g

[elkatas]

Strange, that sounds like one of the more reasonable ones. It's never been done before after all.

Every part of Rock Band hardware has been done before, and with better results. For example, anyone who has played Drummania knows that Rock Band drums are joke if compared to Drummania drums.