[Question] The Gamingforce Game of the Year 2012: Results now in!

The Gamingforce Game of the Year, back by (no) demand, is here once again. 2013 is just around the corner but for a few of us hardy souls at GFF now is the time to look back at the year that was 2012 and the games we played. As ever the real question is what does Gamingforce consider the best of 2012? Also you might win a game by voting - see below for the details.

As with the previous years' voting here's how this is going to work: each person has 100 points to vote for games released in 2012 (doesn't matter where, but games have to have been commercially released in 2012) and you can allocate them to as many games as you like as long as it totals 100 in the end. The only rule is that you can't award any single game more than 40 points. So you could vote two 40s and a 20, or a 40 and six 10s, or any other combination of points as long as it adds up to 100.

To vote all you have to do is post a reply with your top games of 2012, how many points you're giving each, and a brief explanation of why you feel the game deserves your points.

Example:

GAME A - 40 points
Man I loved game A because...

GAME B - 20 points
I ended up playing so much of game B that...

GAME C - 15 points
Game C gets some points because...

GAME D - 15 points
I couldn't decide between this and C, so gave both points, but D rocks because...

GAME E - 5 points
Good, but not necessarily great, but I figure E deserves some points because...

GAME F - 5 points
Like E, F gets a few points because...

REFERRED BY: x ... Who got you to come vote (prize draw related - see below)

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The GFF GotY 2012 Prize Draw

It will surprise no one to learn that the number of participants have been dwindling each year and last year's referral system didn't help matters so here's my new plan to encourage you all to try and get others involved: a prize draw for a free game. The value of the game will be equal to approximately* the number of participants, so if 30 people vote it'll be worth £30, up to a maximum of £40. Also note I used GBP there, so even more dollar dollar for you vote.

As part of the results I'll throw everyone's names into a hat and pull out a winner. I'll then co-ordinate with the appropriate party to arrange how best to acquire and deliver the game.

So there's already one good reason to get others involved, the potential prize value goes up, but wait there's more! If you can get someone else to vote and add a your name alongside the 'REFERRED BY:' text you'll get your name thrown in the pot again (up to a maximum of 4 times - so your name would be in the hat 5 times total). So bigger prize, more chance to win; hopefully this sounds appealing.

* I say approximate value because I'll be a little flexible and if there's something you wanted for just over or something then I'm not going to be an arsehole about it.

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Voting will close on Saturday 12th January at 18:00 GMT (that's Englandland time), at which point I'll add all the points together and work out GFF's top 20 games of 2012, posting the results in a new thread for discussion/people to complain about.

Get voting.

Oh, and get other people to come vote too. This year it earns you some extra voting power.

Disclaimer/Rules:
1. If you allocate any game more than 40 points your vote won't be counted.
2. If your points allocation totals more than 100 points your vote won't be counted (totals less than 100 are fine).
3. Votes for games not released in 2012 will be ignored.
4. Only official commercial releases in 2012 count.
5. No negative points. I'll point and laugh and then ignore your vote.
6. Whole integers only. Fractions and decimal places will also lead me to ignore your vote.
7. Any other such idiocy will also probably lead your vote not being counted.
8. To qualify for Prize Draw entry you must be an established GFF member (no new accounts).
8a. In order to qualify for bonus entry via referrals the referring member must also be an established GFF member.
8b. The organising party is excluded from all entries to the Prize Draw.
9. Prize Draw entries and winner decisions are final.
10. Prize Draw value does not include shipping so will have to be factored in if a free option is not available.

And as ever, I take no responsibility for Skills fucking with stuff, which if you ignore these points he almost certainly will do somehow.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Looking back on the year just passed in gaming was a slightly odd experience this year as there was nothing that leapt out at me as being a real standout title. Normally there's those one or two games you just know will be at the top of your list, but not this year for me. Now it's altogether likely I have a potential amazing experience waiting for me on my shelf what with titles like XCOM, Dishonored, Far Cry 3 and Forza Horizon all sat unplayed; however, of the games I did play in 2012, especially the console titles, I find there was a lot of good games, just nothing truly amazing. There was some interesting gameplay stuff happening is in the indie/downloadable/mobile space though, which is where a number of my choices come from this time around.

As a result you'll see my nominee list is slightly larger than normal and points are spread a little thinner reflecting the nature of the year. Don't get me wrong though these are all great games just nothing that really knocked my socks off.

The Walking Dead - 20 points
It may not have knocked my socks off but The Walking Dead certainly knocked me for six. It can be hard to get excited about yet another zombie game which is why I didn't jump on this initially, but zombies are just a backdrop here it's far more about the people whose company you find yourself it. This game is brutal asking you to make tough choices and carry out tough actions. But it's never silly with it, never did I feel I was being presented two options for the sake of a tough choice, it was sensibly born of character and circumstance. All things considered this is certainly the most interesting, emotional and compelling gaming experience I had in 2012.

Super Hexagon - 15 points
This is an iOS (and now PC) game by Terry Cavanagh, who most people here might know as the creator of VVVVVV (also a great game). The game is incredibly simple with you rotating a triangle at the centre of the screen as various patterns of wall move towards you, the goal being to survive as long as possible. Sounds simple, is not so in reality. The first time you load up the easiest level (named Hard mode) you might survive a few seconds. You retry and survive a fraction more. You keep going until you start to survive into tens of seconds, starting to learn patterns and to cope with the undulating and rotating screen. Then you find half an hour has passed in the blink of an eye as you just have one more go to beat your best or the time of a friend. Then you try one of the harder levels and get your arse kicked all over again. It's a devilish little game but has such purity and clarity of design that it's really addictive and entirely fair (never once did I feel a failing was anything other than my own doing). Great design, great gameplay, great music - great game.

Borderlands 2 - 15 points
This was a definite contender for the top spot in my eyes as I easily put the most hours into Borderlands 2 compared to any other game this year. Despite pretty heavy expectations Gearbox managed to deliver a great follow-up to the original Borderlands with a more cohesive story quest line at the centre of things. The loot was perhaps a little less varied and fun this time around, but still a funny game with great co-op support (though stealing Diablo's individual loot drops might have been a good idea) and great gunplay. That said the end game is a little bare and once you're done with the second play-through there's little to pull you back in. Still a top notch game though and I look forward to jumping back into the DLC soon.

FTL - 10 points
Now this is the kind if game I bother with Kickstarter for: a great premise and solid experience delivered by a couple of guys wanting to make a good game. And boy did they. This is a roguelike game where you manage a space ship and its crew on a tactical level hoping to survive and gear up as you escape from sector to sector. Death is permanent so each encounter and choice can be crucial, and time is not on your side as you must run from the pursuing rebels. This is a great little title.

Journey - 10 points
Outside of The Walking Dead this is perhaps the game that evoked the strongest emotional response from me this year. It's a very simple game of exploration and finding a way forward, but it is hauntingly beautiful at times and the clever use of online to drop in an anonymous partner is quite something. There's a sadness when someone you lose track of someone you've been working with and after a while of searching and waiting you realise they're gone. It's a short experience but one that has definitely stuck with me and so easily deserving of a place on this list.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron - 10 points
Without a doubt one of the best single-player campaigns of the year. Not just a solid action shooter but also a great Tansformers game (which given the last few years of abuse of the franchise at then hands of Michael Bay was far more than I'd ever have expected) and one that left me genuinely excited for a sequel. I hope High Moon get the chance to make one, and if they do I'll be there day one. The only real blemish is the lacklustre multiplayer which lets the side down somewhat.

Minecraft 360 - 5 points
I wouldn't be surprised if this is the only 5 points this game gets but despite Minecraft being no new thing I've been thoroughly impressed with the Xbox edition and the support for the title so far. The only disappointing thing is that you don't have persistent servers for worlds, but otherwise this port gets everything right.

Trials Evolution - 5 points
Trials Evolution is an incredibly impressive game, and not just because it's an ace racer/platformer with some excellent bonus mini-games (though it is exactly that too). Far more impressive is the level editor, how surprisingly easy it is to work with and how powerful it is. RedLynx have created an Xbox equivalent of LittleBigPlanet without the cutesy interface. In fact in so respects what's on offer is even more powerful as demonstrated in some of the insane creations that are out there.

FEZ - 5 points
FEZ is not without issues, not least of all that Phil Fish is not the most endearing developer. But despite the bugs, terrible world map, somewhat smug puzzles and Phil Fish this is still a pretty wonderful game. There's a lot to like in the style and mechanics, and the depth involved in some of the puzzles (those you have to read about from crazy people who sat and deciphered them). I got a little frustrated at the lack of information sometimes when trying to determine if you we're failing to work something out because you we're being dumb or just didn't have the tools yet. But that didn't stop me enjoying it overall or from experiencing the wonder of exploration and discovery, and those "aha!" moments were still very satisfying. A rather flawed gem for sure.

Beat Sneak Bandit - 5 points
This place could easily be filled by Theatrhythm but I think Beat Sneak Bandit was my favourite rhythm game of the year, and a rhythm puzzle game no less. The game is full of style and plays really well, has a good learning curve and yet ramps up the challenge. If you have an iOS device and like rhythm games at all you should check this one out.

Honourable Mentions:
Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy - Great rhythm game that using the Final Fantasy licence well, just not quite enough room or points to sneak it in.

Syndicate - Not an obvious choice necessarily but outside of Borderlands 2 this was easily one of the best co-op experiences of the year. It was disappointing because it wasn't the Syndicate game we wanted, but it was a solid shooter with good mechanics and great co-op.

Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed - If you've ever enjoyed a kart racer and a Sega game then this is nearly a must. Some mildly frustrating AI (though only at times at times) stops this from being a knockout but the mechanics are rock solid and the love for various Sega brands is top.

Catherine - Bonkers, silly and charming character work (the kind only Japan could produce) wrapped around a solid block puzzle game that could get pretty tough.

Mass Effect 3 - The co-op was far better than it had any right to be, I'll give it that. And with the single player the core Mass Effect gameplay was there. However by necessity of the story the rush towards an end goal diminished some of the exploration and slow-paced elements that made Mass Effect special. It was a good game, no doubt, but ME2 was overall just a much better experience.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Congratulations, for being idiots and trying to game the system both GB and Tritoch fail to get a second name in the hat for the Prize Draw. Be thankful I don't throw your names out entirely.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

The voting is done with for another year, and despite the potential of winning a free games the numbers dropped and given the spread of games voted on I'm pretty sure there is zero statistical significance to the outcome. Also for another year rather than a top 20 I'm keeping it to just the top 10.

So, what made it into the Gamingforce Game of the Year Top 10, well let's start with number 10 shall we:

10. Crimson Shroud
[ 3DS | Level-5 ]

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9. XCOM: Enemy Unknown
[ Multi | Firaxis Games ]

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8. New Super Mario Bros. 2
[ 3DS | Nintendo ]

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7. The Walking Dead
[ Multi | Telltale Games ]

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6. Dishonored
[ Multi | Arkane Studios ]

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5. Journey
[ PSN | Thatgamecompany ]

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4. Kid Icarus: Uprising
[ 3DS | Nintendo ]

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3. Mass Effect 3
[ Multi | BioWare ]

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2. Borderland 2
[ Multi | Gearbox Software ]

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1. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy
[ Multi | Square Enix ]

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So there you have it, the Gamingforce Game of the Year 2012 Top 10. So what should have been there, what shouldn't have? What was too high, and what was too low? Start the discussion/bitching...

If anyone is interested in carrying this on next year let know as I think this has failed sufficiently now that I don't think I'll be doing it again.

Additional Spam:
Prize draw winner = Nutty.

Nutty sling me a PM with some idea of any games you might be interested in for £16/$25.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I'm glad you guys appreciate the thread and I don't disagree that it at least generates a little bit of interesting thought and comment, but so few games got multiple votes (nearly every additional person voting added a new game to the list) that I stand by my comment about the statistical significance.

Originally Posted by Angel of Light

In all honesty I thought we got a lot more input this year compared to other years.

Not true I'm afraid, the numbers have been reducing year after year since I began this:

2008 = 44 voters
2009 = 32 (27% drop from previous year)
2010 = 25 (22%)
2011 = 19 (24%)
2012 = 17 (11%)

Admittedly the drop was not huge in pure numerical terms (2), but percentage-wise it's still 11% down. Make of that what you will, but thems the numbers.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Hedonism Bot

Also, in raw terms, you're looking at year over year decline of 8, 7, 6, and 2. That is significant too.

It's actually 12, 7, 6, 2 as a pattern, and whilst it's true the loss is down (even as a percentage) it is still a continuation of the downwards trend when there was a very real cash-based incentive to try and drive numbers up.

More importantly the real issue is that due to such low overall numbers one or two votes can completely change the whole landscape of the results. I would need to crunch actual numbers, but I'm reasonably certain that due to the spread of votes there's no significance to the results - they don't mean anything.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?