The 2006 GWJ Community Game of the Year Awards!
Alright I figured its time we decided on our own Game of the Year candidates. How I figured we'd go about this is everyone posts a list of 10 games (or less) in order from best to worst. Each vote will have a score attached to it, so the first game in your list is worth 10 points, the second 9, third 8 and so forth. I'll keep a running tally of the votes and update this post accordingly and one week from today I'll total everything up and we'll see what games the community deems worthy (assuming anyone bothers).
Some rules for voting:
1) To keep things simplified, only games that saw a North American release in 2006 are valid. EDIT: There is some contention over this, so if you want to list Euro/Asian games go for it. If it becomes a problem later on we will sort it out then.
2) MMORPG's are constantly evolving, so any MMO that saw updates and support this year are valid.
3) Expansion packs are valid.
4) Classics that have been re-released either on downloadable services or compilation packs are NOT valid.
5) Remakes of classics (like FFIII on the DS) are valid.
6) Ports released this year on new platforms are valid (FEAR on 360 for example)
Just a friendly reminder that there have been some excellent games released early in the year (Shadow of the Colossus [ok not Shadow, but it was in Europe], GRAW, HL2:Ep 1) so keep that in mind when making your selections.
Also please make sure your list is final when you post it, it's enough work keeping track of this without having to go back and revise it after the fact. 
Votes as of 12:20am, Jan. 6, Poster: Braehole
Oblivion 428
Gears of War 370
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess 192
Company of Heroes 191
Half Life 2 Episode I 155
Guitar Hero II 144
Viva Pinata 135
Wii Sports 128
Dead Rising 105
Okami 87
Final Fantasy XII 84
New Super Mario Bros. 84
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 72
Dawn of War: Dark Crusade 70
Civilization IV: The Warlords 59
Neverwinter Nights 2 57
Dwarf Fortress 55
Chromehounds 46
World of Warcraft 46
Rainbow Six Vegas 38
Battlefield 2142 35
Galactic Civilizations II 32
Lego Star Wars II 31
Titan Quest 30
Lumines Live 29
*Shadow of the Colossus 29
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 29
Guild Wars 26
Bully 24
Saints Row 22
Tomb Raider Legend 19
Prey 17
Splinter Cell Double Agent 17
Final Fantasy III 16
Final Fantasy Va 16
DEFCON 16
Tony Hawk Project 8 15
Electroplankton 15
Total War: Medieval 2 15
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic 14
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin 14
Chibi Robo 13
Armadillo Run 13
Burnout Revenge 12
Madden 07 11
Rise of Legends 11
Clubhouse Games 10
Fight Night Round 3 10
Assault Heroes 10
Sam & Max 10
NHL '07 9
Rayman Raving Rabbids 9
Rhythm Tengoku 9
Space Rangers 2 8
Roboblitz 8
The Ship 8
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistance 8
Line Rider 8
Trackmania: Nations 8
Battle for Middle Earth II 8
Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 7
Thrillville 7
Sin: Episode 1 7
Mount & Blade 7
Test Drive Unlimited 7
Elite Beat Agents 7
FEAR 6
Excite Truck 6
NBA 2K7 6
Cooking Mama 6
Sensible Soccer 2006 6
Pocket Bike Racer 6
Dragon Quest: Rocket Slime 6
College Hoops 2K7 6
Metroid Prime Hunters 6
Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerebus 5
WWE: Raw vs Smackdown 2007 5
Avatar 5
Battlefield 2 Armored Fury 5
Hitman Blood Money 5
Scurge: Hive 5
Frets on Fire 5
God Hand 5
Pro Evo 6 5
Everquest II 5
Starfox Command 4
Kingdom Hearts II 4
Elebits 4
Dreamfall The Longest Journey 4
Call of Duty 3 4
Sid Meier's Railroads 4
Uno 3
Call of Juarez 3
The Outfit 3
Yakuza 3
Flatout 2 2
Dominions 3 2
Red Orchestra 1
NHL 2K7 1
X3 The Reunion 1
Darkstar One 1
Tetris DS 1
Red Steel 1
Enchanted Arms 1
The Hidden (HL2 Mod) 1
My days of not taking you seriously have certainly come to a middle.
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My Votes:
01. Company of Heroes
02. Final Fantasy XII
03. Gears of War
04. Dawn of War: Dark Crusade
05. Okami
06. Half Life 2: Episode 1
07. Rise of Legends
08. Chromehounds
09. Viva Pinata
10. Oblivion
My days of not taking you seriously have certainly come to a middle.
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01. Shadow of the Colossus
02. Wii Sports
03. Company of Heroes
04. Mount & Blade
Mount & Blade, technically, has already been available since last year, but it's being updated constantly and I've been playing it quite a bit, so nyah. I've also played other titles (BfME2, RoL, Dark Messiah etc.), but I don't consider them GotY-noteworthy.
"1) To keep things simplified, only games that saw a North American release in 2006 are valid."
Oh, well, that's OK then.
1. Oblivion (PC)
2. Gears of War
3. Company of Heroes
4. Viva Pinata
5. Final Fantasy XII
6. Final Fantasy V Advance
7. Bully
8. Yakuza
9. Hitman: Blood Money (PC)
10. Dead Rising
Well, I don't like to toot my own horn, but I'm a pretty good amateur rectal photographer. Would you like to see my portfolio?
I'm just doing that to keep things straight in case we do this yearly. For example Blue Dragon came out in Japan but not here, this just ensures it doesn't win over multiple years. Was there something that released in Europe only that you wanted to nominate?
My days of not taking you seriously have certainly come to a middle.
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Miami, FLSeattle, WAThere are so many 2006 titles that I didn't even get the chance to play much less beat. So here are the rankings for my games that I did play.
1. Company of Heroes
2. Okami
3. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
4. Gears of War
5. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade
6. Godhand for being just a awesome adventure/fighting game.
7. Saints Row
8. Chromehounds
9. Guitar Hero 2
10. Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 for its well done realism and atmosphere. Awesome online shooter.
Honorable mentions:
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends had a nice world and characters but the gameplay just wasn't there.
Hitman: Blood Money but like all other Hitman titles I never finished it due to bugs.
R6: Vegas was fun sometimes so I am hesitant to putting it on this list.
There were a lot of titles mentioned as enjoyable by others so here they are as a reminder. I've never played them so I can't bounce for them
Space Rangers 2: Rise of the Dominators
Sam and Max
SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
LEGO Star Wars II for bringing together the family
Condemned: Criminal Origins
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
FF12
Bully
Yakuza
Call of Duty 3 (though technically, most people say only the multiplayer is worth it)
Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria
Tony Hawk's Project 8
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent (xbox)
Tekken: Dark Resurrection (Some people say its better than all the other fighters put out this year)
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
Metal Gear Ac!d 2
Fight Night 3
Dead Rising
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Viva Pinata
Dwarf Fortress
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1. Gears of War
2. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
3. Fight Night: Round 3
4. Dead Rising
5. Defcon
6. New Super Mario Bros.
7. Tomb Raider: Legend
8. Assault Heroes
9. Shadow of the Colossus
10. Condemned: Criminal Origins
You should follow me on Twitter: @legion
Steam: *Legion* | Xbox Live: Legion SB | PSN: Legion_SB | Origin: LegionSB
1. Gears of War
2. Oblivion (PC)
3. Never Winter Nights 2 (PC)
4. Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (X360)
5. Rainbow Six Vegas (X360)
6. Half Life 2: Episode 1
7. Dead Rising
8. Burnout Revenge (X360)
9. Viva Pinata
10. Saint's Row
XBL/PSN/Steam Gamertag: KillTrash
BF3 Soldier: KillTrsh
It is really hard for me to rank these, and even harder to say which was the best, but I'll see what I can do.
1. Lumines Live
2. Final Fantasy 12
3. Shadow of the Colossus
4. Okami
5. Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess
6. Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
7. Gears of War
8. Chromehounds
9. Viva Pinata
10. Dead Rising
So damn close to being on my list:
Saint's Row
Final Fantasy 5 Advance
Tony Hawk's Project 8
GRAW
Edit:
Oh, I forgot one: Guitar Hero 2. Thanks Mex!
Although it shames me to put Zelda so low on the list, I have to give SotC and Okami the nod over it. Zelda was a more thoroughly rounded and better presented game than either of them, but they both offered something new, whereas Zelda was just the same game refined to near perfection.
XBL/PSN: zeroKFE | BHA: zeroKFE/zeroanne
I don't care about any other games, my vote is for
GUITAR FRIKKIN HERO 2.
And maybe Wii Sports.
--
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7-8pm central time, every day. It's free! =D
1) Company of Heroes
2) Oblivion (PC)
3) Battlefield 2142
Quintin_Stone wrote:
lunabean wrote:http://steamcommunity.com/id/cartoonin99
Just so you guys know, this is for everyone, lurkers and regular posters alike. Don't be shy.
My days of not taking you seriously have certainly come to a middle.
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Sin,
No. The criterion you have is probably fine for European gamers, but I'm not sure it's the best one possible. Perhaps you could have a rule that the same game can't win twice, or you can have an 'honourable mention' category. Or make it that this is a 'North American' award.
No votes for Medieval: Total War 2 yet?
This list makes me so very conscious about how few games I play are actually recent. I wanted to nominate Psychonauts and F.E.A.R., but apparently they're ancient history by now
So, here goes:
1. HL2: Episode 1
2. Neverwinter Nights 2
3. Trackmania - Nations
4. Company of Heroes
5. Oblivion
6. Sensible Soccer 2006
7. Pro Evo 6
Roo wrote:
Coldstream wrote:
1: Oblivion
2: Gears
3: GH2
4: THP8
5: Wii sports
6: Defcon
7: HL2 ep 1
8: Sam and Max
9: The Ship
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"Publishers still speak in hushed tones about el bunny de la muerte." - *Legion*
My votes:
1: Guitar Hero 2
2: Oblivion
3: Gears of War
4: World of Warcraft
5: Final Fantasy XII
6: New Super Mario
7: Civ IV Warlords Expansion
8: Saints Row
9: HL2Ep1
10: Company of Heroes
I felt -- I feel -- that Shawn, Rob and Julian were making out with the game, and as their friend I felt it was important to point out that they were making out with an ugly chick. - Cory Banks, keeping it real
1. Oblivion
2. Gears of War
3. Dead Rising
4. Guitar Hero 2
5. Chromehounds
6. Rainbow 6: Vegas
7. Call of Duty 3
8. Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter
9. Splinter Cell: Double Agent
10. Company of Heroes
"Time traveling terrorists are no laughing matter, Malor." - *Legion* quote #30201
XBox Live: Novopain
1. Oblivion
2. Zelda: Twilight Princess
3. Wii Sports
4. Neverwinter Nights 2
5. Gears of War
6. Half-Life 2: Episode 1
7. Company of Heroes
8. Call of Juarez
9. Guitar Hero 2
10. Rainbow Six: Vegas
I heard that they were keeping Elysium in the ICU not because he needed intensive care, but because they needed to be careful of his intensity. - Wordsmythe
I modified the foreign game rule, and I also found out that Shadow of the Colossus was released in late 05. Oopsie, so if you guys want to switch those votes go for it, otherwise we can leave it. It was released in europe in 06
My days of not taking you seriously have certainly come to a middle.
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My Gamercard
1. Company of Heroes
2. Gears of War
3. Rainbow Six:Vegas
4. GRAW
5. Dawn of War: Dark Crusade
6. Half-Life 2: Episode 1
7. Titan Quest
8. Guitar Hero 2
9. Battlefield 2142
10. Defcon
XBLive: Thin J | PSN: Thin_J | Battle.net: ThinJ.284
You know stuff. - MannishBoy
Miami, FLSeattle, WAShadow of the Colossus - SCEA - 10/18/05 -US
Wander to Kyozou - SCEI - 10/27/05 - JP
Shadow of the Colossus - SCEE - 02/17/06 - EU
Wander to Kyozou (PlayStation2 the Best) - SCEI - 06/29/06 - JP
Maybe a separate Euro catagory or something for titles of this nature?
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1. Final Fantasy XII
2. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
3. Okami
4. Final Fantasy V Advance
5. Cooking Mama
6. New Super Mario Bros
7. Final Fantasy III
8. Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
9. Bully
10. Wii Sports
As for those who posted Shadow of the Colossus - that was realeased in 2005.
"And now I'm off home to my castle for tea, biscuits and wenches. Tally ho!" - Jonman
"Dhelor + intarwebs = Great ideas." - wordsmythe
Yea I'm going to leave it for now, but I *'d it just so people know. I just feel like a dunce for specifically mentioning it in the original post.
My days of not taking you seriously have certainly come to a middle.
Steam Profile
My Gamercard
1. Gears of War
2. Company of Heroes
3. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
4. Dead Rising
5. Oblivion
6. Rainbow Six: Vegas
7. Wii Sports
8. Guitar Hero 2
9. Dominions 3
10. Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
XBL: jakelegg | PSN: jakeleg-GWJ | Steam: jakeleg
1. Oblivion
2. Half-Life 2: Episode 1
3. Line Rider
4. Titan Quest - by default I guess since thats all the 06 games I've played that I can think of. Well this is just sad...
Steam
1. Battlefield 2142
2. Wii Sports
3. Gears of War
4. New Super Mario Bros.
5. Oblivion
6. Frets on Fire (Guitar Hero PC clone)
7. Half Life 2 Episode I
8. Galactic Civilizations II
9. Marvel Ultimate Alliance
10. NHL 2K7
1. Oblivion
2. Company of Heroes
3. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
4. Dead Rising
5. Civilization 4: Warlords
6. Neverwinter Nights 2
7. GRAW
8. Gears of War
9. Marvel Ultimate Alliance
10. Splinter Cell: Double Agent
And with that reflection I see 2006 is the first year that console game exceeded PC gaming for me...
1. Oblivion
2. BF2142
4. New Super Mario Brothers
3. Half Life: EP1
5. FF3
6. Lego Star Wars II
8. Viva Pinata
7. Titans Quest
9. Gears of War
Honorable Mention: Dwarf Fortress, not sure when it was officially "released" so I'll keep it off my list. It became my defacto laptop game for a good 4 months.
Xbox Live: Chumtastic
My List:
1. Oblivion
2. Gears of War
3. Guitar Hero 2
4. Viva Pinata
5. Company of Heroes
6. EQ2 Echoes of Faydwer
7. Battle for Middle Earth 2
8. Rise of Legends
9. GRAW
10. X3: Reunion (only AFTER the StarForce removal patch)
Honourable Mentions (for what it's worth):
Final Fantasy XII, The Ship, Galactic Civilizations 2, Civ 4 Warlords, MTGO - Time Spiral, Dwarf Fortress
Probably would be on the list if I had a copy or had opened the one I got for Christmas:
Okami, Defcon, Dark Crusade, Dead Rising, Bully
XBL:Bear Patrol | PSN:scrubpatrol | Blog:TriplePointBlankFire
1. Oblivion
2. Dwarf Fortress
3. Company of Heroes
4. Dawn of War: Dark Crusade
5. Half-Life 2: Episode 1
6. Civilization IV: Warlords
Coldstream wrote: