2015 Community Game of the Year - Results posted! Check the front page!

Oh, I forgot! Thank you very much for doing the list, ClockworkHouse. That's a heck of a lot of work, and it's appreciated.

For everyone else: maybe we should all chip in and buy her something really good off her wishlist?

With Rocket League taking the #1 spot of 2015 and Dragon Age taking it last year I guess it is now officially a trend for the game I dislike the most to get the top spot in the community vote.
Otherwise a very solid list. I'm glad Pillars made it, it would've taken a high place in my personal list for sure, had I not started it too late. Thanks for the work, Clock!

Thanks Clocky! These lists are going to be great for when I want to play a game that's *not* developed by Bethesda.

robc wrote:

It always pains me a bit when Cities Skylines in in game of the year lists. I feel it is very overrated, but I lot of people love it so who am I to say? It gets the basics right and traffic management is fun, but I feel the simulation is still very basic, water physics aside (which don't matter to me). I want more consequences for bad traffic problems - like businesses suffering and citizens getting unhappy.

Basic, sure, but a feat that hadn't been pulled off in a decade!

If Colossal Order and Paradox had EA/Maxis money I'm sure it would've come out with even more features. Of course half those features would've been held back as paid DLC also.

robc wrote:

It always pains me a bit when Cities Skylines in in game of the year lists. I feel it is very overrated, but I lot of people love it so who am I to say? It gets the basics right and traffic management is fun, but I feel the simulation is still very basic, water physics aside (which don't matter to me). I want more consequences for bad traffic problems - like businesses suffering and citizens getting unhappy.

It depends though, as you can (and many have) set themselves difficult tasks for building cities (like on a very hilly terrain, for example.) I spend about 25 hours and only built one city, but I enjoyed it, and I'm sure with the amount of maps created by the community, there's a hidden layer of complexity if you search it out.

One thing I found is that my downtown areas (dense commercial) didn't do much business as there didn't appear to be a lot of traffic around them. I was always unsure if this was something that was built into the game, providing you to build residential areas close by to get people going to the shops more.

Clusks wrote:
robc wrote:

It always pains me a bit when Cities Skylines in in game of the year lists. I feel it is very overrated, but I lot of people love it so who am I to say? It gets the basics right and traffic management is fun, but I feel the simulation is still very basic, water physics aside (which don't matter to me). I want more consequences for bad traffic problems - like businesses suffering and citizens getting unhappy.

It depends though, as you can (and many have) set themselves difficult tasks for building cities (like on a very hilly terrain, for example.) I spend about 25 hours and only built one city, but I enjoyed it, and I'm sure with the amount of maps created by the community, there's a hidden layer of complexity if you search it out.

One thing I found is that my downtown areas (dense commercial) didn't do much business as there didn't appear to be a lot of traffic around them. I was always unsure if this was something that was built into the game, providing you to build residential areas close by to get people going to the shops more.

I agree that there are probably maps that can make the game more difficult, but I'm not so sure that it would make the game more complex. There could very well be a maximum distance a person is willing to travel for commercial needs, or it could be that most people had more convenient options to fulfill that need. I know in the old SimCity games people were only willing to travel for so long to meet a need.

I don't begrudge the success of Cities: Skylines and I'm happy for the devs. I'm just surprised that the love from players didn't taper off more. I'm similar to you in that I built one city and was done. Steam says I have 39 hours, but I frequently let games sit running when I go to do other things, so my guess is that I played 20-30 hours and probably really enjoyed about half of that time. I just think it's telling for this type of game to have had enough after building 1 city. I was the same with Banished.

robc wrote:

I don't begrudge the success of Cities: Skylines and I'm happy for the devs. I'm just surprised that the love from players didn't taper off more. I'm similar to you in that I built one city and was done. Steam says I have 39 hours, but I frequently let games sit running when I go to do other things, so my guess is that I played 20-30 hours and probably really enjoyed about half of that time. I just think it's telling for this type of game to have had enough after building 1 city. I was the same with Banished.

I played EA's SimCity 2013 (or whatever it's called) for quite some time and really enjoyed it. I had my eye on Cities: Skylines though since it seemed EA was never going to fix the issues with SimCity. Unfortunately, I got out of my city building mood before trying Skylines, but I'm still highly interested in it and will definitely get it once my city building mood returns. It's one of those games like the Sims that I can play off and on for *years*. Add this to the fact that Skylines is really the *only* active city builder in the mix right now considering that EA completely dropped SimCity.

LIke you, I can't use Steam or any other method to inform me how many hours I play because I'm like you in that I just leave my game running all day while I do other things. I was getting the impression I was the only person who did this, but now there are at least two of us.

Taharka wrote:
kergguz wrote:
MrDeVil909 wrote:

Maybe in about a year I can stealth justify it because my daughter will be nearly 3.

Good luck! My wife is fairly insistent that my 3 yr old boy isn't having a console of any sort until he's at least 5. I understand, because he's way too into his (my) iPad, to the point where he'd rather watch Lego star wars on it than do something like drawing or building with real actual Lego. I'm simultaneously proud and worried about that!

At least it's not the Kardashian emoji app, or something.

I'll have you know the Kardashian app is lots of fun, more progressive than you'd expect and kinda addictive!

Malor wrote:

Oh, I forgot! Thank you very much for doing the list, ClockworkHouse. That's a heck of a lot of work, and it's appreciated.
For everyone else: maybe we should all chip in and buy her something really good off her wishlist?

I'm totally down with that, but she was sporting a "No gifts" tag during the Steam Sale IIRC.

Nevertheless, thank you so, so much, Clocky, for all your hard work. I said as much in the front page article, but this is one of my favorite threads of the year, and I'm already looking forward to 2016's edition.

bekkilyn wrote:

...

LIke you, I can't use Steam or any other method to inform me how many hours I play because I'm like you in that I just leave my game running all day while I do other things. I was getting the impression I was the only person who did this, but now there are at least two of us. :)

We can create a thread and invite others to join our group!

I did that quite a bit when I started playing Skyrim back in 2011. My eldest son was born five days after it was released, so I'd play when I could, and then hit escape when he'd wake and needed to be fed or changed or whatever. So yeah, totally been there.

Stele wrote:
_Free_ wrote:

Don't remind me of more PS4 games I'm missing! Disgaea 5 is also something I'd like to play. A PC release would be awesome.

First one on PC in Feb. Steam page.

If it sells well I can't see any reason they wouldn't port the others, eventually.

I got excited for a second when I saw that, until I realized that it's Disgaea 1. Which I put upwards of 100 hours into already. Twice. PS2 and DS versions. So I'm skipping that one, but I hope the later ones which I haven't played make the jump to PC.

Likewise for Nippon Ichi's second string titles, Phantom Brave, La Pucelle and Makai Kingdom.

Jonman wrote:
Stele wrote:
_Free_ wrote:

Don't remind me of more PS4 games I'm missing! Disgaea 5 is also something I'd like to play. A PC release would be awesome.

First one on PC in Feb. Steam page.

If it sells well I can't see any reason they wouldn't port the others, eventually.

I got excited for a second when I saw that, until I realized that it's Disgaea 1. Which I put upwards of 100 hours into already. Twice. PS2 and DS versions. So I'm skipping that one, but I hope the later ones which I haven't played make the jump to PC.

Likewise for Nippon Ichi's second string titles, Phantom Brave, La Pucelle and Makai Kingdom.

I loved Disgaea 1 so much that I was afraid to play any of the others. I think I put around 500 hours into it. I have always wished they would bring their games to Xbox consoles because I didn't feel the need for owning both a 360 and a PS3 with my limited budget and limited gaming time. I did end up getting a PS3 like 6 months ago and I bought Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness (which is a direct sequel to the first game unlike the others) for it. Only put like 2 hours into it though. I was too busy playing DA:I to play much of anything else at the time.

Eleima wrote:

I'll have you know the Kardashian app is lots of fun, more progressive than you'd expect and kinda addictive!

Trivia note: Kim Kardashian: Hollywood swept through game designer circles in 2014, not just because it was popular but because there was quite a bit to unpack in the design.

Eleima wrote:
Malor wrote:

Oh, I forgot! Thank you very much for doing the list, ClockworkHouse. That's a heck of a lot of work, and it's appreciated.
For everyone else: maybe we should all chip in and buy her something really good off her wishlist?

I'm totally down with that, but she was sporting a "No gifts" tag during the Steam Sale IIRC. :(

I really appreciate the kind thought, but I already have many games to play, and I'm also (outside of a handful of games) a console peasant, so I'm too difficult to gift for.

But really, thank you. Just the thought makes me feel good.

Rykin wrote:
Jonman wrote:
Stele wrote:
_Free_ wrote:

Don't remind me of more PS4 games I'm missing! Disgaea 5 is also something I'd like to play. A PC release would be awesome.

First one on PC in Feb. Steam page.

If it sells well I can't see any reason they wouldn't port the others, eventually.

I got excited for a second when I saw that, until I realized that it's Disgaea 1. Which I put upwards of 100 hours into already. Twice. PS2 and DS versions. So I'm skipping that one, but I hope the later ones which I haven't played make the jump to PC.

Likewise for Nippon Ichi's second string titles, Phantom Brave, La Pucelle and Makai Kingdom.

I loved Disgaea 1 so much that I was afraid to play any of the others. I think I put around 500 hours into it. I have always wished they would bring their games to Xbox consoles because I didn't feel the need for owning both a 360 and a PS3 with my limited budget and limited gaming time. I did end up getting a PS3 like 6 months ago and I bought Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness (which is a direct sequel to the first game unlike the others) for it. Only put like 2 hours into it though. I was too busy playing DA:I to play much of anything else at the time.

As ever, the best place to play Disgaea is on a Vita.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
Eleima wrote:
Malor wrote:

Oh, I forgot! Thank you very much for doing the list, ClockworkHouse. That's a heck of a lot of work, and it's appreciated.
For everyone else: maybe we should all chip in and buy her something really good off her wishlist?

I'm totally down with that, but she was sporting a "No gifts" tag during the Steam Sale IIRC. :(

I really appreciate the kind thought, but I already have many games to play, and I'm also (outside of a handful of games) a console peasant, so I'm too difficult to gift for.

Amazon ships anywhere in the world. Just sayin'

You stay out of this!

ClockworkHouse wrote:

You stay out of this!

What do you think this is, a public forum!?

Oh no! In my rush I forgot that I completed Metroid 2: Return of Samus early in 2015. That would totally have made my list.

I've started tracking my games started for the 2016 vote. I always struggle at the end of the year to remember what I played in the winter. My top for 2016 -

1. Killing Floor 2
2. Civ: Beyond Earth

What a great list...

Kyekye wrote:

I've started tracking my games started for the 2016 vote. I always struggle at the end of the year to remember what I played in the winter. My top for 2016 -

1. Killing Floor 2
2. Civ: Beyond Earth

What a great list...

How is Killing Floor 2? Much of an improvement on the first?

Spikeout wrote:
Kyekye wrote:

I've started tracking my games started for the 2016 vote. I always struggle at the end of the year to remember what I played in the winter. My top for 2016 -

1. Killing Floor 2
2. Civ: Beyond Earth

What a great list...

How is Killing Floor 2? Much of an improvement on the first?

Greatly improved. Graphics are significantly better, they added flavor to the different classes to make them more distinct, combat feels tighter, and they have a variety of Patriarchs so the boss fights aren't always the same. Plus hats!

I didn't quite get to 10 games this year, mainly because a heavy work load ate the last third of 2016 for me. My travel schedule also accounts partially for the inclusion of mobile games. I rarely include them in these lists, because I usually don't finish them, and when I do I often forget about them shortly afterward.

As in previous years, I'm bending the rules because I'm only listing games that I finished. I probably couldn't even keep track of a "games started" list in most years, and some games take me many years to come back to after spending a few positive hours playing them.

1) The Witcher 3: Blood & Wine (PC). I know this will get lumped into the totals for the full game, but I don't care. Besides being the size of a AAA game, it outshone everything else in terms of story quality, beautiful graphics, and sheer fun. If it weren't for the new Darkhorse comics and the fan translation of Season of Storms, I'd be going through serious Witcher withdrawal right now.

2) Rise of the Tomb Raider (PC). Fun gameplay, good graphics and a decent story. Didn't quite match up to the 2013 reboot, but part of the impact of that game for me came from its contrast to my previous impressions of what Tomb Raider games were all about.

3) Wolfenstein: The New Order (PC). Ridiculous, but fun. What a Wolfenstein game should be.

4) Life is Strange (PC). A bit clumsy in some places, and it could have been trimmed down a bit, but overall a strong game with some interesting mechanics.

5) The Bard's Tale (Android). Finally! I've probably bought this game a half dozen times over the years, across various platforms, and I never got outside the first village. Turns out that all I needed was a game pad (adjustable length bluetooth pad), and it was like slipping into a warm bath. I see why people loved it. Fun!

6) Call of Juarez Gunslinger (PC). Mindless and fun, with great stylized graphics.

7) Monument Valley (Android). Beautiful visual aesthetic, with perfectly matching music. Fun puzzles.

8) Call of Duty: Black Ops (PS3). It's taken me years to get around to playing this. It was every bit as dumb as I expected it to be, and just as fun. I did not try multiplayer.

9) Call of Duty: Ghosts (360). Even dumber than I expected, with a script clearly written by a 13 year old. But the right length, with mechanics well executed enough to finish it. I did not try multiplayer.

You goofed this one real good, conejote.

2016 thread is here: https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/...

Hyetal wrote:

You goofed this one real good, conejote.

2016 thread is here: https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/...

Ha! I totally did. Thanks, will re-post.

conejote wrote:
Hyetal wrote:

You goofed this one real good, conejote.

2016 thread is here: https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/...

Ha! I totally did. Thanks, will re-post.

That was good for some confusion.

If we keep posting in here we can keep the spirit of 2015 alive.

At least 2015 wasn't a serial killer.

Except, you know, for some 55,000 Syrians.

Scared the crap out of me when I saw "results posted" and thought I had missed the deadline.

Well, you sorta did!