WhatIfGaming Game Of The Year 2012 Awards

Another year and more titles passed us by along with the days of 2012. It was filled with sadness, happiness, and times to remember that have marked many more good days to come for many of us. For gamers worldwide, it was a year in which not many games were released, but a few notable titles were profoundly worthy of mention.

It is with pleasure that we provide the millions of anticipated readers what they have been waiting for since the dawn of 2012: the video game industry’s most exceptional and gratified WhatIfGaming 2012 Game Of The Year Awards ceremony, presenting its official Game Of The Year awards before anyone else with a collective decision from industry experts and WhatIfGaming editors worldwide through its defined rigorous selection process which focuses on industry and developer recognition. The moment you all have been waiting for is finally here. Unlike the previous year, we are not the first this year but we wanted to maintain the similar quality to last year in having the most comprehensive awards this year, as always. See the Worst Game Of The Year and laugh at its shortcoming or weep for it, ponder about the Best Idea, or play through a title again to experience Best Storyline that is unlike any other.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to our beloved millions of WhatIfGaming readers! See you all in 2013.

WhatIfGaming Game Of The Year 2011 Awards

The highway of our heart never ceases to the speed limit. Constantly becoming variable throughout the year, the speed of the thrills in newer titles and greater sequels have kept us seeing the wonders of a road that seems to be endless. Once again the highway creates memories which leaves us alone at the passenger seat of life looking out at the night sky of remembrance. Some of us have conquered the hype of ordinary titles, the injustices of mediocre talent, and those games which have shown a devotion to game design which is more about marketing than true gameplay throughout the year. Alas in the confines of these terrible titles, there are those which reaffirm the very nature of recognition and praise, those which dare immensely and conquer the year with their prowess.

It is with pleasure that we provide the millions of anticipated readers what they have been waiting for since the dawn of 2011: the video game industry’s most exceptional and gratified WhatIfGaming 2011 Game Of The Year Awards ceremony, presenting its official Game Of The Year awards before anyone else with a collective decision from industry experts and WhatIfGaming editors worldwide through its defined rigorous selection process which focuses on industry and developer recognition. The moment you all have been waiting for is finally here. Similar to the previous years, WhatIfGaming is first to give out Game of the Year Awards this year. See the Worst Game Of The Year and laugh at its shortcoming or weep for it, ponder about the cohesiveness of Best Script, or play through a title again to experience Best Voice Acting gone unnoticed by some.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to our beloved millions of WhatIfGaming readers! See you all in 2012.

WhatIfGaming was lucky enough to be graced by the presence of a beloved icon in Hollywood in the form of Mr. Billy West, a very talented actor whose voice can be attuned to hundreds of iconic voices such as Bender from Futurama, and Ren & Stimpy to name a few. In a day we decided to spend with Billy West concurrent to Comic Con, we learned a lot more about his likes and dislikes.

WhatIfGaming: In terms of video games, how do you favor?

Billy West, Actor: (laughs) The last time I actually sat down and played a video game was back in 90′ when I would have a friend over that would bring by his system and boot it up during audition runs for the voices for certain pre-shows we used to do.

WhatIfGaming: But I mean from someone so delved into Hollywood animation, what is it like seeing games nowadays? Do you feel they rival Hollywood?

Billy West: Undeniably. Undeniably they do. In fact I mainly voiced a few voices in children selections but I have seen people and colleagues voice for certain games that are just cinematic, to me, shocking to be a part of in a weird way. When we voice for shows, we are either shown the scene on the screen-through or we are not. It is really crazy to see that happen.

WhatIfGaming: Any game in particular?

Billy West: L.A. Noire, most recently. Saw what those guys did and loved it, brilliant.

WhatIfGaming: Technology wise, what seems to be your love? Anything at all technology related?

Billy West: Animation. Computer Graphics, all that just brings a level of natural excitement for me as someone who voices these imaginary characters, brings them to life. I love video games because of all of these even if I do not necessarily play them all that much (Bender voice) You know what I mean baby? Bender does not like to play around. (Laughs)

WhatIfGaming: I have to bring this up because when I did find out we would be talking in length, what do you think about the so-called golden era of cartoons? Johnny Bravo, Ren And Stimpy, Pinky & The Brain, Animaniacs, etc?

Billy West: I think there comes a time for certain things to end when it comes to a show. I use to actually love Animaniacs, but these things do come to a close at one point down the line and I do think it is best how people give it their all when those things are still around, then move on to different things.

WhatIfGaming: Without a doubt.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011 was an event full of exclusive titles not ready to be out for a good 6 months, to titles ranging into 2012 and beyond. WhatIfGaming was able to see every single title on the show floor and behind closed doors, while getting some of the best industry exclusive interviews and most-demanded questions from our readers directly. Mass Effect 3, Elder Scrolls V: Skryim, Hitman 5: Absolution, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Star Wars: The Old Republic and a myriad of amazing titles along with some of the best people and industry professionals with an indelible positive attitude made E3 2011 unforgettable. WhatIfGaming was graced with an extraordinary number of VIP Badges, Behind Closed-Doors previews, along with the various exclusive event invitationals reaching an all time high. Along the way, we even helped our fellow masses standing in line to come along with us as part of an E3 on-site exclusive access contest previews (where we took some lucky winners from the enormous 3 hour waiting lines into the events with us). It is with a level of dispiritedness that the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011 is now over. It is time to look forward, ahead to newer and better releases, and to sanctify titles in this year’s WhatIfGaming’s Best Of E3 Awards 2011.

Criteria: The Best of E3 Awards, a subcategory for the WhatIfGaming Prizes, are given solely to those video games that demonstrate a pure excellence in the field for which they are not only nominated but also chosen. These awards only apply to playable games at E3 given a few exceptional categories.

Nomination & Selection Process: Compared with other site awards, the WhatIfGaming Prize nomination and selection process is long and extremely rigorous. This is the sole reason why WhatIfGaming Prizes have grown in importance over the years to become the most important prizes in their field. Forms, which amount to a personal and exclusive invitation, are sent to 275 (2011) selected individuals to invite them to submit nominations from the latest builds per video game. Self-nominations are disqualified. For WhatIfGaming Prizes, inquiries are sent to such people as developers, industry experts, analysts, among others. After our deadline passes, the nominations are chosen by permanent committee of 5 selected individuals from staff and only the final stage of nominees remain per category. From all of these, a winner is chosen.

The names of the nominees are not publicly announced, and neither are they told that they have been considered for the WhatIfGaming Prize. Some are announced publicly by practice. Nomination records are revealed on request approximately 2 years after each respective award year.

WhatIfGaming: Ted, it is such a pleasure seeing you again here at E3 2011. Insomniac Games and Naughty Dog are truly stealing the show here this year.

Ted Price,  President & CEO Insomniac Games: Oh yea, it is definitely great to be here and show off what Insomniac Games can do and continues to do.

WhatIfGaming: We just had a chance to play Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, along with Resistance 3. Two of the best titles here on the showfloor from Sony at the moment. What’s it like to hear that?

Ted Price: We have been working so insanely hard, almost ridiculously hard on these two titles and now with project Overstrike with EA, we have a lot more on our plates but are consistently hoping to deliver these games that really make people feel how great they are. I am really very glad you liked both of them.

WhatIfGaming: For Resistance 2, we gave a very positive review…

Ted Price: Mmm hmm. I did read it and loved all of it. I felt you all really got the feel of that game.

WhatIfGaming: When we heard about Resistance 3…we got nervous. The second one had such an incredible A.I., amazing maps, huge online combat…and it is truly not easy for us critics to ask ourselves…well..what can they REALISTICALLY make better? How much more can they possibly do? And I saw that here today. The graphics are slightly better, the animations are wondrously breathtaking and they look EVEN better than Resistance 2 Chimera, and their level of intelligence went up three-fold….did you guys work hard on the A.I.?

Ted Price: Haha, yea. It was a lot of work. We look at everything from graphics, to gameplay, and even the A.I. In fact it is great you really looked at that detail because we worked extensively on A.I. alone and the team handling it was hoping it would pay off, and those are some of the cool things that happens, such as when you got followed by one in the gameplay earlier. It is intense.

WhatIfGaming: As for Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One….was this a concept that was in development for a long time or it just happened because of a lot of games using that element…and Insomniac Games was pressured into using it?

Ted Price: Cooperative gameplay has been something people have been asking from us at Insomniac Community, so that was a strong motivation, but we always, even ever since the first Ratchet & Clank title for the PlayStation 3 we knew this was going to happen, it was just the timing and finalizing of the project that took some work. You can see even there, it is such an incredible game and 4 people are playing there right now against the big mechanical robot in the metropolis. We made it for people to have fun either locally or even online. This is for all of those fans.

WhatIfGaming: Ted, my man…you make this seem so easy. It truly is amazing and I am going to go check out more so I’ll let you have fun at the party.

Ted Price: (Laughs) Great. Enjoy yourself.

WhatIfGaming: Ken, I just want to thank you for this interview again, it has been a long while since we met back during the reveal for BioShock: Infinite.

Ken Levine: Oh yea, yea. It is always fun to meet up with someone I was getting along with so well.

WhatIfGaming: I just had a chance to actually see BioShock: Infinite in the exclusive behind closed doors room, and wow….that title has successfully saved itself from the torment the second one put itself through.

Ken Levine: Hahaha. Why would you say that? Well I mean….er’. Yea. I suppose there were problems to the second one, but my involvement…with that has been very limited. Sad that it was not as good as the first.

WhatIfGaming: So…would you say you guys are trying to vindicate yourselves? This title…that ambiance, that unique storyline, that complete and different environment within Columbia and the relationship with Songbird, Booker DeWitt, and Elizabeth is just glorious….

Ken Levine: Obviously I think when we created BioShock, we were always hoping for the best with it…that any title would succeed…the second did not do that much and this time the team here at Irrational Games really needed…more like WANTED to create that defining moment where we revealed that fans of all kinds do not HAVE to give up on it, there is more out there, and I am very glad you saw that…smart guy.

WhatIfGaming: I was most impressed by the A.I. It had that same shock factor with different crowds…that anarchist struggle between the government and the power struggle of the Songbird and the symbolism of the tower…A.I. aside, what was the story direction like? What…..made you all go to the clouds?

Ken Levine: There is a funny story behind that actually. We were spending so much time with water, we kind of had a saying of well: “What If We Went To The Moon?” (laughs). But we were not trying to make a Dead Space title here…

WhatIfGaming: Haha, maybe in the future? Maybe…BioShock in Space?

Ken Levine: No comment…(laughs).

Ken Levine: But the cloud structure is realistically the right choice. It revealed a contrast…the contrast we wanted from water to the sky. I can’t talk too much about the storyline, but there is a relationship within BioShock and BioShock: Infinite…instead of being a Big Daddy, you are Booker DeWitt and you are a mercenary. Instead of the small girls, there is Elizabeth in need.

WhatIfGaming: Ken, thanks for explaining more of everything to our readers. I personally am looking forward to BioShock: Infinite.

Ken Levine: Anytime!

WhatIfGaming: So to clear up any misconceptions, this title is NOT Fable 4?

Peter Molyneux, Head of Lionhead Studios: Oh heavens, no. We have a lot more planned for Fable 4…should it come to that point, but at the moment, we want players to see Albion the way they have not seen it before: from that first person perspective that is constant and ever-loving.

WhatIfGaming: That is definitely an ambitious project. We actually received around 6,000 e-mails alone asking one question: is this solely a prequel and if so, do you believe it is great to gamers that are so used to the controller?

Peter Molyneux: Oh absolutely. Those fans of Fable will not be disappointed. I myself am the biggest fan of Fable and I would absolutely hate to  kill any sort of true hardcore gaming theme. While the entire game is KINECT active, we feel we can move players in the world of Albion, in a time before the sequences of the later games. There will be that realization that “Wow, this is incredible.”

WhatIfGaming: The gameplay in all honesty seemed rather terse…in terms of the actual variety. And I did want to get your clarification on this without being rude or like some journalists that do not have the guts to just openly say that to you directly but there seemed to be a problem that concerns me with the level of intensity…

Peter Molyneux: Right…well no, no. No need to worry about telling me directly, I always listen to the critics and most especially fans of the series. Right now, what we demoed is alpha build and so there is a lot more work we have to do before players truly see how they can become, live, and breathe their very own hero through the level KINECT offers. And I certainly do appreciate you bringing this to my attention and just being honest, which is something I truly value (smirk).

WhatIfGaming: Oh no problem…certainly, certainly. Thank you so much for your time and giving our readers a look into Fable: The Journey.

Peter Molyneux: Okay, take care and I hope to reveal a lot more over time.

Special interviews include Razer, a look into Sly Cooper 4: Thieves in Time, and very amazing people. More exclusive special previews and interviews will arrive over the course of the next few days from special game developers such Ken Levine for BioShock Infinite, Peter Molyneux for Fable: The Journey, the Hitman: Absolution team, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Dylan Jobe for Starhawk, Don Mattrick of Microsoft, Dan Greenwalt of Turn 10, and finally Ted Price of Insomniac Games.

WhatIfGaming: Thanks for taking the time to interview with us, it seems to be quite busy around the multiplayer booths.

Adreane Meunie: Yes, it is busy but we like to think it is because people have made a connection with Revelations.

WhatIfGaming: What is one feature of AC: Revelations you want to tell our readers? Kind of general, but the first thing that pops into your mind.

AM: We really listened to players about singleplayer and multiplayer altogether, and we feel there are a lot of changes that have been done, from moves to the actual modes of

multiplayer and even the HUD lining. They will really enjoy all parts of the game.

WhatIfGaming: One thing multiplayer wise, are there more “perks” so to say or abilities with Assassin’s or are they new. We saw a mix of old and new.

AM: We wanted to keep a feel for Brotherhood in multiplayer but an even better version of this title. That was our main focus on everything and it is something we feel people will enjoy. That mix of different and also nostalgic.

WhatIfGaming: Does Ezio come with anymore new innovations when he comes to assassinate people? Earlier on he would first assassinate one person, then 2 at a time, what does it seem like now?

AM: It is definitely great with his new Hookblade and many more things such as crafting weaponry that people will love to see when the game is released.

WhatIfGaming: Thank you for your time!

WhatIfGaming: What we just saw of Hitman Absolution and the library scene…has left us speechless.

Christian Elverdam, Creative Director: The goal for us was to shock people, give that realistic theater presentation before Agent 47 came back with us to Sweden (laughs).

WhatIfGaming: A few critical questions, and I know you may not be able to answer some of them….we saw in the preview Agent 47′s change of disguise. In the past, in reference specifically to Blood Money, Agent 47′s disguises had a lot to do with the suspicion bar…but in the demo we saw no such indicator…

Christian Elverdam: Ah yes. You are actually the first one to ask us about that than the simple overview, haha. We will no longer have a suspicion indicator with Hitman: Absolution. We felt that the whole system was a little…complicated and kind of limiting the true potential for players to approach various directions of the level.

WhatIfGaming: Well..there is that…and the fact that it glitched a lot. I still play Hitman: Blood Money, and I always get a little frustrated when I pull off the perfect kill and disguise, I step out..and suddenly the A.I. gets suspicious. I was glad to see there is dialogue now…

Christian Elverdam: Haha, yes. We realized that was a big concern. That was the whole reason why we did it where there is dialogue now. Agent 47 has a voice besides the cutscenes. There is more of a natural feeling to his human side than a narrative cutscene.

WhatIfGaming: How many dialogue options can we expect? From that demo, it only seemed to be a few options…with the option to ignore, or just simply walk away or exit hiding. Is there more of a variety to dialogue options that our readers can expect?

Christian Elverdam: Dialogue for us was critical. We did not want to make this too much of a RPG but we have that RPG element, that skillfulness with which you as Agent 47 handles the situation…that is what we want players to feel. There is not just a stealthy side, or a direct approach, but you can have that dialogue as well.

WhatIfGaming: How many disguises can we see?

Christian Elverdam: As with previous titles, you can take any person’s disguise.

WhatIfGaming: The music was haunting, impacting, echoing revengeful violence…..who came up with that?

Christian Elverdam: The musical score is composed by our team that also composed Hitman: Blood Money’s music and also has various others that contribute to the melodic overtone of the sequences we just saw.

WhatIfGaming: Can we expect the game to be longer than previous iterations?

Christian Elverdam: In terms of length..we are still extremely pre-alpha. So I cannot say for sure, but we are aiming for more than 14 hours of gameplay for single-player.

WhatIfGaming: Agent 47 has always been a lone gun, but I was overhearing talks of multiplayer in the room earlier…can we expect cooperative gameplay?

Christian Elverdam: I can’t say anything about multiplayer, if we choose to do it or not (smirk). I can not say anything really at this point…too many detailed questions! I was (laughs) a bit thrown off by them.

WhatIfGaming: Agent 47 makes his return in 2012. Christian, thank you so much for explaining Hitman 5: Absolution further.

Christian Elverdam: It is always a pleasure, thank you.