Guild Wars 2

Easy choice to win. No rpg has come close to gw2 this year. Especially after that bellyflop they call d3…….

Grats to GW2, a deserving accolade.

As for the whole is or is not and RPG, the definition of RPG is pretty vast and varies between each individual and therefor should not be argued because there is no right or wrong, only differences of opinions.

nofo.8469:

Should be awarded best RPG of all time.

Up there with BG1-2 and probably beats planescape: torment. Much better story and character customisation, not to mention the combat is much more advanced.

I personally believe that despite its flaws (and let us be honest, basically any MMO is a WIP, especially in the early months) GW2 very much deserves its accolades. It does so much right. GW2 is the only MMO to have ever held my attention at a sustained level.

That being said, bearing in mind that such things are very subjective, I disagree entirely with your comment
First, comparing GW2 to the Black Isle titles of the late 90s/early 2000s is like comparing guava to cranberries. The BG series and PS:T are old, single player RPGs heavily based on the second edition D&D ruleset. There is no way you could expect the combat and character customization from those old games to bare even a remote similarity to ANY modern game. That kind of comparison is simply unfair.
As to story.. no GW2 does not beat either the BG series or Planescape Torment. It especially does not surpass Planescape Torment. PS:T’s entire foundation rests on narrative, and it refutes a great many fantasy tropes. As good as GW2 is, it does none of the above.

All the people struggling to discredit GW2 from having earned this award by claiming it isn’t an RPG amuse me…

Congratulations ANet, you earned it. Haven’t enjoyed an MMORPG this much since UO.

Creslin.1758:

All the people struggling to discredit GW2 from having earned this award by claiming it isn’t an RPG amuse me…

Congratulations ANet, you earned it. Haven’t enjoyed an MMORPG this much since UO.

I haven’t watched the video (I prefer reading) to see why they claim GW2 to be the best RPG. I think in terms of combat and from an MMO standpoint, they do a lot of things right and better than things that came before it (even if it doesn’t all flawlessly execute). But these are all non-RPG things. Yes, RPGs should have good gameplay backing their RPG-elements, but what does it say when the best RPG this year has really meager and weak RPG-elements to it? That either the competition was weak or earning the award is less about the actual RPG-parts and more about the other stuff.

Also, gamespot awarded Skyrim RPG of the year for 2011… weaker RPG-elements and story telling compared to the Witcher 2, but both pretty impressive games; though Skryim was arguably shinier and had “more”.

Creslin.1758:

All the people struggling to discredit GW2 from having earned this award by claiming it isn’t an RPG amuse me…

I agree. I think GW2 doesn’t deserve it because it is a poor RPG, not because it isn’t one.

I love Guild Wars 2, but I’m not sure it should be RPG of the year. It should have been MMORPG of the year instead and SW:ToR should have been RPG of the year…I think that would have been more fitting.

And while we’re at it, I take issue with the term RPG being applied to any of these games. RPGs require books and dice and some people sitting around a table. These are CRPGs, and I’m not sure when they decided to drop the “C,” but they should bring it back.

Bruno Sardine.2907:

Creslin.1758:

All the people struggling to discredit GW2 from having earned this award by claiming it isn’t an RPG amuse me…

Congratulations ANet, you earned it. Haven’t enjoyed an MMORPG this much since UO.

I haven’t watched the video (I prefer reading) to see why they claim GW2 to be the best RPG. I think in terms of combat and from an MMO standpoint, they do a lot of things right and better than things that came before it (even if it doesn’t all flawlessly execute). But these are all non-RPG things. Yes, RPGs should have good gameplay backing their RPG-elements, but what does it say when the best RPG this year has really meager and weak RPG-elements to it? That either the competition was weak or earning the award is less about the actual RPG-parts and more about the other stuff.

Also, gamespot awarded Skyrim RPG of the year for 2011… weaker RPG-elements and story telling compared to the Witcher 2, but both pretty impressive games; though Skryim was arguably shinier and had “more”.

What you say about the Witcher and Skyrim is arguably true, but that is not how those categories generally work as I understand.

Winning “best RPG” does not mean that the game exemplifies the ideals of the RPG genre the best among its competitors…it simply means that the game has been categorized as an “RPG” and is better than all other games that have been categorized as “RPGs.” Personally, I think it would be ridiculous to try to award a title based on what game exemplifies a genre, because if forums have taught me one thing, it is that NO ONE agrees on what a genre really means.

So while RPG may mean stat progression and lots of skills to one person, it might mean excellent story to another, and then gaining exp to another.

@Creslin

Just be glad its’ a discussion about video game genres and not, say, music. There are so many types of “metal” in music that I feel it should have its’ own periodic table.

ProphetSword.5427:

I love Guild Wars 2, but I’m not sure it should be RPG of the year. It should have been MMORPG of the year instead and SW:ToR should have been RPG of the year…I think that would have been more fitting.

And while we’re at it, I take issue with the term RPG being applied to any of these games. RPGs require books and dice and some people sitting around a table. These are CRPGs, and I’m not sure when they decided to drop the “C,” but they should bring it back.

LOL…

These games have been called RPGs since the 70’s.

RPG is a classification for ANY kind of role playing game. It could be on computer, table top, or just completely acted out with no aids at all.

Table top or pen and paper RPGs is a sub-classification that describes games like D&D.

Video or Computer RPGs is a sub-classification that describes RPG video games.

Both are RPGs.

Much like how both humans and dogs are mammals.

Warkupo.1025:

@Creslin

Just be glad its’ a discussion about video game genres and not, say, music. There are so many types of “metal” in music that I feel it should have its’ own periodic table.

Yeah I know what you mean. I just find it funny that so many people get up in arms about “proper classification.” I mean…who the freak cares?

Nothing is fundamentally changed by how you classify it. So it’s really a pointless discussion. A rose is a rose by any other name.

Gehenna.3625:

Creslin.1758:

All the people struggling to discredit GW2 from having earned this award by claiming it isn’t an RPG amuse me…

I agree. I think GW2 doesn’t deserve it because it is a poor RPG, not because it isn’t one.

Soooo let me ask.

Do you browse the forums of every “poor RPG” that you buy 4 months after their release?

I dunno…I know that for me, if I honestly don’t like a game, I just don’t play it. I definitely won’t be found on its forums multiple months after its out.

GW2 IS an RPG (and I say so as a lover of the old Black Isle games.) It lets you role-play your characters if you so desire, and offers you options to do so. Not THAT much freedom, but there’s a reason some people role-play with each other in GW2 (such as in Tarnished Coast, though I am not part of that server): because it IS an RPG, and can be played as old-school as you would allow.

Old-school Wizardry series is awesome, but GW2 being MMO and being TOTALLY unlike any Wizardry game doesn’t mean it’s not an RPG-it’s just a different breed of RPG.

I almost always role-play my characters, at least in my head if not directly with other players. Every choice I make about them has some thought put behind it, beyond what’s “cool” or even “more effective.” I want to play my character the way I envisioned him/her, not the way others wish I played him/her-because I role-play him/her.

Blame it on (most) the players that we don’t get old-school RPG games anymore-companies (sadly) won’t make great RPG games such as in the past because it seems the demand isn’t there, and there’s (IMHO) far too much focus on fluff rather than substance (I am not sure we’ll ever hit the Baldur’s Gate I-II plateau ever again.) Of course, feel free to let me know of any great RPG game I may not know about, as I’ve been out of touch from PC gaming for a while (GW2 is my only game at the moment, and I am not looking for any other MMO either, but would check out other non-MMO’s RPGs.)

I

Creslin.1758:

Winning “best RPG” does not mean that the game exemplifies the ideals of the RPG genre the best among its competitors…it simply means that the game has been categorized as an “RPG” and is better than all other games that have been categorized as “RPGs.” Personally, I think it would be ridiculous to try to award a title based on what game exemplifies a genre, because if forums have taught me one thing, it is that NO ONE agrees on what a genre really means.

So while RPG may mean stat progression and lots of skills to one person, it might mean excellent story to another, and then gaining exp to another.

That’s why it’s important for those giving out awards to convey why something is determined the best (and ultimately why they don’t convey the process)…. Because the awards that don’t seriously weigh a genre by the general qualities associated with its genre are garbage awards. By your argument, the devs could’ve called GW2 a shooter (hey, people are flinging projectiles and such) as well as an MMORPG and it could feasibly win “best shooter of 2012” as well. Since the qualities associated with being a shooting genre are minor compared to the overall game, GW2 would have a good chance at beating COD: BO2 since the cod game merely focuses on the same old multiplayer whereas GW2 has a lot more to it.

Bruno Sardine.2907:

Creslin.1758:

Winning “best RPG” does not mean that the game exemplifies the ideals of the RPG genre the best among its competitors…it simply means that the game has been categorized as an “RPG” and is better than all other games that have been categorized as “RPGs.” Personally, I think it would be ridiculous to try to award a title based on what game exemplifies a genre, because if forums have taught me one thing, it is that NO ONE agrees on what a genre really means.

So while RPG may mean stat progression and lots of skills to one person, it might mean excellent story to another, and then gaining exp to another.

That’s why it’s important for those giving out awards to convey why something is determined the best (and ultimately why they don’t convey the process)…. Because the awards that don’t seriously weigh a genre by the general qualities associated with its genre are garbage awards. By your argument, the devs could’ve called GW2 a shooter (hey, people are flinging projectiles and such) as well as an MMORPG and it could feasibly win “best shooter of 2012” as well. Since the qualities associated with being a shooting genre are minor compared to the overall game, GW2 would have a good chance at beating COD: BO2 since the cod game merely focuses on the same old multiplayer whereas GW2 has a lot more to it.

If they called GW2 a shooter, no one would agree with them. It should be painfully obvious for anyone that doesn’t frequent video game forums that GW2 is an RPG. Whether you call it an “action RPG” or an “MMORPG” it is still an RPG.

People on forums have crazy ideas about genre classification…the rest of the world generally does not.

I love the story in GW2, i played with human and now i playing with my Sylvari the Story is very good. I like to much

Congz Gw2

Vlaxitov.5693:

alcedonia.7831:

it is still a prestigious award. and they won it. i don’t see why people are trying to take that away from anet.

could they have won it if gw2 came out last year? i don’t think so myself. but they won this year. good for gw2, good for anet. there’s no point try to throw a wet blanket over everything.

Oh yes, as Ralphy’s dad would put it, “its a major award.”

Gamespot MMORPG of the year goes to SWTOR.

http://e3.gamespot.com/best-of-e3-2010/genre-awards/index.html?page=12

We all know SWTOR was the best game ever.

I also remember AoC getting several “game of the year” awards as well, even before it released… That game was a sparkling jewel too.

Game of the year awards are almost as “prestigous” as today’s nobel prize..

errrrr ok. and what is the entire point of this exercise?

to demonstrate that gw2 isn’t a good game and shouldn’t have won the award, and even though they did win it, it’s a lousy award anyway?

stop being a grumpy wet blanket.

^^@ Creslin

Yes crazy to classify best of a genre based on how it is as that genre of game. Maybe the shooter analogy I used isn’t the best example, but here’s another…. Say the award is “Best Beef Dish of 2012” here are the nominees:

+ A huge piece of steak that’s been overcooked and burnt to the crisp
+ A decently prepared beef dip sandwhich with some pretty good sides
+ A 5 star out of this world dish that has no beef incorporated into the dish except the little piece of subpar beef jerky on the side

Which one wins? My argument would be the sandwhich since it embodies the characteristics what it means to be a beef dish and does it well along with having some good extras to it. Your argument would say that the 5 star dish is the best beef dish even though it’s actual beef component is garbage and the dish as a whole barely embodies any of the qualities of actually being a beef dish; it relies more on everything else than the core attributes associated with being a beef dish.