Magic Mushroom
Member
I don't think it was a case of rabid Sony/FROM fans voting Bloodborne and not The Witcher though. According to the stats, out of the people who had both TW and BB in their list, BB got ranked higher overall.
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NeoGAF Games of the Year 2015 Awards
- Thread starter timetokill
- Start date
I don't think it was a case of rabid Sony/FROM fans voting Bloodborne and not The Witcher though. According to the stats, out of the people who had both TW and BB in their list, BB got ranked higher overall.
Fortunately because it's on Playstation, region lock isn't a problem. I will definitely be importing it from the US if it doesn't get released in the EU by 2016.
RespectThySole
Member
I don't see how it is shocking. FROM is one of the most beloved developers on GAF (maybe only topped by ND) and many bought a PS4 for Bloodborne.
Exclusives are usually the winners on GAF anyway. The only multiplatform games to win were Mass Effect 2 and Portal 2. (no I'm not saying that's why Bloodborne won.)
You have to consider that the 3 platforms is largely irrelevant when taking into account that The Witcher 3 sold the vast majority of its copies on the PS4. I'm not sure how many primarily PC gamers even took part in this vote.
For example, look at how small the SteamGAF GOTY vote was or how many points any of the PC exclusives have in this list. Undertale is the only one with a decent amount of votes and that's just because any toaster can run it. Xbox users seem to have a low turn out as well. It's not like playing on PC/Xbox precludes you from having a PS4 on an enthusiast site like GAF either.
Yeah it's all fair game.
I just meant that Bloodborne fans have been on a rabid warpath once GoTY's started coming in with a vast majority of Witcher 3 wins lol.
Either game deserved top spot in the end so I'm cool with the list.
Well after what happened to P4A I really don't want to get my hopes up about that either.
Last numbers we heard were a 30/70 split PC/consoles, so potentially pretty even across all platforms. Definitely not vast majority.
GAF has always been a console focused forum and PC exclusives are generally much more niche titles. Still though you got Undertale and Pillars of Eternity on there which I think is fairly decent representation from PC gamers. They were never going to be chart toppers on GAF but still nice to see. Like I said before these charts tend to skew towards exclusive. When fans have a game to rally behind they have a reason to vote. We saw that last year with the strong Nintendo representation in the top 3.
RespectThySole
Member
I agree that isn't the case, but to be fair it was pretty much even. 215-196 in Bloodborne's favor, but a lot of votes that had TW3 #1 were disqualified due to lack of comments.(based on the spreadsheet in the other thread TTK or Cheese posted) They wouldn't have changed the overall winner though since Bloodborne would've still had more volume of votes.
RespectThySole
Member
The PS4 made up most of those sales even in the strongest Xbox territories. (US/UK) The split was still like 60-70% in favor of PS4 and The Witcher is bigger in the ROTW than those territories. When you take into account the small volume of exclusively PC/Xbox owners here, I don't think it made a huge difference in this context.
As you say, there is a difference between the total sales split and the fanbase split in GAF. Most PC gamers would not hang here, there are much more PC gaming focused forums, including Steam own forums.
GAF is mainly console driven.
Even if that part is true, you have the consider the raw numbers: chances are that way more people played TW3 than BB. People with only a PS4 could have voted for both games, but people with only PC/Xbone could only have voted for TW3, so TW3 definitely had a higher chance of appearing in way more charts than BB, hence skewing the votes in TW3's favour by "brute forcing" results from players' count alone.
RespectThySole
Member
I get what you're saying, but I don't think that the votes from PC/Xbox users are as skewed to TW3 as you are thinking.
1. There is already a low volume of exclusively PC/Xbox users
2. Just because they don't own a PS4, doesn't mean they've even played it. There are some PC gamers who mostly play indies or shorter games here. Xbox fans aren't particularly huge on RPGs in general apart from Bethesda games and Mass Effect like many PS4 owners would be. This pool of voters isn't that large to begin with. (PC/Xbox exclusively)
3. Can we be sure about more people playing TW3 on GAF specifically? (at least of those that took part in the vote) It certainly sold much more overall, but as I stated, FROM is in an exclusive club with ND in terms of GAF passion. It was also the first exclusive that made the PS4 feel "worth it" to many here so it was widely played and the OTs and DLC OTs are significantly longer than those of TW3.
There was more volume of Bloodborne votes, but those who had both in their list ranked them 1-2 in basically equal proportion. I could be totally off on this, but from what I've seen in the OT, many on GAF are still working their way through TW1/2 or intend to before playing TW3 for story purposes. Some are even reading the books. This would probably be more important here than at a place like say IGN. This isn't much of a thing for a new IP like Bloodborne.
It's also a very long game so many might not have been comfortable voting for it before reaching whatever level of completion they deem necessary. It could be that many played it and just didn't like TW3, in comparison to Bloodborne, but the data we have doesn't seem to show that. (47% of those who voted for BB had it as their top choice which is exactly the same number as those who voted TW3 as their top choice + the above data referring to their ranking by those who had both in their lists) Again, I could be wrong, but I don't think that users on a site like GAF conform to the same type of purchase choices of a regular site.
At this time last year I thought it would be MGSV vs Uncharted 4 vs Fallout 4.
Alpha Phoenix
Member
TW3 sold more than BB as well. If I remember right, BB went off the charts after its initial month on the market, whereas TW3 kept selling and eventually hit a milestone by June.
I couldn't say why either game would win over the other, but I know for a fact that TW3 by and large has a higher number of GOTY awards than BB.
JudgmentJay
Member
Impossible!
DriftingSpirit
Member
It is really that simple. The continued conspiracies and discussions on several other factors are amusing though.
RespectThySole
Member
It's not that it's uncomfortable or impossible. I actually suggest this in my post as a possibility. I just don't see how it is remotely suprising that Bloodborne won GOTY. The lowest anyone could've realistically expected for Bloodborne is #2 unless you just haven't followed GAF much at all last year. It seems completely disingenuous to say otherwise.
Also, in regards to Bayonetta 2, We already know that it was not the most played game. Very unlikely to be the case even on GAF. Mario Kart 8 received more votes than Bayonetta 2, but less points overall. This is not what happened here.
Can you seriously not tell the difference between Bloodborne and Bayonetta 2?
Bayonetta 2 released in a fairly weak year for both PS4/XB1 in terms of exclusives and multiplatform games. PC had a good year, but there wasn't much fanfare for PC exclusives last year aside from Divinity. These circumstances allowed Bayonetta 2 to get the win. (not undeserved)
GAF loves Platinum, but it's not nearly as widespread as the FROM love. Bloodborne handily broke the record for points and reached OT5. Bayonetta 2 recieved less points than Rocket League and didnt even make it anywhere near OT2. Hell, even Bloodborne's expansion OT dwarfs Bayonetta 2's OT. OTs aren't the end all be all, of course, but this scenario happening with Bloodborne seems more plausible than something like Bayo 2. I'm not even saying that it did happen, just that there is no suprise here.
Also, in regards to Bayonetta 2, We already know that it was not the most played game. Very unlikely to be the case even on GAF. Mario Kart 8 received more votes than Bayonetta 2, but less points overall. This is not what happened here.
Can you seriously not tell the difference between Bloodborne and Bayonetta 2?
Bayonetta 2 released in a fairly weak year for both PS4/XB1 in terms of exclusives and multiplatform games. PC had a good year, but there wasn't much fanfare for PC exclusives last year aside from Divinity. These circumstances allowed Bayonetta 2 to get the win. (not undeserved)
GAF loves Platinum, but it's not nearly as widespread as the FROM love. Bloodborne handily broke the record for points and reached OT5. Bayonetta 2 recieved less points than Rocket League and didnt even make it anywhere near OT2. Hell, even Bloodborne's expansion OT dwarfs Bayonetta 2's OT. OTs aren't the end all be all, of course, but this scenario happening with Bloodborne seems more plausible than something like Bayo 2. I'm not even saying that it did happen, just that there is no suprise here.
All your points are valid.
I actually don't prefer W2,but I was just thinking up how people could defend such a position ,because I've seen a lot of arguments about how BB didn't deserve to win because its inferior to its predecessors.
No wai man, here let me post a couple of spreadsheets of reasons why this multi platform game which sold great was clearly the underdog all along.
iz.podpolja
Neo Member
Let's not act as if BB was the dark horse in the race though.
Could you point to where I said that?
BB was the dark horse, and even TW3 to an extent. Earlier in the year the discussion revolved around MGSV vs UC4 vs FO4.
RespectThySole
Member
Exactly. It's not a difficult concept to grasp. Different demographics have their own particular buying habits. BB was always more likely to win GOTY here than TW3. It placed higher on the most anticipated list last year.
http://neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=967454
Bloodborne: 1474
TW3: 1171
In terms of general media, both TW3 and Bloodborne were underdogs to Fallout 4, Batman, MGS, UC4, etc. before the year started.
It's not like that it some rule.
These games all released in 2014 and were lower placed than Bayonetta in the GOTY and higher placed in the anticipation list:
Dark Souls 2
Destiny
Infamous: Second Son
Super Smash Bros.
Titanfall
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
iz.podpolja
Neo Member
It was a general statement - nobody was calling TW3 an underdog either.
It's not like we're letting the cat out of the bag here or anything.
RespectThySole
Member
I'm not saying it's an exact science. Those games you listed were largely disappointments to GAF though aside from Smash Bros. and they were punished for it.
Similarly, if MGSV had a competent story that satisfied fans, I bet it would've won this year.(even with its other flaws)
Edit: It's like how we expect Uncharted to win the next one even though there is always a chance of it being an "Uncharted 3."
Disaster Nebraska
Banned
Depends on your perspective.
I could name several 2015 games that are bigger franchises and were more likely to be awarded compared to BB and W3:
- MGS5
- Batman AK
- Fallout 4
- Halo 5
- Xenoblade X
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Destiny TTK
Both W3 and BB were not slated to be big hits of 2015. People figured they would resonate with the existing fanbase but that's about it. BB was a breakout success that surprised Sony and FROM. W3 even moreso. Go back and look at "most anticipated games of 2015" lists to verify.
iz.podpolja
Neo Member
Sure, but that was in the beginning of the year when all we had were pigs in a poke, and as we came to separate the sheep from the goats, everyone and their dog knew there was not a cat in hell's chance for any of these to win.
GOTY is also based on Genre and Mainstream appeal. Quality is just one factor.
When you look at it the game needs to have all 3 just like UC, like for example SFV is never going to get it because Genre. And Persona will never get it because Mainstream appeal.
Of course this applies to media GOTYs like VGA,IGN..etc. On GAF anything is possible. Persona has as good a chance as UC , if UC4 doesn't live up to everyones expectations.
I think there are some other exceptions to this though. I think the most interesting thing is that, if Fallout 4 had been announced in 2014, I feel like it would have topped many anticipated lists. But the Witcher 3 beat it in GotY awards, and I don't think that's because Fallout necessarily disappointed people but because people thought it felt like more of the same in comparison to the Witcher, which offered a similar large open world but with more meaningful and deeper content populating said world (note: I haven't actually played Fallout or the Witcher, this just seemed to be the consensus).
Yeah well, things kind of change between hype and actually playing a game. By the time the real GotY discussions started here Witcher 3 wasn't a dark horse, and frankly for the base here I don't think Bloodborne ever was. Even the arguable weakest game (Dark Souls II) hit the top 5.
EDIT: Actually, looking back Witcher 2 was also within the top 10 of that year, as a PC exclusive. Hitting XB1 and PS4 simultaneously this time... it was bound to make a huge leap forward, though I suppose there could've been an exclusive allure that could've vaulted Witcher 2 higher. But Witcher 3 was getting way too many GotY awards in the media to not have a respectable ranking here.
HueyFreeman
Banned
Shouldn't this thread be stickied? Seems to have sunk too fast for the enormous amount of work that goes into it.
Overall unsurprised with the results, even though I don't seem to be able to really love Bloodborne and MGSV the way so many of you do. Feel like SOMA's position is mainly due to how few people played it - but also not a bad position overall
Overall unsurprised with the results, even though I don't seem to be able to really love Bloodborne and MGSV the way so many of you do. Feel like SOMA's position is mainly due to how few people played it - but also not a bad position overall
The best game won, nothing wrong with that.
Persona 5 is gonna take it this year. Gaf loves japanese games.
Uncharted 4, Last Guardian and FFXV will make it one of the toughest years ever.
Xenoblade is not a bigger franchise than Bloodborne/Souls lol.
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
Dark Souls III, yo.
Unless it gets robbed.
I'm also assuming TLG and FFXV are not coming out this year, but I won't mind being wrong.
Aaronrules380
Member
Technically true, but lets not pretend Bloodborne didn't lean heavily on the souls franchise in order to get sales
I don't know if that's even something it set out to do so much as what came naturally.
generic_username
I switched to an alt account to ditch my embarrassing tag so I could be an embarrassing Naughty Dog fanboy in peace. Ask me anything!
You may be right but comparing OT length may not be accurate for Soulsborne games because the obscure nature of these games promote a lot of discussion. So one person who may just post 5 times in an OT for a game would post way more for a Soulsborne game. Does not necessarily mean more people played it.
God I hope not.
generic_username
I switched to an alt account to ditch my embarrassing tag so I could be an embarrassing Naughty Dog fanboy in peace. Ask me anything!
I don't really understand. I remember the excitement being through the roof for Bloodborne and it was largely because its a Souls game. Same as how there was excitement for XCX because of XC.
Pretty much. It wouldn't have gathered anywhere as much attention leading up to release if it wasn't the new "Souls" game.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
whoosh
Congrats, now you know how I feel every time I see people insist that Bloodborne is a new IP.
This reminds me of how some people argue that Xenoblade isn't a new IP because it's a part of the "Xeno" series.
Elitist1945
Member
Completely forgot this was coming out so I'm just seeing it now haha. I'm glad Until Dawn got a lot of attention from NeoGAF! Very good picks.
timetokill
Banned
brandonh83
Banned
It is technically, but a Souls game at heart.