Game of the Year?

There's much discussion at work about what should get game of the year. As anyone who reads this knows I'm for Fallout 3 all the way. But then I saw the list of contenders and, although it didn't change my mind, it gave me something to think about.

Apparently Call of Duty 4 is actually up for this award despite having been about for ages. Apparently it just missed last years awards so this year is desperately trying to get people to pay attention to it again. It's like the old dog desperate for some love despite there being a new puppy. Which is quite a sad image. I might regret using that one. But it's still a strong contender. If anyone remembers it.

Gears of War 2. A potentially strong contender, but really it doesn't have much chance of getting the final award purely because it was only released on one console, effectively halving the number of people who are likely to vote for it. Same for Little Big Planet. There just aren't enough PS3 owners out there to take on games like Fallout 3 and Call of Duty 4.

I'm going to brush over World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, because, well, if it wins, I'll eat my hat. And that won't be pleasant. Mainly because it's made of wool.

There are however a few wildcards in the mix. Professor Layton and the Curious Villiage is one. I can't say I've played it, but apparently it's very good. If you own a DS. And have never played a proper game in your life. There's just a vague chance it could win if all the housewives and ten year old girls who liked it cared enough to vote.

The same goes for Wii Fit. If every person in the country were forced to vote (at gun point) then Wii Fit would probably win. But I don't think that the market it targets care enough to go online and vote.

Another one that almost falls into this catagory is Guitar Hero: World Tour. However I really don't think it has any chance on winning purely because everyone who plays Guitar Hero is generally a gamer and won't vote it as game of the year. Because it isn't. 

So what does that leave? Ah yes, two games that actually almost knock Fallout 3 from its pedistal. Well, actually, that's a lie. Only one of them does.

Grant Theft Auto 4 annoyed me. As I'm sure anyone who knows me is fed-up with hearing. It is however a strong contender for game fo the year. It's on all three major gaming platforms (PS3, X-box and PC) so has the man power to potentially win. It was also good depite my misgivings. Everything about it was strong. I'm just not sure people loved it enough...

Left 4 Dead on the other hand deserves to win. And it it does I won't eat my hat because, well, it doesn't look very tasty. I really think (and hope) that the competition's between Fallout and this and both would be equally deserving of the prize.

Actually, is there a prize? I know they get a trophy, but hell, I get trophies just for playing games. These guys made one. Surely a desert island or something would be in order...