da1on2

plus isn't it a RPG?

da1on2

blahism

JamminJonah

You can play games without a console.

"A Console? Are you fucking kidding me? The fuck do I need a console for?? I can play games very well without it on a computer and with better graphics and for less money. I have been for many years now."

That's why there's chocolate and vanilla my man. Some people don't want to do sweet ass workouts like www.gymjones.com (where the cast of 300 trained) or www.crossfit.com where you throw medicine balls and kettlebells and crap. Some people still dig a book and a treadmill. That's why they aren't in very good shape. anything that makes America less fat assed or at least tries to - I salute you.

JamminJonah

Slint

Crysis got best PC game followed by Bioshock, yet in the best Action genre Bioshock came second but Crysis is nowhere to be seen.

But good call on Skate for best Sports! Shame the competition isn't so hot in the category which kinda dilutes the win a bit, but whatever!

PlayingKarrde

The graphics must not be amazing and the millions of people who downloaded the trailer must be downloading it for other reasons then graphics????

If Kotaku didn't give it an honorable mention in the Special Commendation for Graphics, it must be one ugly game and nothing like the trailers we've seen.

I bet all the trailers for Assassin's Creed are one big hoax, and Kotaku is the only one who knows this.

cyberlink74

Game: a structured or semi-structured activity, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes also used as an educational tool. (The term "game" is also used to describe simulation of various activities e.g., for the purposes of training, analysis or prediction, etc., see "Game (simulation)".) Games are generally distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more concerned with the expression of ideas.

Key components of games are goals, rules, challenge, and interactivity. Games generally involve mental or physical stimulation, and often both. Many games help develop practical skills, serve as a form of exercise, or otherwise perform an educational, simulational or psychological role.

I don't know that sounds alot like WiiFit could be in that category. :)

As for the rest of the list, I was surprised about Uncharted. I think it would beat out Ratchet and Clank at least and get in the top five. All the others sound spot on.

JohnnyLA

L_K_M

Otherwise the list looks about like I expected: Kotaku does love it's Nintendo above all else.

Sardu

Oh well, at least LittleBigPlanet and Mass Effect got some love. So I guess I'm happy.

Sloopydrew

Looks like you missed the part of the logo of the Game Critics Awards that include mainstream media such as: USA Today, Newsweek, TIME, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, San Jose Mercury News, Business 2.0, and MTV.

E3 isn't really for "hardcore gamers". It's for these industry types to get together and show off to a broad variety of audiences what they've been working on. This includes investors, target audiences, mainstream press, and specialized press. After all.. that's what an Expo (Exposition/Exhibition) is about. It's one of the Es of E3 (the original name.. before it became the E3 Media and Business Summit), didn't ya know? Or did you forget that the other two were "Electronic" and "Entertainment"? Now, if I recall correctly, Nintendo dealt with all three Es and therefore didn't miss the point at all with any of the things they showed in the same way that Sony and Microsoft showed off what they were working on and unleashing to the general public.

RWHC

kryo

mnky

@Wolf_Dog:
. You do know the board wont be used just for Wii Fit, right? Imagine something like a snowboarding game with the balance board? That would be pretty awesome.

seasponge

Random1512

Crippl3

to tell you the truth, I'm kinda glad. Less hype now means shorter lines on launch day :P

jamosthefifth

magiczero

thegunshow

Señor Cagon

I really think uncharted AND heavenly sword should be on the action or action/adventure game list...and that Folklore, while good, is almost an RPG... I really have this feeling that Heavenly sword will be surprisingly well received, and that we will look back at Christmas and say that it was one of the stronger titles of the season.

adventchild08

crewwolfy

-party/casual games coming from non-Nintendo platforms
-RPGs coming on the 360
-presence of Tiger Woods, much less two titles

crewwolfy

Feelz Good

If you take Myst (or a game like it) and maybe throw a very minute amount of enemies you need to beat that then makes it an action game?

SpishackCola

Chucky

ca$h

Different bad! Bad!

PBnZelly

I was referring to many comments made bitching why 'Wii Fit' isn't a game. I find that fairly narrow-minded and have yet to read a logical post as to why that is.

My nose is naturally brown, as you can see from my photo. :)

PBnZelly

i_9

This article doesn't require "narrow-mindedness" or immature age to be complained about, I see a lot of readers just took a simple logical approach in their critique, notably lack of coherent categories and the games placed in them.

Kon1g

oh wait, that's because Link doesn't gain experience points, he doesn't get new skills, and he doesn't get to improve his attributes. he needs magic gloves to become stronger. he needs to collect heart pieces to increase his health. THIS TYPE OF GAME IS NOT AN RPG!!! GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK HEAD!!!

AgainstOne

Kon1g

natpoor

PBnZelly

I tend to agree with this definition. The Zelda series, which has always been marketed as Adventure, would clearly NOT fall into the RPG genre... as the focus is primarily finishing the quest more than developing your character.

RiceBandit

happymedic

Tepoz

baxterpunch

lompocus

Well, then tell me, what is leveling, if it isn't playing the game until your character reaches a certain goal that causes them to become stronger? It's an RPG element in very basic terms, but it's still an RPG element, and it's in conjunction with other RPG elements that are present in the game.

Yes, games like God of War have elements similar to this, as well. But guess where God of War got the idea?

*GASP* RPGs!

justhesh

SpishackCola

Your definition is archaic. Besides, half your examples of what isn't an RPG are in games you say are RPGs.

justhesh

SpishackCola

If you're a Nintendo fan, you already know there will be a million of those coming out. Besides, it's not a gamer convention. It's a press conference.

@AgainstOne:
What do you think collecting hearts is?

@Phazonmasher:
If you really think the controls are bad, then I question you own competence with the game. The only controls are go, slow down, turn, and special effects. Are you really having that much trouble with them? Yikes.

As for the difficulty, it's supposed to be that way. That's the entire point. It's a challenge. You're supposed to hit your mark, and you're supposed to hit it well. They're making movies, remember. If you miss your mark, you don't get the shot. Therefor, if you miss your mark in the game, you fail. Simple as that.

justhesh

I would be more prone to say that COD isn't a game. Apart from being primarily a fish, it's more of a military simulator than a game. You can play "games" with your friends *in* it, but the basic mode is replication of historical weapons and locations.

Guitar Hero obviously isn't a game if Wii fit isn't. There are challenges and rewards in Wii Fit, as in Guitar Hero, but hey you're simulating something you can do in real life, so I suppose its not a game, just a simple guitar-playing simulator. Karaoke games are even less so.

Pong isn't a game. It's basically table tennis on a screen, another simulator that my mom could play without a stupid paddle peripheral that does nothing but tell you if you "score" or not. I can do that on my own, thank you very much.

Any of those alphabet or early math or Carmen Sandiago games aren't games either, because they're more to teach you something than to entertain. Plus, how do you play Reader Rabbit with your friends? Totally impossible. Not a game.

Wii Fit may have many different possibilities and the board may have many uses for gamers, but if Squaresoft made a game it wouldn't be a game because Wii Fit isn't a game and I like Star Wars.

In conclusion, the dictionary definition, the wiki definition, the industry definition and any definition that I don't like is wrong, and I'm right even though I'm completely inconsistent. And no, I'm not just invalidating Wii Fit because I don't like exercise.

BTW, the Nintendo Power Pad? Not a game. Neither is that Power Pad sprorts package, because sports aren't games and the power pad isn't a game, ergo, I am insane.

ego531

AgainstOne

kidko

jacksons98

Lider

AgainstOne

Please, if you will, justify not including Crysis and/or GT5 in the best graphics category where non-playable games are welcome.

Engineer_This

Jeff P.
Petroglyph Games.

lordshaitanbh

baxterpunch

Yeah its ok to show it here, but to make it THE thing of your press conference is a bit much in my opinion and is just further alienating half of the core gamers.

SamSam11

Harmonix > Activision

Guitar, Base, Drums, and Vocals > Guitar, and Rythem Guiter/Base.

SamSam11

And I'd want my game to get as much attention as possible, starting with the existing userbase, gamers.

velvet396

@justhesh: there's no "leveling" in zelda, sorry.

AgainstOne

devosion

E4all? what?

I just think that all the places covering the event were catering to the hardcore crowd, it would be better to announce a game like WiiFit somewhere where casual gamers will actually notice it, like in a newspaper or TV etc.

SamSam11

You could say that's the art style, but that art style isn't exactly raising the graphical bar. There are games that are out now that look either as-good or better. I have yet to see a console game that's graphically superior to KZ2.

Maybe there is something that looks better than KZ2 in terms of graphics. However, I'm sure its not MGS4.

Next-Gen-Gamer

FINE! You win, i'm copywriting it right now!!

Wolf_Dog

joncoffee

velvet396

It makes no sense at all!

Variable-Gear

jeezus.

Cell9song

oh well, I cant bother arguing it all anyway.

Irenicus

But then again Madden 08 is running twice as fast. TWICE AS FAST.

Oh and then theres Naruto, the show for boys aged 8-14.

Kotaku bloggers, I'm about to call your wives, you're sleeping on the couch tonight brother.

SamSam11

I think Rock Band deserve to get this award

chaman_shimano

wottow

Also, RPG=Role Playing Game, as in you can choose/create/play your own ROLE, this is why Final Fantasy and Oblivion are RPGs because you can customize your character/team in them, and games like God of War and Zelda and RE4 are not because you cannot customize your character/team, you merely get can get stronger as the game goes on and get different tools [not customizable tools, tools with a purpose].

totallyschizo

Phazonmasher

If you were to make a simple interface device on a cheap machine, and sell that to dentist offices, I'm sure it would be successful. Some little kid on his first dentist appointment? And he gets to play a game? He would love it! ESPECIALLY if the game tells him he did a great job. And I am 100% serious about this, no sarcasm.

And that's the case in point, you are not thinking outside the mindset of the gamer... you just accidently stumbled across a great casual game idea. There are other people out there besides you, there are little kids, there are moms, there are seniors. There are other places to play a game than your living room also. The idea of gaming is spreading far and wide beyond these places and demographics. We are close to the time when it would be unheard of to have never played a video game... 100% market penetration.

And you want this to stop?

baxterpunch

crck

SamSam11

TimLyons

What else do you want them to do? The Wiimote can only be used for so many purposes before they've done them all.

justhesh

I mean, you think old grandmas, women, and children are going to be keeping tabs on E3? Hell no.

E3 is the place where the hardcore of the hardcore of gamers go, expecting things like a new Mario or Zelda for example, so what does the big N give us for there big finally.

WIIFIT! YOU CAN NOW KEEP FIT WITH YOUR WII AND PRINT US BILLION DOLLAR BILLS LOL!!!

The game itself isn't bad, but in terms of an E3 showing, I do not believe it should be on the list. Just my 50 cents.

SamSam11

/half sarcasm

Gamemaster

Im gonna pitch an idea to the company about a game where you mimic brushing your teeth with the Wiimote you asnd your friends can take turns brushing you teeth and eliminate the biggest percentage of plaque and gengivitis from your teeth. So the TV can tell you you did a good job!

While were on the subject of non games, i'll go write a book for non readers, then base a movie off of it for non movie goers.

Wolf_Dog

Just because you exercise or use physical movements, doesnt mean something isnt a game. We cant keep living in the past forever guys, times change and so gaming changes. I know you want to pick up your dpad and memorize your attack combinations, but the wii controller/wii board is just another way of control for the game that makes things simplier and intutive (not dumber, I see having to memorize 100 billion combinations dumb). Just because casual games is on the rise, doesnt mean you have to fight it till your last dying breath.

More gamers overal is good, even if they are casual. The more people that play, the more gaming is accepted as form of entertainment. Instead of being reserved for the greasy shirt mountain dew chugging condescending anti social nerd sterotype. Hence more interest/acceptence, more money flowing in the industry which means better games. Sure some will be casual, but your epics/hardcore games will still be there. The wii-fit doesnt spell out doom, it just a new way to game.

Kenoji

The demo is good, yes. But it is NOT a racing game. And as far as I'm concerned, neither is Burnout.

justhesh

Lard

Gamemaster

lol @ original game titles. Wonder how long it took them to come up with these.

Everybears

Scrapple

wottow

My brain... It...

Gamemaster

ca$h

wottow

@Kenoji: See above. I feel a game should have an objective that's more than just self-improvement. And I don't mean to bash Wii Fit; if it can help people get into shape, than that's great. However, calling it a "game" is misleading. As for the balance board, well, I'm sure that there will be one or two games that take advantage of it, but more than that is unlikely. How many games for the NES supported R.O.B. or the Zapper? Not many. The balance board is like nearly every other peripheral: gimmicky and pointless outside of the one or two games it's designed for.

kylenalepa

For us old timers, we've (at the base level) been playing Halo since Doom came out. Same level of interaction, same experience... OVER AND OVER AND OVER. So now, after playing the same 3 or 4 games for 20 years, we like seeing games that turn the whole definition of "video game" on it's head. It gives us a new way to interact with the console, and with others. Would I play Wii Fit? Sure as shit. I'm married, man, I ain't got no one left to impress.

baxterpunch

Toasticus

TOCATL

If this were from anyone else I wouldn't trust it but from Kotaku I'll get my hopes up...dare I dream Mario Galaxies is good?

Glad to see Mass Effect all over the place, though BioShock is noticably absent from all but one category. Hmm.

WaterMedia

Wii-Fit is not a game, in a similar manner brain age is not a game. These are tools to improve one self. However, they are not games. I can make an interactive piece of software that allows a person to learn speed reading. On a PC this would not be a game. However, it seems that in your opinion if I were to make some cute mascots to put in it and throw it on the Wii or DS it magically becomes a game. Wii-Fit is not a game. It is a tool to allow people to exercise and measure their progress. It is no more of a game than a rowing machine with a memory chip.

However, just because I say Wii-Fit is not a game does not mean that I'm demeaning it. It's an interesting piece of software and an interesting peripheral. It definitely deserves best of show. Just not anything related to calling it a game.

Finally, to sum it up, a game's purpose is to entertain. Wii-Fit's purpose is to exercise. This is why the body that governs the gaming industry is the Entertainment Software Association.

So please, take off your rose colored glasses, call a spade a spade, and realize that it not being a game is not an insult, it's a fact.

soulscreme

Have fun with your virtual scale and your virtual pet. I'm going to go play some actual games.

Lard

Gamemaster

Gamemaster

But then again Madden 08 is running twice as fast. TWICE AS FAST.

Oh and then theres Naruto, the show for boys aged 8-14.

Kotaku bloggers, I'm about to call your wives, you're sleeping on the couch tonight brother.

SamSam11

TOCATL

From wiki-
Formally, a computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players may interact with in order to achieve a goal (or set of goals). A video game is a computer game where a video display is the primary feedback device.

Wii fit has goals and can be fun. So what stops it from being a game again?

Kenoji

Eville1

Oh, but the rest of the list is pretty good.

wottow

Kidd

They are games in the same way that SimCity was a game. Just because you can't "beat" them doesn't stop them from being games.

Toasticus

Violater

Other games help you improve yourself without tricking you, why aren't these games? Why don't casual games exist?

Come on, let us into your thoughts!!

Gamemaster

Because this adds interactivity to excersice. And people like that. They like to have someone (even if it's the TV) say "You did well!" or "You aren't doing it right!" (stationary bikes with video games have been popular for years, and rehab exercises with video games are earning a lot of cred in the medical world, and for good reason)

If you ever broke out of your hardcore gaming mentality ONCE, you may be able to realize why people will want to buy this, and how it is indeed filling an empty niche.

I will personally never own this product, I don't even have a Wii. But I am able to remove myself from the viewpoint of a gamer, and this thing is brilliant.

baxterpunch

you can do more then just push-ups with wii-fit. The new peripheral opens a world of possiblities, which can be used for casual but possibly even hardcore games (reference to squares interest). Innovation is key, and whats really interest me.

Whats your defintion of a game, a shooter when you fight aliens/terroists/alien terroists? or a rpg about saving the world from imminent destruction?

Kenoji

@Kenoji: They aren't games. They're software...but not games.

Lard

Gamemaster

@Toasticus: Nice that you'll sit and make personal insults about people you don't know.

@kevko: Named after the band

Lard

IT'S NOT EVEN A GAME.

Seriously, this is stupider than Nintendogs. To paraphrase the most recent Diggnation, what are you going to do, have your friends over and take turns doing push-ups?

kylenalepa

Fetus_God_of_Love

Anarchist_Gamer

baxterpunch

Brian Crecente

That game is awful. Terrible controls/feel, shitty framerate, annoying announcers, etc. I am not a fan of Gran Turismo, but I would have been happier had it ranked instead of Stuntman.

Xirj

I love it, though.

The reason I think people love it is because it's pure awesome.
People seem to get more and more sour these days when things are called "original", though.
"WII REMOTE WAS DONE X YEARS AGO BY MICROSOFT!! NO ORIGINALITII!!"
"WII FIT ISN'T ORIGINAL!! GO OUTSIDE AND DO REAL PUSHUPS!!!11!"

Gamemaster

Brian Crecente

@baxterpunch:
My mom would look at Wiifit and say to me: "Are you fucking kidding me, the fuck do I need to buy that board for?? She can do exercises very well without them and has been for many years now.

Wolf_Dog

Brian Crecente

SomeRandomGuy

boxmyth

Also, EA has the top three online multi-players... interesting.

Citan359

Boxelder

Toasticus

kevko

dye

baxterpunch

ez054098

Brian Crecente

Gamemaster

they are games, not just hardcore ones.
Hence, casual games.

Kenoji

crck

Brain Age isn't a game. Neither is Nintendogs. Neither is Wii Fit.

Lard

CramerGamer

It's an interactive video medium. It's like saying Brain Age isn't a game, it's a "smartifier". It's a "casual game".

Gamemaster

Bland choices, but the entire show was bland so I suppose that this is an appropriate list. Or something.

Do Kesubei

Yeah, I'm really having trouble seeing the appeal here, and being an add-on and not a pack-in, I have to question how well the balance board will really do. There has also be fitness software both for PC and consoles before, so...

Kobun

Kenoji

Brian Crecente

Samos42

Scottacus

the game really interested me, is there any video or any news for it (other then on the website) at e3?

Kenoji

Razorwing

kingofallcosmos

But surely Crysis is the best looking game EVER?

reddevil

Best Original Software? Maybe.

Best Original Game? Rubbish.

Lard

"RPG" refers to turn based games only. Not tactical turn based games, either. "Action RPG" gets eliminated for being retarded in the first place. FFXII is action/adventure? Deal with it. Then there would be no debates about whether Zelda or Castlevania (this one's WTF) are action RPGs, because they're not.

Gamemaster

zellogs

EnigmaNemesis

Oh, and Brian, I had a great laugh at "Echromosome".... either that is one hell of a typo, or it's some sort of inside joke.

baxterpunch

Eyerox

baberg

OftenNot

God of War's multiple weapons...all two of them.

justhesh

Callidux

Zelda's an action adventure. Resident Evil 4 is NOT an RPG, you would agree, yes? But it has an inventory system, quests (protect Ashley), and "leveling" (increasing health meter).

spork

TOCATL

afmvdp

Also, a lot of people were disappointed with Nintendo's E3 conference, but that didn't stop the fact that Mario and Zelda, and even WiiFit got a lot of positive attention. Just thought that was interesting.

Callidux

FelixLighter

Hiltz

If there was, I'd definitely give it to Left 4 Dead.

gamingitup

JerryJax

Candlejack

You collect weapons and powers so I guess that counts......

penhalion

Wolf_Dog

I can't wait to get my hands on both of them...

jslay012

aryall

God of War has an inventory? Not that I ever saw. A menu yes, inventory no.

alucard_0007

Gamemaster

soulscreme

By that definition God of War's multiple weapons and increasing life bar make it an RPG.

stranger678

alucard_0007

soulscreme

soulscreme

Well, essentially it has an inventory system, leveling, and quests. It's an RPG in very basic terms.

justhesh

soulscreme

Gamemaster

Gamemaster

raison

SomeRandomGuy

Vandor