Yesterday, we named our four finalists for Game Of The Year. Only four. As 2010 wheels in to a fast finish, we’ll be debating the best that games had to offer this year.
Mass Effect 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Red Dead Redemption and NBA 2K11. That’s a role-playing game, a shooter, a sandbox action-adventure, and in a first, a sports game. A compact list inevitably leaves off an outstanding title; more than four great games were made this year, of course. But these candidates all lay a credible claim to a comprehensive excellence that pushes their genre forward.
We’ll be writing up our formal nominations and defenses in the weeks to come. Don’t worry, you’ll get your say; you already are, actually, if the comments on the posts announcing these nominees are any indication.
The week that was in Kotaku’s original coverage:
K Monthly – November 2010
Top Stories
Kotaku’s 2010 Game of the Year
Concentration Camp Game Was Meant To Be ‘Fun’
Kotaku’s 2010 Gift Guide of Obscene Nicety and Sublime Naughtiness
Everything You Need To Know About World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
https://kotaku.com/kotakus-2010-game-of-the-year-5711686
Columns
Well Played: Is the Future of PC Gaming Massive and Online?
Stick Jockey: The Sports Video Games Of The Year
https://kotaku.com/is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-massive-and-online-5707624
Reviews, Previews, Hands-On and Impressions
Review: Tron: Evolution’s Glow Quickly Fades
Review: HKS Racing Controller Is A Hot Rod For Your Hands
Review: SteelSeries Shift Is A Mighty Morphin’ Power Keyboard
Review: Bejeweled 3 Improves The Unimprovable
Review: Rage HD Is A Great Demo
Review: Tron: Legacy Is Cool But Runs Cold
Review: Epic Mickey Reveals The Price Of Mischief, But With Camera Obscured
https://kotaku.com/review-tron-evolutions-glow-quickly-fades-5710987
Features
The Machiavellian Plot Hidden In A Blockbuster Video Game
https://kotaku.com/the-machiavellian-plot-hidden-in-a-blockbuster-video-ga-5711464
News
How One Developer Cheated His Way To The Perfect Smurf Village and Why
Who Steals Video Game Consoles From Children With Cancer? [Update]
Gran Turismo Series Races To 60 Million Sold
Top Final Fantasy XIV Makers Booted In Wake of Crappy Game
This Was Supposed To Be The Day Australian Gaming Grew Up
Nintendo’s Revised History Of Super Mario Bros.
The Concentration Camp Video Game
The Super Mario All-Stars Unboxing Is Sad For Luigi Fans
Ending Leaked For StarCraft II’s Next Chapter?
Apple Loses Its iPhone Game Guru
See The Incredible Autonomous Kinect Flying Machine
How A Great Cartoon Became Three Great Flash Games
With These Cards, Show Your Po-Po-Po-Pokémon Face
The Tester 2: Episode 6: “Turn ‘Em Loose” Liveblog: Driver’s Test
Call of Duty: Black Ops is Seeping Into Our Heads, Setting Up House
Watch Other People Play Real Video Games on Your iPad
New Samurai Warriors Not Quite Ready For Battle
Retro Neo Geo Games Beat Up The PlayStation Network [Update]
World Of Warcraft: Cataclysm Is Go
Which Worgen And Goblin Character Classes Should I Play?
What’s So Special About The Next Bejeweled?
https://kotaku.com/how-one-developer-cheated-his-way-to-the-perfect-smurf-5711232
Sports
The Next SSX: What We’ve Heard So Far
https://kotaku.com/the-next-ssx-what-weve-heard-so-far-5708624
Perspectives
Video Games Are Not Art, They Are…Cars
https://kotaku.com/video-games-are-not-art-they-are-cars-30852913
Reactions
The Biggest Games Of 2010 You Didn’t Play?
What’s The Least You’ve Paid For A Game?
A Disappointing Console Debut For Nintendo’s Plumber
Would You Call This An Assassin’s Creed TV Show?
Speak-Up On Kotaku: Massively Multiplayer Strategy Role-Playing
https://kotaku.com/the-biggest-games-of-2010-you-didnt-play-5711435
Press Play
Concentration Camp Game Was Meant To Be ‘Fun’
Sharp Shooter Offers Killzone 3 a $40 Crutch
This Amazing Deus Ex Trailer Will Need Some Popcorn
They’ve Got Jenga On The iPhone
Dial DC Universe Online Character Creation For Hero
Nothing Says “Horror” Like “Wii Balance Board”
This Space Marine Footage Feels Like A Punch In The Face [Update]
The Visually Sumptuous Infinity Blade
Magical Box Streams PC Games To My Television
The Midnight Launch Of The World Of Warcraft: Cataclysm Strategy Guide
NSFW: Are Lara Croft Models Worth The Trouble?
Big Ladies And Shooter Sweets Go Region Free
Yakuza 4 Doesn’t Just Fight For Money, It Fights For Love, Too
https://kotaku.com/sharp-shooter-offers-killzone-3-a-40-crutch-5710815
Screengrabs
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Was A Long, Long Time Ago
Super Meat Boy’s PC Version Has A Box, And It Is Well Done
Dreaming Of A Zombies Ate My Neighbors Remake
Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: GT5 WTF Winners
https://kotaku.com/tony-hawks-pro-skater-was-a-long-long-time-ago-5710011
Culture Smash
Japanese Net Cafes Are A Wretched Hive Of Scum And Villainy
For Idols, Even Twitter Following Is Scandalous
https://kotaku.com/japanese-net-cafes-are-a-wretched-hive-of-scum-and-vill-5709983
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