Working Title 06.17.10: Working Title Halftime Awards

Posted by Jordan Williams on 06.17.2010

You voted. I counted. They won. It's time to find out who is the Biggest Male (and Female) badass so far this year. What is the biggest let down? Biggest surprise? And of course...what is the Game of the Year So Far?

Welcome back to the #1 Column to be caught up in all of the E3 Goodness, WORKING TITLE.

This is usually the part where I give you the gaming update and all of that noise, but this week I am getting it just to the awards. If you REALLY want my thoughts on E3 be sure to check back Monday(ish) for my 3Rs of E3. Plus I'll probably do a short E3 Fallout next week, too.


ONWARD WITH THE WORKIES.

Working Title Halftime Awards 2010

And here it is, the moment exactly one of you have been waiting for. Although this week is just full of E3 goodness we cannot forget that there are still games that are out THIS YEAR that deserve recognition. Of course, the games in the first half of the year tend to get overlooked in favor of the stuff that comes out in the fall, but they still need to be recognized...so this is why we are having the 3rd Annual Working Title Halftime Awards.

I've already gone over the criteria for the nominees as well as what is at stake, the winner of their respective award will be automatically nominated for an award in the Year End Awards in December.

So let's just cut out all of that jazz and get to the good shit. And don't worry; the E3 Fallout 2010 will happen next week. For now just bask in the glow of meaningless video game awards.

The Batman Award for Manliness

6 months have passed; this means that it's time for Batman to hand over his mantle of Badassery off to the next man in line. To hold the Mantle of Manliness means that you kicked ass, either with weapons, guns, your mind, or just your wit...you beat the shit out anyone in your way and you had a smile (or a scowl) on your face the whole time. Above all, it means that at any moment you can simply flip out and go on a murderous rampage on anyone who is near you just for the shit of it...you are man. You are awesome. And now it's time to find out who the new man is...


Garrus Vakarian (Mass Effect 2)
Some call him Space Batman, some called him Claw Face, and others call him Garrus -FUCKING- Vakarian. He travels the galaxy and rights wrongs and kills the fuck out of anyone who crosses him in the wrong way. He also fucks space bitches and uses his 'reach' to tap the ass of certain female commanders. And what does he do to unwind? Calibrations of course.

Kratos
What can you say about Kratos that hasn't already been said? The guy has a major beef to pick with the Gods and has seen to it that he makes each one on them pay in the most gruesome ways possible. He is painfully efficient at his job and...Well. That's about it. This is the award for Manliness, not character development.

Sam Fisher
We have an alien, and a demi-god. We might as well throw an old fart into the mix. Being the oldest person nominated for this award in Working Title history, it's at least worth mentioning that he also could kill everyone reading this before the realize they are dead. Especially if you fuck with his family.

Rico/Scorpio
Being in one of the most explosive action games in a long time would be a good enough reason to get your name put on the shortlist of manly video game characters. Of course being able to use a grappling hook to stop you from landing in a splat on the ground after freefalling from space can do the same exact thing.

George Woodman
You know what? I'll go ahead and just spoil it and tell you that George Woodman didn't win. In fact he only got one vote. But you know what? It doesn't matter. George Woodman would kick the shit out of you no matter what you do. And you know what? He'll do it with his HAT ON.

2009 Year End Winner - Batman






2010 Half Time Award Winner of Manliness
KRATOS



It was close between Kratos and Garrus, but in the end the guy who topples Mt. Olympus takes the title. In who is most arguably one of the most badass and manliest characters to EVER come out of the gaming world, it really should be a no brainer that he not only skullfucked his competition, but then he felt good doing it. Maybe he has what it takes to win in the Year End Awards, too.

The Dormroom Dominator Award

Play with you friends and your friend's friends and their friend's friends. This is the game that brings people together before they all get torn apart by hatred. It dominates the dorm rooms and other living spaces...but who will win?


Battlefield: Bad Company 2
The first one might not have been as well receiving on the consoles and the PC, but the second one definitely made a splash. Taking a lot from (and taking the piss out of) Modern Warfare 2 helped this shooter out a lot...well...unless you were a damned dirty recon. Fuck you wookiees.


Super Street Fighter IV
Sure, it might not be the newest game on the block. But with all of the improvements on the net code and lobby system this game was just BEGGING to be the dominator this year. But are 10 extra characters and an addictive as fuck lobby going to be enough?


Splinter Cell: Conviction
Ever since Pandora Tomorrow no one would've thunk that a Splinter Cell game would've had pretty good online play...in fact, up until about a month ago people were STILL playing Pandora Tomorrow....either way, Splinter Cell dominated the dorm rooms of those of you who loved sneaking.


Monster Hunter: Tri
Who would've thunk that a game where you grind to kill giant monsters would end up attracting a large fan base? It's not like grinding in a game automatically caters to all of the OCD guys who play video games out there.

2009 Year End Winner - Modern Warfare 2








2010 Half Time Dormroom Dominator
Super Street Fighter IV


It might be a 'special edition', but it offered enough new stuff to keep the people interested. 10 new characters, a better lobby system and the ability to beat the shit out of people using Dudley in 3D? Sold. Plus it's 40 dollars. Double Sold.

Not a Bang, but a Whimper Award

Every year some of these games get a ton of hype...hell, we just got through watching E-FUCKING-3 the MOTHER of all hype machines. But it's always a possibility that some of these games that get hyped to death never live up to the standard set fourth...but what happens when they fall short of the line? You end up on this list.



Star Trek Online
You know...I am a big ass Star Trek fan but even I could've told you that an MMO about it would tank. Star Trek has never EVER -EVER- been known for it's action, which is why nearly all the games with the license have ended up failing. So why even try to make an MMO about it?


Alien vs. Predator
Despite me being a big fan of BOTH of the movies, I also fucking LOVED the original AVP PC game, so when I heard a new one was coming out and it was made by the same people, I was ecstatic...and then I played it. Man, how the fuck can you go so wrong with SOMETHING YOU MADE SO RIGHT!?


BioShock 2
I think BioShock will be right up there at the top of the list for games that didn't need a sequel but got one anyway. And this is why BioShock was on the list, the first game contained the story so well...this was not needed.


Final Fantasy XIII
A new Final Fantasy, a new broken fan base. Is the super linear JRPG finally dead? Toddo sure as fuck hopes so and if FXIII is any indication he might be right.


Dark Void
Capcom is one of those companies that just seem to baffle me. When a game does good (Resident Evil 4) they are all up in arms and loving it...but when a game does badly (Bionic Commando, Dark Void) they are so quick to blame...America? Man, fuck you.

2009 Year End Winner - Tony Hawk Ride








2010 Half Time Whimper Winner
BioShock 2


While AvP and Dark Void were BAD games, they were new (or reborn) IPs that could've had a sequel. BioShock 2 for me (and others) gets the 'win' here because...there was honestly no reason for this game to exist. The story was done, it was over. Rapture is a place to vacation to...you don't want to make a habit of going back to the well so to speak. It's a damn shame that this WAS made too because it almost invalidates the greatness of the first game by having such a lackluster follow-up. ...And what the FUCK was that multiplayer?

The Die in a Fire Award

What is there left to explain about this one? We hate this award. We hate everything nominated FOR this award. I mean...IT'S FUCKING CALLED THE 'DIE IN THE FIRE' AWARD.



Pre-Order DLC
Sadly, this one is not going away. I mean shit; we were seeing Pre-Order DLC bumps during -E3- TRAILERS. Fuckin' shit...I mean...the games aren't even DONE yet and they are hocking this shit.


The Antagonist (Deadly Premonition)
Again, I won't name them to avoid spoilers...but this fucker seriously did some pretty fucked up things during the course of the game...but the last 20 minutes really throw this fucker over the top. I mean...DAMN.


Activision vs. Infinity Ward Drama
COWADOOTY versus THE GUYS WHO MADE COWADOOTY relevant. Ironically it seems like the drama has actually died down, but it's only a matter a time before we get another fucking news spew from it.


The Origami Killer (Heavy Rain)
This is more of a DIAF not because of what they did...but who they are...I mean...talk about a let down. It should of been her. You know who I am talking about....

No. Not her.

Yeah. Her


Jacob Taylor (Mass Effect 2)
Do I need to play the video again? You are as boring as mashed potatoes with no salt. God, I hate you.

2009 Year End Winner - Boycotters








2010 Half Time Award Roasted Failure
Activision vs. Infinity Ward Drama


This isn't about choosing sides here (I actually side with Activision a bit, if someone is fucking with the money then they need to get the fuck out) but this thing is so long and drawn out. It's like a bad Hollywood divorce...and the thing is you know Joe Q. Casual who plays the majority of COWADOOTY doesn't give a FUCK about any of this. So why is it taking up so much of news outlets time? Keep this shit under wraps.

Baddest Bitch Award for Womanhood

So we've already passed the Mantle of Manliness to Kratos, but who well reign alongside of him on the throne when we crown the baddest bitch of the land? We've nominated women for Manly Awards in the past, but this year its all girls. So who wins it? The Psycho, The Other Psycho, The Witch, The Cowgirl, or The Other OTHER Psycho?



Jack (Mass Effect 2)
Sure, she might be one of the frailest characters in the game...but if you tell her that to her face she is probably likely to rip you in half with her mind. ...Or fuck you if you're a guy.


Big Sister (BioShock 2)
It's like someone took Jack and put her in a scuba suit. Seriously. The Big Daddies in BS1 were plenty scary, but they were manageable. The Big Sister (especially on higher difficulties) she will wreck your shit...and why? Because she thinks of the children!


Bayonetta (Bayonetta)
You know what? I hate Bayonetta. I really do. She encompasses pretty much everything I hate about 'female' characters...but she did suplex a dragon and generally did other stuff that was apeshit. So her badass bitch status can't be denied.


Bonnie MacFarlane (Red Dead Redemption)
Bonnie might be the most realistic of the women on the list. She isn't a supernatural badass or a psychic, she is just a down home ranch worker who takes care of her land and occasionally races horses. But...I mean shit, its 1911 and she was already a badass. Just think of how badass she would be in modern times?

Makoto (Super Street Fighter: IV)
People wondered why Makoto got on the list and not more popular SF characters like Ibuki or Juri. Well, the quick answer is that IT'S MY LIST, FUCKERS. The longer answer is that MAKOTO WILL PUNCH YOU IN THE DICK. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? PUNCH. YOU. IN. THE. DICK. She is The Angry Sun personified.

2009 Year End Winner - N/A








2010 Half Time Award Winner of Womanhood
BAYONETTA


...WHY DID YOU GUYS VOTE FOR THIS? ...Damn it.
What can I say good about her? ...Uh...
Um.
...
She...dances well? Man, fuck you guys.

The "Shit Just Got Real" Award

Martin Lawrence just didn't know at the time that the words he uttered would become one of the best verb like phrases to describe crazy shit in video games for a long time. Arguably any moment you create in a video game could make shit get real but we all know there are some that stand out above the rest. Who had it so far this year?


The Attack on Mt. Olympus/Opening (God of War 3)
So this was it, this was the beginning of the end. Kratos had spent the last two games kicking ass down on Earth and making everyone his godly bitch, but this was the time he took the fight to the top. And he brought THE FUCKIGN TITANS with him. I mean shit...when you bring those guys for back up you are pretty much set.


"He grabbed Sweetwater's Parachute!" (Bad Company 2)
This is another one of those in which I will go ahead and reveal that they did not win. In fact, it didn't get a single vote from here, my email, or my facebook. So...um...did ANYONE besides me even play Bad Company 2's single player? Oh. That's why.


Joker's Last Stand (Mass Effect 2)
Joker. Good ole Joker. The man can't do a cartwheel without breaking his spine, but he can somehow manage to stave off the second most catastrophic thing in the game from happening. Maybe that means he might be fully playable in the third game!? He can break his arms AT people now!


"Welcome to Greenvale! Agent Francis...York...Morgan!"~ The Raincoat Killer revealed. (Deadly Premonition)
I really can't elaborate on this one much more without spoiling who the Raincoat Killer is...but let's just say although it's pretty goddamn obvious who it is by the time you find out, it doesn't make the reveal (and the chapter leading up to it) any less cool.

2009 Year End Winner - N/A








2010 Half Time Award Realest Moment
The Attack on Mt. Olympus

This was something that just set up the whole game, although someone could say the entire game was BALLS TO WALL CRAZY SHIT the image of Gaia and Kratos riding up the Mountain to pretty much give the bloodiest "We're HERE" party ever.

The Left Field Hit Award

We have the games that fail to live up to expectations, and then we have the games that had pretty much NO expectations that come out of nowhere and SCARE THE DICK OFF OF US. Outside of maybe Bayonetta, all of the games on this list were NOT expected to get as much love as they did.


Just Cause 2
Just Cause 1 was NOTHING to write home about. The game was ALRIGHT, but not a hit. Just Cause 2 on the other hand...I mean...you can surf on the hood of a jetliner while shooting rockets at passing jets trying to shoot you down. What the fuck else do I need to say?


Street Fighter IV (iPhone/iPod)
Yes, an iPhone game got nominated. But it wasn't the casual Peggle or Plants vs. Zombies type thing. This is Street Fighter...and it actually worked. It proved to be enough of a hit that Capcom is looking into expanding it a bit, which is okay with me.


Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing
Although the idea of the fastest land animal in the world driving a car is silly, you can't deny that there hasn't been a kart racer that has emulated (and improved in some places) on the Mario Kart style this well since Crash Team Racing.


Red Steel 2
This one is one that is pretty great. It proves that at least there are SOME developers out there that know how to spin a product to be good even if the first one was utter shit. Red Steel 1 for the Wii was a bomb in all aspects. It exposed the weakness of the Wii controls at the time and was just a straight up JANKY game. Red Steel 2 comes along and completely obliterates the memory of that game and actually ends up being, in my opinion, the best FPS on the Wii to date.


Bayonetta
Bayonetta is the spiritual successor to both Viewtiful Joe and Devil May Cry and it shows. You would think with a pedigree like that the game would already be destined for success but man people doubted it...and they ended up wrong. Despite my feelings on the game it still proves that Bayonetta was a game that came out of nowhere...and it came out FIRST.

2009 Year End Winner - inFamous








2010 Half Time Surprise
Just Cause 2


This one BARELY one out over Bayonetta mostly because they both allow you to do fucked up crazy ass shit...but with the pedigree that Bayonetta had behind it, you sort of expected that one to be at least decent. Just Cause 2 on the other hand came the fuck out of NOWHERE and blew our pants off. The game did have some problems and was SUPER janky (voice acting, maaaan) but it was a wild fucking ride and if they managed to make 2 so much better than 1...imagine how 3 will be?

Crowning Achievement in Awesome

You know what? I don't need to explain this one. Just read.




Mark and Execute x5 (Splinter Cell: Conviction)


Did she just SUPLEX A FUCKING DRAGON!? (Bayonetta)


Falling...falling....falling....falling....GRAPPLEHOOK! (Just Cause 2)


You just blew up the SPACE NEEDLE (Split/Second)


Best. Flashlight. Ever. (God of War 3)

2010 Halftime Awesome Moment
Best. Flashlight. Ever. (God of War 3)

THE EDITOR says I need to put a blurb here.

Uh.

HE RIPPED OFF THE GOD'S FUCKING HEAD. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO USE IT AS A MOTHER. FUCKING. FLASHLIGHT. THE END.

Workaholic's Choice Game of the Year So Far

This year is kind of weird. Here we are at the Game of the Year So Far and this list could very well be the same EXACT list by the end of the year. When is the last time a year of video game goodness has been so damn top heavy? Hopefully this sends a message to The Industry that we can keep a steady flow of good games coming out all years instead of shoving them all in the fall.


Alan Wake
Alan Wake. Proved everyone who thought that the longer the game is in development, the worse it gets wrong. Of course it also offered us a thriller that we haven't seen since Silent Hill 2 and proved that the SURVIVAL Horror genre is not dead...it's just not Resident Evil anymore.


God of War III
The best thing to happen to Sony since the Television. Although the series' has hit the end on consoles (for now) this series will still live on for YEARS with gamers as being probably the best trilogy in a long...LONG time. Maybe Sony can pull off a back to back win?


Mass Effect 2
The hype train was HUGE on this one, and rightfully so. Given all of the short comings that ME1 had, it still sold well and set up a great foundation for a story. Mass Effect 2 came along and blew that one out of the park. It improved on mostly everything that the first one did wrong (because it seem that no matter what you say, someone has a surgical knife for your words) and added in things that people wanted (like Tali's vagina...and other gameplay changes).


Red Dead Redemption
Some people are calling this the greatest Rockstar Game ever...and I think that's a LITTLE premature seeing as the game is just a month old. But the game definitely left enough of an impression (as the votes say) to get nominated right now and who knows? Maybe in time it WILL end up being the greatest Rockstar game EVER.


Super Mario Galaxy 2
And then there was Mario. Mario Galaxy 1 won GOTY before, and Mario Galaxy 2 might make it two in a row...but the thing is in my personal opinion, Mario Galaxy 2 is one of the truest GAMES on the list. It's challenging but accessible...and it's fun. A lot of these games tend to get up their own ass in trying to be SUPER SERIOUS and SUPER MATURE...but Mario is like...fuck all that. You're here to have fun...and possibly trip balls at the same time.

2009 Year End Winner - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves








2010 Half Time Game of the Year So Far
Mass Effect 2


It was close. Mass Effect was pretty much going head up with God of War 3 but in the end ME2 took it. It's not a surprise to me because while GoW3 was great, to me it was still...you know...God of War. Mass Effect 2 however was just heads and shoulders above the stuff that came out this year. The story telling, the action, and the sheer fact that although it's not was evident at first the choices you are making just make the story feel more...you. Of course you can do multiple play throughs and saves, and you are reaching the same end. But I think ME2 is more about the characters than anything and the fact that you can keep this character and their story going through games just makes it better. For my money, and apparently for a lot of yours Mass Effect 2 is Game of the Year So Far...and stands a really good chance of holding onto that title by the end of the year.

---

Working Question

You know what? My E3 Fallout is next week but...

You know what? Fuck it. I'll ask. Who won?

Find out what I think on Monday.

Until then, I'm Jordan Williams and...man...the Kinect is so...so...not....