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We here at Destructoid really care.

Since we knew our announcement of Game of the Year for 2008 was going to be so important, we decided to make sure everyone in the world could fully enjoy the excitement. Therefore, for the blind people, we created the above video full of delicious audio for your extra sensitive ears. And for our deaf friends, you can hit the jump for the big reveal and treat your super-powered eyes to a glorious dance of text.

Oh, wait, how will the blind people read this and know to play the video?

Crap.

Eh, well, blind people don’t care about videogames anyway.

Out of yesterday’s final six nominees, which game took the prize? Watch the video or hit the jump to find out. Or, even better, DO BOTH!

[Thanks for putting together the amazing video, R3Y!]

Last year BioShock took the coveted crown of Destructoid Game of the Year. What game will join its ranks and take the title this year? By reading your comments in yesterday’s list of the finalists, it seems everyone has different opinions about what game is the best of the best.

Some people screamed for Braid and Castle Crashers, pointing to them as forerunners of this past year’s downloadable uprising. Others felt Fallout 3 offered the most ambitious role-playing experience of the year, while some preferred the retro feel of Lost Odyssey. And there was plenty of justified arguing that the multiplayer revolution that is Left 4 Dead and the epic, jaw-dropping presentation of Metal Gear Solid 4 were unrivaled this past gaming year.

But which game won?

Drum roll, please. Thank you for the envelope, random hot girl that is standing next to me in a luxurious, sequined ball gown. The nominees for Destructoid Game of the Year 2008 are:

Braid
Castle Crashers
Fallout 3
Left 4 Dead
Lost Odyssey
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

And the winner is ...

*ripping envelope*

LEFT 4 DEAD!

Besides videogames of course, one thing most gamers have in coming is their love of zombies. From Shaun of the Dead to Dead Rising, adding zombies to anything -- even something completely random -- usually makes it that much more awesome. Think about it: imagine adding zombies to a movie like Out of Africa. Awesome! How about throwing a few flesh-eaters on Wisteria Lane to terrorize the Desperate Housewives? MORE AWESOME!

What makes Left 4 Dead so amazing, though, is the zombies are only icing on the already incredible cake. Valve’s multiplayer masterpiece truly is a revolution in videogames. In fact, some of the editors here feel it created its own genre, sort of a hybrid between a perfectly paced single-player campaign and an almost flawless, unique co-op experience.

But don’t just take my word it – here is what some of the other Destructoid editors had to say:

Colette Bennett: Left 4 Dead was one of the few multiplayer experiences this year that actually got me to crawl out of my solo gamer cave and play with friends. Well, that and I never stopped being spooked by the sound of The Witch.

Samit Sarkar: There's a reason I've been "hating on" Valve for not bringing Left 4 Dead to the PS3 -- I'm supremely jealous of people who own 360s and gaming PCs. I've only played a few rounds of L4D, but the little time I spent with it made me want it even more than when I was just reading up on it prior to its release. Get on it, Valve/EA!

Brad Rice: I repeatedly punch Necros for buying the survival edition of Fallout 3 instead of putting that extra $50 towards getting Left 4 Dead.

That's about all I can say.

Anthony Burch: Left 4 Dead is the not only the best zombie game ever made, but the best game in a genre it itself invented. I've never before seen the pacing and structure of a (remarkably intense) single-player game jammed into a multiplayer experience, but Left 4 Dead has convinced me that we should be seeing a hell of a lot more hybridized gameplay like this in the horizon. The multiplayer's pretty unbalanced and we're still waiting on more maps, but hell if Left 4 Dead isn't a must-buy nonetheless.

Jordan “Grim” Devore: What I love most about Left 4 Dead is how it's got such a small amount of content (almost all of which is fantastic), yet the game's replayability is on par with that of an arcade classic. By creating a formula that makes slight changes to what you as the player see in-game and completely socializing the zombie apocalypse scenario, Valve has made an unforgettable co-op experience and one of the best multiplayer titles I have had the opportunity of playing.

So, there you have it: Left 4 Dead is our pick for Destructoid Game of the Year 2008. Please know that it was a tight race this year and any of the other nominees could have easily won. This year was just that good.

All in all, 2008 was an amazing year to be a gamer. Left 4 Dead is an instant classic that completely deserves all of the accolades it is receiving. Congratulations, Left 4 Dead. Don’t get too drunk tonight celebrating; we all want to play you tomorrow.

Previous Destructoid Game of the Year Winners


Continue: More Xbox 360 stories





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next 50 comments

155 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Wootex's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 13:56
Wootex
I'm sick of zombies, I've become jaded by them and am completely ready for a new form of gaming cannon fodder to come be the focal point. I hope that left 4 dead is the last gasp for them and the game of the year 09 will involve... I don't know, something else.
JTHomeslice's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:05
JTHomeslice
Whoa, where the hell has Brad Rice been?
taumpytears's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:05
taumpytears
What? I'm not entirely sure Left4Dead deserved this.
flabzilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:08
flabzilla
Wow I'm surprised to see Lost Odyssey in there for a nomination, everywhere else seems to want to ignore its existence.
paulink's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:10
paulink
Playing hours on end with a bunch of buddies tends to make me think otherwise, but to each to his own.
JadedWriter's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:12
JadedWriter
MGS4 will always be my game of the year.
seltzermx's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:12
seltzermx
How can anyone ignore Lost Odyssey? It was awesome!
Zombutler's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:13
Zombutler
Haha, Great narration Chad...best award show ever indeed. AlsoOMGWOOTL4DOMGYAYBBQ
BFeld13's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:13
BFeld13
THIS IS BULLSHIT! DESTRUCTOID IS TEH BIASEST.
BlindsideDork's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:13
BlindsideDork
At least broke Castle Crashers didn't win!
weedgan's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:14
weedgan
Wow, this sucks.

L4D wasn't that great.
Phantom Spaceman's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:15
Phantom Spaceman
Left 4 Dead = Half Life 2 Mod of the Year!
eljay's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:16
eljay
Well the photo gallery in the RSS feed gave it away completely :P
Sam Spectre's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:16
Sam Spectre
AMAAAZING!
Colette Bennett's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:17
Colette Bennett
Good point, JadedWriter...I think we will all have our own personal games of the year. Mine didn't even make the nominees list ;)
GrayFox's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:18
GrayFox
Wow, surprising choice, but excluding Braid it is the correct one IMO.
KanadianKain's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:19
KanadianKain
the fact CC is still broken is reason enough that i boycott them and wont support indie behemoth ever again. wankas

braid was great, but not my favorite by any means,

L4D is cool, but not enough VS levels imo. and seeing as everyone claims is basically just a mod of thesource engine, i think charging full price for the game was sorta an insult... great game tho.

(dont own a PS3, sorry MGS)

as for LO, after watching this, ill probably be buying it next week.

Fallout, imho, you deserve the GOTY... but of course, thats just my 2 cents :)
dgschrei's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:21
dgschrei
You've got to be fucking kidding me! L4D? That shouldn't have even been in the nominees. It's a generic shooter with floaty controls that runs on an enginge that by today's standards is totaly outdated. It's also embarassingly short and the fact that the enemies can spawn from different directions definatly does not equal longer gameplay.

I would have easily applauded you for a decision on any of the other 5 nominees. In a way they all deserved to win, but L4D is in no way GOTY material. If anything it is the worst game Valve ever released.
GaveUpTomorrow's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:22
GaveUpTomorrow
Out of the group up there, I pick Left4Dead. But my personal game of the year is Battlefield: Bad Company, followed by LittleBigPlanet.
SephirothX's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:22
SephirothX
BWAHA HA HA HAHAHA

*deep breath*

BWAHAHAHAHAHA

Seriously, this was the most jaded decision they could have made and it is clearly a choice made only by the editors and none of the external Destructoid community. This game is by no means a legit contender for GOTY in any other contest, and for those who read my post when they announced the GOTY finalists I pointed out everything that makes this game flawed.

There is no way a floaty mediocre Half Life 2 mod with subpar graphics and an inexcuseable short campaign is better than the likes of a Metal Gear Solid 4.

Destructoid should be ashamed.
Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:23
Dan CiTi
This is a joke right?
jp007's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:24
jp007
Everyone shitting on Left 4 Dead must not have any friends.
Stodgy Gamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:24
Stodgy Gamer
Left 4 Dead as Game of the Year? I guess I can dig that. Personally I enjoy Left 4 Dead although I actually have yet to play Live (the idea of getting eaten by zombies while simultaneously getting degraded by twelve year olds). I always think that Game of the Year should be something that is able to give something to every type of gamer. Therefore, Left 4 Dead seems more and more like the logical choice among the other nominees.
Anus Mcphanus's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:24
Anus Mcphanus
I thought Braid was going to win for sure. Glad I didn't put any money down on that.

Out of the list I think fallout 3 is my game of the year.
Zombutler's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:26
Zombutler
STFUAJPG
Hamza CTZ Aziz's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:27
Hamza CTZ Aziz
Seriously, this was the most jaded decision they could have made and it is clearly a choice made only by the editors and none of the external Destructoid community.

Ummmm, duhhhhh. This was the editor's game of the year choice awards. We didn't have community voting.
Takeshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:27
Takeshi
MGS4 is the only game that gave me goosebumps. Therefor it is my winner.

@Colette, what game is that?
Tactix's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:28
Tactix
Nice! I'm excited to get Left 4 Dead over the holidays so I can join in the GOTY fun! :D

Also, that 3 minutes of narration was better than the whole (however long) VGA's...more of a reason to have our own Destructoid televised awards show. :P
SephirothX's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:28
SephirothX
@ Hamza CTZ Aziz
Yeah, but from the outside looking in... a majority of the community thinks Destructoid is 'meh' at best... while the editors think its the best thing since sliced bread. Makes it kinda look like they dont pay attention.
Projectexodus's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:30
Projectexodus
Hmm... I'm quite tempted to get this game, but I'm not sure I like the idea of having to depend on other people in order to have an enjoyable experience.
Miguelcar808's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:31
Miguelcar808
I was right yesterday.
My only comment about the game is:

"It takes a special type of situation for someone to love and admire EA, and is Gabe Newell talking about L4D on the PS3.
John Riccitiello, your the man ;) "
brainderailment's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:31
brainderailment
I politely disagree because Left 4 Dead is not very fun in single player.
blehman's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:32
blehman
GAME OF THE YEAR MULTIPLAYER FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT TONIGHT!!
necrozen's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:32
necrozen
Good choice. I had fun with L4D. But I only played it for like 2 weeks. I keep meaning to pick it back up.

I would have chosen MGS4, but to each their own. Oh and that video kicked ass - nice narration, Chad.
jp007's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:33
jp007
@ SephirothX

"a majority of the community thinks Destructoid is 'meh' at best"

Is that fact? Maybe you should just...leave... if you think it's so 'meh' around here...
blehman's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:34
blehman
"...a majority of the community thinks Destructoid is 'meh' at best..."

Really? You must not have gone to PAX. Don't come next year plzkthnxbai.
SephirothX's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:35
SephirothX
Simple fact is that this game is by no means GOTY quality. Upon launch it was outdated in every way.

--Graphics = subpar
--Controls = Floaty, the original Half Life controls are argueably better. Other FPS titles have much more refined controls, along with the ability to actually aim your gun.
--Length = Inexcuseable
--4 Player Coop = Halo 3 did virtually the same thing first, as did other games before H3.
--Versus Mode = Subpar and lacking content
--Lots of Zombies = See: Dead Rising, Resident Evil,
--Zombies Attacking from Different Spawns = See: COD: World At War "Nazi Zombie" mode.
Druid 01's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:35
Druid 01
LONG ASS DRUM ROLL, but i agree

didn't play MGS though so i can't weigh in on that front
R3Y GUTI3RR3Z's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:35
R3Y GUTI3RR3Z
Too defend the editors on this one, I think out of all the games that dropped this year, Left 4 Dead did something far superior then the rest of the titles... it was fun. A lot of fun.
Mr Gilder's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:35
Mr Gilder
Personally, I'm really dissapointed in this. Although wonderful in concept, I found Left 4 Dead to be sloppy and unremarkable in execution. I'm sure multiplayer fans get a real kick out of the game, but I'm of the opinion that a game bereft of any single player experience of merrit shouldn't even be in the running for GOTY status. I should have seen this coming, based on this site's overall enthusiasm for the game, but I really did expect more in the end.
Hamza CTZ Aziz's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:35
Hamza CTZ Aziz
SephirothX:

Well it's our awards. It's what we thought was the best. We all voted on our top ten games of the year and Left 4 Dead is the one that got the most.
Zombutler's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:35
Zombutler
Sephiroth are you brain damaged?
MrJunko's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:36
MrJunko
Agreed. I love Left 4 Dead. Thanks for the zombie love Destructoid!! :D
hammburglar's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:37
hammburglar
SephirothX is clearly unaware of the concept of differing opinions. It's editors choice and that's what they chose. That can't be disputed. I'm sure there's plenty of people that disagree with what your choice would be. That doesnt make it wrong.
SephirothX's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:37
SephirothX
@jp007 and blehman :

Okay excuse me. A majority of XBox Live thinks its 'meh' at best... Y'know, when the broken multiplayer of Gears of War 2 ranks higher on the activity charts then L4D.
Colette Bennett's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:40
Colette Bennett
@Mr. Sadistic -- Persona 4. :)
Druid 01's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:41
Druid 01
i don't understand the ZOMG TIS JUST A MOD argument. its very different from half-life but it does use the same engine so their are similarities. i don't hear people saying every game on epic's unreal engine is just a gear mod.
Druid 01's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:41
Druid 01
gears*
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:41
Sharpless
LOL at all the butthurt people. Left 4 Dead deserves it, hands down. This industry has forgotten how to make really fun games just for the sake of making fun games, and Valve did it with L4D. Left 4 Dead is simply a fun game. Fuck graphics, fuck story, fuck innovation -- L4D is a good, fun game to play with other people. The end. It is the purest, most fundamental gaming experience you'll find, this year.
scottoid's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:42
scottoid
cool but Metal Gear Solid is my GOTY. followed by Fallout 3.
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