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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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155 comments | showing # 51 to 100

weedgan's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:43
weedgan
I was personally hoping for Super Punch Out!...but yeah, call me old school I guess.
SephirothX's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:43
SephirothX
@ hammburglar :
Its hard for me to pick a GOTY this year because there were alot of quality titles that hit. But L4D wouldnt have made the final cut for me, and I've given a lot of very logical reasons to support my opinion... not just saying "lots of zombies is fun" and passing that off as a review.

Its just simple fact that even though its their opinion, its a clearly biased one. Destructoid has been overhyping L4D since before the game ever launched, and have been complaining about its lack of time atop the charts on Xbox Live, heck even yelling at people saying "LEFT 4 DEAD IS NOT HALO YOU IDIOTS", its more of a case of the other games not getting an equal chance.
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:44
Wedge
Lol a majority of XBL. Oh hay, btw the game came out on PC too. I hear they like it there. But I guess that means it doesn't count as a real game these days.
hammburglar's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:45
hammburglar
dont forget that a majority of xbox live thinks that everyone is a fag. xbox live activity would have to be by far the last place i look when judging a games quality.
Corak's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:47
Corak
Well I don't agree with your choice, but to each their own. I thought MGS4 was a more complete package than L4D. And I did think Braid would get chosen over this.
pandlcg's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:48
pandlcg
As much as i love Left 4 Dead currently i feel like there's no way it would have won if it came out in January of 2008.
vidvid's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:49
vidvid
so....is goty judged by what you like/play the most or is it the BEST game, even if you may not enjoy it the most.

If it goes by BEST game...how does mgs4 not win? im a xbox fanboy and i can even realize that mgs4 is superior in all categories that are looked at when reviewing/rating a game.

get real...you just lost all credibility.
GamerD's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:49
GamerD
Castle Crashers , but I might be bias
blehman's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:50
blehman
When I take my opinions from xbox live...I'll fucking kill myself.

Also, I agree fully with Sharpless. He should play L4D with me tonight.
mix's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:51
mix
MGS4 would have been mine but L4D is pretty fucking sweet!
elsteveo's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:52
elsteveo
If you seriously base your GOTY choice on graphics you are an idiot. Left 4 dead is a blast if you haven't played it you are missing out that is for sure. If you say it is a mod then you can say any game based on the Unreal engine 3 is just a mod. Same gaming engine does not mean it is a mod of another game.
jp007's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:52
jp007
@SephirothX

Dude, that's not what you said. YOU said "a majority of the community thinks Destructoid is 'meh' at best..."

That has nothing to do with what XBox live thinks about L4D...

Additionally, basing what "XBox Live players think is 'meh'" on the activity charts, doesn't make a lot of sense. GoW2 is a hugely hyped sequel, and sold more than L4D, so of course it's going to be higher. Everyone I know playing L4D on live thinks it's brilliant.

Personally, my single player GOTY is Fallout 3.

My multiplayer pick is Castle Crashers (yeah there are online problems, but for me, this was an incredible 4-player couch co-op experience.)

I'm surprised to see Lost Odyssey on the list. I had heard nothing but disappointment about it, so I never purchased it. I might play it in 2009 if I can find a good deal for it.

I haven't played Braid yet, though I've been meaning too since release..

MGS4 is not on my list. Any game that makes me actually get angry and yell at the TV going "Are you fucking SERIOUS!? Another fucking cutscene? Jesus Christ!" is not a personal GOTY. I've never been a big fan of the series though, it just makes less and less sense everytime...
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:54
Sharpless
And while I'm being a Valve fanboy, I feel like arguing SephirothX point-by-point:

Graphics: Irrelevant. Only graphics whores would let more-or-less average graphics stand in the way of their enjoyment of a game.

Controls: The controls are fine. I have no idea what you're talking about.

Length: It's short, yes, but it's meant to be replayed with friends, and no two playthroughs will ever be exactly the same anyway. PC gamers (at least) will get free content added on later, as well.

4-player Co-op: Halo 3 may have had it, but it didn't do anything interesting with it. Your teammates were irrelevant in H3. L4D creates a true co-op experience, forcing you to absolutely rely on your teammates. Without them, you're dead. In H3, without them, you just get more kills, and- Oh, wait. They respawn almost instantly. Right. Real interesting.

Versus Mode: Sadly, they could've expanded on this more than they did.

Lots of Zombies: Ever encounter the horde? Yeah. Just because not every single inch of real estate is covered in zombies, that doesn't mean there's an inadequate number of them. And the areas without any zombies only serve as warnings for the rape-traps ahead.

Zombies Attacking from Different Spawns: I'm going to go with Zombutler's response and ask if you're brain damaged. There is no comparison between L4D and COD5.
Druid 01's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:54
Druid 01
yo seph, ever heard of steam? its the home of L4D
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:56
Holyetheline
I'm still stuck on GTA IV... but that will probably change when I get L4D.
Touch's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:58
Touch
I don't get some of the bitterness about this decision - this is just the overall choice of the Dtoid editorial team, that's IT.

It's not an announcement which is going to make one iota of difference to your life (unless maybe you decide to check out L4D as a result of reading it). I'm pleased that Dtoid didn't make a choice based on what they thought "should" win rather than what they personally enjoyed the most, on average across all the writers.

Personally, GTA4 and MGS4 both rocked my world this year but I still can't shake off the feeling that LBP, for all its flaws, was the most significant release in 2008. I honestly believe that in the long run it will be remembered longer than any other game released this year
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:59
Sharpless
@Blehman
I think I should play with you too, but I don't have an Xbox or a copy of L4D on hand. :(
SurplusGamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 14:59
SurplusGamer
Just LOL @SephirothX for thinking he can state a bunch of opinions as 'simple facts'.

Actually, Braid was my game of the year - until Left 4 Dead came along. Can't you just accept the ACTUAL 'simple fact' that LOADS of people thought L4D is absolutely stunning and you don't happen to be one of them?
Pyroph's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:00
Pyroph
I respectfully disagree, but L4D is a lot of fun.
ghets's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:01
ghets
People that dont like this game and think its too short obviously havent experienced the joy of playing the game on expert and having your friends scream into your ear for help while theyre being dragged away by a smoker, puked on by a boomer, and ripped to bits by a hunter just as the tank arrives.
Topher Cantler's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:03
Topher Cantler
BLAH BLAH BITCH MOAN PISS WHINE etc etc
l0cke's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:04
l0cke
Saying L4D uses the same engine as HL2 or CSS is like saying Crysis uses the same engine as Farcry. Sure, they both have the same name and they both work in the same way, but it's not like they just took the Hl2 engine and said "Okay, it's finished, let's not work on it at all anymore"
blehman's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:04
blehman
Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!
ran24's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:06
ran24
BOO! HISS!
DinnertimeNinja's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:07
DinnertimeNinja
Bah!

I don't fault anyone for loving the game but BAH!

MGS 4 has it hard though because you really have to have played all the other games in order to get the best experience out of 4.

That said (and as someone above also said), MGS4 is the only game that gave me goosebumps this year. And seriously, you'll remember MGS4 as a better game further down the road than you will L4D. It's a fun game, but I haven't found it to be very memorable.
Druid 01's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:09
Druid 01
i love you topher
GrieVelorn's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:09
GrieVelorn
*clap* *clap* It's nice to see a GOOD games win GOTY for once.(not saying all other gotys are bad games just some only got the title because of sales or hype of some other bs like that.)
dgschrei's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:09
dgschrei
FYI l0cke Farcry uses the CryEngine 1
Crysis uses CryEngine 2

HL2 and L4D both use the Source engine, so I would say arguing that they both use the same engine is not such an odd point.

L4D even inherited Valves stupid habit of spending 90% of the polygons on the character models which in return makes the levels all look very blocky and not at all look organic.
Atlas's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:11
Atlas
Did Chad record this in a really empty warehouse or something?
dgschrei's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:13
dgschrei
@ Atlas: It's amazing what Audacity can do.
naia-the-gamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:14
naia-the-gamer
RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!!!

I haven't even played L4D so I can't comment, but seriously, I'd expect this at IGN, not here...
Quisling's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:15
Quisling
It's sad, really. It's my pick too, but just because there isn't anything else. I mean it isn't a bad game, but it was one of the FEW this year that actually warranted a purchase.

C'mon developers, get your ass in gear and start making groundbreaking titles!
SurplusGamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:15
SurplusGamer
@DinnertimeNinja

Respectfully disagree, being that I don't care about MGS and I already know I'll be playing L4D for a long time. I expect they'll both be remembered as great games, but I suspect that MGS is more of a niche product than its fans think - for people like me the series just doesn't provide what I'm really looking for in a game. I know there are a lot of people like me.

I'm not knocking it, I'm just saying that like there are lots of people who L4D isn't for, the same is true for MGS. In the end, they both have their place in game history.
Charlietime's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:23
Charlietime
It was better than GTA4
but
I traded l4d in, three days after i got it.
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:23
Tubatic
"Its just simple fact that even though its their opinion, its a clearly biased one. "

Adding it to my list of quotes!
pascuz46's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:23
pascuz46
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is my game of the year. However, Left 4 Dead would be my second choice even though i haven't even played it, because I dont have a 360 and my comp isnt good enough. Valve makes great games and the idea is really kool i really hope that game comes to PS3, if not then maybe when I get a PC good enough to play the game ill get it on that. All and all, im content with Destructoids pick for 2008, also I am really excited to play Destructoids 2007 GOTY, BioShock im getting that for xmas! :D
R3Y GUTI3RR3Z's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:27
R3Y GUTI3RR3Z
@ Atlas,

No. I added an echo effect to his voice. Sadly, the Dtoid player compression suppressed a lot of the nice 5.1 surround sound.
Chicken008's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:31
Chicken008
Really?
bluexy's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:32
bluexy
While Left 4 Dead wouldn't have even made my list, I do have a number of friends who some good ol' zombie shootin'. Just seeing Lost Odyssey up there with the others fills my heart with joy. :)

Cheers!
sik's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:33
sik
Am I the only one that has noticed that everyone keeps saying zombies? They're still live human people, just infected with a behemoth rabies virus that owns humans. I know, they're basically zombies, but I don't remember when zombies could run fast.

28 days/weeks later they were infected with the rage virus.
I Am Legend it was the T virus (iirc).
Quarantine they had the same thing as L4D, a super-homo rabies virus (coincidence?).

The special infected aren't canon.
SurplusGamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:35
SurplusGamer
sik - even the characters in the game call them zombies. It's just easier.
cainball's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:37
cainball
Everyone stop picking on Sephiroth. It's not hsi fault that the only way he can feel good about himself is to insist that his preferences and tastes are superior to everyone elses.
moggle's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:37
moggle
Huh.
Left 4 Dead is a great game. Fun as hell. It's also the wrong fuckin' choice for Game of the Year.

Whatev.
sik's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:38
sik
@Surplus

True (lol@Zoey calling zombie bullsh*t).
Mxyzptlk's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:39
Mxyzptlk
I totally agree with this. I've had more fun playing Left 4 Dead online and off than I have with any other game in a while. The campaigns are a perfect length for a quick session and supremely replayable, Versus is fantastic if you've got two teams of four working together, and the story takes a cue from Portal perfectly - gives you just enough to make you wonder and keep things interesting, without hitting you over the head and explaining everything.

Also, Chad is awesome.
Mr Wrighty 987's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:44
Mr Wrighty 987
i didnt like L4D at all so MGS4 is my GOTY hands down
cartman08's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:48
cartman08
@SephirothX

who cares about xbox live! L4D plays best on a PC as do all Valve's games. The controls are perfect, graphics look fine to me but tbh I don't play L4D for graphics I play it for fun which theres loads.

SephirothX@FAIL
Bacchus's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:48
Bacchus
I liked left 4 dead, but fallout is my winner.

I also think MGS4, Rock Band 2, Gears of War 2, and GTA4 were better.
Slique's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:50
Slique
@SephirothX:

The reason why the so called 'majority' of Xbox Live thinks it's 'meh' is because they're playing an inferior version. Same way Portal, TF2 and HL2 have all felt awkward on console(s) -- they're PC games, pure and simple.

Anyway, awesome video, Chad. Slightly disappointed that Braid didn't take the top spot, but L4D is still a worthy choice.
Anviltongue's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 15:51
Anviltongue
Persona 4 is my personal pick, but I have no friends that play games, so thereyago.
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