The Edge Awards 2007

[Dante]

From Edge Magazine - Jan 184 (Christmas Edition)

 

The Edge Awards 2007

 

Best Game

SMG

Runners-Up

The Orange Box

Halo 3

 

Best Innovation

Halo 3

Runners-Up

Crysis

Portal

 

Best Visual Design

Bioshock

Runners-Up

Team Fortress 2

SMG

 

Best Audio Design

SMG

Runners-Up

Halo 3

Colin MCrae: Dirt

 

Best Online Experience

Halo 3

Runners-Up

Forza 2

Wii Channels

 

Best Hardware

Rock Band

Runners-Up

Nintendo DS

Nintendo Wii

 

Best Developer

Valve

Runners-Up

Bungie

Nintendo

 

Best Publisher

Nintendo

Runners-Up

Microsoft

EA

[Wesley]

That's a pretty good list.

[Eddage]

How the hell is Halo 3 innovative?

[AshMat]

Out of that shortlist, Portal should've got innovative instead of Halo 3.

 

Most of the others i can't argue with.

[Hero-of-Time]

How the hell is Halo 3 innovative?

 

I imagine its to do with the online side of things, like the ability to record matches and the whole Forge thing.

 

Glad to see Mario got GOTY, as well it should! ( IMO )

[Tellyn]

I'd love to see their explanation for innovation. Other than that it's accurate.

[Shino]

I too would like to know. Its a stain on that list.

[McMad]

If you read the reasons Edge have given and have played Halo 3 then you can understand the angle they are coming from.

 

Personally though I think Crysis should have got it though for it's dynamic environments and being miles ahead of any other game in graphical design, and after watching videos people have made using Sandbox2 that looks like one of the best level editing tools ever.

 

Portal doesn't innovate gaming as a whole; it offers an innovative and highly enjoyable puzzle experience but that will never be replicated on another IP.

 

To make more sense of my point, it's like how Ocarina of Time invented the Lock-On system, that wasn't core to the game so other games were able to borrow it and use it to help improve their own gameplay and it wouldn't be seen as ripping Ocarina off because the Lock-On system is only one small part of the unique and groundbreaking experience it offered. While the innovation of Portal is the Portal Gun itself, if you saw it in other game by another company that would be a breach of copyright.

[McPhee]

Halo 3 makes sense i suppose, the first person shooter genre is one that is hard to innovate in. Halo 3 added quite a bit:

• 4 player co-op campaign that holds up to, and surpasses, the quality of the single player campaign
   
  
• Real-time map editing in the forge, and all the brilliant user-made game types that have spawned from it
   
  
• Being able to view any game from any angle in the theatre, and being able to bring you're friends along to view it too.
  
• All 3 of the above can be done in multiplayer, adding whole new areas to social gaming
  

Thats all pretty innovative stuff, especially Theatre which is definitely first of it's kind. I actually miss it in other games! I think Edge were looking for a game that added to it's genre through innovation, rather than a game that innovated via a single game gimmick.

[Gizmo]

Halo 3 makes sense i suppose, the first person shooter genre is one that is hard to innovate in. Halo 3 added quite a bit:

• 4 player co-op campaign that holds up to, and surpasses, the quality of the single player campaign
   
  
• Real-time map editing in the forge, and all the brilliant user-made game types that have spawned from it
   
  
• Being able to view any game from any angle in the theatre, and being able to bring you're friends along to view it too.
  

Thats all pretty innovative stuff, especially Theatre which is definitely first of it's kind. I actually miss it in other games! I think Edge were looking for a game that added to it's genre through innovation, rather than a game that innovated via a single game gimmick.

 

4 player co-op has been in several games before. R6:V for one.

 

Forge as a map editor is no different to the one that was in Tony Hawks way back in the early GameCube days.

 

The theatre is good, in that you can watch the whole match from any angle, but similar experiences have been available on the likes of Pro Evo etc for years.

 

Sorry, but I don't see Halo being the most innovative game of the year.

[McPhee]

4 player co-op has been in several games before. R6:V for one.

 

Forge as a map editor is no different to the one that was in Tony Hawks way back in the early GameCube days.

 

The theatre is good, in that you can watch the whole match from any angle, but similar experiences have been available on the likes of Pro Evo etc for years.

 

Sorry, but I don't see Halo being the most innovative game of the year.

 

I wrote out a nice big reply to this, but then i figured theres little point posting it. You wrote 7 lines of bull shit (OK, maybe 5. The last 2 were more or less correct.)

 

I'll give you a hint. Point 1 is wrong, did you ever play Vegas? Point 2 is also wrong. Point 3 is correct, although it's a very simplified view and fails to see the implications of Theatre. You also fail to comment on how Halo 3 takes all of this and adds a social element.

 

Write you're argument again and try harder, or just admit you don't think Halo 3 deserved the award because you didn't like it :p

[Hellfire]

I was going to comment about Halo 3 but you all said it anyway. EDGE's opinions suck anyway, I just buy for the articles.

Also, I didn't playa lot of Bioshock, but methinks SMG deserves best Visual Design and I don't know about Valve. I mean, Ep1 and 2 rock but they're HL2 expansions, and portal was made by some students. meh

[Tellyn]

Halo deserves it for online, but most of McMad's innovation points are online. There are other games more worthy.

[Zechs Merquise]

A good list, pleased to see SMG taking GOTY. Surprised that Halo was most innovative, very bizarre choice, that game was suurely the the epitome of evolution not revolution and innovation. But apart from that good list. I always respect Edge as it's the gaming world's 'serious' mag.

[Calza]

I was going to comment about Halo 3 but you all said it anyway. EDGE's opinions suck anyway, I just buy for the articles.

Also, I didn't playa lot of Bioshock, but methinks SMG deserves best Visual Design and I don't know about Valve. I mean, Ep1 and 2 rock but they're HL2 expansions, and portal was made by some students. meh

 

EDGE's opinion does not suck, hell the BBC even picked up that games may be getter better since EDGE gave more 10/10 in such a short space of time than ever before.

 

Valve deserved that easily, Episode 2 is being hailed by alot of people as the best bit of HL2, Portal although original mod was made by students Valve didn't exactly just stand by and watch them. Also why did you miss out TF2, easily one of the best multiplayer games in a long time.

 

Halo deserves it for online, but most of McMad's innovation points are online. There are other games more worthy.

 

Halo deserved the innovation award.

Why?

They have created the best lobby/matching making system, Theatre and Online Co-Op with the skulls means that it is the most complete story mode ever created.

 

But most importably is Forge, not only have they allowed you to change the maps how you see fit, but you can play them online, send them to friends, download the most popular variants, create your own game types and Bungie have even made Rocket Race a playlist.

 

Some people are saying that COD4's MP is better, and I argree that with perks and the online experience that it is really good, however Halo allows a basicallu unlimited amount of creation and its all at the disposal of the users.

 

On Friday I was playing on a custom Capture the Flag on Foundry and it was awesome, it wasn't perfect but it was fun and unique that it didn't matter.

[Tellyn]

Halo deserved the innovation award.

Why?

They have created the best lobby/matching making system, Theatre and Online Co-Op with the skulls means that it is the most complete story mode ever created.

 

But most importably is Forge, not only have they allowed you to change the maps how you see fit, but you can play them online, send them to friends, download the most popular variants, create your own game types and Bungie have even made Rocket Race a playlist.

 

Some people are saying that COD4's MP is better, and I argree that with perks and the online experience that it is really good, however Halo allows a basicallu unlimited amount of creation and its all at the disposal of the users.

 

On Friday I was playing on a custom Capture the Flag on Foundry and it was awesome, it wasn't perfect but it was fun and unique that it didn't matter.

 

Halo was a brilliant game, and all the point you mentioned are linked to online. Halo got the online award, what innovation is there beyond that? Portal, yes, but not Halo 3, it did nothing to make the genre better, and the main game felt rushed and incomplete.

[AshMat]

 

1. Valve deserved that easily, Episode 2 is being hailed by alot of people as the best bit of HL2, Portal although original mod was made by students Valve didn't exactly just stand by and watch them. Also why did you miss out TF2, easily one of the best multiplayer games in a long time.

 

 

 

2. Some people are saying that COD4's MP is better, and I argree that with perks and the online experience that it is really good, however Halo allows a basicallu unlimited amount of creation and its all at the disposal of the users.

.

 

1. Hell yes, and Ep2 is (imo) the best part of HL2. So incredible.

 

2. Only problem i have with CoD4's MP is that you get stuck with lvl 50s when you're lvl10, and they have all the weapons and perks that you don't ahve yet. In that sence Halo's matchmaking is better. But i found CoD4 otherwise to be a better game.

[Calza]

Halo was a brilliant game, and all the point you mentioned are linked to online. Halo got the online award, what innovation is there beyond that? Portal, yes, but not Halo 3, it did nothing to make the genre better, and the main game felt rushed and incomplete.

 

-.-

 

But it has made the genre better, more so than Portal. Portal's idea has already been around, Portal just refined it. In the next couple of years I know for a fact that shooters will be taking alot of Halo's features especially when it comes to the user creation content side.

[Gizmo]

I wrote out a nice big reply to this, but then i figured theres little point posting it. You wrote 7 lines of bull shit (OK, maybe 5. The last 2 were more or less correct.)

 

I'll give you a hint. Point 1 is wrong, did you ever play Vegas? Point 2 is also wrong. Point 3 is correct, although it's a very simplified view and fails to see the implications of Theatre. You also fail to comment on how Halo 3 takes all of this and adds a social element.

 

Write you're argument again and try harder, or just admit you don't think Halo 3 deserved the award because you didn't like it :p

 

I haven't played R6:V co-op, no. But the feature was there; therefore, Halo 3 did not innovate with it. They merely improved something that already existed.

 

The creation or introduction of something new, especially a new product or a new way of producing something.

 

What is wrong with point 2? Forge is one of the most limited map editors I have used: with something like Tony Hawks Pro Skater 4 (it might have even been in 3, in fact I think it was), you are able to put any object from any location in the game onto your map.

 

I understand that the Halo3 theatre is a new concept on console FPS; and I understand how it is much bigger than the replays of goals in Pro Evo. Still; this kind of feature has existed before - it is more a refinement of an existing idea than an innovation. The Wiimote is an innovation - the Wavebird was a refinement of the N64 pad.

 

The social element, such as sharing replays and playing Forge maps online is relatively new also; but it is not the only game where replays can be shared, and it is not the first game where custom maps can be played.

 

And I did quite like Halo 3. Maybe not as much as some people did on here, but I did like it. I just don't believe it is more innovative, in terms of creating something new in gaming, than Portal.

 

Sorry if this still isn't "in depth" enough, I often have a hard time conveying ideas in text form.

[c0Zm1c]

Portal's idea has already been around, Portal just refined it.

And the same can said for Halo 3. EDGE admits that...

 

While none of these features is truly new to videogames, they have never been so thoroughly and accessibly incorporated into such a supremely coherent whole.

 

The social element, such as sharing replays and playing Forge maps online is relatively new also; but it is not the only game where replays can be shared, and it is not the first game where custom maps can be played.

It's not the first game where maps can be edited whilst playing with others either. Garry's Mod already allowed that.

[Cube]

OK list I suppose. Apart from "Best Innovation" and "Best Online Experience" (and

Halo 3 as a runner up for best game).

 

It isn't innovative, online isn't much fun and it isn't a great game - it all just feels...old. It does excel in the audio department, due to the fantastic voice acting.

[McPhee]

I haven't played R6:V co-op, no. But the feature was there; therefore, Halo 3 did not innovate with it. They merely improved something that already existed.

 

I kind of forgot there was online story co op Could only remember Terrorist Hunt.

 

Anyhow, i think i mistook you for another user when i said you didn't like Halo 3. I remember there being someone on here who slags it off at every opportunity.

 

To me Halo 3 is easily one of the most innovative games this year because it brought a wealth of new features to the First Person Shooter genre. Sure the ideas themselves weren't new, but very few ideas are. It's the application of these ideas and what they add to the genre that won the game the award.

Portal and Crysis were both very innovative, but Halo 3's innovations add more to the genre. Theatre will likely be standard fare in a few years time.

[Tellyn]

Halo 3 added a lot to the genre but I'd have still classed it under the online award. Phantom Hourglass would deserve the innovation award I'd say. To make a fully stylus-controlled adventure that was 15+ hours long with so many clever, fresh and new puzzles (Sun Crest ) last for so long without feeling tiresome or repetitive (save Temple of the Ocean King) was a massive achievement.

[Gizmo]

To me Halo 3 is easily one of the most innovative games this year because it brought a wealth of new features to the Console First Person Shooter genre. Sure the ideas themselves weren't new, but very few ideas are. It's the application of these ideas and what they add to the genre that won the game the award.

Portal and Crysis were both very innovative, but Halo 3's innovations add more to the genre. Theatre will likely be standard fare in a few years time.

 

Fixed

 

Halo 3 added a lot to the genre but I'd have still classed it under the online award. Phantom Hourglass would deserve the innovation award I'd say. To make a fully stylus-controlled adventure that was 15+ hours long with so many clever, fresh and new puzzles (Sun Crest ) last for so long without feeling tiresome or repetitive (save Temple of the Ocean King) was a massive achievement.

 

Phantom Hourglass will be forever soured in my eyes due to that TotOK. It just became too boring and I gave up on it.

[McPhee]

Fixed

 

Not quite sure what you mean by that? The features i listed aren't in any PC Shooter i've played