Don't want to see articles from a certain category? When logged in, go to your User Settings and adjust your feed in the Content Preferences section where you can block tags!
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

GOL GOTY Awards Coming Up, What Do You Want To See?

By -
NOTICE: Please STOP posting a name of a game, this is for feedback only.

It's nearly that time of the year again, and with our first year of doing a Linux GOTY Award being a success we will be repeating it this year. So, what do you want to see in it?

This year we will feature (as requested) more categories, but we will need help with this.

We will keep our Open Source category this year, which works differently as it doesn't need to be a game released on Linux in 2015. It's the only category that will accept games released in previous years (as let's be honest, there hasn't been a lot of new open source games released).

You can see the previous winners here. I am going to look at making nicer graphs this year, rather than just pasting in images.

I was going to limit it to editor-picked games, but honestly, I think that's too limiting for what I personally want out of the awards. After all, my picks are probably different to a lot of yours and this award is for you, and for the developers, not me. Since I am limiting this year to games only released in 2015 it will remove a lot of older games we had last year anyway (apart from the open source game category as mentioned).

Questions
Should we go for categories based on genre, or should we do things like best gameplay, best graphics, best story?

Should we have a "Worst game of the year?" category, or do you think that's too aggressive? Honest opinions needed here.
Yeah, not doing that one.

Early Access games will have their own category, to completely stop any arguments on them being/not being included. It still has to be a game released into EA in 2015 though.

Should we limit it to one vote per-category, or a top three? I think three is more than enough per-category if we go for multiple. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
0 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
30 comments
Page: 1/2»
  Go to:

Eike Nov 17, 2015
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Just to clarify: "Released in 2015" means "released on Linux in 2015", right? So, like, Shadow of Mordor qualifies.
I found it hard last time to select from that many games, so I would welcome like having three choices. Have three weighted choices, like, 1, 2 and 3 points would be nice if possible.
sub Nov 17, 2015
Imho no need for a "Worst game category".


Last edited by sub on 17 November 2015 at 9:44 am UTC
Ilya Nov 17, 2015
Cities Skylines
Liam Dawe Nov 17, 2015
Quoting: EikeJust to clarify: "Released in 2015" means "released on Linux in 2015", right? So, like, Shadow of Mordor qualifies.
I found it hard last time to select from that many games, so I would welcome like having three choices. Have three weighted choices, like, 1, 2 and 3 points would be nice if possible.

Yes, games released on our platform in 2015, this is not a generic goty awards. It's specifically for our games.

Weighted choices would be nice, but it depends how annoying to implement it would be especially if someone wanted to change their vote. I suppose a way to do it, is store the weight of the vote with each vote to check against, or I could just not let people change their mind, which is easier.
Liam Dawe Nov 17, 2015
Quoting: IlyaCities Skylines

Please read the article in full, this is not for suggesting games.
Holzhaus Nov 17, 2015
I'd like to see a category "best port quality/3D performance".
Aule Nov 17, 2015
What about "Best Overall Port" from a technical point of view (performance, stability, controller/hardware support) - discounting story, fanbase, etc. ?
neowiz73 Nov 17, 2015
since there have been so many games released this year, there could be a preliminary nomination process let everyone pick their top 10 games. then break them down into categories. try to just group 4 to 5 choices per category only allow 1 pick per category. then after the category vote, take the top 5 with the most overall votes into an ultimate vote for overall best game of the year. then break down each winner from each category.
Honestly I wouldn't mind genre but the other categories mentioned like best gameplay, design, story etc seem good as well.
I don't care about a worst game of the year.


Last edited by neowiz73 on 17 November 2015 at 9:55 am UTC
tuubi Nov 17, 2015
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Please, no "worst" category. It doesn't help anyone, just makes the developer feel shitty (if they care at all). It's more like collective finger-pointing than constructive criticism.

I'll have a hard time voting on this year's releases, as I haven't had the chance to buy anything recent in a long time. Voting on games you think are probably great doesn't sound fair. Although I did get a couple as gifts (thanks again, you awesome people).

Hey, does Wasteland 2 Director's Cut count as a 2015 release? Probably not, seeing as it's just an update. Haven't had a chance to play it yet, so it's a new one to me. ;)

Quoting: AuleWhat about "Best Overall Port" from a technical point of view (performance, stability, controller/hardware support) - discounting story, fanbase, etc. ?
How about "Technical Quality" or some such so we don't rule out games that are not actual ports but native releases.


Last edited by tuubi on 17 November 2015 at 10:03 am UTC
lvlark Nov 17, 2015
Quoting: TheBossShould we go for categories based on genre, or should we do things like best gameplay, best graphics, best story?
I'd say the latter, mostly because some genres will have much stiffer competition than others. Maybe you could do best singleplayer, best multiplayer (which can be split into co-op pve and pvp as well)
Quoting: TheBossShould we have a "Worst game of the year?" category, or do you think that's too aggressive? Honest opinions needed here.
No. It's quite hard to dish out any awards fairly, let alone something like this. What exactly constitutes a 'worst game'? A game that doesn't run at all, a game that crashes all the time, or a game that works ok, but is just horribly boring? The randomness makes this too harsh imo.
Quoting: TheBossEarly Access games will have their own category, to completely stop any arguments on them being/not being included. It still has to be a game released into EA in 2015 though.
Good, but do you intend to split each category into 'full release' and 'EA'? Or just one single Early Access? Early Access is so commonplace that that would be a very large category - but then again, it really shouldn't be that common.
Quoting: TheBossShould we limit it to one vote per-category, or a top three? I think three is more than enough per-category if we go for multiple.
I'd personally rather have just one.
WorMzy Nov 17, 2015
I think we should focus on good things. Naming and shaming bad games/developers in a semi-official manner leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

I say keep it simple on the voting system -- one vote per category. It might lead to some stupid strategic voting (I liked X more, but I think Y will win, so I'll vote for Y), but I think it'll make most people really think about who they want to win.
devland Nov 17, 2015
There should be a category for drm free games.

Linux is all about freedom and that includes more that FOSS.
Kallestofeles Nov 17, 2015
I think that as there are not THAT many quality games released this year as well (yeah yeah, your opinion is probably different, so what), then it would be best if we'd go with the "best graphics|story|gameplay" approach. Otherwise, there will probably be genres that only have 1 title in them, which is pretty awkward when thinking about GOTY. :)

EDIT: though there are crap-ton of early access survival games... so might want to put in a genre or two.


Last edited by Kallestofeles on 17 November 2015 at 11:14 am UTC
Liam Dawe Nov 17, 2015
I won't be including "DRM free" category, I will say that now. The reason being, it's so broad it is pointless. Anything in that category would already be covered by others.
FredO Nov 17, 2015
I'm for categories based on genre.
One question though, what about games that were released in 2014, between the last GOTY awards and the end of the year - are they included this year?
Xzyl Nov 17, 2015
Quoting: HolzhausI'd like to see a category "best port quality/3D performance".

This, other than just fan favorites like last year there was some seriously flawless ports that no one seemed to care about but played amazing. Obviously Nvidia only games don't get into this category.


Edit ^ yeah that above post about genre is also a decent idea.

IReally just try to cover the landscape in a fair way, obviously NVidia only games while good for you guys who love supporting that evil company don't deserve to be #1 because of compatibility reasons but if you wanted a team snot only category I wouldn't mind that at all.


Last edited by Xzyl on 17 November 2015 at 12:27 pm UTC
Ilya Nov 17, 2015
Quoting: TheBoss
Quoting: IlyaCities Skylines

Please read the article in full, this is not for suggesting games.

Sorry, I saw suggestions in the other posts so I assumed it was suggestions.

I think a top-3 vote would be good, although I'd rather not have them weighted.

Whether category based or best-gameplay/story/graphics. I personally prefer category, with a little addition as I'd like Best Story to also be included. I don't really care much for Best Graphics and I think "Best Gameplay" is really dependent on whether the game is RTS, RPG, FPS, TSS, P&C, etc.
Segata Sanshiro Nov 17, 2015
I'd like categories, but possibly stay away from genre since there's just so many these days and everyone will want their favourite game genre in there. Some possibilities:

Best game engine (ones with native development only)
Best new IP
Best Early Access game
Best open source game
Best indie game (kind of hard to define "indie" though)

Last year, every game ever released for Linux was included. I don't think there's any need for that this year since we have so many games now.
ricki42 Nov 17, 2015
Quoting: tuubi
Quoting: AuleWhat about "Best Overall Port" from a technical point of view (performance, stability, controller/hardware support) - discounting story, fanbase, etc. ?
How about "Technical Quality" or some such so we don't rule out games that are not actual ports but native releases.

Maybe make 2 separate categories for this, if that's not too many categories. They're quite different things after all, both are important, so I think we may as well show appreciation for both.
rodvil Nov 17, 2015
View PC info
  • Supporter
I think categories is the best and genre can be a good way to do it. Its nice to have a top 3 on each genre that you know you can pick up if you want to try out a new game. I always found it strange to have a FPS competing with a platformer or a strategy game for example.
But at the same time there can be general awards: best story, best gameplay, best graphics, best sound, best music, best port, best technical quality, best day one linux release, "best game I never played", etc... and of course LINUX GAME OF THE YEAR! :)
It would be nice to have other awards for best porter, best store, best linux support, etc...

This will be exciting!
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.