Helldivers 2 Wins "Best Game Design" Award!

[Ryzilynt]

"...Showing off the trophy, Johan Pilestedt updated fans through his official X/Twitter handle on how Helldivers 2 has managed to win an award for Best Game Design at the Develop: Star Awards 2024...."

And so it begins.

[MagikarpMagi]

https://www.developconference.com/awards

Originally posted by www.developconference.com:

THE 2024 FINALISTS

We’re delighted to announce the shortlisted entries for this year’s Develop:Star Awards.
The winners are selected by an industry vote, open to anyone who has either attended Develop:Brighton in the last 3 years or registered for a 2024 conference pass before 10 May.

Voting is now closed and winners will be announced at the ceremony on 10 July.

BEST GAME DESIGN

This award recognises a team responsible for exceptional and creative game design via the use of controls, level design, pacing and mechanics – across all genres and platforms.

FINALISTS:

Balatro - LocalThunk/Playstack
Baldur's Gate 3 - Larian Studios
DAVE THE DIVER - MINTROCKET
Helldivers 2 - Arrowhead Game Studios/Sony Interactive Entertainment
Jusant - DON'T NOD
Viewfinder - Sad Owl Studios/Thunderful Publishing

[JStorm]

A wildly janky and bug/crash infested game = best game design 🤣

[0rga]

Even the jury commission don't play the game...
We are doomed.

[Ryzilynt]

Thankfully the vocal minority that devote their lives to ish posting on the Steam forums don't actually influence anything.

[General High Ping]

Sign of the times unfortunately...

[retroquark]

To be fair, the other finalists are.. a card game, a 2d arcade climbing game, a diver/collector/minicooking/restaurant builder horror-story driven game, something that wanted to be Myst (because all the cool gamers on Mac love Myst), and an RPG where the design comes from the 90s (and people play for the writing).

So with that competition, it's not really even fair. Specially since Helldivers 2 does have a really, really good design - even as it's being sabotaged every step of the way by tremendously bad decisions at Sony.

[MagikarpMagi]

Originally posted by retroquark:

To be fair, the other finalists are.. a card game, a 2d arcade climbing game, a diver/collector/minicooking/restaurant builder horror-story driven game, something that wanted to be Myst (because all the cool gamers on Mac love Myst), and an RPG where the design comes from the 90s (and people play for the writing).

So with that competition, it's not really even fair. Specially since Helldivers 2 does have a really, really good design - even as it's being sabotaged every step of the way by tremendously bad decisions at Sony.

Also, it's another award in a long list of gaming awards given annually, voted on by industry insiders. Grain of salt all around.

[A. Crow]

Originally posted by retroquark:

To be fair, the other finalists are.. a card game, a 2d arcade climbing game, a diver/collector/minicooking/restaurant builder horror-story driven game, something that wanted to be Myst (because all the cool gamers on Mac love Myst), and an RPG where the design comes from the 90s (and people play for the writing).

So with that competition, it's not really even fair. Specially since Helldivers 2 does have a really, really good design - even as it's being sabotaged every step of the way by tremendously bad decisions at Sony.

The game design in the best part of Baldur's Gate 3, it is not "from the 90s" but very fresh and new.
However, the writing is the absolute worst thing about Baldur's Gate 3.

I'm just surprised Helldivers 2 won considering it's still in "unofficial early access" a.k.a. the game is still not *finished*

[Nohiro]

Yeah.... nah that's ridiculous there is barrely any game design in this game.

[MagikarpMagi]

Originally posted by Dark Furniture:

Originally posted by retroquark:

To be fair, the other finalists are.. a card game, a 2d arcade climbing game, a diver/collector/minicooking/restaurant builder horror-story driven game, something that wanted to be Myst (because all the cool gamers on Mac love Myst), and an RPG where the design comes from the 90s (and people play for the writing).

So with that competition, it's not really even fair. Specially since Helldivers 2 does have a really, really good design - even as it's being sabotaged every step of the way by tremendously bad decisions at Sony.

The game design in the best part of Baldur's Gate 3, it is not "from the 90s" but very fresh and new.
However, the writing is the absolute worst thing about Baldur's Gate 3.

I'm just surprised Helldivers 2 won considering it's still in "unofficial early access" a.k.a. the game is still not *finished*

Baldur's Gate 3 is Divinity 2 with a D&D overlay
edit: Also, Larian/BG3 won 3 other awards from the same voting: Best Narrative, Best Game, and Best Studio

[Merlin]

Voting is early isn't it? Not even into 3rd quarter yet.

[EnVenta]

Originally posted by JStorm:

A wildly janky and bug/crash infested game = best game design 🤣

Oh cmon. Every best-in-class has had its bug days (in this case, bugs are the content).

To qualify as best-in-class, you just need to be better than the others. For such a new game, I say they've earned the reward, whatever it means. Yes there have been 'bugged' mobs recently who just saunter in place and make noise. But overall, wouldn't you say the team-centric design is something we really need in this era of lone wolf gaming?

[Clone303]

Best design? Fixed all the game breaking bugs then we can talk

[Anticitizen 1]

Originally posted by CritMasterFlex:

https://www.developconference.com/awards

Originally posted by www.developconference.com:

THE 2024 FINALISTS

We’re delighted to announce the shortlisted entries for this year’s Develop:Star Awards.
The winners are selected by an industry vote, open to anyone who has either attended Develop:Brighton in the last 3 years or registered for a 2024 conference pass before 10 May.

Voting is now closed and winners will be announced at the ceremony on 10 July.

BEST GAME DESIGN

This award recognises a team responsible for exceptional and creative game design via the use of controls, level design, pacing and mechanics – across all genres and platforms.

FINALISTS:

Balatro - LocalThunk/Playstack
Baldur's Gate 3 - Larian Studios
DAVE THE DIVER - MINTROCKET
Helldivers 2 - Arrowhead Game Studios/Sony Interactive Entertainment
Jusant - DON'T NOD
Viewfinder - Sad Owl Studios/Thunderful Publishing

I criticise this game regularly but have a look at the other contenders.

Balantro is a card deck builder so it's not much of a game to begin with.

BG3 is LAST YEAR'S game.

Dave the diver just looks like 2D shovelware.

Jusant is crap, I've actually played that one.

Viewfinder - more random shovelware.

Yes, in a good year for games HD2 wouldn't win this award but let's be real, what legitimate competition has there been in 2024? I am genuinely asking because if I missed a good game I'd love to know.

[Koala 4peace]

Originally posted by Dark Furniture:

The game design in the best part of Baldur's Gate 3, it is not "from the 90s" but very fresh and new.
However, the writing is the absolute worst thing about Baldur's Gate 3.

A very interesting opinion. Design is not what i would praise of Larian games, but whatever.

Anyway, to be on topic; Awards are a very nice thing, specially with tomato sauce.