I'm happy that they won but it was a bit surprising. In my opinion Stanley Parable and Papers, Please are both more original than Card Hunter, although Card Hunter is definitely a better overall game. Instead of re-inventing the wheel, Card Hunter simply combines different mechanics from ccg's, boardgames and online games. It works really well but I wouldn't call it highly original, especially when compared to games like Stanley Parable that are as original as it gets.
Since the award is based on an opinion, you'd have to ask PC gamer. Like with every award, people have different opinions on what they appreciate - and how (and why) they appreciate it. That being said, while I really like Papers, Please it has a traditional payment model and platform, and while I haven't played the Stanley Parable, I've gotten the impression it's the same. Not sure why you needed to rain on the parade?
Haven't played many new games, even because I am very picky in selecting them, but I to me Card Hunter is definitely the most innovative game of the year. Good job Blue Manchu, i just hope 2014 will bring new and continuous development (together with increased playerbase).
Well, I did say that I think Card Hunter is the better game, which is much more important than the overrated originality. Card Hunter deserves tons of rewards but in my opinion in categories outside of originality, like "the best new free-to-play game" or something. That doesn't of course mean Card Hunter is a copy-cat or something. It is an original game because even though its elements have all been done before, the combination is completely new, therefore making the game original. But the thing is that if you have to battle it against Stanley Parable, one of the craziest and most original games I've ever played, I don't see how you could possibly win. So it's not only about whether or not Card Hunter is original, it's about whether or not it was the most original of 2013. Even that article focuses mainly on reasons why Card Hunter is a great game, not why it's original. Was the payment model a factor in the decision?
They did mention giving the game away for free in the first paragraph, so quite possibly a factor yes. Like I said, you'd have to ask them for their criteria for originality. (also, who knows if they might vote the Stanley Parable as game of the year) I created a new thread for game of the year discussions, here.
Hmm.. if that is indeed the case, then I think it is a weird way of looking at it because I don't see the correlation between payment models and game originality. I look at originality as something completely new in terms of gameplay and/or theme. Well, whatever the reasoning is, this is great news for Card Hunter because it will most likely increase the player base. I have no
