Dead Island gets inexplicable Game of the Year edition

Deep Silver has mastered the craft of deceiving customers with Dead Island, a game that played nothing like its debut trailer. So, of course it makes sense that the publisher would release a "Game of the Year" edition.

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Deep Silver has mastered the craft of deceiving customers with Dead Island, a game that played nothing like its dramatic, poignant debut trailer. So, of course it makes sense that the publisher would release a "Game of the Year" edition--because one outlet decided to give the game such a dubious award.

As is typical for "GOTY" re-releases, this repackaged version of the game will include the original game and the subsequently released DLC: Bloodbath Arena, Ryder White, and the Ripper weapon mod. Here's a look at the Ryder White expansion:

The "GOTY" edition of Dead Island will be available on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC on June 26th for $29.99.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    May 22, 2012 11:30 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Dead Island gets inexplicable Game of the Year edition.

    Deep Silver has mastered the craft of deceiving customers with Dead Island, a game that played nothing like its debut trailer. So, of course it makes sense that the publisher would release a "Game of the Year" edition.

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      May 22, 2012 11:33 AM

      sure, it was nothing like it should have been, but I enjoyed it enough to put 100+ hours, and still play every now and then, I haven't checked the DLC out though, not sure if I will.....

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      May 22, 2012 11:37 AM

      ... ouch, Andrew! I didn't make the game, but I felt the sting.

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      May 22, 2012 11:42 AM

      Very much don't care for this author. Just because your personal opinion is negative doesn't mean other people didn't find the game enjoyable.

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        May 22, 2012 11:46 AM

        Calling something a "Game of the Year" edition is a pretty bold claim. I'm not questioning if it's fun--I'm questioning if it's the Game of the Year.

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          May 22, 2012 12:28 PM

          I don't know, to me GOTY edition just means the game plus all the expansions . It's kind of like rating GTA games as 'mature', they're not mature at all but I undrstand that it basically means 'adult content'.

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            May 22, 2012 2:35 PM

            But it's not suppose to because it wouldn't make sense. We're going to end up with multiple games with GOTY label on them.

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              May 22, 2012 5:03 PM

              you can have as many "game of the year" games as there are "credible" lists to back them up... who really cares how many there are? in the end it's best for the customer since he doesn't have to pay a bunch for extras....

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          May 22, 2012 5:22 PM

          you can call it "Game of the Year" if someone gave you a Game of the Year award. sometimes that's abused, but that's pretty much how it goes.

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        May 22, 2012 11:56 AM

        So, what, he should not write the article with his own perspective but that of the people who enjoyed it?

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        May 22, 2012 12:11 PM

        Its not opinion. The trailer is vastly different than the game, period. I enjoyed the game somewhat, but there is truth to what Andrew stated.

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          May 22, 2012 3:57 PM

          The story is vastly different, the gameplay sequeneces show in the trailer are pretty much authentic to how the game played.

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          May 22, 2012 4:03 PM

          The Diablo 3 Anime is nothing like Diablo 3. So what.

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      May 22, 2012 11:42 AM

      wtf. That's pretty shoddy of you to say. Did you give Borderlands the same treatment, because this game sold pretty well and was actually pretty fun once you got past certain annoyances.

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      May 22, 2012 11:52 AM

      Nothing Andrew said is wrong. It's a fact that the trailer they put out was just to get people talking and not indicative of the game, and it's also a fact that it's a little sad to release a GOTY edition when only one place gave you the award. If they'd called it Gold Edition or something similar, I doubt he'd have mae the comments he did.

      Also, notice he made no mention of the actual gameplay.

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        May 22, 2012 12:00 PM

        how many Game of the Year awards did Borderlands get? I only see one cited on wikipedia, and that's from an equally dubious site.

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          May 22, 2012 12:04 PM

          Well this article isn't about Borderlands. Maybe if it was he'd have made a similar comment. The point is having a game of the year edition of this game seems a bit of a stretch.

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            May 22, 2012 12:14 PM

            I am saying it's pretty industry standard at this point, that after a year or so you rerelease the game with all the dlc, slap a GOTY on it and be done with it. To say it's 'deceiving' is disingenuous

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              May 22, 2012 12:30 PM

              It's standard to release compilations, yes, but the GOTY moniker is used to show people that this was a pretty big game they need to buy. And while Dead island may be a fun title, it's no ME2, Uncharted 2, or Skyrim. While it is technically correct to call it a GOTY release, when only one outlet gave you that recognition it just comes off as a bit shady.

              It's on of those letter of the law vs. spirit of the law things.

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                May 22, 2012 12:34 PM

                I thought GOTY editions just meant it was all the subsequent content these days. I never really thought to check that someone, somewhere had given the game a GOTY distinction.

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                  May 22, 2012 2:57 PM

                  That used to be "Gold" or "Complete" editions.

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          May 22, 2012 12:05 PM

          Yeah and it was stupid when that did it too. What's your point?

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          May 22, 2012 12:18 PM

          Like the two above me said, this isn't about Borderlands. You're putting words into Andrew's mouth to assume he thinks it's okay to do it in that case. For the record, I think it's just as sad that it was done for Borderlands. That game stood on its own just fine and didn't need to resort to tactics like that. Should have used another name.

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            May 22, 2012 2:18 PM

            Capcom actually got this right. You call it a Gold Edition or something along those lines. This is defiantly deceiving. That goes for Borderlands too if that was the case for it as well.

            I don't know what the guidelines should be for labeling a re release GOTY but one random gaming blog giving it their GOTY award isn't it.

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            May 22, 2012 2:46 PM

            We actually considered calling it "Badass Edition" but retail said no.

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        May 22, 2012 2:36 PM

        Which place gave borderlands GOTY?

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        May 22, 2012 4:01 PM

        Does anyone really thing "Game of the Year" means that a game needs to have won awards? I think everyone knows it's just Game + DLC.

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          May 22, 2012 5:45 PM

          Then call it "Gold" or "Platinum" or some shit - not some misleading crap. Not that it's a horrid game, but calling it GOTY is like calling Mass Effect 2 a Xbox 360 exclusive game.

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      May 22, 2012 12:00 PM

      I loved this game but this will be a terrible package. The worst parts of this game were the closed in spaces like the sewers and prison and then they went and made the only real DLC almost entirely made up of that. You'd be better off just buying the regular version which should now be pretty cheap.

      It would have been awesome if they had released an expansion/dlc that was just another whole area with the size of the first area of the game (the resort part of the island). That would have been worth paying for.

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      May 22, 2012 12:05 PM

      haha awesome commentary. The game was okay & I enjoyed my 2 playthroughs of it,but what you say is true about it playing nothing like the trailer.

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      May 22, 2012 12:14 PM

      Jesus. This is just a tad harsh no? Not very professional at all.

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      May 22, 2012 12:21 PM

      Critical prose! I like it!

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      May 22, 2012 12:32 PM

      I actually like the sentiment here. I'm not sure what the trailer has to do with anything (???) But it's silly when publishers sling GoY edition on any title. Who awarded Dead Island GoY? PlanetDeadIsland.com?

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      May 22, 2012 12:33 PM

      Dead Island 2 please.

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      May 22, 2012 12:35 PM

      I'm in agreement with this article.

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      May 22, 2012 12:36 PM

      i am as unimpressed with gaming sites regurgitating press releases as i am with gaming "journalists" using them as an opportunity to shithouse developers--how do you like those sarcastic quotes, cronkite jr.?

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      May 22, 2012 12:38 PM

      Fuck these haters. I liked Dead Island a lot but this is misleading. I don't care if a lot of other publishers do it, too, it's still a stupid practice.

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      May 22, 2012 12:43 PM

      Doesn't matter if the game was good or bad, it's just a marketing ploy to get people to buy the game with bundled extra content.

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      May 22, 2012 1:19 PM

      So what if they called it "game of thr year edition"? Dungeons has a game of the year edition as well and i don't recall anyone bitching about it.

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        May 22, 2012 1:30 PM

        "hey no one said anything then so no one can complain about it ever"

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          May 22, 2012 3:07 PM

          It's kinda lame to let a bunch slide by and then single out one instance. Why not do an article covering the practice and call out a list of games & publishers.

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            May 22, 2012 8:08 PM

            why dont u rite it idiot

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              May 22, 2012 8:41 PM

              Why don't you pay me. Or better yet, why don't we get our fine shacknews staff that's more interested in quality articles than news snips to fucking do it, seeing as they're already getting paid. I'm pretty sure they're not doing these articles for charity and the chicks.

    • reply
      May 22, 2012 2:13 PM

      this article is kind of dickish

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      May 22, 2012 2:19 PM

      I'm doing the Gilbert Arenas hibachi

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      May 22, 2012 2:45 PM

      I agree with Andrew Yoon. On another note, ANDREW, PLEASE DO A REPORT ON HOW UNITED STATES XPERIA PLAY OWNERS STILL DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE PLAYSTATION STORE!!!!!!!

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      May 22, 2012 4:00 PM

      [deleted]

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      May 22, 2012 4:01 PM

      I still haven't played it. I've been wanting to. I hear it's not bad, just didn't live up to the hype. I might check this edition out.

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      May 22, 2012 4:07 PM

      lol @ dead island apologists getting panties in wad over harsh but fair statements. Calling out false advertising is responsible journalism, no sense in being nuanced about that.

      maybe if it was actually a good game it might be worth getting hot and bothered over

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      May 22, 2012 5:07 PM

      i want dead island 2...

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      May 22, 2012 5:18 PM

      Does this include the beta that they released on Steam? LOL

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      May 22, 2012 5:36 PM

      While i may not have been a GOTY game it sure was fun.

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      May 22, 2012 5:57 PM

      What's the skinny on the DLC? Worth $4 ea for 2?

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      May 22, 2012 6:03 PM

      Does Andrew Yoon like games?

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        May 22, 2012 6:06 PM

        To be clear, I more or less agree with his statements. His tone is just kinda weird. Perhaps its appearances on weekend confirmed that have me the most skeptical of his points of view.

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      May 22, 2012 6:10 PM

      Would it be okay if "Journalists" just the news without your biases? I don't need to know that you didn't care for Dead Island. Just report the news and leave the opinions to the comments. You're not on Fox News here.

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      May 22, 2012 7:45 PM

      Gearbox did the same thing with Borderlands.

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      May 22, 2012 9:34 PM

      I totally agree with Andrew. Who the hell comes out with a GAME OF THE YEAR EDITION with only one reviewer to back you up? A lot of you are bashing Andrew for beating up the Dead Island team but he didn't even say anything subjective at all. There was no real opinion other than emphasis. These are facts people.

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      May 24, 2012 2:33 PM

      By far, Dead Island was the worst game of 2011.

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      May 25, 2012 12:57 PM

      I loved Dead Island. I'm on my fourth co-op playthrough right now. Yeah, it didn't quite play like the initial cinematic, but it was still a blast and, I think, a necessary step in the evolution of zombie games.

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      May 25, 2012 4:37 PM

      I liked Dead Island, I played it a helluva lot. It's not game of the year though, it lacked quite a few things that could have made it great.

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      May 25, 2012 7:18 PM

      Im pretty sure you can just buy that title , ie; pay some lame mag or website to claim it game of the year, or just go ahead and call your game "game of the year" cause you know it will sell you a couple more copies. What a joke. Even sadder is how mediocre at best this game was.

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        May 26, 2012 9:47 PM

        This game was far more enjoyable then a certain overhyped POS called Dragon Age. I spent far more time with this game and enjoyed the hell out of it. Crushing zombie skulls with my boot and setting them aflame with molotovs kicked waayyyyy more ass then the linear game play of dragon age and NOT ONCE did I come across some d00d that was like "Ohh, we need your help here...ahh, but first you have to buy the quest dlc if you really want to help us out". I look forward to a dead island sequel myself :)

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