Lurker > charmander6000

Round 3

1994 - 63.12%
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2000 (oops)
Current Bracket Score: 37/40

Match XXXI – Round 3 – 1991 vs. 1994

Previous Results

1991
Round 1: Defeated 1988, 87.54% - 12.46%
Round 2: Defeated 2002, 54.91% - 45.09%

1994
Round 1: Defeated 2004, 58.69% - 41.31%
Round 2: Defeated 2011, 62.02% - 37.98%

Analysis

After the first round the board was fairly confident in 1991, but now things appear to be a bit more even, with perhaps 1994 being considered a slight favourite. I always expected 2002 and 2004 to have some strength though they were clearly going to be weaker than 1991 and 1994. This was one the most debated matches during the bracket making period.

Between 2002 and 2004 I feel 2002 is a bit stronger. Metroid Prime and Kingdom Hearts are both a stronger pair and had better picture position than Metal Gear Solid 3 and Half-Life 2. With that said 1994 does have some breathing room to work with. Among the games Super Mario World is considered to be the strongest though I feel Final Fantasy VI would go even against it. 1994 also has Super Metroid which easily defeats anything else 1991 has to offer.

There is a chance we could see some SFF in this match. We’ve seen it in matches with years from the same generation; 1987/1985 and 1997/1996. SNES fans could potentially flock towards 1994, but I can see Genesis and Arcade fans going with 1991, though to be fair SNES fans do outnumber the other platforms. I’m going to bet on SFF, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the match turns out to be one of the closest in the contest.

charmander6000’s Bracket: 1994 > 1991

charmander6000’s Prediction: 1994 wins, 63.12% - 36.88%
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2000 (oops)
Current Bracket Score: 37/40

BlazeCrusher posted...

charmander6000 posted...

3rd Rotation: SMRPG wins it for 1996 though Metal Slug is likely dead weight plus we're getting to the point where people may have already voted

Nothing on star fox? This legendary game that spawned memes and fantastic gameplay? (And was also my entry into video games.)

It's the second strongest game among the four in the third rotation. Among 1997 games it's the 5th strongest and I may take it over everything from 1996 outside of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario RPG (and Resident Evil if it made the picture)
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2000 (oops)
Current Bracket Score: 37/40

A PC centric site may give 1999 the victory

System Shock 2
Quake 3
Age of Empires II
Unreal Tournament
Planescape: Torment
Counter-Strike
RollerCoaster Tycoon
Everquest

1996 may make the match interesting, but I'd take 1999 over them.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2000 (oops)
Current Bracket Score: 37/40

Yeah, the picture kind of shows why 1997 is crushing.

Final Fantasy VII/Castlevania: SotN vs. Super Mario 64/Crash Bandicoot
Mario Kart 64/GoldenEye 007 vs. Tomb Raider/Kirby Super Star
Star Fox 64/Fallout vs. Super Mario RPG/Metal Slug
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter/PaRappa the Rapper vs. Suikoden/Nights into Dreams

1st Rotation: Even if you'd take SM64 > FFVII SotN would crush Crash even before any kind of PS SFF
2nd Rotation: Now it's the N64's turn to crush 1996's games
3rd Rotation: SMRPG wins it for 1996 though Metal Slug is likely dead weight plus we're getting to the point where people may have already voted
4th Rotation: 1996 wins, I guess, but honestly I doubt these games have swayed many voters one way or another.

Even if you moved Super Mario RPG to the second rotation it wouldn't defeat Mario Kart 64/GoldenEye 007. In 2009 the combined pair got 35.68% to SMRPG's 17.03%. Sure GoldenEye 007 is weaker now and SMRPG may be stronger, but that's still quite a gap to close with little support from Kirby Super Star/Tomb Raider.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2000 (oops)
Current Bracket Score: 37/40

LeonhartFour posted...

I don't think RE1 is worth that much! FFVII would slaughter it directly.

It is 1996's third strongest game and I only bumped 1997 by 2% so I think it was a fair trade

Besides, I'm off by like 10% so clearly I misjudged 1997.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2000 (oops)
Current Bracket Score: 37/40

creativename posted...

Wait, you were expecting 1997 with 56% and still think 2000 would've beat it? That'd be quite the pic effect. Possible, but I think it might be too much.

To be fair I bumped 1997 a few percent points when I found out Resident Evil wasn't going to be in the picture.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2000 (oops)
Current Bracket Score: 37/40

Updated Top 10

Top 10 Closest Matches
1. 1996 – 51.38% vs. 2000 – 48.62% - Round 2 – 2.76%
2. 2001 – 52.11% vs. 1995 – 47.89% - Round 3 – 4.22%
3. 1995 – 52.39% vs. 1987 – 47.61% - Round 2 – 4.78%
4. 2011 – 54.86% vs. 2006 – 45.14% - Round 1 – 9.72%
5. 1991 – 54.87% vs. 2002 – 45.13% - Round 2 – 9.74%
6. 2003 – 57.67% vs. 2005 – 42.33% - Round 2 – 15.34%
7. 2003 – 58.03% vs. 2013 – 41.97% - Round 1 – 16.06%
8. 1994 – 58.69% vs. 2004 – 41.31% - Round 1 – 17.38%
9. 2005 – 59.02% vs. 2015 – 40.98% - Round 1 – 18.04%
10. 1994 – 62.02% vs. 2011 – 37.98% - Round 2 – 24.04%

Top 10 Smallest Vote Gaps
1. 1996 – 7880 vs. 2000 – 7465 – Round 2 – 424
2. 1995 – 8668 vs. 1987 – 7878 – Round 2 – 790
3. 2001 – 10156 vs. 1995 – 9333 – Round 3 – 823
4. 1991 – 8664 vs. 2002 – 7125 – Round 2 – 1539
5. 2011 – 9262 vs. 2006 – 7622 – Round 1 – 1640
6. 2003 – 9305 vs. 2005 – 6830 – Round 2 – 2475
7. 2003 – 9711 vs. 2013 – 7024 – Round 1 – 2687
8. 2005 – 9799 vs. 2015 – 6803 – Round 1 – 2996
9. 1994 – 10236 vs. 2004 – 7205 – Round 1 – 3031
10. 1994 – 9808 vs. 2011 – 6006 – Round 2 – 3803

Top 10 Most Popular Polls
1. 2001 vs. 1995 – Round 3 – 19489
2. 1994 vs. 2004 – Round 1 – 17441
3. 1998 vs. 1993 – Round 1 – 17249
4. 2002 vs. 2010 – Round 1 – 17086
5. 1991 vs. 1988 – Round 1 – 16964
6. 2011 vs. 2006 – Round 1 – 16884
7. 1992 vs. 2016 – Round 1 – 16879
8. 1987 vs. 1985 – Round 1 – 16868
9. 1995 vs. 1986 – Round 1 – 16815
10. 2001 vs. 2014 – Round 1 – 16792

Top 10 Least Impressive Winners
1. 1996 – Round 2 – 7880
2. 1991 – Round 2 – 8664
3. 1995 – Round 2 – 8668
4. 2011 – Round 1 – 9262
5. 2003 – Round 2 – 9305
6. 2003 – Round 1 – 9711
7. 2005 – Round 1 – 9799
8. 1994 – Round 2 – 9809
9. 2001 – Round 3 – 10156
10. 1994 – Round 1 – 10236

Top 10 Most Impressive Losers
1. 1995 – Round 3 – 9333
2. 1987 – Round 2 – 7878
3. 2006 – Round 1 – 7622
4. 2000 – Round 2 – 7456
5. 2004 – Round 1 – 7205
6. 2002 – Round 2 – 7125
7. 2013 – Round 1 – 7024
8. 2005 – Round 2 – 6830
9. 2015 – Round 1 – 6803
10. 2011 – Round 2 – 6006

Top 10 Least Predictable Matches
1. 2003 vs. 2005 – Round 2 – 27.77%
2. 1994 vs. 2011 – Round 2 – 35.74%
3. 2001 vs. 1995 – Round 3 – 36.25%
4. 2005 vs. 2015 – Round 1 – 40.10%
5. 1996 vs. 2000 – Round 2 – 46.81%
6. 1994 vs. 2004 – Round 1 – 49.15%
7. 2003 vs. 2013 – Round 1 – 50.17%
8. 1991 vs. 2002 – Round 2 – 52.24%
9. 2011 vs. 2006 – Round 1 – 52.93%
10. 1995 vs. 1987 – Round 2 – 57.85%
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2000 (oops)
Current Bracket Score: 37/40

Damn, 1997 is killing 1996. No way 2000 would have won here...
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2000 (oops)
Current Bracket Score: 37/40

34.SBAllen - 38

The pictures make sense now

>_>
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2000 (oops)
Current Bracket Score: 37/40

Match XXX – Round 3 – 1997 vs. 1996

Previous Results

1997
Round 1: Defeated 1999, 77.25% - 22.75%
Round 2: Defeated 2007, 70.98% - 29.02%

1996
Round 1: Defeated 1989, 83.69% - 16.31%
Round 2: Defeated 2000, 51.38% - 48.62%

Analysis

I still maintain that with a better picture 2000 would have defeated 1996 and I would have still been alive in the guru. My bracket had 2000 winning this match so it’ll be an auto loss for me. Anyway back to the actual match. 1997 will be going into the match as the favourite. Final Fantasy VII is arguably the strongest game between the two years though I’d imagine quite a few people would go with Super Mario 64. After that Super Mario RPG is likely the next strongest game, but due to its overlap with Super Mario 64 it may not bring as much support.

In terms of depth I would have to give 1997 the advantage. Mario Kart 64 and Star Fox 64 likely take out Crash Bandicoot and Kirby Super Star though SFF/LFF may be the only way 1996 could win. If Nintendo fans can concentrate around 1996 while Playstation fans are split an upset could occur. I think there is a good chance of this happening. Nintendo SFF has always been massive; I mean we saw it in 2009 though GoldenEye 007 held up relatively well which could spell disaster for the year. Meanwhile outside of characters/games from the same series Playstation tends to avoid a lot of SFF. Sure Final Fantasy VII and Castlevania: SotN would easily win over Crash Bandicoot and Tomb Raider, but they could end up costing more votes.

I don’t think 1996 will cause the upset. The lack of Resident Evil hurts an already shallow 1996. I still feel 2000 would have won this match and if this match turns out to be close I will at least feel in the back of my mind a bit shortchanged.

charmander6000’s Bracket: 2000 > 1997

charmander6000’s Prediction: 1997 wins, 56.15% - 43.85%
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Round 3

1997 - 56.15%
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Canada does love Chrono Trigger
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Welcome to contest season.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Jakyl25 posted...

HaRRicH posted...

https://twitter.com/RVAwonk/status/864551315522936832

"Well that was probably good advice, looking back...

(article from before Trump took office).
https://t.co/83JbhNOTKx https://t.co/Dan4bwY4IG"

Basically: before inauguration, Israel suggested not to leak info to this administration until Donald's connections with Russia were cleared. That way, their intel wouldn't be passed around from Israel to USA to Russia to Iran.

Today, we're dealing with the fallout of Donald declassifying Israeli information for Russia immediately after firing the man investigating his ties to Russia.

Goddamn man, 2015 onward is a stressful political age to be in (DNC included).

Trump really really loves Israel

As you can see from this itinerary where he recognizes Palestine as a legitimate state
https://twitter.com/kredo0/status/863047286221398016

Don't most people consider Palestine a legitimate state? The main issue is where do we draw the borders...
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

I do wish when people start listing games they go over board like...

I can't believe people are voting this

Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
Advance Wars
Animal Crossing
ATV Offroad Fury
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Bejeweled
Black & White
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Civilization III
Commandos 2: Men Of Courage
Conker's Bad Fur Day
Dark Age of Camelot
Devil May Cry
Final Fantasy X
Freak Out
Frequency
Gitaroo Man
Golden Sun
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
Grand Theft Auto III
Halo: Combat Evolved
ICO
Ikaruga
IL-2 Sturmovik
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Luigi's Mansion
Madden NFL 2002
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Mario Party 3
Max Payne
Maximo: Ghosts To Glory
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
NCAA Football 2002
NHL 2002
Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis
Pikmin
Red Faction
Return To Castle Wolfenstein
Rez
Ridge Racer V
Runescape
Serious Sam: The First Encounter
Shenmue II
Silent Hill 2
Sonic Adventure 2
SSX Tricky
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
StarTopia
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Tennis 2K2
The Legend Of Zelda: Oracle Of Seasons/Ages
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Tribes 2
Twisted Metal: Black
Uplink
Virtua Fighter 4
Wario Land 4
Wizardry 8

over this

Alien Soldier
Area 51
BioForge
Chrono Trigger
Comix Zone
Command & Conquer
Crusader No Remorse
Descent
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Full Throttle
Gex
Lunar: Eternal Blue
Marathon 2: Durandal
MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat
Metal Warriors
Panzer Dragoon
Rayman
Return Fire
Ristar
Secret of Evermore
Sega Rally Championship
Seiken Densetsu 3
Soul Edge
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
Terranigma
The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Adventure
The Dig
The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis
Twisted Metal
Vectorman
Virtua Cop 2
WarCraft II: Tides of Darkness
Wing Commander IV
Wipeout
Worms (original)

Note: Some may not have been released in 1995 or 2001 in North America
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

While this match has more votes (we're looking at around 19k total) it is unlikely that a significant rally is occurring. A spike in vote total was already apparent early in the match with the expect total hovering around 19k. We saw this last contest when we went from four matches to two. I guess people felt pressured to vote in both matches.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

The only 80s year to make the second round was 1987 and even then it only made it because it defeated another 80s year.

The 90s though are stacked, 6/10 are in the quarter-finals and 2001's victory over 1995 today only marks the second time they lost to a non-90s year (2000 > 1990 being the only other one).

A third may fall to 2001 next round.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

If Republicans suffer a lot of damage during the mid-term elections they may consider it, but until then Trump is effectively safe.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Probably in the amazing tier
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Nah, it'd need Melee support to reach the final four.

It was a pretty good time though.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Giant2005 posted...

Where are you guys getting this? A couple of hours ago 95 was behind by less than 500 votes. Now it is behind by more than 600. The gap is widening.

We have a site that records poll updates, here's today's match.

http://www.gamefaqscontests.com/drupal/node/22?matchnum=6714&num=2
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

I imagine 1996's picture will be...

Super Mario 64
Super Mario RPG
Resident Evil
Crash Bandicoot
Tomb Raider
Kirby Super Star (or DKC3)
Nights into Dreams...
Quake (or Diablo)

I think that's a good balance between strength and diversity

For comparison here's 1997

Final Fantasy VII
GoldenEye 007
Castlevania: SotN
Mario Kart 64 (or Diddy Kong Racing)
Star Fox 64
PaRappa the Rapper
Fallout (or Age of Empires or The Curse of Monkey's Island)
Tekken 3
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Breath of Fire II likely defeats anything that isn't exclusive or Sonic on the Genesis
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Yeah, I expect 1995 to keep losing support.

So how does 2001 look for next around?
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Grand Theft Auto III does well in Europe too so the first rotation may be a massacre during the dead zone, then you have nothing for 1995 vs. Melee in the second rotation.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Nice response by 2001
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Vote totals are almost 200 votes higher than yesterday at the same time.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

tennisboy213 posted...

charmander6000 posted...

Top 10 Most Impressive Losers
1. 1987 – Round 2 – 7878
2. 2006 – Round 1 – 7622
3. 2000 – Round 2 – 7456
4. 2004 – Round 1 – 7205
5. 2002 – Round 2 – 7125
6. 2013 – Round 1 – 7024
7. 2003 – Round 2 – 6830
8. 2015 – Round 1 – 6803
9. 2011 – Round 2 – 6006
10. 1990 – Round 1 – 5722

wrong year

Thanks
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Bolto4 posted...

Poor 2000 on that note though :( Imagine how strong that year would be if it got it's ideal pics, with this example being shown right now.

If 2000 defeated 1997 (and 1994 > 1991) I'd be in line to win a prize (1st is out since I have a worse tiebreaker relative to someone else in the guru).
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

CT board vote is finally dying
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Updated Top 10

Top 10 Closest Matches
1. 1996 – 51.38% vs. 2000 – 48.62% - Round 2 – 2.76%
2. 1995 – 52.39% vs. 1987 – 47.61% - Round 2 – 4.78%
3. 2011 – 54.86% vs. 2006 – 45.14% - Round 1 – 9.72%
4. 1991 – 54.87% vs. 2002 – 45.13% - Round 2 – 9.74%
5. 2003 – 57.67% vs. 2005 – 42.33% - Round 2 – 15.34%
6. 2003 – 58.03% vs. 2013 – 41.97% - Round 1 – 16.06%
7. 1994 – 58.69% vs. 2004 – 41.31% - Round 1 – 17.38%
8. 2005 – 59.02% vs. 2015 – 40.98% - Round 1 – 18.04%
9. 1994 – 62.02% vs. 2011 – 37.98% - Round 2 – 24.04%
10. 2000 – 65.30% vs. 1990 – 34.70% - Round 1 – 30.60%

Top 10 Smallest Vote Gaps
1. 1996 – 7880 vs. 2000 – 7465 – Round 2 – 424
2. 1995 – 8668 vs. 1987 – 7878 – Round 2 – 790
3. 1991 – 8664 vs. 2002 – 7125 – Round 2 – 1539
4. 2011 – 9262 vs. 2006 – 7622 – Round 1 – 1640
5. 2003 – 9305 vs. 2005 – 6830 – Round 2 – 2475
6. 2003 – 9711 vs. 2013 – 7024 – Round 1 – 2687
7. 2005 – 9799 vs. 2015 – 6803 – Round 1 – 2996
8. 1994 – 10236 vs. 2004 – 7205 – Round 1 – 3031
9. 1994 – 9808 vs. 2011 – 6006 – Round 2 – 3803
10. 2000 – 10770 vs. 1990 – 5722 – Round 1 – 5048

Top 10 Least Impressive Winners
1. 1996 – Round 2 – 7880
2. 1991 – Round 2 – 8664
3. 1995 – Round 2 – 8668
4. 2011 – Round 1 – 9262
5. 2003 – Round 2 – 9305
6. 2003 – Round 1 – 9711
7. 2005 – Round 1 – 9799
8. 1994 – Round 2 – 9809
9. 1994 – Round 1 – 10236
10. 2000 – Round 1 – 10770

Top 10 Most Impressive Losers
1. 1987 – Round 2 – 7878
2. 2006 – Round 1 – 7622
3. 2000 – Round 2 – 7456
4. 2004 – Round 1 – 7205
5. 2002 – Round 2 – 7125
6. 2013 – Round 1 – 7024
7. 2003 – Round 2 – 6830
8. 2015 – Round 1 – 6803
9. 2011 – Round 2 – 6006
10. 1990 – Round 1 – 5722

Top 10 Least Predictable Matches
1. 2003 vs. 2005 – Round 2 – 27.77%
2. 1994 vs. 2011 – Round 2 – 35.74%
3. 2005 vs. 2015 – Round 1 – 40.10%
4. 1996 vs. 2000 – Round 2 – 46.81%
5. 1994 vs. 2004 – Round 1 – 49.15%
6. 2003 vs. 2013 – Round 1 – 50.17%
7. 1991 vs. 2002 – Round 2 – 52.24%
8. 2011 vs. 2006 – Round 1 – 52.93%
9. 1995 vs. 1987 – Round 2 – 57.85%
10. 2000 vs. 1990 – Round 1 – 63.21%
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

1995 is still holding...

Chrono Trigger might be too big of an anchor
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Also where is MGS2?
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Did anyone submit a Playstation picture or are consoles getting snubbed again?
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

You guys and your Chrono Trigger love
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winner: 2001
Current Bracket Score: 33/36

Match XXIX – Round 3 – 1995 vs. 2001

Previous Results

1995
Round 1: Defeated 1986, 89.00% - 11.00%
Round 2: Defeated 1987, 52.39% - 47.61%

2001
Round 1: Defeated 2014, 83.17% - 16.83%
Round 2: Defeated 2008, 68.40% - 31.60%

Analysis

Welcome to round 3. Starting from here we will see one match per day. The picture format has also changed slightly with two games or consoles present at once for a total of eight. Despite not being a very deep year 1995 will actually benefit the most from the picture change. This is because its picture from earlier rounds was essentially Chrono Trigger and three games GameFAQs barely played and it clearly showed with 1995 struggling to defeat 1987 last round. Now with more SNES games and possibly the Playstation we get to see 1995’s true strength.

Of course that may not matter because 2001 is an incredibly deep year. Last round it easily doubled 2008, which isn’t exactly a weak year, even if you assume Brawl was SFF by Melee. Outside of 1998 2001 has the deepest pool to dig into. I know Chrono Trigger is a monster, but 1987 did almost win last round. Based on 2015 stats Melee and Final Fantasy X are strong enough to counter Chrono Trigger themselves and while 1995 is getting a better picture draw it isn’t going to be better than 2001.

The only way I can see 1995 threatening would be if consoles matter a lot. The Playstation is probably one of the most popular consoles on GameFAQs and considering no strong games came out for it during that year there will be very little overlap with the other games in the picture. Personally I don’t think consoles will make a huge difference, but if they do 1995 will be the year to benefit the most.

charmander6000’s Bracket: 2001 > 1995

charmander6000’s Prediction: 2001 wins, 58.58% - 41.42%
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winners: 1998 and 2003
Current Bracket Score: 29/32

Round 3

2001 - 58.58%
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winners: 1998 and 2003
Current Bracket Score: 29/32

DoomTheGyarados posted...

Fun fact: there was a bill to heavily reduce the cost of medicine in America. If every democrat had voted for it, it would have passed.

Guess who heavily took donations from big pharma...!

Big Pharma isn't stupid. They are usually pretty good at pulling off the Xanatos Gambit.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winners: 1998 and 2003
Current Bracket Score: 29/32

Yeah, maybe there was a notable Chrono Trigger rally against Melee, but I find it hard to believe it was present in its first three matches, especially given its vote totals didn't differ too much from other non-rallied matches.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winners: 1998 and 2003
Current Bracket Score: 29/32

Giant2005 posted...

Well I'm not so good at the mind reading thing, so I have no idea what people will give a crap about or not (I'm a little surprised though considering this is a gaming site).
Xo what about 96 then? If it had proper credit for Pokemon, it would take down 98 and fairly easily really:

96: Pokemon, Duke Nukem 3d, Mega Man X3, Civilization 2, Time Crisis, Super Mario RPG, Kirby Super Star, Resident Evil, Metal Slug, Quake, Super Mario 64, Tekken 2, Elder Scrolls 2, Crash Bandicoot, Street Fighter Alpha 2, Red Alert, Destruction Derby 2, Dead or Alive, Killer Instinct Gold, Megaman 8, Diablo, NBA Hangime.

98: Ocarina of Time, Baldur's Gate, Half Life, Gran Turismo, Resident Evil 2, Age of Empires, MGS, Yoshi, Starcraft, 1080 Snowboarding, Unreal, Banjo-Kazooie, Spyro, NFS 3, FO 2, Grim Fandango, Oddworld.

The only X-factor that is stopping it from being a clear-cut victory for 96, is that unlike 92, it doesn't have a clear cut winner up against OoT.

First, outside of a handful of games GameFAQs doesn't care about PC exclusives. Second the average voter isn't be able to rattle off 10+ games from each year, they barely even make it to the end of the picture rotation.

1998 without one of OoT or Pokemon RBY would probably still win excluding picture sabotage. Maybe 2001 could put up a fight.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winners: 1998 and 2003
Current Bracket Score: 29/32

transcience posted...

so 2005/2013 is 51/49, huh?

Here are the adjusted 2015 stats from the pictures

2013
Grand Theft Auto V – 29.29% (2015)
The Last of Us – 27.36% (2015)
BioShock Infinite – 24.49% (2015)
Fire Emblem: Awakening – 22.89% (2015)

2005
God of War
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – 23.32% (2015)
Resident Evil 4 – 33.17% (2015)
Shadow of the Colossus – 30.17% (2015)

God of War's 2010 value is likely overrated due to Fallout 3's overperformance against Brawl. If you keep it constant with other games from that quarter it falls to the 25-27% region though given Kratos' 2013 performance I'd argue the game is a bit weaker.

In a fair fight 2005 looks like it would get around the mid-50s against 2013. If you throw in the order of the picture and the fact that 2013 wins the first two match-ups the match likely ends up closer.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winners: 1998 and 2003
Current Bracket Score: 29/32

Horses are a pretty rich business.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winners: 1998 and 2003
Current Bracket Score: 29/32

Updated Top 10

Top 10 Closest Matches
1. 1996 – 51.38% vs. 2000 – 48.62% - Round 2 – 2.76%
2. 1995 – 52.39% vs. 1987 – 47.61% - Round 2 – 4.78%
3. 2011 – 54.86% vs. 2006 – 45.14% - Round 1 – 9.72%
4. 1991 – 54.87% vs. 2002 – 45.13% - Round 2 – 9.74%
5. 2003 – 58.03% vs. 2013 – 41.97% - Round 1 – 16.06%
6. 1994 – 58.69% vs. 2004 – 41.31% - Round 1 – 17.38%
7. 2005 – 59.02% vs. 2015 – 40.98% - Round 1 – 18.04%
8. 1994 – 62.02% vs. 2011 – 37.98% - Round 2 – 24.04%
9. 2000 – 65.30% vs. 1990 – 34.70% - Round 1 – 30.60%
10. 2001 – 68.40% vs. 2008 – 31.60% - Round 2 – 36.80%

Top 10 Smallest Vote Gaps
1. 1996 – 7880 vs. 2000 – 7465 – Round 2 – 424
2. 1995 – 8668 vs. 1987 – 7878 – Round 2 – 790
3. 1991 – 8664 vs. 2002 – 7125 – Round 2 – 1539
4. 2011 – 9262 vs. 2006 – 7622 – Round 1 – 1640
5. 2003 – 9711 vs. 2013 – 7024 – Round 1 – 2687
6. 2005 – 9799 vs. 2015 – 6803 – Round 1 – 2996
7. 1994 – 10236 vs. 2004 – 7205 – Round 1 – 3031
8. 1994 – 9808 vs. 2011 – 6006 – Round 2 – 3803
9. 2000 – 10770 vs. 1990 – 5722 – Round 1 – 5048
10. 2001 – 11368 vs. 2008 – 5251 – Round 2 – 6117

Top 10 Least Popular Polls
1. 2005 vs. 1978 – Wildcard – 14431
2. 2006 vs. 1981 – Wildcard – 15020
3. 2007 vs. 2012 – Round 1 – 15242
4. 1996 vs. 2000 – Round 2 – 15336
5. 1997 vs. 2007 – Round 2 – 15497
6. 1989 vs. 1983 – Wildcard – 15678
7. 2009 vs. 1979 – Wildcard – 15760
8. 1991 vs. 2002 – Round 2 – 15789
9. 1994 vs. 2011 – Round 2 – 15815
10. 1997 vs. 1999 – Round 1 – 16003

Top 10 Least Impressive Winners
1. 1996 – Round 2 – 7880
2. 1991 – Round 2 – 8664
3. 1995 – Round 2 – 8668
4. 2011 – Round 1 – 9262
5. 2003 – Round 1 – 9711
6. 2005 – Round 1 – 9799
7. 1994 – Round 2 – 9809
8. 1994 – Round 1 – 10236
9. 2000 – Round 1 – 10770
10. 1989 – Wildcard – 10929

Top 10 Most Impressive Losers
1. 1987 – Round 2 – 7878
2. 2006 – Round 1 – 7622
3. 2000 – Round 2 – 7456
4. 2004 – Round 1 – 7205
5. 2002 – Round 2 – 7125
6. 2013 – Round 1 – 7024
7. 2015 – Round 1 – 6803
8. 2011 – Round 2 – 6006
9. 1990 – Round 1 – 5722
10. 2008 – Round 2 – 5251

Top 10 Least Predictable Matches
1. 1994 vs. 2011 – Round 2 – 35.74%
2. 2005 vs. 2015 – Round 1 – 40.10%
3. 1996 vs. 2000 – Round 2 – 46.81%
4. 1994 vs. 2004 – Round 1 – 49.15%
5. 2003 vs. 2013 – Round 1 – 50.17%
6. 1991 vs. 2002 – Round 2 – 52.24%
7. 2011 vs. 2006 – Round 1 – 52.93%
8. 1995 vs. 1987 – Round 2 – 57.85%
9. 2000 vs. 1990 – Round 1 – 63.21%
10. 2001 vs. 2008 – Round 2 – 68.02%
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winners: 1998 and 2003
Current Bracket Score: 29/32

Yeah, GameFAQs clearly did not play the Genesis.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winners: 1991 and 1994
Current Bracket Score: 25/28

Match XXVIII – Round 2 – 2003 vs. 2005

Previous Results

2003
Round 1: Defeated 2013, 58.03% - 41.97%

2005
Wildcard: Defeated 1978, 85.53% - 14.47%
Round 1: Defeated 2015, 59.02% - 40.98%

Analysis

This was one of the final matches I locked my pick in and after the first round I still don’t know which year will win it. I expected 2013 and 2015 to be close so then 2003 and 2005 went on and finished about 1% from each other. If it came down to it I would have taken 2013 pre-contest, but I would be very nervous about it.

Between the two years Wind Waker is the strongest game, but then 2005 has the next two strongest games before Knights of the Old Republic backs-up 2003. Among the bottom two games Disgaea is the weakest and I have no idea where Final Fantasy X-2 would rank though I’d imagine it would be around God of War and Phoenix Wright.

I think this will come down to the order of the picture. Both Resident Evil 4 and Shadow of the Colossus are the bottom two pictures while Wind Waker and Knights of the Old Republic are the second and third pictures respectively. I’m also more inclined to bet on a year with both Square and Nintendo than a year without one.

charmander6000’s Bracket: 2003 > 2005

charmander6000’s Prediction: 2003 wins, 53.12% - 46.88%
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winners: 1991 and 1994
Current Bracket Score: 25/28

Match XXVII – Round 2 – 1998 vs. 1992

Previous Results

1998
Round 1: Defeated 1993, 85.93% - 14.07%

1992
Round 1: Defeated 2016, 72.92% - 27.08%

Analysis

To be honest I wasn’t very impressed with 1998’s performance last round. Maybe Doom and Myst bring in a lot of respect votes or perhaps the PC fans, while small are very loyal. I guess it may be due to our high expectations for the year to dominate the entire contest. 1992 did as expected, easily dispatching 2016.

It’s a shame 1992 was thrown to 1998 so quickly though I guess someone has to go up against the juggernaut in the early rounds. 1992 is very Nintendo heavy and when your opponent has Ocarina of Time things could turn ugly rather quickly. Link to the Past did hold up well against Ocarina of Time during the 2015 contest so perhaps the SFF won’t be that terrible. Ocarina of Time does appear first in the rotation while Link to the Past appears second, but 1992 does have the Triforce in the year picture.

The match will give us a better picture as to 1998’s capabilities. I feel it would have to severely underperform for anyone to think it could be threatened and besides next round the picture will have more games which will only be an advantage for the year.

charmander6000’s Bracket: 1998 > 1992

charmander6000’s Prediction: 1998 wins, 64.27% - 35.73%
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winners: 1991 and 1994
Current Bracket Score: 25/28

CHANGE

Round 2

1998 - 64.27%
2003 - 53.12%
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winners: 1991 and 1994
Current Bracket Score: 25/28

You could say they are switching up who is in control.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winners: 1991 and 1994
Current Bracket Score: 25/28

No

Not all perverts are sexist and vice versa.
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Best Year in Gaming - Today's Winners: 1991 and 1994
Current Bracket Score: 25/28