Many approach the subject of Game of the Year with great caution and even trepidation. Others have dismissed it altogether claiming that it's a meaningless popularity contest. Some sites put up electronic polls in order to discover how the gamers feel. Still others stick to in house voting, perhaps giving every editor a limited number votes. Regardless of how legitimately or artificially a game of the year is chosen, every gamer (especially a critical one) should have a game of the year.
BioShock (PC, 360; 2K Games)
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii; Nintendo)
Halo 3 (360; Microsoft)
The Orange Box (PC, 360, PS3; EA)
Ratchet & Clank: Future-Tools of Destruction (PS3; Sony)
Mass Effect (360; Microsoft)
NBA Street Homecourt (PS3, 360; EA Sports)
Unreal Tournament 3 (PC, PS3; Midway)
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3; Sony)
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (PC; Midway)
NHL 08 (PS3, 360; EA Sports)
Rock Crysis (PC; EA)
Persona 3 (PS2; Atlus)
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PS3, 360, Wii, PS2; Activision)
MotorStorm (PS3; Sony)
Assassin's Creed (PS3, 360; Ubisoft)
Warhawk (PS3; Sony)
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC, 360, PS3; Activision)
Super Paper Mario (Wii; Nintendo)
World in Conflict (PC; Sierra)
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure (Wii; Capcom)
Skate (PS3, 360; EA)
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii; Nintendo)
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS; Nintendo)
World of WarCraft: Burning Crusade (PC; Blizzard)
Planet Puzzle League (DS; Nintendo)
God of War II (PS2; Sony)
Heavenly Sword (PS3; Sony)
Virtua Fighter 5 (PS3, 360; Sega)
I've lifted the list of nominees from 1up. Though this list is a tad excessive, the variety is noteworthy and the list will serve our purposes. Let's assume that as a critical-gamer you have seriously played and digested each of these titles (though the notion is absurd as even game reviewers don't have time to thoroughly play through the entire roster), and by doing so, you are aware of each game's pros and cons. Now all you need to do is pick one. As simple as it may seem, many shy away from committing to a game choosing it above all the others. Choosing a game of the year is more complicated than measuring how much "good" and "bad" are in various games. Due to the large variety of genres and platforms represented on this list, at some point you're going to have to make the call between two unlike games. In the end, apples and oranges can be compared. Choosing one over the other doesn't necessarily mean that one is superior, but that you prioritize and value some quality of your choice above all other factors.
In essence, choosing a game of the year says more about you than how good the game is. And when networks like 1up or IGN pick a game of the year, it means even more. Besides being a rough estimate to the ratio of PC-360-PS3-PSP-DS-Wii reviewers there are on staff, a major network's game of the year speaks to what values they support and what shorting comings and draw backs they're willing to forgive, overlook, and even ignore in their assessment of games. Ideally, the editors and staff would deliberate over their choice in an discussion or debate so that they may consider their options from as many view points as possible. Any consensus reached thereafter represents their network views that would, in a general sense, frame and color their game bias throughout the next year.
To give you a better idea of the kind of values that can be extrapolated from a GOTY choice, I'll give as many examples as possible from games that I have experience with. As you read them, imagine each game in 2008 to have all of the same qualities. If you're not satisfied with every game having poor frame rate, for example, then perhaps Zack & Wiki isn't your game of the year. Keep in mind, I am still in the process of assessing these games. These comments are subject to change.
Super Mario Galaxy
Halo 3
BioShock
Mass Effect
The Orange Box
Guitar Hero 3
Heavenly Sword
Planet Puzzle League
Assassin's Creed
God of War II
Super Paper Mario