Video Games to Get Grammys, not Oscars

Perhaps in an effort to bring gaming to the forefront and increase exposure to the public, The New TNN is going to host a first ever televised video game awards ceremony which is being dubbed "The Oscars of Gaming." Maybe they should have found an Executive Producer other than the President of Nickelodean, because it sounds more to me like it's the Grammys of Gaming.

Categories will include: Hottest Hero and Heroine, Most Addictive, Coolest Villain, Best All-Around Badass, Most Difficult to Master, Best Free For All Carnage, Best Soundtrack, Hottest Graphics, Best Kick Ass Weapon, Best Game based on a Movie and Best Celebrity Actor and Actress in a Game, Best Pro-Sports Game. In addition, games will be competing for the Hall of Fame Award and Game of the Year.

Hottest Hero and Heroine?! Best Celbrity Actor and Actress in a Game?! Best Kick Ass Weapon?!

What kind of categories are these, anyway? Sure, there's about three or four that fit the bill (Best Soundtrack, Hottest Graphics, Game of the Year), but it sounds a lot like someone who has never played games in their life came up with them. Without categories such as Best RPG, Best MMORPG, Best FPS, Best Action Title, Best Driving Game, Best Flight Simulator, or Best Gameplay, it seems that this ceremony is seriously missing the point.

Comments

[justin]

Nice point Bowler - it's too bad that these people went for shallow surfaces in deciding what was "telegenic" about games. I guess we'll have to rely on less sexy, more game design oriented awards from the likes of the IGDA until enough users ignore this show so something better can replace it. As the number of adult gamers grow, so should their taste for more sophisticated gaming commentary, and more intelligent award-giving.

You mentioned genres as better categorization - that would be better than most of this tripe. But I wonder about even more specific categories (that would never fly on TV) - "best skills and attributes scheme for character development in an RPG" or "best interface for a real-time strategy game" or "most innovative use of unusual subject matter" or "best community functions in an online game" - that sort of thing, that makes you appreciate specific elements of specific games, so people game see more exactly what has been innovative from year-to-year.

[Bowler]

I would love those categories as well, but I was merely attempting to aim for the general "Oscars" type awards, which allow for sweeping generalizations in broad categories in order to award a winner ;)

I think the problem here is that the media that is in control of exposing video games is a media that is not associated with, nor one that understands video games and the culture that surrounds them. They are merely attempting to report on a fad, rather than discuss it at any proper lengths. Penny Arcade has already gone into detail on this argument, with their pieces on how G4, an entire network that is supposed to be for gamers, by gamers, is not hosted or written by gamers, and instead actually tries to play to the already tired media-driven stereotypes of the "over the top/in your face" gamer.

[San]

sounds scary

[johnny]

hey there, I think this is a great site! dropped over from singalore.com where i saw an article in a forum about the rez game with a vibrator. LOL

hilarious.

[Joe]

Maybe they'll call these awards the Extremies. Or the Attitudies. Something to accurately reflect the rock 'n roll doritos-eatin' high-fivin' lifestyle that all us gamers enjoy.

Once again, video games will be presented as juvenile and shallow.

[RadioGuy]

I'd say it's more like the MTV Movie Awards, or whatever they call them. They've got stuff like "Best Kiss" and is generally aimed at 12-14 year olds. Sounds like that's what they're doing here.

[Liz]

Don't be surprised if this idea isn't already in developement somewhere.

[jon]

will *anything* good come out of this? most importantly, will anyone watch?

i have a feeling this will be just one giant plug show with a bunch of programmers or execs who no one knows accepting awards. i mean, the whole reason anyone watches award shows is to see all the famous people. if they just showed best movie or best cinematography i don't think ratings would be anything near spectacular.

And no one will be talking about the Best Kick Ass Weapon the next day.

[Rick]

First off, great site :) I just found it while wandering the web. Secondly, yes, it will be a while before video games are thought of along the same lines of movies, music and other media. Even with some game sales exceeding the income of some blockbuster movies (GTA anyone?), it will still be a while. Just something us games will have to deal with. :P

[sarah]

jon-- that is a good point about game-makers having very little celebrity on tv. maybe somebody can submit a "hottt game designers of the month" article to some fashion magazine, to get the ball rolling.

[Noe]

Think simple. Learn different. Macinstruct.net

[Noe]

Think simple. Learn different. Macinstruct.net

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