I’ve been an avid fan of The Game Awards since its inception in 2014 – extra precisely, since creator and host Geoff Keighley constructed a strong repute with the Spike Video Game Awards earlier than that. His awards exhibits have at all times put the trade and its builders on the forefront whereas hanging a reasonably good stability with world premieres and thrilling new reveals, by no means actually tipping the dimensions in both path. However, this yr’s Game Awards occasion – whereas nonetheless high-energy and stuffed with surprises – felt a bit off.
To its credit score, The Game Awards 2023 was fast-paced and fairly entertaining. It was rapid-fire bulletins, superstar visitor appearances and an total enjoyable environment that by no means let up, in all probability crescendoing with Alan Wake 2‘s whacky musical efficiency. In the midst of all the pleasure, you may’ve missed the all-important awards-giving points – that’s as a result of The Game Awards flew proper by them.
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Looking again ultimately yr’s present, there was a significantly better stability of awards being handed out with the world premieres that appeal to its record-breaking viewership numbers. Christopher Judge’s traditionally lengthy acceptance speech may’ve been the butt of the joke this yr, however I used to be glued to the actor’s actually heartwarming, virtually 8-minute love letter to the trade, to aspiring actors and builders and to the gifted groups that work tirelessly to make these video games.
Keighley let the winners speak and regardless of everybody’s stances on overly lengthy acceptance speeches, it felt like a real celebration of the craft. Now I’m positive you’ve already seen this yr’s teleprompters hurrying winners to “please wrap it up” after one minute. Admittedly, I don’t envy Keighley on this place. He has to make sure that the present adheres to a strict size, preserving the momentum going whereas permitting different awards and bulletins to share the stage at a brisk tempo. It’s not a straightforward job however this yr, it felt particularly unbalanced.
Neil Newbon gained Best Performance for his stellar portrayal of Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3. Let him communicate. Sam Lake and Kyle Rowley did an excellent job directing the extraordinarily complicated Alan Wake 2. Let them communicate. Hi-Fi Rush‘s sound group superbly melded audio design with inventive gameplay. Let them communicate. The Game Awards is a stage for not solely reveals however for the builders to have a second within the highlight that lasts greater than 60 seconds. This is an trade that has so much to say, so much to rejoice and so much to be happy with. Let them communicate.
This yr’s present was the primary time that I seen a definite rift between the sport reveals and the precise awards. Big classes like Best Action Game, Best RPG, Best Fighting Game and Best Score and Music have been relegated to those unusual rapid-fire bulletins. Understandably, this was in all probability carried out to maintain up the tempo of the present but it surely got here on the expense of these wins feeling like afterthoughts as an alternative of defining moments of victory for these winners.
Just to clear the air, I had completely no downside with the video games revealed and the winners introduced. The world premieres have been large surprises that might’ve snuggly match into one other occasion like Summer Game Fest or E3 (and stolen the exhibits within the course of), whereas the winners of the evening have been all well-deserved. The downside is how the previous was given notable precedence this yr than the latter which isn’t honest.
I really like The Game Awards and I like to see hard-working skills given their highlight moments simply as a lot as I really like these addictive shock reveals. If the present should run for one more hour to accommodate each, so be it. This can be an essential second for builders. However, I believe the best resolution could be to lastly separate the awards from the reveals.
This may permit Keighley to plan a extra concise, centered awards present whereas trimming the size, if that was an enormous concern this yr (I’m positive slightly shock or two might nonetheless comfortably slip into the schedule). Thereafter, a wholly new end-of-year present is born that homes the larger bulletins to fill the hole till summer season’s gaming occasions. This doesn’t must be as meticulously deliberate as an enormous stage present both, because the previous few years have confirmed that digital showcases can nonetheless simply generate hype and obtain the identical outcomes.
The Game Awards is now the most-viewed awards present in the whole leisure trade, amassing tens of millions upon tens of millions of viewers annually. Naturally, separating its two largest sights wouldn’t appear feasable, particularly at this top, however this yr has solely proven that one can overshadow the opposite to the purpose the place it virtually devalues the aim of the occasion. I wish to see The Game Awards proceed to thrive however that is coming from a spot of constructive criticism for the long run: please give the builders the time they deserve.
