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The Best of E3...or the Best of What the Judges See?

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Friday, May 22, 2009
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I have a feeling more than a few of you are interested in the topic of games journalism (based on feedback from my previous blog, Sore Thumbs). This one's for you guys.

If you're curious at all about how the "Best of E3" Game Critics Awards work, first, check out that link I just slapped down, then this one: an article from Crispy Gamer's Kyle Orland, which shows a lesser known, maybe iffier side of the whole process.

Just to be clear, overall, I'm very pro-Game Critics Awards. I like the organization's mission: to recognize great games. I also liked my time on the judging panel (which I'm no longer on since leaving EGM) because of the extra access I got within the industry. What journalist would ever turn down "extra access"?

Yet, that's the part I felt weird about, too. If a game's ready to be judged at E3, it should be the same version everyone else at E3 is seeing or playing. Judges shouldn't be getting exclusive hands-on privileges if no one else is getting to play those same games. Companies shouldn't be flying judges to special private events that no other press is allowed to attend. Game designers and developers shouldn't be extra accessible to judges and not the general E3 attendee.

If these are the "Best of E3" awards then let them be strictly that: the best of E3...not the best of what the judges get access to.

That said, check out how spot-on the Game Critics Awards have been in the past when looking at early E3 products.

In the end, however, who really cares? These are very minor criticisms of a process that really doesn't hurt anyone. The small-time game publisher who can't afford to put on a pre-E3 judges-only preview event may argue otherwise. But these aren't review scores we're talking about, just a little early recognition for what's cool at our industry's big trade show.

Game Critics Awards judges The who's who of gaming media: the Game Critics.

 
Tags: E3, Game Critics Awards
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Comments (10)
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Michael Pangelina
May 23, 2009
I sort of agree with the "who really cares in the end" mindset but at the same time, you're right, we could be missing out on some real gems that can't afford to pay for exposure. And at the same time I'm sure there are games that can afford the attention but don't deserve to get it. I imagine it's hard enough as it is to cover [i]everything[/i] on the show floor, some stuff is bound to be missed. They were talking about that on the bonus round a little while ago, that publishers and developers should maybe pick and choose what they're going to show, lest games just get lost in the flood of other game announcements. But that's another topic.
Lance_darnell
Lance Darnell
May 23, 2009
Are publishers only letting GCA judges look at their game because they know that is the way to gain exposure, or are they only letting GCA judges look at their game because they think that the "judges" will give favorable previews? And why don't the GCA include an award for best independent game? This would force the judges to go out and look at the little publishers who don't have the money for gift bags and free drinks. Shoe, I remember the editorials you wrote before you left the top spot at EGM. You wrote one that specifically mentioned how EGM does not accept "gifts" from publishers. I want to ask: what type of gifts do the "judges" of the GCA get?
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Dan "Shoe" Hsu
May 23, 2009
Oh, the judges don't get any gifts or anything of that sort (no way Geoff and Rob would allow that). The stuff I'm talking about is more along the lines of keeping voting fair and consistent across the board. I've never been offered anything inappropriate when I was a judge.... [quote]Shoe, I remember the editorials you wrote before you left the top spot at EGM. You wrote one that specifically mentioned how EGM does not accept "gifts" from publishers. I want to ask: what type of gifts do the "judges" of the GCA get?[/quote]
Lance_darnell
Lance Darnell
May 23, 2009
Damn, I was hoping for some really dirty, underhanded, dark stories about publishers bribing you with naked women wearing $100 bills. 8)
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Dan "Shoe" Hsu
May 23, 2009
Man, I only *wish* I lived that lifestyle! ;) [quote]Damn, I was hoping for some really dirty, underhanded, dark stories about publishers bribing you with naked women wearing $100 bills.[/quote]
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Brett Bates
May 23, 2009
Shoe, do you feel the awards would benefit if the names of judges were kept secret? If publishers didn't know who exactly was voting on their games, it might even the playing field a bit. At the very least it could convince them to allow wider access to their heavy hitters.
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Chris "Cosmo" Ross
May 23, 2009
It's funny though, 'cause when a game does earn a "best of E3" award, they slap that advertisement [i]everywhere[/i].
Lance_darnell
Lance Darnell
May 23, 2009
In the interest of getting this conversation going, on the latest episode of the Listen Up podcast John Davison made the point that all the Game Critic Judges are wined and dined by the Publishers. And that this wining and dining starts weeks before E3 itself. My point is that how can a journalist give an objective view of a product if they are having drinks with the developers before they even see it? I am reminded of the classic movie critic who won't talk to anyone and is a total loner because he doesn't want anything to influence his opinion.
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Thomas Ella
May 23, 2009
Something I learned from my 9th/11th grade English teacher (yep, had her twice; she's awesome) is that you never end your written work with something like "in the end, who cares?" because you're just negating everything you just wrote. If no one should care, why write about it? But hey, that's just a small issue about this article and obviously not the focus, so who really cares? ;)
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Allistair Everett
May 24, 2009
I wonder if the game industry will ever mimic the film industry and how revered projects are that receive official awards. I guess E3 and Tokyo Game Show are our Sundance and Cannes, when you think about it. Can you imagine a time where God of War III is rushed to critics in mid-November for official consideration at the Game Critics Awards. I guess it wouldn't be November though, would it? I picked up the original Half-Life years ago only the basis of the Best of E3 icon on the box. Ever since then, I pay attention to who receives this title.

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