Another year is coming to a close and with it, publications are all figuring out what their top gaming picks are for the year. While we didn’t see the Video Game Awards (VGA’s) this year, a new awards show took its place, and that’s The Game Awards.
Produced by VGA host Geoff Keighley himself, this year’s show was considerably subdued compared to the VGA’s, but did it turn out for the better or for the worse? The PlayStation LifeStyle staff weighs in on the entire event and speak out on what they think worked, and what didn’t in this week’s “Now Loading…” feature.
Alex Co: Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how it turned out. While it might not have the same budget as the VGA’s, it did focus more on games, developers and the industry as a whole. We didn’t have any celebs to host the event this time, and I think it’s a step in the right direction.
As usual, game reveals — like it or not — were the primary hook for gamers to tune it. Did it deliver on that front? I’m sure Nintendo fans squealed for joy with Reggie Fils-Aime’s involvement, as well as the Nintendo stuff announced; but Xbox and PlayStation fans might not feel the same way. However, it’s important to note that Sony is holding a PlayStation Experience keynote the following day (today, in fact), and it’s understandable that it’s reserving its big guns for that.
Will I want to see it happen next year and in the same format? I’d have to say yes; it’s certainly a step up from the tea-bagging jokes and bombastic approach past awards show did; and I’m all for it.
Mack Ashworth: Quite the awesome event, I thought. Very happy with Dragon Age: Inquisition achieving GOTY, as I think the game is a blast and deserves to be recognised for its quality.
Destiny continues to add to its online offerings, even for those without the Season Pass, and so I think it deserved the Best Online Experience award. Support post-launch is a very important factor, and Bungie is proving to be a good listener thus far.
The fact that TotalBiscuit won Trending Gamer, even when pitted against the gigantic PewDiePie, helped restore my faith in the gaming community.
As for the reveals, I’m really liking the look of The Order: 1886 and No Man’s Sky. The more they show of these games, the more excited I get. Next year is going to be a big one for gamers!
Zarmena: I unfortunately missed the live coverage, which may have killed some excitement, but I’d say the awards were just “okay.” I’m glad that we’ve seen a little more of The Order 1886, and I’m hoping to see even more at the PlayStation Experience event. It’s one of the games I’m really looking forward to, and I find it intriguing so far. What actually had me excited, however, was the announcement of a new King’s Quest game. The trailer looks fantastic, and hearing from the series’ creators that they were impressed by what they had seen of the game gives me hope that this will be one of the big hits of 2015. Many a days were spent playing King’s Quest games during my childhood, so I’m looking forward to seeing more. I can’t say anything else held my interest!
Cameron Teague: King Quest being revived and looking amazing is enough to make this year’s awards very cool.
Make sure to check out our complete The Game Awards coverage for all the latest announcements and trailers. If you want to see who won in what category, we also have you covered.
What did you think of The Game Awards? Would you want to see a similar format for next year? Sound off and let us know in the comments.
