Spike VGA Awards Embarrass Games Industry

Want a video game awards that pander to sales and popularity but not critical reaction?

[NYC_Gamer]

VGA=mainstream bull shit

[CombineElite]

VGA = Total Bullsh1t awards show.

Don't wanna see a bunch of C-list celebrities pretending to be GAMERS. This show should be all about Developers and hardware manufactures like Nvidia and AMD

[darkcharizard]

So true! I mean, no GOTY nomination for SMG2? Really?

[Blacktric]

Only watching it (can't even watch the damn thing legally thanks to their no live-stream policy, so I'm searching a guy who streams it on Ustream or something) to see new game announcements, that's all. Nobody cares about Snoop Dog, some half naked wrestlers, football players, etc. We just want games.

[Red_Orange_Juice]

you know what's buuuuuullshiiiit?
spike tv video game awards

:D

[firefoxprime]

I could care less. I just want to see the "revealsannoucnments" ;.

Its like how some people only watch the superbowl for the "super" expensive commercials.

[Army_of_Darkness]

I might watch for that reason;)

[MrMccormo]

Wow, so much hate for "PS3 fanboys" who spoke out against the show last year. Can people freakin' give it a rest? Every person in the comment section raging about the supposed hypocrisy of PS3 fanboys because UC2 won GotY last year is a fanboy. Besides, the BIGGEST hypocrisy of the year - if not the gaming generation - is how the Western media and many PS3 and 360 gamers are all goo goo over motion controls, claiming "this is SOOOOO innovative!" even though they've ben shatting on the Wii and its concepts for the past 4 years.

[AntoineDcoolette]

I've been watching the Spike VGAs since 2007 or so. I'd say that each year it has dropped in quality and become more of a joke. I only watch it for the new video game announcements and trailers. Though the skin tight video game themed suits the had for the ladies in 2008 were quite nice...

[CobraKai]

Biggest evidence of the VGA being mainstream was when Jack Black beat out Nolan North, Mark Hamill, and Arleen Sorking for best VO. I mean seriously they just gave the award to the most famous guy, and his performance was Jack Black acting exactly like Jack Black!!

That was all the VGA I ever watched.

[Spydiggity]

i watched it last year, i'll never watch it again. i play games, in part, to escape the spectacle of pop culture.

[visualb]

get it out...NOW!

wtv...we all watch it for the new announcements.
thats why they get new announcements:

they know the "mainstream" watch it, and they get exposure to new titles

+ its only way of getting REAL gamers to watch it.

win win with new game announcements.

[frostypants]

This guy rags on them for nominating ME2, Alan Wake, and Fable III for Best 360 game...but then complains about Bioshock 2 and AC:B not being there?! REALLY? Bioshock 2 was the definition of a mainstream cash-in. AC:B is basically an AC2 expansion pack. To compare them with the likes of Limbo is ridiculous. And ME2 was better than ANY of these, indie games included.

[KrazyFace]

Have you played AC:B yet? I have, and I'll tell you now, if that's the average size of an EXPANSION PACK, then you'll be one gamer that'll have to shut up about the worth of DLC from now on. I only started it last night and played for FOUR HOURS and barely scratched the surface, y'know, about as long as it takes to fully finish Blackkkocks.

[frostypants]

I meant in terms of gameplay. It's a whole bunch of more of the same. Does AC:B bring anything new to the table? Not really. Thus how could one consider it the best 360 game of the year?

ME2 on the other hand was a vast improvement over the original.

There's a reason why it's not called "Assassin's Creed 3". Even the devs know it's not a true sequel.

[smashman98]

@frosty

thats totally not fair of course the core gameplay is going to be basically more of the same thats what i wanted but heres a list of improvements for ya

- Graphics
- Destructible enviroments
- horseback combat
- The whole combat system got a bit of an overhaul
- oh and multiplayer

btw i own blackops as well and let me tell u assassins creed is waaaaay better in the multiplayer enviroment it is a true sequel u havent played the game yet so dont judge

[renegade]

Well said !

[Eazy-Eman]

Twins!

[PlayerX]

Mario Galaxy 2 is the 3rd highest rated game of all time http://www.gamerankings.com... and it doesn't get nominated for Game of the Year? Fail

[punkpop101]

Who cares?Mario Galaxy is on the Wii we know that non-hd games shouldn't count.God Of War 3 is much better than the shitty Mario.Also everything in the GOTY list sucks except GOW.PS3 rocks yeah N4G agree with me yeahh!!!!!Funny how all the ps3 fanboys praised VGA for the Uncharted award last year and now bush them.

[avengers1978]

I'm only watch for the new game trailers, and suprise reveals if any.

Spike TV VGA show is only latching on to our community because the gaming community is a strong demographic, and we spend money on stuff.

[TheLastGuardian]

I threw up in my mouth when I heard Black Ops was nominated for GOTY. I will watch it because it is kind of entertaining but I know I'm going to be pissed off at alot of the winners.

[SeanRL]

They embarrassed the games industry last year too, what else is new?

[smashman98]

actually i gotta say it suprised me to see uc2 won instead of mw2 so last year i was more pleased i mean i agree the nominees suck this year but maybe theyll impress me just like last year

[KILLERAPP]

They will hype something huge like they did last year only to end up in disappointment how can people have such short memories they always do the same thing…

[saint_john_paul_ii]

not watching it. its all publicity and celebrities that dont know Jack shit about video games. heck they dont even play them. instead of interviewing a known game dev, they interview a celebrity. WTF? did the celebrity make the game? NO.

[AKissFromDaddy]

Skipping the VGAs.

[AKissFromDaddy]

Skipping the VGAs.

PS. Games such as Vanquish, Bayonetta, Transformers: War for Cybertron, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, 3D Dot Game Heroes, and Split/Second get no love, smh.

[NeutralGamer]

If thats true then I'm going to skip it too...

In my opinion the GOTY was a multiplatform this year.. Dont ask me which, because I'm entitled to my opinion, I can just inform that my GOTY 2011 was a multiplatform title ^_^

Oh and its mentioned in your list of games with no love :P

[awiseman]

wait and see how guickly the tide will turn...samething with UC2 Spike ans VGA was geniuses...

[T9X69]

Yup, I've noticed all the PS3 fans think VGA awards this year are horrible and a disgrace to the gaming community, because most of the PS3 exclusives weren't nominated. Yet last year when Uncharted 2 won a million awards at the VGA, all you kept seeing in comments was U2 GOTY million award winning game FTW!

[Baka-akaB]

revisionism yet again at its best . I'm sure the most extreme did that . And so what ?

But let's not pretend as many if not more werent appalled by the nomination of MW2 and some others .

It was just a relief that for once one of the games actually deserving it got something . Even if as the equivalent of teens award , UC2 and a few others wouldnt have gotten anything without some massive popularity .

[T9X69]

Most extreme? More like 90% of PS3 only fans did. I can't count how many times I read this comment "MGS4 GOTY 2008, U2 GOTY 2009, GT5 GOTY 2010", now that GT5 and many other exclusives aren't on the list, all of a sudden the VGA's are a joke.

So Uncharted 2 winning GOTY was a relief because it deserved it, but MGS4 winning GOTY the previous year wasn't. So you're saying MGS4 didn't deserve GOTY?

[Strange_Evil]

Get off the high horse T9X69... Last year there was absolutely no competitor to UC2 and it was bound to win GOTY at every show, so if VGAs wouldn't have given it the honor, then you would have heard the complaining and rightly so cause all the other didn't stand a chance against it in the eyes of neutral judges....

This year GOTY is either RDR or Mass Effect 2... GOW3 was awesome, but it really didn't have the same genre defining spark the previous 2 had.. Same with Halo, same cookie wrapped in a new package... But I am shocked no Mario nomination since it was the highest rated game this year.

My personal GOTY is RDR... As much as I like ME2, RDR somehow touched me with it's amazing story and characters.

[Baka-akaB]

@T9X69

I could easily bet you've read the same comments from the same old people bashing the 360 all the time while praising the ps3 .. so give me a break .

So stop pretending you didnt see the rest of my post . WAs mgs4 some obscure and not mainstream game ? No , so yeah it get to appears and possibly wins at Spike . That's about the only games that got a chance , regardless of quality , to appear there .

Again it's leaning more toward the teens awards , than Cannes or the Oscar . At least the Baftas are more coherent and honest with their choices .

And stop pretending people didnt complain here about it the other years , and only do it for stuff like gt5 . it's the same everytime something like mw2 appears .

[dead_eye]

@T9X69 You'll find that PS3 fans say things about game of the year every year is because according to the xbox fans the PS3 has no games. You'll find that when the PS3 over takes the xbox in sales theres gonna be a lot of ps3 fans playing the sales games. And do you know why cos what go's around comes around. Not one of them will all of a sudden think sales matter but when it's all xbox fans have been going on about for 4 years it's fun to do it back to them.

[dabri5]

I wonder how many people realize the winners are selected via online polling. I mean if the game you wanted to win didn't and you didn't vote, you only have yourself to blame. This isn't a small group of Spike employees sitting around playing favorites. This is the general public who care enough to do so, does. Don't not participate and then complain. And if your game loses, its because the majority of people who cared enough didn't agree with your opinion.

(not directed toward any post in particular)

[Cenobia]

It's not like UC2 only won the VGA GOTY award. There are like thousands of sites that give them out.

And if I'm not mistaken, I'm pretty sure they gave Halo 3 GOTY the year AFTER it came out.

The VGA's are idiotic. If they didn't do all the celebrity bs, which comes off as completely false because they are all getting paid exorbitant amounts of money to pretend they care, the show might be interesting.

Really all they have to do is let the developers say a few words after each presentation and show some trailers (which are basically just commercials anyway). How hard is that?

[visualb]

last year the VGA's were a joke...this year they are to.

even if they give all the awards to GOWIII...you guys are missing the point

VGA's don't nominate REAL good games, only commercially successful ones

imho, Heavy Rain should be nominated...buuut its not

and the argument "last year no one cared cuz U2 won buh buh" - U2 won MOST if not ALL the main GoTY awards, winning VGA's doesn't mean sh!t =P if you think so, you're the fool, not the people criticizing it.

+ it feels like you are defending VGA's...why!? because COD is there? lol

[lex-1020]

@T9X69

Metal Gear Solid 4 did not win game of the year. It was beat by Grand Theft Auto

[Igneel]

Most of the PS3 fans are crying because GT5 isnt in the most anticipated games. Grown Guys crying over ''most anticipated'' title. Cmon now

[dead_eye]

Yeah and N4G is so pro sony that every article has at least on person going on about crying PS3 fans.

[redsquad]

A (presumably) grown guy crying over perceived "grown guys crying".
Come down from that high horse son, the lack of oxygen will do some harm.

[dragon82]

As a "PS3 Fan" I am more upset that Super Mario Galaxy 2 is not up for GOTY. How the hell is the highest rated game this year not up for GOTY??? That alone is enough to discredit the entire list for me.

[Sarcasm]

Whoa whoa whoa... What's wrong with Civ 5 being nominated for a PC game? On any other "hardcore" games list, nobody gives a damn about Civ. I think it's deserved to be in the spotlight for once.

Other than that, I don't agree with COD:BO for GOTY or RDR. But GoWIII and ME2 are the proper choices.

And yes I agree that the Spike "VGAs" (I hate saying that... VGA...) is all mainstream BS.

[creepjack]

If the VGAs embarrass you, you need a new hobby. Seriously people, it's freakin video games, lighten up. Remember when gaming was all about fun? Yeah, I know most of you dont, cause you arent old enough. Everything now is fanboys and over the top crap.

[Dorwrath]

Agreed dude. Gaming used to be all about fun and enjoyment. people could discuss their favorite game, genre and everyone was civil. Now you have to watch out for fanboys who have their panties in a twist.

[Cenobia]

The VGA's are idiotic. I don't care what awards they give out (although they will undoubtedly stay safe and go with majority opinion), but they should at least give some respect to the developers.

Last years show was like a horrible puppet show. They paid actors to try and be funny and pretend to know anything about games. It was a train wreck and really hard to watch.

If they focused on respecting the developers work and making new announcements instead of creating a spectacle out of everything, maybe they could be taken seriously.

[Sarcasm]

Yup just sweep it under the rug right? That isn't how society views on video games.

http://www.techspot.com/new...

Sure it's easy to say "It's just video games, lighten up!"

But the next time you launch your Shooting game, RPG, or whatever the hell you like to play. You're automatically labeled as a violent ridden child, a geek, or joke.

It's just not that cut and dry anymore. Silly events like the "VGAs" just adds more fuel to the fire demeaning a legitimate hobby.

If anything, just because you don't give a damn (and probably don't give a damn about anything) doesn't mean stupid stuff like this isn't annoying and yes, quite embarassing to real gamers.

Hell, I agree, fanboys are terrible but guess what? There's fanboys of EVERYTHING ranging from GPU Nvidia fanboys to Honda Fanboys to Chevy Fanboys to 1911 fanboys to glock fanboys to mother f'n chocolate chip cookie fanboys.

So if your so worried about just having fun, why bother even posting anything on this site anyway? Shouldn't you just be "having fun" playing games right now?

/rant

[Killman]

My problem with the VGA's is that they use video games to get nothing but publicity and promote their own shows and celebrities.

[dfddlin]

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[MsmackyM]

Last marketing push before the big Christmas shopping. But hey at least they are trying to help games become more mainstream.

[visualb]

thats a GOOD thing in one sense

bad thing: they omit truly good games for the more commercially acceptable games

[Dorwrath]

Isn't this just a re-hash article from last year?

Didn't we have all this from PS3 fanboys last year. Then miraculously overnight the opinion changed to the VGAs being the next best thing since sliced bread because Uncharted 2 won GOTY.

Personally I couldn't give a crap what wins anything. I have my GOTY. I'll just watch to see the videos and stuff like that.

[redsquad]

Even a blind man will hit the dart board sooner or later as long as he's facing the general direction.

[Silly gameAr]

I don't know why people are trying to turn this into a PS3 fanboy issue.

[dragon82]

This is not a "PS3 Fanboy" issue. This is a GAMING issue. This list is garbage. The main problem I have is they left the highest rated game of this year out of the GOTY catagory. All they are doing is adding to the idea SALES > QUALITY. I just don't see how this is a good thing.

[frostypants]

Uncharted 2 DESERVED to win GOTY. It was a shoe-in. Only Demon's Souls would have received my vote over Uncharted 2, and it's more of a niche game.

This year I think Mass Effect 2 should get it. I don't think anything even comes close. Certainly not Black Ops or Halo Reach (and I like those games).

[Dorwrath]

@frostypants

Agreed, but the Sony fanboys were calling the VGAs trash before, then afterwards ranting on how good the show was.

Now if GOW3 wins GOTY we will see a repeat of the same behavior.

[mobijoker]

I like the developers' choice award coz that is decided by people who know and make video games.

[dabri5]

VGA winners are voted for by the public through online polls on their site.

[dragon82]

Exactly, its voted on by fanboys and people who only buy the "it" games. Your average gamer will not even try most games because they aren't the "it" game to have.

[dabri5]

So who should you be mad at? The people who vote for these titles or the Spike? I mean the whole reason for these awards is to show the best games voted on by the people who care to vote in the first place.
This isn't a award show dedicated to only hardcore reclusive internet forum junkies. If that were the case, only the hardcore, very few sold, difficult niche titles would make the list because only the stuff the majority of people aren't playing is cool would matter.

The trend I see is if a game/movie/book/clothes are too popular, there is always a very vocal group of people who will rebel against it even if the only reason is, its too popular. There is a reason that specific games get great reviews and are played by millions of people and it's not because they are all just mindless sheep. The mindless sheep are the people that are playing games they hate because if they don't they wont be seen as hardcore. Demons Souls for example. I have a friend who hates the game but played through it and beat it because he didn't want to lose his credibility as a hardcore gamer. (This isn't calling Demon Souls a bad game but it obviously isn't for everyone)

[BeaArthur]

Who cares, it's a pointless awards show.

[IHateYouFanboys]

It's hilarious that last year when uncharted 2 won game of the year at the vgas, all the Sony fanboys carried on like it had win the Nobel piece prize, but now all of a sudden they're not worth the paper they're written on lol.

The fanboys never cease to amaze.

[dragon82]

So now just because we don't agree with this list we are automatically "PS3 Fanboys"?? Get over yourself and except the fact that other people might not agree with your opinions.

And just so you know, I think Super Mario Galaxy 2 should be GOTY. It is the highest rated game this year.

[frostypants]

I think the Wii has pretty much been blackballed by the "real" gaming community...whether or not that's fair is another discussion.

[johnthe5th]

Like when people say that they have "both" consoles...

[dragon82]

@johnthe5th

Exactly, thats why I always say I own all three consoles.

[smashman98]

no u dnt get it do u

UNCHARTED 2 won over 40 awards last year for goty its clear that someones just a little butthurt over the matter

[tatotiburon]

ps3 fanboys embarras the game comunnity

[wenaldy]

xbox fanboys embarras the game community...

[smashman98]

u both embarass the games community

[Lawliet]

Don't ever watch VGA! Their list goes with the hypes and sales. Never had any intention of doing it with the quality of games. They only want money, and by talking about the latest and hottest thing around would attract gamers attention to watch their show. While celebrities are just puppets for entertainment, WHICH SUCKS! Jack black, man he sure make a fool out of himself on that stage. Gosh!

I don't know how exactly Uncharted2 got into this topic duh. I didn't even know Uncharted2 won VGA, but I do know the game won over 100+ award! So you see VGAward! WTF IS THAT CRAP IS USELESS!!

[RandomDude655]

God the fanboys on this site are out of control...wouldn't it be cool to have some kind of zone that was "open" so I don't have to read their tripe.

[Simco876]

AC Brotherhood not being on the list is a shame.

[killershadow117]

How many of you are going to argue that the VGA's are a joke and how many fanboys are just going to be ignorant and argue with each other over stupid things. I am angry that this stupid kid rants about the VGA's and how it's stupid that they nominated Alan Wake or Fable III for xbox game of the year and then he pokes fun at the PC games of the year nominees. No where does he mention anything about PS3 goty nominees. Which makes me think that this guy is just another stupid fanboy who wants to wear his big boy pants today and fee like daddy. He hasn't even watch the VGA's so how can he say they are a joke.

[PimpHandHappy]

not at all about gamers.. Yes they gave Uncharted 2 game of the year last year but for the most part the show was really bad. BTW anyone that says "SDF" was all like "its the best show ever" last year because of this would be wrong... Uncharted 2 won MANY MANY game of the years from MANY MANY websites. This year it will be Mass Effect 2.

[chiwoo]

I like the VGA yeah Uncharted 2 won GOTY last year everyone knew it was gonna get it If Mass Effect 2 does get it this year Guess what, PS3 and Xbox fanboys win since it comes on the ps3 next month LOL

[dkgshiz]

This show caters to the casuals. Dont be surprised if Black Ops wins.

[frostypants]

I like Black Ops, but if they call it GOTY...they're dead to me.

[I_C_PEE]

I enjoy commenting here on N4G but its sad that i have to go thru 80% of utter fanboyish garbage comments before i encounter a decent one. And uncharted 2 did deserve GOTY, it was praised by many gaming critics so i dont understand the negativity towards that. That said, people really shouldn't take these GOTY awards so damn seriously to the point where they personally attack each other.

[dkgshiz]

Either way I wont be watching the VGAs. Its always just Jack Black being really loud,some awful rap music,terrible gamer jokes, then its over.

[The_Zeitgeist]

I think you have to give it to Red Dead. The game is one of the absolute best games to come out this gen. I love God of War 3 and personally like it better than Red Dead, but I understand why Red Dead should win most major gaming awards.

[SeraphimBlade]

In their defense, the ceremony is held in december, so a game that came out as late as AC Brotherhood might not make it on, I don't think. I recall the 2006 one only mentioning Twilight Princess, which was out in November, on the "critic's choice award"... wait a second, why aren't critics in charge of ALL the categories? And why is the show held so early in the holiday season?

And where the hell is Bayonetta?

[The_Zeitgeist]

I don't understand their choices either. As for the writer dissing Alan Wake I'd have to disagree. Alan Wake may not have sold a lot of copies, but it is by no means a bad game.

[The_Zeitgeist]

One more thing in Spikes defense, they did pick Uncharted 2 over Modern Warfare 2 and Halo: ODST last year.

[Bass_fisherman]

Why gamers care about this show is beyond me

Oh yeah! its american that explains it

[TacoBurrito]

Ok people, not many people tune in to the VGAs now. But do you REALLY think more people would watch if it was only fat nerds with acne(developers)? And also i hear noone complaining when musicians are at the oscars or actors at the grammys....just saying.

[Killman]

At least fat nerds with acne(Developers as you describe them I guess) have some actual talent than the idiot actors and rappers they always get. Your comment basically validates that they do this show only for publicity and thats it.

[smashman98]

well no one compalains when theyre there because thats their awards show

on the other hand id like to say im not complaining just show me some new games and ill smile i was definitley happy with the reveals last year

[Baka-akaB]

hum if the oscars were the same as the vgas , the award winning movies would be the likes of Twilight and Transformers ...

[ThaBlackBaron]

LOL @ GOW3 getting nominated for GOTY! No SMG2 is Stupid !

I think this guys took the words out of my mouth! --> http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[johnthe5th]

Oh my goodness he's right!!! That video just made my day.

[DFresh]

I think VGA Awards is a joke.
After the horrible show last year I just stopped paying attention still at least last year a game that was worthy of game of the year actually got the award instead of overhyped games like Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, and Guitar Hero.
Uncharted 2 definitely deserved and I hope this year Mass Effect 2 wins GOTY.

[Orionsangel]

Every year Madden wins best sports game. Then Tony Hawk wins something just so Tony Hawk can appear. Then Shawn White appears because well...he just has too. It's his job. He represents Xtreme sports! Whoa!

[Lavagasm]

"I've never watched a Spike VGA Awards ceremony and never will"

Stopped reading there. How can you trash something you've never watched? I've watched it myself, I'm not a fan at all. I don't enjoy the VGAs in the slightest. But that doesn't mean it won't appeal to some people.

Despite what many of you may think, the majority of gamers aren't "Hardcore" like you and me. The "Hardcore" gamers read magazines and go to gaming websites. Most if not all of these give out awards for "Best of the Year". If you don't like the VGAs, support a gaming magazine and subscribe.

The VGAs are there to appeal to casual gamers and mainstream fans. They are fans too and deserve to have their own award show. If you want to watch a gaming award show that's not aimed at casual fans, go watch G4. Everybody needs to stop bitching about the VGAs. At least they are giving the industry some kind of recognition.