VGAs a lackluster experience for gamers
It’s that time of year again.
No, I’m not talking about the holidays. For gamers, Saturday signifies the end of another great year in gaming, that can only be concluded with the Spike Video Game Awards. However, there are a few things that could be changed about the awards show that just might appeal to gamers, as well as new audiences.
For a majority of gamers, including myself, the show has become somewhat of an embarrassment. Aside from the final award of "Game of the Year," no one really wants to see who won "Best Soundtrack," "Best Gameplay" or any other category that they make up. On top of that, the trophies are absolutely disgusting. It’s as if someone swallowed up a whole box of Crayola crayons and then vomited them on a metal monkey with a crown on its head. Only the podium the monkey sits on looks impressive, and there is barely anything on it. Of course, there are other awards shows for games, but they are all online. The VGAs are the only major gaming awards show on television, and they only come once a year. In addition, it shows the lack of competition of gaming awards shows on television, because the hosts have been lackluster.
For example, the host for this year’s awards is Neil Patrick Harris, who is best known for his roles in "Harold and Kumar" and "How I Met Your Mother." In no way does it show him interested in video games, not even in the slightest bit. Big mistake right there. Can the show, just once, have a celebrity that is actually interested in video games? I know Jimmy Fallon is quite the gamer, because he actually showcased Microsoft’s Kinect on the show, and even had Cliff Bleszinski reveal “Gears of War 3.” I could also recommend Ice-T, who seems to be conquering the world of “Call of Duty.”
The fact remains that these people have some knowledge and/or a huge interest in video games. It would be great to have these kinds of people hosts the show, instead of just having a celebrity who only wants to host the show to garner popularity and money.
If there is one thing the show is doing right, it has to be the plethora of world premiere trailers for popular games that are revealed during the show. Every year, the number of games revealed on the show has increased. This year, 13 games are confirmed to be revealed throughout the show, most of which are coinciding with rumors surrounding certain games currently in development. I say, increase these exclusives. It attracts more people, and it certainly makes headlines on gaming websites, with in-depth analysis of each trailer.
Despite the embarrassment, I will be watching the VGAs this Saturday, just for the world premiere trailers. However, I will still only care about who wins "Game of the Year," and I will still criticize the host, but like so many people, I am an optimist. As an optimist, I can only hope that while it might not be really good this year, with the exception of trailers, the VGAs can learn from its mistakes and continually improve its awards show to receive my full praise. After all, gamers know G4 needs some competition, and its monopoly on video games on television won’t last forever.
With some work, the VGAs can even the odds.
