Post by leunas on Feb 20, 2007 4:30:54 GMT -5
Heather Chaplin wrote up an interesting story about the ten year history of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences awards and its struggle to bring respectability and fame to the gaming community.
The lede is certainly one of the most interesting gems in the story.
In 1998, when the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences hosted its first award show for videogames, they laid down a red carpet to add some Hollywood glamour. Confused game makers, not knowing what it was for, carefully skirted it. Ten years later, they know what it's for, but they're still not sure they like it.
Flashy awards shows may be our way of conveying legitimacy and status on our cultural chosen ones, but not all culture makers were created alike, and not all were meant -- or want -- to get in front of the camera and play the celebrity.
"When the academy was created, it was to have a platform to showcase great games each year in a manner similar to the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys," said Joseph Olin, the Academy's president. "And I think there was a certain level of naïveté about how easy this would be."
Last year, overall-game-of-the-year nominee David Jaffe emailed Olin two days before the show to find out if he really couldn't wear jeans. When informed he couldn't, Jaffe had to run to out to Macy's and pick up a pair of slacks and to Banana Republic for a shirt. When his game "God of War" won, his acceptance speech included a heartfelt wish to smoke some pot.
"How hard is it, one night a year, to dress up and pretend we're grown ups and celebrate each other's work?" Olin lamented.
There are plenty of other intriguing nuggets all pointing to the fact that the industry is slowly and quite painfully coming into its own.
I did find it odd, though, that Chaplin failed to even touch upon by far the greatest controversy surrounding this award show: The fact that you have to pay to play.
You may recall that Capcom earlier this year outted the award shows long held and expensive practice of extorting developers before allowing them to win an award.
"Capcom Entertainment was contacted by the AIAS and told that the game would still not be eligible for any awards unless the company joined the organisation. Our company was told, in essence, "Pay to play," a sentiment echoed in the quote from the AIAS representative."
A blow that, in my opinion, cost the AIAS much of its credibility. Despite this one hole, the story is still well worth a read. Brian Crecente
Videogames struggle on the red carpet [LA Times]
Article:
www.kotaku.com/gaming/red-carpet/game-developers-fear-the-red-carpet-237307.php