Xbox |OT|

[coolbeans]

coolbeans said:

Even after one of the genre's best years (especially w/ late console ports), TGA's continual disregard for a Best Puzzle Game category never ceases to amaze. Unless you can sneak it in as a hybrid for a 'Best Platformer,' good luck being credited on your GAME DESIGN. Fuck them, the horse they rode in on, and the cavalry behind them.

Since I'm not tired of TGA rants (yet): "Games for Impact" is basically a DEI-corpo award.  "For a thought-provoking game with a pro-social meaning or message."  What does this even mean in the context of what's supposed to be a meritocratic awards show?  Is it about being the most thought-provoking of the bunch, having the "best" message, or executing on pro-social ideas in mechanically satisfying ways?  The nominees typically come down to what are the most popular indie games that are wearing environmentalist, diversity, and/or depression themes on their sleeves that year.

I know this post is more political in nature (I could say more too), but everything about that award category feels so fake.  It oftentimes reads as a "Best Emo-Indie Narrative of the Year" without directly stating it.  If the judges truly believe in a winsome character-driven love story or a short environmentalist fable being among the year's best, then they should nut up and give it a Best Narrative nomination.