The Problem with The Game Awards

[@CaptainAstronaut]

The vast majority of this was written and recorded before The Game Awards 2021, but all of my points still stand. Anyways, don't forget to Like, Comment, & SUBSCRIBE, follow me on Twitter, y'all know the drill.

[@altyre7953]

This is why I tend to stay away from mainstream media in general: there’s always some form of ego filled bias floating around, and any form of award show will have these issues. It just so happens to be that the oscars and GOTY just don’t care.

[@josh6453]

Where. Is. Your. Final. Review. For. Xenoblade. 2?

[@Blitz_Zayne04]

Me: Looks at nominee games. Nominees: None of them represent my favorite games. Me: Yeah this is a joke.

[@Blitz_Zayne04]

I think this year's 2021 orchestra was better than last year's 2020. 2020 was a troll result for the awards.

[@stupidragerantroastoftakes2981]

@@Blitz_Zayne04 My reaction in a nutshell. plus, I've stopped watching the game awards since 2017.

[@zaku7]

I definitely agree with a lot of what you stated here. I feel the Awards not only need to be more fair and supportive, with A LOT more research.

[@SonicHacki]

After watching today's 2023 game awards, this video aged like a fine wine. Even worse now, when theres photos of the telepeompters saying "Please wrap it up" after a measly 30 second of talktime for the developers to express gratitude. I reckon its probably due to the Chris Judge issue last year, but they overcorrect it too much it looks really rude to one on the stage.. 😬

[@TommyDeonauthsArchives]

Well they have to do that so we can see Simu Li present an award for 30 hours. I was being sarcastic there.

[@CherrEblue]

If you thought your day was hard remember Dream won best creator at the game awards

[@Zack-ds9rs]

Oh right the guy who cheated in Minecraft

[@luigiboyinblu]

Ikr when I learned he won I said “Wait, the guy who’s now famous for literally cheating in Minecraft?”

[@lll.24601]

Eww it’s the SMP’s fault

[@xresinance1290]

@@luigiboyinblu some people probably just wanted him to actually show up in person so their audience would stop praising them as perfect human beings, and instead as actual people

[@basti1899fürimmer]

@@lll.24601 Simp?

[@fragproof]

I've never watched the game awards. Thanks for convincing me to continue that tradition!

[@TheCosmicCloud]

I think you make a really good point about intent vs impact. I believe Geoff has genuine passion for the industry and wants to celebrate its accomplishments, but the show just doesn’t do a good enough job at highlighting the actual talent and innovation that should be recognized. I’ve been watching since 2017, and I honestly feel like it’s gotten worse every year. The show is so bloated with trailers for generic games that no one ever talks about afterwards. I honestly think if they want to keep all of the content, they should just stop mixing it together. If Geoff really wants his own E3, fine? I guess? But do it either before or after the awards, not at the same time. The show should be a reflection on the year behind us, not a ~cinematic~ sneak peak into the next

[@VaskoGames]

Car Quest didn't win Game of the Year, so clearly this "Game Awards" thing is an utter sham

[@stupidragerantroastoftakes2981]

You're not wrong. I played a game on switch. I give appreciation but the switch version of the game. Despite all the flaws that needs to be addressed on the switch version. I've you wasted money a Game of the Year nominee lose out to a game that I don't play or just downright hateful. Make me wish I don't want to watch the game of Wars anymore. It just keep on gaming until sweet I put the Thelma & Louise going off the cliff.

[@MusicStoRageA]

I watched it expecting a new Sunbreak trailer, just to be bombarded with random ads after ads, only to be greeted with a minute long teaser. I was wondering why they put so little effort in awards in a awards show but now I understand why the whole thing is a mess lol

[@peaceandloveusa6656]

I would like to see every type of award show add shames categories to the list. For example, the gaming industry could have a "Worker Abuse Shame" where they give out an "award" for the studio that overworked their employees the most. If they do not come up to claim their shame(s), they are ineligible for any awards they may have won, and the next runner-up is given the award instead. Have the shames come first so the audience never even knows the shamed studio won any awards unless they owned their shame first. What you would see is a lot of big name studios being shamed into submission through loss of sales if they own their shame, or a lot of indie games, devs and studios being put on the map by winning awards they earned without abusive practices. Plus, award shows would suddenly be worth watching, because the consumer could use them to learn what goes on behind the scenes of their favorite games.

[@Arty_Nah]

Bro I’m still so weirded out Best Music got the “side category” treatment of not even being presented it’s so confusing

[@metamayto]

Finally, someone else is upset Octopath didn't win best soundtrack.

[@gigagogagagio]

octopath bad game

[@TheBaxes]

I'm upset that NEO: TWEWY wasn't even nominated for that this year

[@giganticmoon]

they unfortunately only choose popular games, like big games.

[@NikkeiZX]

As someone who went to college for Game Art, I completely agree with how much change the industry needs, and it's one of the things that makes me super hesitant to apply for work in the field. The crunch culture is super daunting, and needs to change for the better, immediately.

[@crossaffliction]

Dedicated Oscar watcher here, and it's weirdly refreshing to hear someone praise the Oscars (Parasite was easily the best Best Picture of the decade, yeah).

[@puar6124]

8:55 Cap, you should have put a stopwatch onscreen to measure how long did he spend in each category. Missed opportunity there.

[@bravebiird]

really loving the somewhat longer videos from you! really glad to see you're of sound mind on this topic, and it makes me look forward to similar "rant" videos

[@LeafarBlade]

Yo, the Fire Emblem Echoes soundtrack! You have taste!

[@cookedghost]

I watched the game awards last year for the first (and probably last) time because I was interestes in a lot of the nominees, and my first thought for TLOU2 was "why the crunch one?" I don't have an opinion on the game itself, but I was really put off by the fact that a game well-known for its crunch problems won GOTY - glad to know others were too

[@TommyDeonauthsArchives]

Not SpawnWave though...

[@VileKnight4]

Cant wait for this video to get even more accurate next year 👍

[@heavenly2k]

This was great. Your videos about stuff that isn't specific to one game are always really good. I like your perspective and you're very funny. I'd like to see this kind of content more from you !!

[@RetroCheats]

The problem is we keep tuning in and hyping ourselves up.

[@GoneFishingAmalgam]

Awesome video, lots of great points. Glad the shorthand for filling your audience in on video game abusive marketing tactics is "Watch any Jim Sterling video."

[@spoopypost]

I have no idea how I found your channel, but I'm glad I did.

[@justin99000]

Shit you hit every nail on the head its great to hear someone with a voice saying it in the community instead of nodding and waving like the industry does. Money talks far too loudly for so many people

[@Xenowolf8]

I’m a simple man, I see a Captain Astronaut video, I watch.

[@Star64]

I have and never will watch the game awards. I don’t care enough about to do it. What I do care enough about is new captain astronaut videos. Because unlike the game awards, he is TRUTHFUL AND INTERESTING

[@felipebraga7270]

Holy shit I like those types of ya videos so much You really bring interesting points and make them even more entertaining

[@trashcangoblin420]

Where has this channel been my whole life. I love you

[@VGF80]

Damn, this video basically explains my declining opinion and interest in TGA. The only reason I still watch is for game annocememts, and even then, this year there were no new announcements from Nintendo. Also this year, I was briefly playing Xenoblade 2 in the background during the event. Is this a sign that I'm losing interest in TGA? maybe. Speaking of xenoblade 2. I'm still looking forward to part 3.

[@Fwufikins]

Feels like this video is going to be an annual watch at this point because no lessons will ever be learned lol

[@gammothguy4866]

On a largely unrelated note, FE echoes soundtrack is underrated

[@KK_Draws_Stuff]

It takes two won too many damn awards. Thats it, thats how i feel about it, felt way too one sided for a game thats just “pretty cool” not “advancing games a whole” typa game

[@gayrobloxgirl]

honestly, it takes two doesnt really deserve the awards it won, to me it’s mediocre at worst and good but forgettable at best, idk if thats just me though

[@SPZ-gv2on]

From what I've seen it's okay and kinda forgettable. I don't think it needed any awards honestly.

[@gayrobloxgirl]

@@SPZ-gv2on yeah same

[@senritsujumpsuit6021]

It won n part for it's feeling even if the levels were whatever to you at a pure gameplay standpoint the audio and player synergy it's the emotion between everything am happy it won

[@moister3727]

It's the uniqueness what did win

[@AmyoftheAuraforce]

I’m still mad at Hades being screwed over by The Last of Us 2 of all things

[@senritsujumpsuit6021]

The fact it takes two won shows us gaming has not totally lost its core

[@stupidragerantroastoftakes2981]

yea. that sucks.

[@senritsujumpsuit6021]

@@stupidragerantroastoftakes2981 what sucks

[@linklinklink323]

I think I do the best thing with the game awards. Not see it and wait the next day to see what was announced as well as the winners of each category.

[@LordShrub]

Best Role-playing Game category got shafted, which is ironic because every AAA game nowadays wants to tack on unnecessary RPG mechanics.

[@Cephalorock]

When I turn to watch the screen when you jingle the keys cause I was listening to your vid as white noise lol

[@Tribow]

Geoff actually needs to see this

[@ferintown6628]

Octopath should have won best soundtrack

[@funkymunky6647]

10:15 Imagine Dragons was the straw that made him break into his actual persona... *TOAD*

[@madnight1553]

this should have more views

[@kaosagamerreal]

Oh look! Everything here STILL stands in the 2022 Game Awards, so this video aged like fine wine People were butting heads over who should win Player's Voice: Sonic Frontiers or Genshin Impact, and both sides were toxic as hell I wanted Frontiers to win but at the same time Player's Voice is so unnecessary because what you like is what YOU like, and who wins doesn't even represent HALF of the earth's population anyways. You know how in your video you talked about horrible gaming practices being awarded? Guess who won: Genshin Impact! And no one understood why people were so upset Genshin won.

[@curesaul5749]

This is the first video I ever watched where someone acknowledged Stadia's existence.

[@kindred6453]

And probably the last.

[@edsterrock]

The funny thing about The Game Awards is that they keep bragging about viewership being higher then the Oscars. Sure yeah, the Oscars are also pretty cringe in their own right but The Game Awards are somewhat the same thing. Like the Oscars, The Game Awards are also criticized for shady practices when it comes to nominating and give out their awards. Yet unlike the Oscars where people are noticing it more now which leads to viewership keeps getting lower and lower every year, The Game Awards viewership keeps getting high and higher yet their are getting away with their shady practices that the Oscars are getting accused more then The Game Awards. I know my statement is kind of all over the place but I hope you get what I mean.

[@TommyDeonauthsArchives]

Well, that's because people mostly watch the GA's for announcements and stuff... and that's starting to become a weak excuse. Not many big announcements are from the big three, and most game announcements are either indie games or DLC for current games. Still, it's very nasty of Geoff to brag about the viewership of the GA's when the quality of the show is all over the place. Also, say what you will about the Oscars being shady, they at least celebrate their medium!

[@edsterrock]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@TommyDeonauthsArchivesyeah, I feel like most people watch The Game Awards for like the announcements. But even then, like you mentioned, it’s starting to become less excusable. Yeah, one thing I forgot to mention in my comment is that while the Oscars viewership keep going lower every year, people including regular who somewhat are aware of what happens at the Academy Awards, they know about the controversies that happen during the show like the Will Smith slap incident for example. Yet asked the average person this. Do they know about the Bill Clinton kid moment from The Game Awards? From what I’ve gathered, the Bill Clinton kid incident seems to me more talked about and memed in the gaming circles then the average person who mostly likely is aware about the the Will Smith slap incident which like the Bill Clinton kid, was memed to death. And speaking of quality, (as of me writing this, the most recent Game Awards happened) even then I am aware of Alan Wake 2 (haven’t played it yet but planning to) I bet you the people who never played Alan Wale 2 must have been so confused on the unnecessary Broadway musical number that felt so out of place. Like who asked for that moment. Yeah, The Game Awards I view it like it is a mediocre extended E3 presentation with very little celebration of the year of gaming. While the Oscars at least tired to use it as a celebration of film as a whole.

[@edsterrock]

Also, when Kojima next game, OD comes out, The Game Awards are nothing but talking about that game for 5 hours because Keighley will never shut up about Kojima for for 5 mins.

[@koramora]

I wanna be Schick Razor man

[@hypersonic223]

I definitely like the new sonic announcements.

[@PitXRoxas]

The fandom I’m in, Linked Universe, got so pissed that BoTW/Nintendo didn’t even do much. We were so pissed LMAO

[@corbinmacklin185]

Your rants are the best bruh

[@Eon_Kain]

Wait for the next Captain Astronaut banger begins.

[@blackman2227]

When I watched this I thought to myself.... there was a games awards?!

[@joedan5366]

Love this

[@squidwardjoeswanson5418]

I honestly only watched like a few minutes and skipped it so I didn’t waste too much time, glad I did hearing all of this

[@Dachusttin]

I loved this video

[@bomberryjones5949]

I didn't really care about the game awards. I was just there for any information on Sunbreak. But now that I know that Red Dead 2 beat Octopath Traveler in the music category, I am lived.

[@giganticmoon]

“What do gamers like? E3!” aged like milk

[@moister3727]

Stadia? though that thing was long dead, it's not even avaible in my country

[@heavenly2k]

Jonah hill from the weed movies 😍😍😍😍

[@paige_404]

Another banger video You gotta miss some time

[@Toast0nyx]

This video is longer than the video about everything right about the game awards

[@Taxafolia]

This video was hilarious, yet sadly so dang true.

[@ChrisGorski]

Multi-tiered voting would add variety to the categories. I don't pay too close attention to the Game Awards, but it seems one game wins almost everything every year. Boring.

[@Jacob_G9]

I go to the Awards PURELY for the Trailers.

[@stupidragerantroastoftakes2981]

No doubt

[@deoranferguson5657]

After 2017 it went down hill after super Smash bros ultimate seph reveal it was like lower than low

[@smallestgoober9399]

Dunkeys top 5 games are more exciting than the game awards tbh.

[@penguin20xz62]

What is that outro music called??

[@Duppy0906]

Monster Hunter Rise got snubbed from awards Sad times

[@senritsujumpsuit6021]

Rise is one the weakest MH we just to wait a few years for a GA winner

[@Duppy0906]

@@senritsujumpsuit6021 your opinion are not facts. The point still stands rise is one of the biggest games of the year and It got very little representation. Shows the awards are moved by money not actual voting

[@senritsujumpsuit6021]

@@Duppy0906 true the awarded are odd I mean the last of us thing ohboy

[@TROBassGuitar]

I feel bad for you watching all that VGA footage

[@aknight7642]

Everything in this has logic. 3/10 Not enough souls being sold.

[@LooseAsADEUCE]

TBH, I came to this video expecting you to just be like, "The Game Awards is pretentious and doesn't focus enough on the awards, just like every televised awards show" but some of this stuff you said...yikes. Thanks for this.

[@caravaneerkhed]

The game awards is aight I don’t care about the awards to be fair, I think we all only show up for the premieres and honestly the music this year was really good. Also all the things you said you liked… but yea idc about the awards themselves I just wish the awards didn’t hold so much value to share holders and such

[@judsonhester1407]

I'm a simple man. I hear FE: Echoes SoV music I instantly sub Edit: wow I was already subbed

[@oreosplat1123]

I laughed way too hard at Ratatackattackattack

[@ethanmacpherson7833]

the thing wrong with tga is that silksong wasn't announced

[@aSquidMin]

Yehaw …. Capitalism

[@NeoN-qb2nn]

Great video!

[@lightneon22]

Honestly I didn’t give a dodo about the awards, I was only waiting for game announcements.

[@africkingupsidedownmountai7362]

The only thing I agree with at the game awards is guilty gear strive as best fighting game. Everything else sucks.

[@senritsujumpsuit6021]

No no no and no Also A.B.A is best GG girl

[@gayrobloxgirl]

why does he turn into toad when angry

[@gayrobloxgirl]

also so glad you dont like genshin. fuck that game

[@JeynickRuns]

Amen.

[@austinjoseph2881]

Well said

[@malarkey5907]

Jakey has a helmet now :0

[@malarkey5907]

Jkjk ily tho you make amazing vids!

[@Toast0nyx]

I feel bad for you. You must have watched a lot of game awards to analyze it

[@leilanisunainamilja2966]

Just subbed, excellent video

[@CaptainAstronaut]

Thanks for the sub! I appreciate that :)

[@deoranferguson5657]

Dread was cheated

[@senritsujumpsuit6021]

Did dread have emotion to get into peoples family bonds nah so that's why but it's not at all a bad game

[@basti1899fürimmer]

E3 2.0 and friends is the real name

[@soulezwan266]

all game award, what kind of mad man are you🤣

[@squid24736]

you are extremely correct about everything but the most correct thing you said was about imagine dragons

[@TommyDeonauthsArchives]

Dude. Not cool.

[@TheHelderVinicius]

i love the game awards

[@stanker6115]

still sad that doom eternal didn't win last year's award

[@robertdrisdelle]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@facepwnagewtf]

Octopath not winning best soundtrack was an absolute travesty. But for real the Game awards have become a glorified 3 1/2 hour long advertisement, where the actual game awards and honoring the people who make them has become an afterthought of the show. I didn't even bother watching them this year and honestly it felt like i didn't miss anything.

[@berserk3956]

They legit had time for a drag queen segment but not for awards.

[@markchongjass]

i am so excited the game awards 2022

[@IAmGhostProductions]

I believe Vin Deiesel plays video games. Shidd, I believe Brie Larson plays video games. You could not convince me that Christopher Nolan has ever played a video game in his life

[@ericbloodsmith5161]

Octopath was snubbed

[@Izanji_bolt]

Lol you sounded like cocaine trex😂😂😂

[@danielsimmich1858]

I forget they exist tbh

[@Birdmanesp92]

You joke about the Academy wouldn't just do one round of voting but that's exactly what they do. This is the reason why Crash won the movie of the year. That movie had such a large production that it took the awards since the Oscars are voted by the production teams of Hollywood and famous reprentatives.

[@NautilusXO]

The thing is, if they didn't give awards to games that were made with some measure of exploitation, there'd be maybe one really bad flash game left to give awards to, and that would be it. Exploitation is a defining characteristic of the economy we live in.

[@LooseAsADEUCE]

While its true that everything is tainted by exploitation (bc capitalism), I think taking a stand against games/companies with abuse you can easily Google is a good line in the sand. Even if you can't snub every abuser you can at least snub the loudest ones.

[@jameztheartist3893]

@@LooseAsADEUCE cap

[@houragents5490]

It's sad to see how many people fell for the trick they pull by electing It Takes 2 as GOTY. Geoff giving an award to one of his buddies doesn't mean "there's still hope left" or anything like that it's just clear nepotism and they got you to cheer it on. Also the whole him getting everyone to idol worship Kojima was not cool Kojima was wasting so much money and ballooning the budget fir MGSV just to hang with his Hollywood buddies and Sony got to see why Konami canned him first hand.

[@theshadowking3198]

CD PROJEKT RED never laughed more