Podcast Summary
Triple Click Discusses The Game Awards and Controversies: Triple Click, a video game podcast, recorded three episodes in a week about The Game Awards, featuring discussions on nominees and controversies. Kirk, a member, has been busy with podcast appearances. Listeners receive bonus episodes, and Jason will attend in person.
Triple Click, a video game podcast, is discussing The Game Awards, an annual celebration of video games, and sharing their thoughts on the nominees and controversies. They recorded three episodes in a week, a "triple triple click" for them, and Kirk, a member of the podcast, has been busy with various podcast appearances. The podcast is listener-supported, and members receive bonus episodes, including a recent one about battle royale games. Jason will physically attend The Game Awards in Los Angeles, and the TripleClick Discord community is noted for being strong.
The Game Awards: More Than Just an Award Show: The Game Awards is a marketing extravaganza featuring game announcements, trailers, live music performances, and unpredictability, making it a significant news event in the gaming industry.
The Game Awards, an annual event in the gaming industry, is more than just an award show. It's a marketing extravaganza where game announcements and trailers take center stage. The show's host, Geoff Keeley, brings his personal passions to the event, including live music performances from favorite bands. The unpredictability of the show, with its secrecy surrounding who will appear and what games will be announced, keeps industry insiders and fans engaged. The Game Awards have become a significant news event for the gaming industry, requiring extensive preparation from media outlets to cover the announcements. Despite its marketing focus, the event has grown to be a highly anticipated occasion in the gaming world.
The Game Awards: A Mix of Excitement and Ads: The Game Awards offers unique awards for video games, but the experience is often overshadowed by excessive advertising.
Despite the excitement surrounding new game announcements at events like The Game Awards, the experience of watching the show can be unpleasant due to the high volume and frequency of advertisements. The awards themselves are seen as a fun and idiosyncratic alternative to other award shows, but the viewing experience is often marred by the marketing aspect. However, some find enjoyment in watching with others in online communities. It's possible that The Game Awards represents the future of award shows, as the video game industry is known for being ahead of the curve, but this shift towards marketing may not be universally appealing.
The Game Awards prioritize live experience and community engagement: The Game Awards differentiate themselves from traditional award shows by emphasizing live interaction and fan involvement through social media and fan votes.
The Game Awards prioritize the live experience and community engagement, which sets it apart from more traditional award shows like the Oscars. The live commentary and fan interaction on platforms like Discord and Twitter are integral parts of the gaming culture. While the Oscars may eventually adopt some of these elements, they currently don't carry the same weight in the Oscars' marketing strategy. The Game Awards also incorporate fan votes into the award process, which encourages discussion and involvement. The awards are determined by a combination of fan votes (10%) and a voting jury (90%), making the fan base an essential part of the process. This unique approach to award shows creates a sense of inclusivity and excitement that resonates with the gaming community.
A shared experience for gamers and industry professionals: The Game Awards offers excitement, unexpected announcements, and international representation, making it an anticipated annual event despite occasional controversy
The The Game Awards, despite its unusual voting process and sometimes questionable results, provides a shared experience for gamers and industry professionals alike. The excitement of live events, unexpected announcements, and the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) factor make The Game Awards an anticipated annual event. The international representation adds to the diversity of the awards, even if the outcomes sometimes spark controversy. Personally, some find the experience of watching live, with the potential for surprise and communal excitement, to be worth tuning in for, even if not every moment is exciting or relevant to their personal interests.
The complex relationship between journalists and game companies: Journalists face challenges reporting on industries they're connected to, as seen with Jeff Keeley and Activision Blizzard, while systemic issues like harassment persist.
The relationship between journalists and game companies can be complex. Jeff Keeley, a well-known figure in the gaming industry, has a unique position due to his role in promoting games and his close ties with publishers. However, when he chose to be cautious in addressing allegations against Activision Blizzard, he faced criticism for being a hypocrite. This incident highlights the power dynamics at play and the challenges journalists face when reporting on industries they are deeply connected to. It also underscores the systemic issue of abuse and harassment in the gaming industry, which affects various companies, not just Activision.
Addressing sexism and misconduct in the games industry: Social media campaigns and award show speeches are not enough to address systemic issues in the games industry. A collective effort from industry leaders, developers, and consumers is needed to create a more inclusive and equitable gaming community.
The games industry, including major companies and award shows, has a long history of sexist practices and allegations of misconduct. Changing this culture is a complex issue, and call-out campaigns on social media may not be the most effective solution. The Game Awards, in particular, have a difficult position as they aim to celebrate the industry while addressing these issues. A middle ground is needed, and finding that balance will be a challenge for the show's organizer, Geoff Keighley. The comparison to past incidents, such as Konami and Kojima, is not a perfect one, as the circumstances and opportunities to address the issues differ. Ultimately, addressing the systemic issues in the games industry requires more than just social media campaigns and award show speeches. It will take a collective effort from industry leaders, developers, and consumers to create a more inclusive and equitable gaming community.
Shawn Layden to Make Statement Against Harassment at The Game Awards: Shawn Layden, a former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment America, is expected to address harassment and abuse in the gaming industry during The Game Awards, while the inclusion of '12 Minutes' in the best indie game nominations raises questions about the voting process.
During the Game Awards show, Shawn Layden, the former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment America, is expected to make a statement against harassment and abuse in the gaming industry. While some may view this as an easy win due to the current public sentiment against Activision, Layden could potentially use his platform to make a more significant impact. However, the discussion also touched upon the surprising inclusion of "12 Minutes" in the best indie game nominations, which left some perplexed as to who voted for it and why, given the game's mixed reception.
Surprises and Disputes in 2021 Game Awards Nominations: Cyberpunk 2077's inclusion and Wildermyth's snub in RPG category, Jane Perry's overlooked performance in Returnal, and licensed music in Guardians of the Galaxy's nomination caused debates about categorization and recognition in gaming industry
The 2021 Game Awards nominations list featured some surprises and disputes, particularly in the categories of best role-playing game and best score and music. Cyberpunk 2077 made the list despite some critics considering it more of an action game. Wildermyth, with its heavy emphasis on role-playing, was a notable snub. Jane Perry's performance in Returnal was also overlooked. Some games with excellent music, like Death's Door and Psychonauts 2, were not nominated. The inclusion of licensed music in the best score and music category for Guardians of the Galaxy was a point of contention. Overall, the nominations sparked discussions about categorization and recognition in the gaming industry.
Clarifying the Meaning of Gaming Awards Categories: There's confusion around the term 'best game direction' in gaming awards, and the industry needs to clarify award categories to recognize narrative innovation and excellent writing, avoiding confusion and ensuring deserving games are honored.
The definition and significance of certain awards categories in the gaming industry, such as "best game direction," can be subjective and unclear. During a discussion, it was pointed out that the term "best game direction" is confusing and offensive to some game directors who were not given a director's credit on their nominated games. It was also noted that some categories, such as "best action game" or "best role-playing game," make more sense because they have clear definitions. The group suggested that there should be a distinction between categories that recognize narrative innovation and those that recognize excellent writing or screenplays. They also poked fun at the idea of the gaming awards trying to emulate the Oscars, but failing to do so effectively. Ultimately, it was concluded that the gaming industry needs to clarify the definitions and purposes of its award categories to avoid confusion and ensure that deserving games are recognized appropriately.
Discussing the significance of The Game Awards versus GDC awards: While The Game Awards generate buzz and excitement, industry professionals value the prestige and peer-voted recognition of the GDC awards.
The Game Awards, while effective at marketing, lack the prestige that other awards shows like the Oscars or GDC awards hold in the eyes of the industry. The discussion revolved around the categories, specifically the "Best Marketing" award, which some argue is redundant as the Game Awards themselves function as a marketing event. The most anticipated game category was also a topic of humor due to the nomination of "It Takes 2" from 2020 instead of 2021. Despite the fun and excitement surrounding the awards, there's a general consensus that the GDC awards, which are voted on by peers, hold more significance to game developers. The panelists shared their predictions for Game of the Year, with Deathloop being the popular choice, but expressing a preference for Metroid Dread or Psychonauts 2. Overall, the conversation highlighted the unique dynamics and perspectives within the gaming industry.
Discussion on Game of the Year race and nominees: Despite no clear front-runner, Deathloop, Metroid Dread, and Psychonauts are strong contenders for Game of the Year. Other overlooked games include Wildermyth, Returnal, Hitman 3, Monster Hunter Rise, Death's Door, and Inscryption. The speakers believe this year's nominees are more neutral than last year's controversial choice of Last of Us Part 2.
This year's Game of the Year race is wide open, with no clear front-runner. While Deathloop is favored based on critical reception and the types of games that typically win awards, Metroid Dread and Psychonauts are also strong contenders. Some games that were overlooked include Wildermyth, Returnal, Hitman 3, Monster Hunter Rise, Death's Door, and Inscryption. The speakers expressed disappointment when Last of Us Part 2 won last year, feeling it was a less deserving choice than Hades. They believe this year's nominees are more neutral, with no clear winner. Despite personal preferences, they accept that game awards often favor certain genres and types of games. The speakers also discussed the snub of Bravely Default 2 in the Best RPG category, despite its strong sales and critical reception. Overall, the conversation highlights the excitement and anticipation surrounding the Game of the Year award and the diverse range of excellent games released in the past year.
Halo Infinite's Grappling Hook Surprises Critics: The grappling hook in Halo Infinite has been praised for adding a new level of fluidity and fun to the game, surprising critics with its positive reception.
The podcast "After Game Show" offers a lighthearted and chaotic break from reality, featuring family-friendly games and international callers. Another exciting development is the positive reception to Halo Infinite, which has surprised many critics with its grappling hook mechanic and overall gameplay improvements. Despite initial skepticism, Halo Infinite's grappling hook has been praised for changing up combat and adding a new level of fluidity and fun to the game. The extra development time seems to have paid off, and Halo is once again capturing the attention of gamers.
Enjoying Halo Infinite's Writing and Fun Factor: The speaker finds Halo Infinite's writing enjoyable, with a balance of humor and sarcasm, despite some repetition and familiar tropes. They're confident the game will maintain its fun factor throughout, and compare it to a triumphant end to a challenging process.
Halo Infinite, despite its rocky development process, has turned out to be a fun and satisfying game. The speaker expresses their enjoyment of the game's writing, which has a "little bit of sparkle" to it, even if it's not as witty as Guardians of the Galaxy. They appreciate the sarcasm from the chief and find the right balance of humor in the game. Despite some repetition and familiar tropes, they're confident that the game will maintain its fun factor throughout. The speaker also shares their relief that the game turned out well after hearing stories of development struggles. They compare it to an "anthem" or a "god of war," signifying a triumphant end to a challenging process. Additionally, they recommend the game "Unpacking," which they found to be a soothing and wonderful experience.
Exploring new genres and unique stories: The speaker discovered a new genre of game called 'Unpacking' and was fascinated by its creative narrative. They also watched a documentary called '3 Identical Strangers' and found the story of nature versus nurture and twin similarities captivating.
The speaker discovered a new genre of game called "Unpacking" and was deeply impressed by its creative narrative. They credited the speaker for coining the term and recommended the game as a nice change of pace. Additionally, the speaker watched a documentary called "3 Identical Strangers" about triplets separated at birth and found the story fascinating, especially the themes of nature versus nurture and the uncanny similarities between twins. The speaker also mentioned that they would be attending the Game Awards in Los Angeles and looking forward to it. Overall, the speaker shared their enthusiasm for unique stories and experiences, whether they come from games or documentaries.
Triple Click hosts share an unknown experience: Triple Click is a comedy and culture podcast produced by its hosts, focusing on audience engagement and artist-owned, with support through membership on maximumfund.org.
The hosts of Triple Click, Kirk Hamilton, Jason Schreier, and Maddy Myers, are going to have an unknown experience and will share their thoughts upon their return. They encourage their audience to engage with them on social media and in their Discord community while they're away. Triple Click is produced by the team, with editing, mixing, and theme music by Kirk. They may have received some games or products for review. Triple Click is part of the Maximum Fund Podcast Network and can be found on Twitter, email, and Discord. They encourage support through membership on maximumfund.org. The show focuses on comedy and culture, and is artist-owned and audience-supported.
