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2006 AIAS Interactive Achievement Award finalists announced

I think these awards are (as said, peers in the industry) various developers in the Western community nominating other developers' works. Not saying any of those nominated games are unworthy persay, but just to say naturally japanese made games have an self-inclined uphill battle that western games don't have.

It's really a bullshit category, and I'm kind of glad it's not getting mainstream attention, (aka most game websites won't give a fuck, nor is it televised etc.)
 
Resident Evil 4 is a relatively safe actioner that does nothing with the medium of games--it's a relatively safe actioner that helped recover the Resident Evil franchise, but it wasn't SPECIAL. You're looking at something like Batman Begins--franchise dying, good game comes out, OMG WTF reaction from fans and rags. The industry, however, does not view it as such internally.

With GoW and SotC, the medium was pushed in interesting and new directions as an artform--I hate to use the term, but you have to recognize it. Guitar Hero made home-console gameplay so immersive that your testicles explode with joy in a spray of buttery jism. CoD2 also pushed the artform, but in a cinematic way...and finally, Nintendogs...well. Nintendogs is Nintendogs.

The point is, Resident Evil 4 didn't do anything NEW or BIG. It may have captured your heart, but it was nothing huge to those who make the games.

C- Warrior said:
I think these awards are (as said, peers in the industry) various developers in the Western community nominating other developers' works. Not saying any of those nominated games are unworthy persay, but just to say naturally japanese made games have an self-inclined uphill battle that western games don't have.

It's really a bullshit category, and I'm kind of glad it's not getting mainstream attention, (aka most game websites won't give a fuck, nor is it televised etc.)
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The AIAS is the Oscars of the games community. And don't pull the East vs. West shit--SotC says hi.
 
V. Genre Awards:

a. Sports Game of the Year

- NBA 2K6 (P: 2K Games, D: Visual Concepts)

- MLB 2006 (P:/D: Sony Computer Entertainment America)

- SSX On Tour (P: EA, D: EA Canada)

- MLB 2K5: WS Edition (P: 2K Games, D: Visual Concepts)

- Super Mario Strikers (P: Nintendo, D: Next Level)
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Yikes, the MVP 05 fans should be all over this one. No CH 2K6 makes me sad. I still have it and NCAA 06 as my top two sports games. Throw in WE8 which probably came out too early in the year for them to remember. A pretty piss poor list.
 
Matlock said:
Resident Evil 4 is a relatively safe actioner that does nothing with the medium of games--it's a relatively safe actioner that helped recover the Resident Evil franchise, but it wasn't SPECIAL. You're looking at something like Batman Begins--franchise dying, good game comes out, OMG WTF reaction from fans and rags. The industry, however, does not view it as such internally.

With GoW and SotC, the medium was pushed in interesting and new directions as an artform--I hate to use the term, but you have to recognize it. Guitar Hero made home-console gameplay so immersive that your testicles explode with joy in a spray of buttery jism. CoD2 also pushed the artform, but in a cinematic way...and finally, Nintendogs...well. Nintendogs is Nintendogs.

The point is, Resident Evil 4 didn't do anything NEW or BIG. It may have captured your heart, but it was nothing huge to those who make the games.
Click to expand...

What did GoW do that was either NEW or BIG?

I'm not even a big fan of RE4, btw.
 
Matlock said:
Try reading the entire post instead of the cliff's notes, and get back to me.
Click to expand...

Try making a post that makes sense.

"With GoW and SotC, the medium was pushed in interesting and new directions as an artform..."

...
 
IJoel said:
Try making a post that makes sense.

"With GoW and SotC, the medium was pushed in interesting and new directions as an artform..."

...
Click to expand...

IJOEL beat me to it.

And east vs. west? If I'm correct and saying industry peers nominate the games, I'd again stress that eastern made games have more of an uphill battle to get recognized.
 
C- Warrior said:
IJOEL beat me to it.

And east vs. west? If I'm correct and saying industry peers nominate the games, I'd again stress that eastern made games have more of an uphill battle to get recognized.
Click to expand...

Conversely, I doubt GOW will be near anyone's radar at the next Japanese awards. This shows the testament of the internationality of Japanese games versus Western ones.
 
Kojima loves GoW also

A game with soul that transcends borders and cultures. It's story, sense of world and graphics gave me a strong, exotic impression. (Mario creator) Shigeru Miyamoto and I had a laugh when we first played the game bacause we noticed a very Japanese like 'service' to gamers, in particular the emphasis on Details and Sense. The God of War package includes an honest presentation with love elements and a gmae design implemented with the player in mind. Lastly the game was designed with a good balance of theme and play. I truly feel that God of War is a great culmination of Western and Japanese game design. Let's hope this is just the beginning for this trend.
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cvxfreak said:
Conversely, I doubt GOW will be near anyone's radar at the next Japanese awards.
Click to expand...

There might be a few eastern developers giving the game a nod, (same way I'm sure quite a few Western devs gave RE4 and such other eastern made games a mention) but it won't be wiping the floor with much of anything.

I'd still like to get confirmation on how these games are nominated, I'm assuming it's through industry peers.

EDIT: SolidsnakeX, see italics.
 
Oh come on... don't make this an east vs. west deal.

GoW was a great looking game with excellent production values. Same as previous games, in the same genre, like Ninja Gaiden and Devil May Cry. There's nothing that really separates these games 'artistically.'
 
Matlock said:
Yes, it is. Again.
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Thanks!

I may have not noticed your earlier comment because I was still trying to figure out what you meant when you say God of War "pushed artistic design" while Resident Evil 4 did "nothing special."

Sorry, again thanks for the clarification!
 
C- Warrior said:
There might be a few eastern developers giving the game a nod, (same way I'm sure quite a few Western devs gave RE4 and such other eastern made games a mention) but it won't be wiping the floor with much of anything.

I'd still like to get confirmation on how these games are nominated, I'm assuming it's through industry peers.

EDIT: SolidsnakeX, see italics.
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Yah both Inafune and Kojima mentioned it in that thread about Japanese developers talking about their plans for this year. The game that most developvers mentioned in that thread that impressed them was SoTC.
 
God of War did not create any new game paradigms or push in bold new directions. It merely took the play mechanics and sensibilities of many action titles and perfected them. God of War deserves a game of the year nomination for sure, but it was nothing revolutionary in my mind. It was more "safe actioner" than Resident Evil 4 was.

I am still in awe at the lack of any nomination for RE4.
 
Let me try and tackle this.

Leaving aside the facts that the game's action was tight and the story was great: God of War's cinematic presentation was groundbreaking. Much of this had to do with the fact that the level design and camera design were so painstakingly intertwined. The player couldn't control the camera, which in some games would be a disaster but in God of War made it ten times the game it would have been otherwise.

Just climbing up a ladder -- a perfectly mundane exercise in 99% of games -- was incredible in God of War, because the camera would be doing this dramatic sweep around you, then pulling back to show the landscape that you were climbing above, giving you a dizzying sense of height, and meanwhile there's this chorus singing LALALALALA CLIMBING UP A LADDER or whatever they were saying in Latin; at any rate it was beautiful and got the heart pumping.

Climbing up a ladder. To say nothing of what happened when things really got dramatic.

Resident Evil 4, meanwhile, is a perfectly serviceable and in some instances excellent shooter that compared quite favorably to other games in the series insofar as other games in the series were pretty bad. RE4 was a great video game that didn't do anything nearly as innovative as God of War.
 
I definitely see what Kobun means, but I don't think I'd classify that as 'innovative.' You could, for instance, argue that the way the Prince of Persia series have been presented, with the Prince/other character narrating the story as it moves along was as groundbreaking. Or the little details in Call of Duty 2 that make it, what I consider, the most immersive experience yet. It's part of the presentation and production values.

It's not that I don't acknowledge such production values. However, I don't consider them innovative because it's not something that, at least in my experience, I haven't seen before and have that huge of an impact in the game, compared to previous games.
 
hahahax said:
Board of directors:
http://www.interactive.org/info/board.asp

Where are the representatives of the japanese industry?
Not that one guy there, he is involved with 989 studios.

lol
Lorne Lanning is the vice chairman. This "AIAS" is a fucking joke.
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Yes, it's a joke because the people who make it up are people who pretty much made the foundation of games as we know them. Read the bios on that site, and get INFORMED.

also

also

also

Shuhei Yoshida, a 14-year Sony veteran and renowned software developer, has been with the PlayStation group since the project's inception more than seven years ago. Through his tenure with Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. in Japan, he held various high-profile positions in both the third party relations and product development arenas. In April 2000, Mr. Yoshida was appointed Vice President, Product Development, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. and is responsible for all product development activities for Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. and the 989 Sports brand.
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Oh, oh, did you feel that?
 
Matlock said:
Yes, it's a joke because the people who make it up are people who pretty much made the foundation of games as we know them. Read the bios on that site, and get INFORMED.

also

also

also



Oh, oh, did you feel that?
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The presidents and prime ministers of every G country could be the members of that panel and it doesn't stop the lack of RE4 from being illconceived.
 
IJoel said:
You could, for instance, argue that the way the Prince of Persia series have been presented, with the Prince/other character narrating the story as it moves along was as groundbreaking.
Click to expand...
(Which I do!)
 
Matlock said:
Yes, it's a joke because the people who make it up are people who pretty much made the foundation of games as we know them. Read the bios on that site, and yank your head out of your ass.

Oh, oh, did you feel that?
Click to expand...




That I agree with. Though their choices can be questionable, their credentials are greater than any other set of GOTY awards.

And Western audiences, Western critics Western retailers, Western-created genres, and Western graphics technologies have always greatly benefitted Japanese developers. This list contains so many instances of "Nintendogs" that I can't believe anyone would put forth that argument.
 
Kobun Heat said:
Just climbing up a ladder -- a perfectly mundane exercise in 99% of games -- was incredible in God of War, because the camera would be doing this dramatic sweep around you, then pulling back to show the landscape that you were climbing above, giving you a dizzying sense of height, and meanwhile there's this chorus singing LALALALALA CLIMBING UP A LADDER or whatever they were saying in Latin; at any rate it was beautiful and got the heart pumping.

Climbing up a ladder. To say nothing of what happened when things really got dramatic.

Resident Evil 4, meanwhile, is a perfectly serviceable and in some instances excellent shooter that compared quite favorably to other games in the series insofar as other games in the series were pretty bad. RE4 was a great video game that didn't do anything nearly as innovative as God of War.
Click to expand...

That just sounds really pretentious to me. The whole "camera tracking" thing was done already in Eternal Darkness. I'm playing throught GoW right now and it feels far less cinematic than RE4. Not to mention much more sloppy. It's 60fps but there's frequent frame rate drops and lots of screen tearing. I'm seriously not seeing what's so innovative about this game. For me RE4 was a glimpse at what next-gen action games will be like.
 
This actually stands a chance of not being the 5th annual FPS awards. But shouldn't fight night be under sports games instead of fighting?
 
dynamitejim said:
That just sounds really pretentious to me. The whole "camera tracking" thing was done already in Eternal Darkness. I'm playing throught GoW right now and it feels far less cinematic than RE4. Not to mention much more sloppy. It's 60fps but there's frequent frame rate drops and lots of screen tearing. I'm seriously not seeing what's so innovative about this game. For me RE4 was a glimpse at what next-gen action games will be like.
Click to expand...
Uhh that's taking it a bit far. RE4 was good but 'next-gen action game'? Honestly now, I played RE4 and thought it was good and immersive, but for me it def. wasn't some of the praises you guys are throwing around.
 
AltogetherAndrews said:
With the way supposed men fawn over this nancy game, you could think they were.
Click to expand...


You just don't feel the art like we do. It transcends "gaming".

I like SOTC, but if you took that seriously, :lol:
 
God of War has an artistic coherancy like no other game. It's soundtrack was also better than SotC's one but I found both very forgettable. SotC also has some god awful animations. Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing looking game but that doesn't make it perfect in every way.
 
So these awards aren't about enjoyment? I thought games were to be "fun". I must be out of touch with my game journo innerchild. 'Cause I would not have picked about any of the listed games.
 
Kobun Heat said:
I. Game of the Year:

a. Overall

- Nintendogs (P: Nintendo, D: Nintendo EAD)


c. Console

- Nintendogs (P: Nintendo, D: Nintendo EAD)


II. Outstanding Innovation in Gaming

- Nintendogs (P: Nintendo, D: Nintendo EAD)
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This shit is fucking disgraceful, especially the last one. Man I hate that game. Such shallow tripe.

And no GT4 for Best Racing? Meh, should've expected that one I guess.
 
VeryHungryCaterpillar said:
So these awards aren't about enjoyment? I thought games were to be "fun". I must be out of touch with my game journo innerchild. 'Cause I would not have picked about any of the listed games.
Click to expand...

Read the thread.
 
Kobun Heat said:
Let me try and tackle this.

Leaving aside the facts that the game's action was tight and the story was great: God of War's cinematic presentation was groundbreaking. Much of this had to do with the fact that the level design and camera design were so painstakingly intertwined. The player couldn't control the camera, which in some games would be a disaster but in God of War made it ten times the game it would have been otherwise.

Just climbing up a ladder -- a perfectly mundane exercise in 99% of games -- was incredible in God of War, because the camera would be doing this dramatic sweep around you, then pulling back to show the landscape that you were climbing above, giving you a dizzying sense of height, and meanwhile there's this chorus singing LALALALALA CLIMBING UP A LADDER or whatever they were saying in Latin; at any rate it was beautiful and got the heart pumping.

Climbing up a ladder. To say nothing of what happened when things really got dramatic.

Resident Evil 4, meanwhile, is a perfectly serviceable and in some instances excellent shooter that compared quite favorably to other games in the series insofar as other games in the series were pretty bad. RE4 was a great video game that didn't do anything nearly as innovative as God of War.
Click to expand...

This man speaks the truth. An it doesn't even have all that many cutscenes at all. Short and sweet with fantastic voice acting (the female narrator especially, perfectly casted).

That said,RE4 deserves at least a nomination for all that pitchfork in the head stuff :)
 
VeryHungryCaterpillar said:
So these awards aren't about enjoyment? I thought games were to be "fun". I must be out of touch with my game journo innerchild. 'Cause I would not have picked about any of the listed games.
Click to expand...
Actually no. This the Oscar for games, which is more concerned about "art". If you want something more equivalent to the MTV awards that'd be the Spike/G4 awards.

If you don't find any of the listed games enjoyable though I dunno what to say.
 
Speevy said:
Why? I mean the whole list sucks IMO, but what specifically would make GT4's omission expected?
Click to expand...
Because general consensus is that the game disappointed, because all everyone wanted was online. Apparently no one cares that the 'sim' aspect of this simulation racer is the best we've ever seen; the perfect fusion of functionality, realism and playability.

And I agree with you, a large portion of the list is a joke. Mario Kart DS for Best Online Game Play?! Nintendo Wi-Fi is fucking broken. No SoTC for Best Original Music Composition?! Fuck that, Otani's score is the best we've received this generation by a god damn landslide. Kameo for Best Visual Engineering?! The game is the very definition of inconsistency, and for every part that looks sublime, two look like complete ass.

Bah.

EDIT: Oh, and God of War deserves every nod it received; the game is an undeniable masterpiece. I don't give a shit how hip it is to bash it nowadays, so many aspects of that game are near flawless it's almost illegally thrilling. Narrative, presentation, thematics, character development, balance, pacing, enjoyment, etc. I could go on and on. Jaffe owned us all and every one here fucking knows it.
 
AltogetherAndrews said:
Condemned better win for sound

edit: wait, no RE4 nominations? WTF? I don't care how much of an arty farty softie you are, there is no way in hell you can declare SoTC or Nintendogs being all around better video games than RE4.
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I thought SotC was a way better game than RE4. Nothing to do with arty-ness or farty-ness, it was just an all-around better game (and quite possibly my favorite game of the whole generation). RE4 not getting ANY nominations, though, in any category... that's a little weird.
 
Heian-kyo said:
Because general consensus is that the game disappointed, because all everyone wanted was online. Apparently no one cares that the 'sim' aspect of this simulation racer is the best we've ever seen; the perfect fusion of functionality, realism and playability.
Click to expand...
No online, no AI and for some reason less fun than the original on PS1.

And I agree with you, a large portion of the list is a joke. Mario Kart DS for Best Online Game Play?! Nintendo Wi-Fi is fucking broken.
Click to expand...
It's not.

No SoTC for Best Original Music Composition?! Fuck that, Otani's score is the best we've received this generation by a god damn landslide.
Click to expand...
Big, massive orchestra piece #27

I'm very negative tonight, am I not?
 
cvxfreak said:
Conversely, I doubt GOW will be near anyone's radar at the next Japanese awards. This shows the testament of the internationality of Japanese games versus Western ones.
Click to expand...

Bingo.





AltogetherAndrews said:
With the way supposed men fawn over this nancy game, you could think they were.
Click to expand...

:lol





VeryHungryCaterpillar said:
So these awards aren't about enjoyment? I thought games were to be "fun". I must be out of touch with my game journo innerchild. 'Cause I would not have picked about any of the listed games.
Click to expand...

The Oscars aren't any different...I don't think Die Hard got much of a nod for anything outside of sound editing.

I'm starting to enjoy lists like this more and more...the entertainment value reading the responses that invariably follow simply can't be measured. Based on the chatter from the last year, I find these omissions to be pretty surprising...

GT4
RE4
Madden '06
Psychonauts
WE8
MVP '06
Ninja Gaiden Black (though I suppose it was just a polished up version of last year's game)

Can't say I'm really bent out of shape by the list though...it's just hilarious that others get so upset because their favourite game was omitted.
 
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