The lack of strategy games at The Video Game Awards / Kotaku

[Regina]

In the article "A Game Every Year, But Never A Game Of The Year", Kotaku writes about sports games.
But they manage to squeeze in the lack of strategy games at the The Video Game Awards. Good job!

"Now, it’s true that other genres are similarly underrepresented in these types of awards galas.
I didn’t see Crusader Kings II on any list of nominees at the VGAs. I didn’t see any “Best Strategy Game,” in its list of awards, either. "
http://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/12/a-game-every-year-but-never-a-game-of-the-year/

 

[Dartheal]

I don't understand how they can have "Video Game Awards" without all the genres being represented to begin with. The interest of time, I guess, but it still seems rather ridiculous.

 

[Comradebot]

No CKII and no beer makes Comradebot something something...

 

[Beagá]

Well when it´s "Video Game" most people usually think console, and console strategy gaming is rather weak. Does that award cover both PC and console games?

Also, when the Black Friday Steam sale was on, the most sold games, with the exception of XCOM, weren´t strategy games. Is simply sells much less than other genres nowadays.

 

[ghouti]

Consoles will eventually end up killing gaming if developers keep restricting pc games to Console Hardware due to multiplatform.

Anywho... its no surprise that the coming generation has no patience to read and learn to play a game insted of playing fast paced, quick learining curve FPS/sports games instead of other low-learning curve games.

 

[grumphie]

how can you even consider a video game award without representing most mainstream genre's? you dont need to nominate ck2 or total war for game of the year, but without including strategy when pc's are involved youre having a empty award of no value at all. sure, peopel play action games like CoD and the like more than strategy. but the simple fact that strategy/rts stays a viable mainstream genre proves that its far from dead, while not as popular as it used to be.

 

[Nyrael]

Indeed, it is down-right stupid to not have all genres represented, no natter the popularity.
But what can you do: the ones in charge these days are people whose knowledge of games doesn't get far from "They exist to make $$$" while the ones who actually play games are in back-seat.

Consoles will eventually end up killing gaming if developers keep restricting pc games to Console Hardware due to multiplatform.

Anywho... its no surprise that the coming generation has no patience to read and learn to play a game insted of playing fast paced, quick learining curve FPS/sports games instead of other low-learning curve games.

It has nothing to do with generations. It is just that more and more people are gamers but thats because they NOW have games they'd like to play.
People who like other genres will always be much more numerous than strategist. It is a sad truth that strategies are fit for less people than action games.

 

[No idea]

how can you even consider a video game award without representing most mainstream genre's? you dont need to nominate ck2 or total war for game of the year, but without including strategy when pc's are involved youre having a empty award of no value at all. sure, peopel play action games like CoD and the like more than strategy. but the simple fact that strategy/rts stays a viable mainstream genre proves that its far from dead, while not as popular as it used to be.

Considering what a part of the media thinks the genre "Strategy" is, I´d rather that they give us for dead. The concept of strategy is present in every single game out there. But Strategy as a genre is a different thing. It has few supporters (as least compared to other genres) and it is based mostly in the PC world. That is why I think it doesn´t get the praise it should be given to it.

 

[solamyas]

It is funny when an adventure game win game of the year award while there is no best adventure game award.

 

[Sleight of Hand]

They say it's a dying genre.

 

[Spartanlemur]

They say it's a dying genre.

To be honest, that's why CK2 is deserving of an award. The game has managed to bring in many new customers for Paradox and make active those who owned but never really got into the numbers games of EU, Vicky and HoI (I fall into this category). I myself don't find nearly as much enjoyment in those games, and it's because (referencing the article) of the increased narrative. CK2 makes me feel like a person, with traits and a life story. EU makes me feel like I'm playing a virtual board game. The graphical variety of faces lets me identify with a character and from there craft my own tale of conquest, love, cruelty and intrigue (or any other variety of themes).
Crusader Kings 2 is a storytelling device rather than a board game, and that is why it is bridging the gap between strategy and RPG. The game should have won an award for being a step in the right direction for the genre, alongside its defence of historical accuracy while increasing accessiblity (the total war series so often ignore accuracy).
The next Paradox game I truly enjoy will probably be Crusader Kings 3. Europa Universalis 4 will be ok, and will help ease the wait, but for myself, a longtime devotee to the RPG genre, it will never quite be as great as Crusader Kings (and that is why Crusader Kings 3/ a CK2 expansion should include the renaissance ).

 

[Mr. Capiatlist]

You guys seriously care what they say at the VGAs? Those awards are a joke: marketing for the pile of samey, dull-grey, triple-A FPS's. Those awards aren't about quality, it comes down to three things:
- Sales figures
- How much money the publisher is willing to pay to win
- Giving Skyrim game of the year in 2011 to maintain some semblance of legitimacy

Maybe this is the ranting of a kid who grew up with an Atari 2600 in his basement, but the people they are pandering to (the main Spike TV audience) are not gamers. They have no idea where gaming was or where it is going, they just want another CoD or Battlefield to be coughed up into their lap every 18 months so they'll have yet another excuse to crack open a 24-case of Natty-Light with three of their buddies. And that is fine, but I am tired of them getting to define the feelings of the "gamers", not just a particular Zeitgeist to be forgotten in five years.

 

[Sleight of Hand]

I agree with both of you; excellent posts by the way.

 

[barny]

How every little pathetic games magazine does their own worthless GOTY crap award. As if you could compare games that way, ridiculous.

 

[liamgamer55]

How every little pathetic games magazine does their own worthless GOTY crap award. As if you could compare games that way, ridiculous.

I agree, I prefer metacritic.

Maybe this is the ranting of a kid who grew up with an Atari 2600 in his basement, but the people they are pandering to (the main Spike TV audience) are not gamers. They have no idea where gaming was or where it is going, they just want another CoD or Battlefield to be coughed up into their lap every 18 months so they'll have yet another excuse to crack open a 24-case of Natty-Light with three of their buddies. And that is fine, but I am tired of them getting to define the feelings of the "gamers", not just a particular Zeitgeist to be forgotten in five years.

Apart from the bit about casual gamers not being gamers (which is pointless semantics) I do think that they are pandering to more casual gamers that are totally different to the people on this forum. Maybe we should see what out of 8's game of the year is instead?

 

[CurtisManning]

Actually XCOM won the Best PC Game 2012 at the VGA. So strategy games aren't that dead. But I agree with you guys, we need to see more of it because they deserve it.

 

[cybrxkhan]

Strategy games are going strong, even if the numbers aren't as big as, say, shooters or other genres, but it's doing fine.

In fact, I've heard that now that it's going to be much easier to plug a PC into a TV screen, consoles themselves may be doomed when people realize that PCs have much more capability (not just with gaming) than a console - and that might be good for strategy games, too. Imagine playing CK3 or CK4 on a huge screen in your living room.

 

[Wallienator]

wait people didn't realize yet that PC's > consoles? jeez, imbecile traits everywhere then xD.

 

[Grubnessul]

Strategy games are going strong, even if the numbers aren't as big as, say, shooters or other genres, but it's doing fine.

Is it? I haven't seen any RTS beating AoEII so far.

Grand strategy is doing better but that's mainly paradox and civ5

 

[liamgamer55]

Is it? I haven't seen any RTS beating AoEII so far.

How many RTS games have actually gotten serious press coverage lately? The only one I can think of is starcraft 2... and that only gets an expansion every 2 years, this year isn't one of them.