s7 "Game of the Year" - done!

[m0ds]

Visit the awards page or check my last post for who won and what they won!!1

Vote at: http://www.screen7.co.uk/games/gameoftheyear2007.htm





Well, it's finally ready! Just about Some time ago I mentioned the possiblity of hosting some kind of small awards and now it seems very realistic. There is an ACTUAL prize for the winner, its a lovely little trophy with a game of the year plaque. Basically, what I'm looking for, with the help of the AGS community, is a bunch of suggestions for games to nominate!

Voting closes a day before MITTENS 2007, and the results are announced a week AFTER Mittens 2007! This is so that the people at MITTENS can also have time to discuss with each other which game they think deserves the title and then vote on it when they get back.

The specific rules for nominations are:

- The game must have been released DURING 2007*
- The game must be either MEDIUM or FULL LENGTH, any other categories will not be accepted**

* I understand this will in future miss out a period of AUGUST to DECEMBER. This is simply because I don't want to completely clash with the AGS awards. Depending how this years goes, it might speed people up to release before the middle of the summer :p Either way, apologies if your game was released earlier than this.

** Yep, apologies. This again cuts out any one room, MAGS, short, demo & joke games. See below as for why

Voting procedure and judges! Basically, once the nominations are in, the public will have a chance to vote right up until the day before MITTENS commences. Then, after MITTENS, the award judges will add their vote (which would be the equivalent of say, 50 votes) and then the MITTENEERS will add theirs, which could be the equivalent of say, 25 votes. If one game clearly leads the way then this probably won't make a difference!!!

So, if you want to nominate a game, you need to know what you're nominating it for...What constitutes for "Game of the Year"? Here is a rough idea...

- A well designed game with clear art, coding & music direction
- Well designed puzzles and a flowing non-linear storyline
- A real sense of "adventure", is the player taken on a journey? Or are they lumbered with crappy tasks? etc
- A sense of flair about the project - how much has the developer taken their project to heart?

The judges may also look at other aspects which will be announced at a later stage.

Okay, so I want you to know this is a complete trial run. But please, what I need you to do at this stage is suggest some AGS games, or ANY ADVENTURE*** GAMES made by independent developers in recent times.

[picture of the trophy you could win will go here tomorrow!]

Finally, this is really just for fun. If there aren't really suggestions, then I'll do the nominating myself and simply let you people vote! Thanks for your support

Currently approved nominations
Nelly Cootalot: Spoonbeaks Ahoy!

Awaiting confirmation
Earl Bobby is looking for his Balls
Tempus Fugit
Dr Lutz and the Time Travel machine
Scared Stiff
Bananaman - The video game



It took a while (due to extreme busyness) but voting is now open! Please go and vote for your favourite game from the small selection. This is a trial run. There will hopefully be more titles next year. Thanks to all!

Vote at: http://www.screen7.co.uk/games/gameoftheyear2007.htm

[Ghost]

Well that sounds like a fun idea, and the rules are reasonable.

I'd like to put down Nelly Cootalot: Spoonbeaks Ahoy! It's my favourite since now, and I think it matches all requirements.

So I vote for Nelly.

[Ali]

- The game must have been released DURING 2007*

Since the deadline is Mittens 2007, mightn't it make sense to consider all games released after Mittens 2006? A lot of interesting AGS games came out just before Christmas. I think it would be a shame not to consider The Blackwell Legacy, for instance.

On second thoughts, forget that! I say narrow it down to games released between the 5th and 7th of March 2007.

[Radiant]

Since the deadline is Mittens 2007, mightn't it make sense to consider all games released after Mittens 2006?

To be fair, all those games were already eligible for the latest AGS awards.

[m0ds]

Yep. Next year it might be wise to do that, but for this year I'm afraid it's 2007 games only Anyway, I've added Nelly

[SSH]

This isn't nomination, but rather trying to compile a list of eligible so far:

After a Shadow
Dr. Lutz and the Time Travel Machine
Scared Stiff
Paul Quest Gold Edition
Tempus Fugit
Nelly
Fynewrylst Memories: The Secret of th...
Banana Man - the Video Game
6 Days a Sacrifice
Earl Bobby is looking for his Balls
also... I think A Cure for the Common Cold should be eligible even though its filed as "short"

non-AGS:
Hewitt

[mr.me]

I nominate 6 Days a Sacrifice and Dr. Lutz and the Time Travel Machine.

[Radiant]

This isn't nomination, but rather trying to compile a list of eligible so far:

Hm... allow me to make that list a little longer...

[m0ds]

Thanks! I'll add them

[m0ds]

The web-page is almost ready, I am pm-ing the creators of the games SSH mentioned, and I just wanted to bump this to remind any developers who've released a game in the last few weeks to make me aware of it. Cool!

Oh, and here's a crappy photo of the award!

[m0ds]

The nominees are all in for this years "trial" run. Voting will begin soon at the Screen 7 website, so be sure to have a go with all these games;

- A Tale Of Two Kingdoms
- Banana Man - the Video Game
- Earl Bobby Is Looking For His Balls
- Nelly Cootalot: Spoonbeaks Ahoy!
- Scared Stiff
- Tempus Fugit

Dr Lutz & The Time Travel Machine is also on the cards, but I haven't heard back from the developers. Guys, if you want to be included, please PM me ASAP!!!

Please note next year people who want to be nominated for the award MUST COME TO ME, as I will not be seeking out games to be included!

[Afflict]

What about the Infinity String?

edit : Also with non linear what do you mean exactly?

[m0ds]

It can be added. Anyone that comes forward with their game that meets the criteria is still asked to come forward, it's a few days before I make the site & votes live. But coming to me shows me that you're really interested in what I'm investing in also. So I'm not hunting down developers of the games that meet the criteria I'm setting. If you are, or can find the Infinity String developer & ask them to PM me their postal address they will be nominated. Anyone else is welcome to apply now. But you have like, 3 days!

Also, join the debate. Should Le Croix Pan be included? It certainly meets my 4 crieteria bullet points, but it's a short game. Help me out here! Discussion also gives me encouragement that we're going to have some honest voters

Afflict: I can't give a clear answer, sorry. I remember desinging what I thought was the greatest game once but my friend wrote "non-linear" all over it. I didn't really understand what he meant. I then learnt he related it to my game as simply having too fewer puzzles & basically allowing the "game" to do TOO much for the player. From there I always considered it to be more than just puzzles, but also about making sure the person playing the game is constantly involved in learning, trying to understand & generally just thinking about what they're doing. But also being given a clear understanding about what it is they have to do, & understanding (and hopefully appreciating!) how it relates to the game world itself. So I think overall I would say what I mean is, plenty of moments that make YOU, the player, think. That and a basic sense of being encompassed in the atmosphere. Otherwise I guess I just mean well designed puzzles, and enough puzzles to justify a game. And again lots of criteria could be met here. For example an FMV might not have many intricate puzzles, but the award is eager to award people who've taken on board the key elements of a great FMV. etceteraaaaah!

[Dualnames]

How about Lone Case: Locomotive Breath? Just for the hell of it? Just because you've put me twice in your AGS-Zine? Just for fun? Just for any other reasons I can't think of?

[Steel Drummer]

It certainly meets my 4 crieteria bullet points, but it's a short game. Help me out here! Discussion also gives me encouragement that we're going to have some honest voters.

I think any game that meets the criteria should be eligible for entry- the short games however, wouldn't have as much a chance of winning against larger games (for example, something like Mordy 2). La Croix Pan was extremely polished and it was received well. I for one, think that it should be strongly considered for entry.

[Radiant]

I think the problem with allowing short games is that you're increasing the number of entries tenfold.

[Akatosh]

Guess I couldn't cheat _Access through as medium-length adventure?

[m0ds]

LOL I think you'd have some difficulty there, Akatosh. Sorry dude.

Okay, unfortunately I'm going to leave La Croix Pan out of these awards simply because it will be unfair on other short games that aren't being included. But you can count on my vote for LCP in the AGS awards!

I will have you all voting by September, I hope. Gotta get this done before the AGS awards :p Who's running them this year?

[AGA]

Dunno. Probably SSH if he's willing. The Awards won't happen until at least January of next year though, starting as early as September isn't necessary. December would be fine.

[m0ds]

It took a while (due to extreme busyness) but voting is now open! Please go and vote for your favourite game from the small selection. This is a trial run. There will hopefully be more titles next year. Thanks to all!

Vote at: http://www.screen7.co.uk/games/gameoftheyear2007.htm

Voting ends sometime round the end of November/December. The reason it's only just been put online is because I've had so much other stuff to do over the past few months I just didn't get the time to sort this all out. But it's a-ok because this year I'm just trialing it Obviously there are lots of games from 2007 that are NOT included in the awards this year, but hopefully in 2008 developers will contact me and nominate their game. I will also try and start it earlier and make sure it all happens in September & October at the latest. Don't want it all to clash with AGS awards Anyway. GO VOTE! Give someone a lovely trophy

I will also be keeping an eye on suspicious voting