Other awards

[m0ds]

SSH's post reminded me - I've been thinking lately about how cool it is to actually win something real, not just an online graphic or something. I'm just putting forward a simple suggestion here, but would anyone enter some awards where you could win something like this:



If the sign-up cost to enter your game was a measley $1?

And do you think such an award should just be for AGS games, or all independent adventure games of said year?

Let me know your thoughts

[Ashen]

A measly $1 based on how many entrants? And would that include shipping?

Also, how would it affect the nominations? Would the nominator pay, would the game maker be charged for someone else nominating their game, or would it only be open to games whose creators want to be a part of it, and are willing/able to pay?
The first two cases, I don't think are fair. The third makes more sense, but seems like it could limit the possibilities - I think we've got some members here without access to credit cards, etc, for online payments, and charging random other indie-developers for the right to be considered in an award ceremony they've never heard of seem a bit off.

Perhaps some sort of donation system, with a mention somewhere ('benefactors' website, name on the award for people who donate over a certain amount) would make more sense?

If it was possible to raise the needed cash, I think it'd be a great idea.

[Privateer Puddin']

I'd want something a little less generic awardy, like a well known inventory item or something

[Kweepa]

Yes, I think donations work much better than "pay to play."
Something like the annual IF competition would be good.

[Pumaman]

Does it include a sponsorship deal with Texaco?

[m0ds]

Hahaha Yes Chris, it does! The winner also receives a year's supply of petrol, courtesy of Screen 7!

Ashen, some good questions. My original idea was that, if you had a game and you wanted the chance to win the award - you would pay the $1 fee. Ideally "you" would be the creator of that game, but anyone who was happy enough to pay the $1 fee for you could enter it. So say I wanted to enter FoY but didnt have any way of paying, I'd ask CJ to pay it for me, etc.

It would work best if the creators themselves paid the $1 for their entry - but having fans would work too, because as I said anyone could nominate a game so long as they paid the $1 fee.

Basically I'd need about twenty - thirty entrants each paying $1 to cover the cost of the award and shipping, but I'd be happy to make up for it even if there was only 5 - 10 entrants.

Tom - well maybe in the future someone could actually create a custom award! But for now I'd like to go with that one, or something similar.

As for the donations, well thats a good idea - but it could just mean everyone nominates but they don't actually donate, because they may think everyone else is doing so. A benefactors website would be easy, but putting all the benefactors name on the award would completely detract from the main engraving on it. I certainly wouldn't want an award with a list of names of those who donated to it :p I'd just want it to say "Best Game 2007" & then the games name, or something. I'm not convinced a donation scheme would work, myself.

Thanks for the feedback though! I'm going to push this forward. Of course, I don't want it to seem like it's taking over the AGS awards or anything. It would be one, single award. Maybe in the future it could be incorporated into the AGS awards - so the Best Game of 200X actually wins this real award as well as the online GIF.

[Haddas]

Does it include a sponsorship deal with Texaco?

*Tesco

[Radiant]

It really depends if the awards are determined by popular vote, or by a committee. In the former case, as with the regular AGS awards, the most popular game will win in most or all of the categories regardless of its relative merit in said categories. In the latter case, as with the Oscars, the distinction between categories is clearer. Unless, of course, you wanted a single category only, in which case there's little reason not to use popular vote.

[Alynn]

The award should be a red herring!

[SSH]

Pfff, if I'm still running the AGS Awards next year then I will personally send the winner of best game a blue cup, with postage and cup paid for by myself...



by the way, games made from anyone who lives somewhere expensive to post to is now excluded from entering the AGS Awards....

[fred]

The award should be a red herring!

What's wrong with the Texaco Baby Shark Fin?

[Domino]

I work for an awards and trophy store, and i see those things everyday. It is just a lasered piece of glass (or crystal as we call them), but if needed, i would be able to get those for the winner if possible. I work as an engraver, but we have a guy who does all our laser engraved stuff.

Personally, i hate lasered glass, you would be better off going with a nice plaque or an acrylic piece lasered, which in my opinion looks better than glass. The laser tends to burn into acrylic or plastic better, because lasering just melts the top of the glass, and sometimes can be hard to see.

Shawn

edit: i would cover any cost's of the award, and i could probably get it for free. But it would be a great honor to do this.

[Steel Drummer]

I like the idea of this, but this should be optional.. I don't want to have to give out my address to people.

[SSH]

I like the idea of this, but this should be optional.. I don't want to have to give out my address to people.

That must be a huge worry for you. Of course, if you do win, we'll send the boys around to torture you until you tell us your address...

[Hammerite]

I like the idea of this, but this should be optional.. I don't want to have to give out my address to people.

it wouldnt be any different to buying something from eBay

[m0ds]

yoda, there would be no obligation.

It would just mean you couldn't enter and couldn't win!