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This episode was quite cathartic for me, almost like a therapy session. I really wish I was as capable of not taking this seriously, and with enough time I most certainly won’t. At the heart of it all lies my great frustration with where games criticism, analysis, and proper industry examination lies. Once upon a time I was a member of a group of aspiring games writers, and I asked them what they considered good games writing to be. None of the answers had anything to do with the quality of the writing itself, something that all writers, regardless of their subject, ought to be prioritizing. No, the only defining trait of “good” games writing for this group was that it had something to do with a socio-political agenda.

Some of these writers later became regular contributors to some of the larger current online outlets.

I think, at this point, my personal politics have a tendency to lean a certain direction, and it is one unlike that of most “professional” games writers or social media addicts. It is one of the reasons I do my best to keep my own content apolitical. Nevertheless, it is not the reason I am recalling this little anecdote of mine. What I mean to illustrate is that many people writing in games do not consider games themselves as a topic something that can be written about well. When I see this line-up, I don’t see games chosen because the press outlets genuinely thought they were the best from a game design standpoint. No, I see games chosen by people that don’t actually care about the unique traits and capabilities of the medium and are, instead, combining those that fit their idea of “art” with their preconceived notion of “progress”. I wouldn’t be surprised if Elden Ring is merely there begrudgingly.

Video games are a medium that can provide experiences and emotional connections no other medium can. It’s a shame that the people steering the Game Awards are not only incapable of understanding or appreciating that, but are also lacking so much imagination themselves as to conceive what any of that even means.

Remember to follow me on Twitch for our live commentary of The Game Awards on December 8th, starting at 7pm ET.

What are your feelings about the Game Awards nominees? Feel free to leave a comment below or send us an e-mail with your opinions.

Opening theme music by Fallen Prophecy.