Delving into the annals of gaming history, one can’t help but notice the significance of the coveted ‘Game of the Year’ title. This accolade, bestowed upon a single game each year, represents the pinnacle of innovation, design, and storytelling in the gaming industry.
The tradition of honoring the ‘Game of the Year’ has been a cornerstone of the gaming world for decades. It’s a yearly ritual that brings together critics, gamers, and industry professionals alike, all eager to see which masterpiece will take the crown.
Game of the Year History
“Game of The Year” symbolizes an accolade of honor, celebrating outstanding achievements in gaming. This section uncovers the underpinnings of this award and examines its varieties.
“Game of The Year”, often abbreviated as GOTY, is an honor bestowed upon a video game by critics, publications, or game award organizations. These bodies evaluate games based on their artistic and technical achievements, gameplay mechanics, and narrative scalability. For example, games like “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and “God Of War” have previously received this award, showcasing excellence in design, storytelling, and innovation.
The “Game of The Year” award is not homogenous, as different organizations confer it using distinct criteria. Some awards focus on public opinion, such as The Golden Joystick Awards, where gamers cast their votes. On the other hand, The Game Awards, an industry-centric ceremony, employs a jury of international media to decide its winners. Consequently, a single game may receive numerous GOTY awards in a year, like “The Last of Us Part II” did in 2020, winning 261 awards globally.
The History of Game of The Year
Expanding the discussion, we examine the origins and evolution of the “Game of the Year.”
The conception of “Game of The Year” dates back to the early 1980s. As part of Atari’s internal competition, employees competed for the best game designs – a practice resulting in the first GOTY award designation. Over time, media publications like Computer Gaming World began adopting this aficionado culture, thus solidifying “Game of the Year” in the industry’s lexicon.
For example, in 1987, Lucasfilm’s graphic adventure game “Maniac Mansion” took the “Best Adventure” title from both Computer Gaming World and German magazine Data Welt. This clear appreciation of excellence evolved to represent the broader GOTY award. The tradition has prevailed in the gaming landscape ever since, providing an official platform to recognize and celebrate ground-breaking games each year.
The Evolution over the Years
Over the years, the “Game of The Year” designation has seen significant metamorphosis. Initially, the award mainly focused on gameplay mechanics and graphics. However, with the increasing complexity and budgets of games, the award now encompasses many facets of gaming.
Recognized Game of The Year Awards
Celebrate prominent “Game of the Year” accolades, recognizing industry excellence and innovation. This section highlights three renowned awards: The Game Awards, The D.I.C.E. Awards, and The Golden Joystick Awards.
Established in 2014, The Game Awards celebrates the best in the video game industry. It involves fans voting alongside a judging panel composed of global media and influencer outlets. In addition to “Game of the Year”, it also presents awards like “Best Art Direction,” “Best Sound Design,” and “Best Independent Game”.
The D.I.C.E. Awards
Conducted by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, The D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Awards commenced in 1996. Its “Game of The Year” award is a sought-after honor in the gaming industry. Esteemed games, such as “Fallout 4” and “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” have previously won this title.
The Golden Joystick Awards
Since its inception in 1983, The Golden Joystick Awards serves as one of the oldest video game award events. Based in the UK, this event celebrates the achievement of interactive entertainment across all platforms. Its “Ultimate Game of the Year” award is one of its most prestigious categories, lauded by games including “The Last of Us” and “Dark Souls III”.
