I got a text yesterday from the lovely Raychul Moore:
Suuuper last minute, but what are your plans today?
And so, a few texts later, the plans were set for us to venture to LA Live to attend The Game Awards last night.
I love a bit of spontaneity in the morning.
Having never been to this event in person before, I can’t speak to how the experience has changed at this theatre. Even so, here’s my initial, off-the-cuff reaction:
Simultaneously too much and not enough Hollywood. It felt forced, like the pre-recorded announcer had been loaded up for the wrong show. It walked like an awards show, talked like an awards show – but the fact is that, for as far as it’s come over the years, it still has a long way to go.
The show started off with a bang, Geoff Keighley waxing poetic about Hideo Kojima and finally presenting him with the long-awaited Industry Icon Award after, to put it lightly, a rough 2015. And, of course, Death Stranding. I’m not much into horror games – is that even what it is? – but this creepy AF trailer has my skin crawling and my mind reeling. I need to know more – I need to play this game! Whatever it is!
Yes, that’s available in 4K and is in-game footage being played on a PS4 Pro. Mind. Blown. Read more about that on SRN.
I was a late bloomer when it comes to the Uncharted series. I’d had my eye on it for a while, watched Sohrab play it each time a new one came out. Finally, when A Thief’s End arrived on our giddy console, I decided to dive in properly. I binged all four games over the course of about a month, a la my 5-season LOST binge in 2009, prepping for a real-time watch of season 6 (I loved the ending, and I’d be happy to talk to you about it). Apparently this is my way, and I would actually recommend it to anyone who has yet to play an “older” game or watch an “older” show. Immerse yourself; get lost in the world. That’s what the creators hope for, after all. They’ve created a place for you to be anyone but yourself in hopes of discovering more about yourself. And I did. Uncharted moved me – made me laugh, made me cry, made me angry. I was part of the story. That’s why, when it didn’t win Best Action-Adventure, let alone Game of the Year, my heart hurt. It felt like a good friend had missed out on a dream. So close – yet so far.
I’m not about to bash Overwatch in my sadness. Especially considering the game’s passionate fanbase, I can see why it won GOTY. Heck, this might even get me to give it a try!
As could be imagined, considering the wide breadth of games available, there were several times throughout the show that I felt a little disconnected. Several of my friends quite enjoy Legend of Zelda, and are looking forward to Breath of the Wild – but something about how they showed it at The Game Awards turned me off. Perhaps it was the entirely unenthusiastic dudes “streaming” the gameplay on-screen. Or maybe it was the two guys who could barely crack a smile at the thought of playing this new game in general, let alone on camera. Gosh, I just can’t put my finger on it.
We ended the night with a dinner date with Brittney Brombacher and her beau, down from Seattle, WA for the weekend. If you ever need a boost in mood (and self-confidence!), Britt is your girl. We talked about everything from YouTube to video games to dogs and cats. Clearly, this was an excellent start to the last month of perhaps one of the toughest years we’ve all had. Now, on to PlayStation Experience!
