> Greg Benage wrote: > I'd like to propose the creation of annual "open game" publishing > awards under the auspices of the OGF. As I've told Ryan, I've > historically been leery of alternatives to the Origins Awards, but in > this case, I think an OGF awards could be constructive and relevant. I > also believe the awards could generate at least as much fan interest > as the Origins Awards with a little support from publishers. Probably > far more: These awards would have the advantage of being focused on > one particular fan community. Consider this a request for discussion.
OK. Way to fire me up, Greg. ;-) Before we get all fired up about yet another set of awards, we should make sure we're all really clear about what these awards are supposed to accomplish. In general, there are two different paths one can walk with awards. The first path is what I call the Gamers' Choice awards. These awards are the result of fan interest around particular products. These game products are nominated by fans and the finalists are voted on by the fans. This award represents what the fans think is a good product. The second path is the professional merit awards. This is where we (as industry professionals) review published products and make decisions as to what we believe were outstanding achievements. A product might have only sold 12 copies, but it might very well win the award for best RPG of the year; sales and fan support are irrelevant. To be frank, I don't have a lot of interest in the professional merit awards approach. While I truly value and cherish the advice and comments I receive from my comrades in arms, the fact that they love a product is secondary to that of fans loving (and buying) a product. I don't want to be the award-winning publisher of a perfectly designed product that wouldn't sell. The Origins Awards try and walk both paths, allowing the professionals to nominate (and anguish over) products in various categories before opening up voting to the public. >From a business marketing standpoint, the problems with awards of any sort have been ones of timeliness. Winning an Origins Award, for instance, isn't really an honor that would result in increased sales of a product. By the time the award is granted, the 90-day shelf-life of a product has come and gone. It is certainly a mark of achievement for the company itself, but few products ever bear the mark of an Origins Award winner. I'm all for giving fans the ability to vote on the best games in the business, but in order to get publishers behind them we need to make them more timely and marketing efficient then they are now. Online awards like the ENnies are certainly an option, though I have yet to notice any publisher adopt them. I've blathered on enough now... ;-) Good Gaming! Jim Butler, President Bastion Press, Inc. http://www.bastionpress.com _______________________________________________ Ogf-l mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/ogf-l
