What are your thoughts on this year’s Game Awards?

Congratulations to Astro Bot for winning the 2024 Game of the Year at the Game Awards. While the selection will surely be controversial — it’s not often a game that wins Best Family Game also takes home Game of the Year — all indications are that it’s a deserving title so I’m not going to complain … about that, anyway. While I think this year’s show was much better than last year, there are a few more improvements that could be made.

First off, it’s too dang long. Including the pre-show (which matters because they give out some awards during it) the Game Awards lasted for over 3 hours and 45 minutes. Unfortunately I’m not sure how to reduce the time outside of my idea last year of splitting into two shows, one to focus on previews and one to focus on awards.

Speaking of the awards I was disappointed that some of the awards were again given out in a rapid-fire manner with the winner not getting to take the stage. While it felt less egregious this time, it’s still not in the spirit of an awards show to treat some this way. It’s particularly weird how on a night largely focused on the future that an award like “Most Anticipated” would be hastily dispensed with.

Fortunately those that did get to go on stage to accept an award did not appear to get run off if they spent more than 45 seconds talking, a vast improvement over last year’s heavily-criticized approach. While celebrities were still part of the festivities this year their appearances were limited to giving out awards and introducing projects; no seven-minute digressions that ultimately did nothing but eat time like last year. And while the Aaron Paul/Laura Bailey announcement of their new title Dispatch could’ve been shorter, the Russo Brothers’ introduction of The First Berzerker was succinct. Also, congratulations to Harrison Ford for winning this year’s coveted “Hollywood Celebrity Who Has No Idea Why They’re at a Gaming Show” award.

Geoff Keighley is no Milton Berle, but I appreciated the attempt

What could’ve been a lame gimmick worked very well, as noted Muppet critics Statler and Waldorf were on hand to speak for the audience. Obviously Geoff approved the material beforehand but it had to make him a little uncomfortable to be accused of selling out. Plus the Kojima joke (“did you know Geoff Keighley is friends with him?” “yeah, but does Kojima know that?”) was brilliant. It didn’t quite reach Milton Berle levels but as an older person I love the inclusion.

I also appreciated the use of music in the proceedings. Besides the traditional medley of Game of the Year music we were also treated to a Snoop Dogg performance, music from Arcane, new music for Civilization 7 by the inestimable Christopher Tin and we even got a game announcement via orchestra: a sequel for Okami. This use of music was great, 10/10, no notes.

Probably the nicest moment of the night was the “Game Changer” award given to Amir Satvat for his work assisting employees in the gaming industry finding new jobs after the almost ridiculous number of layoffs that hit the industry late last year and earlier this year. While it’s great the topic was touched on at all, I feel like not enough harsh words were cast at the employers who initiated the layoffs. Still it was a touching segment and is worth watching in its entirety.

What did you think about this year’s Game Awards? Do you agree that it’s too long or are you fine with it going even longer (as long as we get more announcements and trailers)? Do you think it was better than last year’s show? What else would you change to improve it?