Rockstar, Red Dead Skip BAFTA Awards

[Andy Chalk]

Rockstar, Red Dead Skip BAFTA Awards

If you're wondering why Red Dead Redemption [http://www.amazon.com/Red-Dead-Redemption-Xbox-360/dp/B001SH7YMG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300381716&sr=8-1] wasn't up for any awards at the BAFTAs last night, it's because Rockstar chose not to enter it - and BAFTA "doesn't have the right" to enter it on its own.

The 2011 GAME British Academy Video Games Awards [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108554-Heavy-Rain-Cleans-Up-at-BAFTAs] were held last night and Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar's hit Wild West sandbox game that just a couple of weeks ago snagged four awards including Best Game Design and Game of the Year at the Game Developers Choice Awards, didn't win a thing. Why not? Because it wasn't actually there.

And why not? Because Rockstar chose not to submit it for consideration and the good folks at BAFTA, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, can't do it for them. "We don't have the right to automatically enter a videogame," explained BAFTA COO Kevin Price. "We encourage the publishers and developers to enter. We're not happy that Rockstar game isn't in the longlist this year, but the simple answer is it wasn't entered."

Complaints that the absence of Red Dead undercut the credibility of the awards are misplaced, he said, because their intent is to draw public attention to the industry and the art. He pointed out that there's actually a subtle upside to the whole thing because the controversy has people talking.

"When we make a decision on Best Game or the winner of a category, we're not saying there's only one good piece of work. It's all about getting the public thinking about what makes a good videogame," he continued. "So no, in short I don't think it affects the overall purpose and the quality of the Awards. We would rather that game was in the longlist and we'll continue to encourage Rockstar to enter in the future".

Rockstar chose not to enter the game, according to "sources familiar with the matter," because it's still sore about the Call of Duty: Black Ops [http://www.bafta.org/awards/video-games/nominations,664,BA.html].

Source: GamesIndustry [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-03-16-bafta-we-don-t-have-the-right-to-enter-red-dead-redemption]


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[Onyx Oblivion]

inb4 GTA IV sucks

Didn't they decide not to enter another big award show, too?

But don't be bitter about GTA4, and decide not to enter. If everyone who didn't win one year refused to enter, there wouldn't be much of an award show, y'know?

 

[Matthew Wilson]

It seems a little childish that they didn't enter Red Dead because of GTA, GTA was just another GTA - not to say it wasn't good but it was nothing you hadn't seen before. Red Dead on the other hand proved that the underused Western genre could make for a great game, if they entered it it very well could have won something.

 

[maantren]

Also perhaps because like other award shows, the BAFTAs make you pay for the privilege of being considered:

http://www.bafta.org/awards/video-games/how-to-enter-the-video-games-awards,542,BA.html

And you then have to play ball with some pretty complex advertising/PR demands in the name of helping the BAFTA broadcast's ratings. Nice to see game companies saying no to this model a bit.

Cheers

Colin

 

[thethingthatlurks]

Shame, I'm sure RDR would have won in at least one category. But it's Rockstars's decision, I'm sure they'll eventually get over nobody but bought-off reviewers praising GTA4 as the next coming. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't terrible, just meh, which is all the more disappointing considering how famous the GTA series is. At least RDR was something new and exciting, with some truly fun characters, superb story telling, and stunningly beautiful environments.

 

[Cyrax987]

I still don't understand how it didn't even win that GAME award. I mean really people? Call of Duty Black Ops is so damn awesome? Seriously the game was good but it was just good where as Red Dead Redemption did a lot of great things and executed it beautifully.

 

[DTWolfwood]

Red Dead Redemption was nominated for the 2010 GAME award, the only award voted on by the public, but lost to Call of Duty: Black Ops.

lol Ouch man.

i think thats y all reputable awards are voted on by peers in the industry XD

Rockstar marketing department must have absolutely no sway in the company. You'd figure that more awards for the game would bring in more sales. Entering into as many would benefit the game. Ah wells, its their decision, whatever that may be.

 

[therandombear]

I can't believe RDR lost 2010 GAME Award to Black-Ops: RDR even did the Zombie thing better!

Tbh I don't think Blops should've even been allowed to be in the category for game of the year, it came out in November. Should be a release limit of atleast 2-3 months to be allowed to be in "this" years GOTY category.

Also, GTA4 was boring, the fun with GTA4 was the first 20 mins or so with his cousin talking about his women.

 

[Reed Spacer]

Wasn't this news already, or was that a different award?

 

[maantren]

Rockstar marketing department must have absolutely no sway in the company. You'd figure that more awards for the game would bring in more sales. Entering into as many would benefit the game. Ah wells, its their decision, whatever that may be.

I wonder if they've come to the conclusion that (beyond a certain point) certain awards shows don't measurably affect sales. It obviously helps with films/dvds, but the videogame sales chain is quite different. Ultimately the only reason a TV network puts on an awards show is for their own revenue, maybe Rockstar got sick of lining other people's pockets.

I really don't know, would be v interesting to see it from their perspective.

Cheers

Colin

 

[lostzombies.com]

...well yeah, GTA IV was utter shit.

Was Rockstar not aware of this?

 

[DTWolfwood]

Rockstar marketing department must have absolutely no sway in the company. You'd figure that more awards for the game would bring in more sales. Entering into as many would benefit the game. Ah wells, its their decision, whatever that may be.

I wonder if they've come to the conclusion that (beyond a certain point) certain awards shows don't measurably affect sales. It obviously helps with films/dvds, but the videogame sales chain is quite different. Ultimately the only reason a TV network puts on an awards show is for their own revenue, maybe Rockstar got sick of lining other people's pockets.

I really don't know, would be v interesting to see it from their perspective.

Cheers

Colin

well you'd figure it would help with the compulsive buyers at least. it doesn't hurt to have more award stickers on the box. especially if its a british award! and we all know how foreign awards are just snobbishly better. lol

return on investment just seems more is all.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

So they didn't enter because their feelings were hurt? That doesn't sound right. There has to be more to it than that.

And Call of Duty will always win game of the year so long as the voting is open to the public. People who've never played any other game in their life will vote for Call of Duty.

 

[mental_looney]

I'd say it was more to do with the paying to enter I'm sure there was something about them refusing to enter another awards because of that >.<

 

[Orcus The Ultimate]

some people have no taste in gaming... you have to be gourmet sometimes in order to enjoy it even further, am i right?

 

[icyneesan]

They already won various awards, I figured they just don't care/can't be bothered to win some more. Also am I the only person on the internet who didn't think RDR was THAT good?

 

[thedeathscythe]

I can't believe RDR lost 2010 GAME Award to Black-Ops: RDR even did the Zombie thing better!

Tbh I don't think Blops should've even been allowed to be in the category for game of the year, it came out in November. Should be a release limit of atleast 2-3 months to be allowed to be in "this" years GOTY category.

Also, GTA4 was boring, the fun with GTA4 was the first 20 mins or so with his cousin talking about his women.

I believe they award games for the fiscal year, and not the calendar year.

People are saying that this could hurt their sales, because they won't have an award under their belt, but I say that it has just as positive of an effective. Someone reads this and wonders why the game has so much hype about it not entering the awards, so they check it out.

 

[gigastar]

I can't believe RDR lost 2010 GAME Award to Black-Ops: RDR even did the Zombie thing better!

Published magazine/newpapers game of the year award is a misleading title.

They tend to fork it out to the best selling game of the year not paying any attention to the reviews or critiques, much less the actual quality.

OT: Rockstar probably missed out on a good opportunity there, but its up to them if they want in or not.