The Origins Awards are crap

[Ron Edwards]

Hello,

I really hate threads that become what-I-meant-you-meant exchanges. I hope this is the last bit of that sort of thing for this one.

Ethan, I don't even consider the Origins Awards to be suffering from a "problem." My observation merely indicates that their scope is too broad to permit the kind of cultural/industry support that events like the Oscars apparently do support, for their activities. That's not even a criticism, as the Origins Awards accomplishing X, Y, or Z is a matter of no consequence to me.

My frustration with this thread goes beyond my desire for my posts to be understood. It begins with its foundation in what amounts to an emotional reaction, by you, which frankly I'm not even beginning to understand. And I'm not interested in understanding it; emotional reactions aren't what we're here for. You can't seem to let it go - even when you provide information (like your most recent link), you include jabs and digs.

So I'm asking you: if your priority for this thread is actually to raise a rewarding issue of some kind, then please articulate it. If instead, and no harm done if this is the case, your priority is to express some sort of resentment or frustration, then you can consider that accomplished and we can close it.

Best,
Ron

[ethan_greer]

What can I say? I'm a jabby, diggy kinda guy. Admonition noted; I'll reel it in for this thread.

If this thread is to continue, I'd most like it to focus on Sean's (ADGBoss's) big question:

It seems you are crying out against something that no one takes seriously in any case, which begs the question: Should We? Should the RPG et all industries & Hobbies take themselves and thus their awards more seriously then apparently they do?

My answer's pretty simple: Of course we should. The organizers of the awards should work to bolster their credibility and thereby their relevance. The Origins Awards should be more than a bunch of gamers getting together for a few laughs, a trophy, and some stickers to slap on their products. I think a more cohesive and respected awards process would be good for the hobby, both for those already involved and for those on the outside looking in.

I think that the Ennies, Andy's Indie awards, Diana Jones, and Ken Hite's deal are all positive things. All of them have introduced me to cool products that I'd have otherwise missed. Perhaps for that reason more than any other, I'd like to see better things from the Origins Awards, too.

[ADGBoss]

A quick hit in response to Ethan's last thread because he mentions the question that I posed.

I would agree I think the Industry should take itself more seriously then I perceive that it does.  Lord knows I am no industry expert, just a long time player and amateur game designer scratching and clawing to go Pro. Of course I am not talking about putting us in Tuxedo's and or Strapless (inser italian designer name) gowns or even an RPG-TV.(For those who may not know, G4 TV is a cable channel for electronic gaming geeks).

I am saying that I would like to see just a bit more dignity applied to our Hobby even if it is not going to make any of us millionaires. I think a well promoted Award ceremony might be a step in the right direction, even if that is not Origins.

Hope I have not drifted or Hijacked Ethan's thread nor pushed it further then maybe it should have been.

Sean

[Mike Holmes]

There's going to be a ceremony regardless, so why not give the rewards a little more meaning?

Let's see, that would require the respect of the gaming community. The problem is that the community is so fractured into little segments with their own agendas that, as a whole, the community will never agree on what the awards should be.

Consider that one of the biggest charges leveled at the awards are that they have not changed the miniatures awards (like rolling them into historical gaming or something), since they were instituted on day one. Back when Origins was a wargaming convention. Keep in mind that we, the RPG players are still seen as "invaders" into "their" con, and "their" award. If they had it their way, RPGs would be eliminated altogether (hell, some would advocate eliminating boardgaming, too).

Think about that. About how fractious the "community" really is. And then tell me that you could do a better job of trying to keep everybody happy (and you could try if you liked, apparently becoming a member and even getting to run the event doesn't take much).

The electronic format category seems created almost to pander to the indie element. Thanks for slapping them in the face for recognizing us.

Mike

[ethan_greer]

I agree that the whole "wargamers hate the roleplayers hate the card gamers  hate the whatever" is a big hurdle, and one that I hadn't even considered. Thanks for pointing it out.

I personally am the absolute least qualified person to run an award of any sort. As I said in my first post, I am talking out of my ass, and I have some opinions to express.

I'm sorry to have (apparently) pushed a few of your buttons, Mike. Please stop baiting me with inflammatory remarks.

[Ron Edwards]

Heya,

Thread's closed via agreement with Ethan.

To be absolutely clear, the topic of the Origin Awards is certainly open for new threads.

Best,
Ron