Subject: [press] 2001 Diana Jones Award shortlist announced
From: Diana Jones Award committee <dianajones@erstwhile.demon.co.uk>
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc,rec.games.frp.advocacy,rec.games.frp.industry,uk.games.roleplay,fr.rec.jeux.jdr,rec.games.design

PRESS RELEASE
London, 2002-04-09


DIANA JONES AWARD 2001 NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

The four shortlisted nominees for the 2001 Diana Jones Award for
Excellence in Gaming are announced today.

The Diana Jones Award is an annual award given to the individual,
product, publication, publisher, distributor, retailer, club,
organisation, convention, event, trend, innovation or concept that best
demonstrates excellence in gaming. The Award is decided by a committee
of anonymous games-industry professionals, who have all distinguished
themselves in their field.

The committee considered a list of almost fifty nominations for the 2001
Diana Jones Award, put forward internally and by the gaming public, and
after much debate has distilled it down to the following four (in
alphabetical order):


DE PROFUNDIS
by Michal Oracz
Published by Portal Publishing, Poland
(Available in English as part of Hogshead Publishing's New Style line)

Out of Poland comes a roleplaying game that expands the definition of
what a roleplaying game is, and what an RPG rulebook is. This free-form,
Lovecraftian game runs by correspondence. Rather than adapting tabletop
RPGing to play-by-mail, De Profundis re-invents the roleplaying form to
match correspondence-style play.


THE DYING EARTH ROLEPLAYING GAME
By Robin Laws, John Snead and Peter Freeman
Published by Pelgrane Press

The Dying Earth RPG captures the spirit of Jack Vance's tales of rogues
and charlatans, makes their often arcane world accessible to novices,
and translates them into a sublimely enjoyable gaming experience. The
game succeeds on all levels, with its beautifully presented and
atmospheric book, its innovative and easily understood game system, and
the pleasure it takes in its subject.


ROBIN D. LAWS

Robin D. Laws is one of the games industry's most respected designers,
and one of its most prolific. Whether he is presenting a completely new
approach to roleplay (Rune; Pantheon) or an RPG version of an existing
genre or canon (Feng Shui; Hero Wars; Dying Earth), his attention to
detail, finesse and understanding of readers' needs have put him at the
head of his field.


SORCERER
by Ron Edwards
Published by Adept Press

Fresh, mathematically honest, direct, and patently concerned with good
game-play, Sorcerer is a marvel of RPG game design. First self-published
online for as a for-sale .pdf, Sorcerer -- together with its creator and
publisher Ron Edwards -- represent the potential of the independent
innovator in today's RPG industry. Now available in hard cover, Sorcerer
stands above competitors in elegance and intelligence.


The Diana Jones committee offers its congratulations to the shortlisted
nominees.

The winner of the 2001 Diana Jones Award will be announced at the Gen
Con games convention in Milwaukee in early August.

For more information on the Diana Jones Award, its unique trophy and
last year's nominees and winner, please go to the Award's website at
http://www.erstwhile.demon.co.uk/dianajones/ or contact the Award's
representatives: <dianajones@erstwhile.demon.co.uk>

Four worthy nominees, I'd say. Can't we give out four Awards?

Sputter.

Thanks for posting this Joe, and ... hey! Didn't you used to hang out at that place called the Forge? Welcome back!

Best,
Ron

Congratulations, Ron!

Dave

Hey...congratuations Ron! I hadn't heard of the Diana Jones previously, but upon reading the pages at the end of Dav's link I've discoverd that I absolutely love the the shroud of secrecy that surrounds the award and the star chamber that selects the winner. How appropriate for Sorcerer to be nominated for an award chosen by a secret cabal.

And did anyone else notice a distinct difference between the shortlisted 2001 nominees and this year's shortlist? Shades of some of the observations you heard from retailers at GAMA, Ron?

Paul

Hey Ron,

Looks like they bought it, the suckers! A simple web sight on Demon, and everyone thinks its a real award. I thought the inclusion of the other games was a really good touch. Dying Earth, indeed! Do you think anyone will realize it's a sham before GenCon. Oh, BTW, I dropped the trophy, we'll have to buy another one.

Hey, could you talk to Clinton, I seem to be having trouble in Netscape in reading the labels on the Personal Mail button and the Post Reply button. Gee, hope I don't make any mistakes.

Best,
Mike

Not only the shroud of secrecy, but "who is Diana Jones" That's the greatest.

So if the reward is announced at a party at GenCon, how can I score an invitation to that party...thats what I'm wondering.

Man I just came to post this, but you beat me to it.
Congratulations and a hearty "atta boy", Ron. B^)