Thông tin chính
The Game Designers Award, which recognized titles for their originality and novelty, has concluded after 16 years. Established in 2010, the award featured a panel of prominent creators, including Masahiro Sakurai, Fumito Ueda, Toby Fox, and Hidetaka Miyazaki, who evaluated games based on unique criteria rather than popularity.
Masahiro Sakurai explained that the award was created to provide an alternative to popularity-based metrics. While acknowledging that originality often has little impact on sales, Sakurai emphasized that an industry lacking such innovation risks stagnation. The selection process required judges to be directors who have created original games, ensuring that evaluations were made by professionals who understand the challenges of innovation.
The judging process involved two stages. Initially, judges distributed 10 points among titles, including early access or demo versions. In the second stage, finalists were re-evaluated to ensure lesser-known titles, such as the final winner 'Moji-yugi', received proper consideration. To maintain fairness, judges were strictly prohibited from discussing their selections with one another.
Despite his personal dislike for ranking games, Sakurai maintained the award because he believed it provided value to creators and players. He noted that while the award has ended, he hopes the industry continues to value novelty and the unique qualities of individual works.
