Lunchtime Discussion: Voting

Today’s a big, important day that I simply couldn’t go without mentioning. That’s right you can now vote for your choices in the 28th Annual Golden Joystick awards. OK so technically the nomination voting for the award’s longlist opened yesterday, but it ties in better with that other election thing that’s going on today. Something about electing a government or something, I guess you should remember to vote in the general election thingy if you can, but everyone should go and vote for the Golden Joysticks right now.*

The thing is having a popular vote for gaming awards is just plain stupid. Sure it works great in democracy – I’m talking in general here – but putting any form of media award to a popular vote is just a waste of time, you may as well just look at the sales figures and be done with it. I mean look at the BAFTA gaming awards. Actual Game of the Year went to Batman: Arkham Asylum, a game everyone can at least agree is a contender for the title. The GAME Game of the Year award, the award the Joe Public was allowed to vote for, went to Modern Warfare 2. What a shock, the highest selling anything ever won a vote from the people who bought the game.

Of course sometimes it works. TSA’s own game of the year setup lets you guys vote for the games you think deserve to win in the various categories, in a very similar way to that of the Golden Joysticks. Of course you’re the selected elite rather than the general public, you guys have the taste to come to TSA and participate. And as you’re obviously such wonderful people lets get your views. Should we be voting in Game of the Year contests, or should it be left to the same journalists we listen to for most of the rest of the year? On a more serious not, will you be voting today? Can you vote in the election?

* – This is sarcasm, if you’re registered to do so please make sure you go vote today. Seriously, it’s important and we’ll set Tuffcub on you if you don’t.