It’s odd, being nominated for an award. The fantastic news that we were listed in the Best Website category for the GMAs has stirred up some peculiar thoughts. Of course, we’re all very pleased by it. It’s amazing for us. But there are other thoughts that are perhaps less expected.
I’ve kind of always told myself that we deserved more recognition and yes, perhaps even to win an accolade here and there. It’s easy to think that of a project you’re so close to. I genuinely think that this site is a wonderful place and it has always frustrated me that others either couldn’t see it or were choosing to ignore it. That said, I’ve resisted the urge to nominate the site myself, as many do, because I’d feel a bit conceited doing that.
Every year, when nominations were announced I had kind of looked at them, noted all the deserving nominees and breathed a resigned sigh because we weren’t on the list. We’ve seen smaller sites recognised at times. We’ve seen sites that are only updated semi-regularly. I’ve always thought we’re underrated in many respects. But then, it’s hard to see any potential flaws in something that you love so much. Anyway, I could play the rock star card – who cares about awards anyway? And the field is always incredibly strong, I couldn’t claim we deserve it any more than anyone else that gets nominated.
I couldn’t, for example, find fault with the winner of our category last year – Eurogamer. They’re a great site with some great talent and they put out some very good content. Likewise, this year’s Best Website category has an exceptionally strong field. We’re up against Eurogamer, CVG, IGN, Gamespot, etc. We’re not arrogant enough (or naive enough, given the make up of the panel that chooses winners) to believe we have more than a minuscule chance of winning in that field. For us, it’s a great achievement just to be noted alongside those sites and to know that we’ve managed that with nothing but passion, hard work and good fortune.
This year, we’ve had review quotes used on the Steam news page, Sony print adverts, several manufacturer and product websites and some of our reviews have been used in MCV magazine round ups. I’m very proud of that because it shows, not only that our standards of writing are generally better than they’ve ever been but that people are starting to hear of us more and more. I’ve been contacted by people I’ve never spoken to before, people who are quite high up in game publishing and development companies, to tell me they like things they’ve seen on the site.
Getting our name recognised is a big step for us. We’ve got a truly brilliant core team and some very good contributors. We’ve worked hard every day for four years. We’ve built a welcoming and intelligent community. Now we want to make a lot more people notice what we’ve achieved. This GMA nomination is a good sign that we’re doing that.
I regularly say, and still believe, that awards are not as important as a large, loyal readership. The messages of congratulations we received from people meant as much as the nomination itself because those are genuine messages of support and endearment from the people that we work hard for – you, as well as our competitors, whom we often respect and admire. But of course the nomination means a lot to us. Especially at this stage of proceedings, when those included are based on public suggestions.
It does feel weird though. I’d love to win the category, even though I know that is highly unlikely and I know that it’s not as important as the people here and the work we do. Perhaps that’s greedy of me? I don’t know, I just know that I’m immensely proud of everything we’ve achieved here, together – the owners, coders, designers, editors, writers, contributors, community staff, community members and readers. This nomination is for the site. It’s for everyone involved with the site. And you can call me arrogant if you want, but I still feel like we all deserve it.
Roynaldo
To come from 2 men with a dream to a fully fledged award nominee in 5 years is something that the dragons could never have seen coming.
Being a member for so long I am proud of this site and its contributors. Im more proud of its management for having the insane passion and im /even more/ proud of the community who make it what it is.
BIGAL-1992
I think I speak for a lot of people here when I say that it’s brillant the TSA is in the running for best website in the GMAs, primarily because of two reasons;
1. The site staff. Let’s face it, without the hard work and dedication of the Head honchos, TSA news team and the Community team here, a lot of us would have left this site a long time ago. It’s gets maginified when you realise that everyone that works here are doing this part-time, alongside their real life work commitments.
2. The community. TSA has been a site I’ve visited regularly since October 2008 and singed up to it two months later. What convinced me to sign up to the site was the site’s community been a more friendlier crowd than most of the sites that are constantkly plagued with trolls, fanboys and flame wars appearing every half-hour. Also, the community has become quite an integral part of TSA, as without it, it wouldn’t be the same as it is today.
Jakster123x
After a year of reading the site, i today felt that i should finally register, so here i am! Hello. :) Congrats on being nominated for the web awards btw, absolutely massive achievement
mynameisblair
Welcome to the… comments section :)
Jakster123x
xD
nemesisND1derboy
Now get your ass in the forums! I swear that place is as dry as Ghandi’s sandal when it comes to humor these days, although the demotivational posters are making a comeback…
Roynaldo
Welcome newbie :)
e8
Welcome to the tribe.
TSBonyman
When i heard TSA had been nominated i was pleased for all the hard-working staff and contributers but i also felt proud to be part of such a fine community.
I hope TSA wins but more importantly get’s the recognition it deserves!
Pemberton_
It’s only just beginning.
As a side note, even though I don’t comment on every article or log in every day, I’m still here day after day, without fail. I’m sure that goes for a lot of your readers and personally, I think that says a lot more than an award ever could.
Voganlight
Definitely, ever since I discovered this site in December 2008, I’ve visited hundreds of times a day. The content is sooo great.I’ve often found myself wondering whether they are actually lying about being volunteers.
OllyBobs
It’s absolutely brilliant how far this site has come! I’m really proud of you guys and how you manage the site, fairly and respectably, such as not breaking embargo’s as Peter mentioned on the podcasts. There’s so many great features aswell, such as the competitions, guest writers, meet the reader/folder/writer ect ect.. Really looking foward to seeing this site progress in the future!
DrNate86
I don’t think TSA will win against such big names this year, but I don’t think it needs to. To be nominated is a fantastic step in the right direction, and a testament to how far the site has come along. If you managed to keep going the way you are then, in another few years, the size of the readership could rival the big sites, but without the trolls and idiots. That /would/ be something truly unique in the social quagmire that is the internet.
Starman
This is the only gaming site I’ve found where members can have a sensible conversation on the storys without it descending into insults & fanboy comments. Long may it continue!
Blayney
Been a member since however long it says up there ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Been reading even longer. Enjoyed watching the site grow and love the community. The TSA meets are the only organised meets I will do on the internet – because I know that everyone who signs up is a decent gamer.
All in all, well deserved nomination. In my mind it’s already the best website out there. I no longer visit IGN or CVG.
rht992
TSA as lovely, humble and deserving as ever
Foxhound_Solid
Couldnt have put it better. TSA FTW!