First, a disclaimer: we don’t think we’re going to win. We just think, perhaps, we should.
Sure, we’re biased. That much should be obvious – some of us have written for a few publications in the past on a freelance level (and been paid well, too, occasionally) but TSA’s family feeling and lovely community means that when we do writing stuff these days, it’s for free, for this site.
We’re not journalists. None of us are. We don’t have a fancy office, corporate backers or a magazine publisher for support. We all have other jobs and TSA is something we do because we love it. It’s hard to explain why exactly, but we feel that – just once – we should get some kind of recognition for all the hard work we do.
[drop2]Sure, there’re ads, but last time a cheque rolled in the money went on rent for a house for a week for the Eurogamer Expo, some podcasting hardware and a video camera. Apart from the basics, it’s all pushed back into the site, to make it better and to make our roles a little more fun.And so, tonight, is the Games Media Awards. We’ve been nominated for ‘Best Site’ which, thank you, was voted for by the general public (or at least those out there with more than a passing interest for gaming). Being nominated was lovely, it made us smile.
But we’re up against some stiff competition: CVG (with their “ballsy, uncompromising personality”); Eurogamer (the “largest independent games website in the UK”); GameSpot (“a market leader in its field with 4.6 million unique users in the UK”); IGN (with “the largest audience of gamers in the UK”) and VideoGamer.com, God is a Geek and Gaming Union.
We don’t get traffic like the big guys – but we do get more a day than the ABC figures of some gaming mags would suggest they do in a month. That’s not our only target, though, it’s recognition, acceptance into a frustratingly close-knit industry and to, just now and again, hear some nice things said about us and the work we do.
We won’t win, that’s for sure, but we won’t give up trying.
R4U Eldave0
TSA: My absolute favourite place to complain about games! ;)
In all seriousness I’ve been following this site for the last 3 years and its gone from strength to strength every week thanks to the hard work you guys put in. Stick at it and I’m sure you will get the recognition you deserve later down the line
MayContainEvil
My fingers are crossed for you guys, this is the best site out there you really do deserve to win.
If IGN wins I may have to ragequit this reality and fashion a new one of my own.
lewis815
Good luck TSA – This site is the only site I go on for gaming news, and although I’m not always very active I love the community here.
MICKY17
I love all the work you guys put into TSA, from excellent competitions to fair unbiased reviews, and that it’s possible to have a sensible discussion with like minded gamers without turning into a huge fanboy war. Keep it up and hope you win tonight.
Peco
TSA has the best written articles, features and reviews of any gaming site I’ve ever been on, and as everyone has previously noted, the community here is second to none. Oh and it looks great too!
Crazy_Del
TSA where would I be without you….
Best community there is full stop
Also great articles fun to read, I have read, laughed, shed a tear, on all articles covered by TSA and the community round up!
And remember I said it before being nominted is such a prestigious award, but you deserve more.
KAMIKAZE-UK
I get linked to other gaming sites but The Sixth Axis is the only one I choose to visit multiple times a day.
Bring it home TSA ;-)
OllyBobs
I would love TSA to win!
djhsecondnature
Good luck guys :-)
sideshow
T-S-A! T-S-A! T-S-A!