Monte on Origins awards and ENnies

[Rasyr]

And what do you mean that "the ENnies serve the segment of the industry I'm interested in just fine." Are you saying that you only care about the small segment of consumers that frequent EnWorld?

Most likely he is referring to the "RPG" segment, not just EN World. There is no doubt that the ENnies ARE the premiere RPG awards. However, the gaming industry is made up of more than just RPGs. It includes miniatures, gaming fiction, PBEM games, historical games, board games, and much much more.

Personally, I think that the OAs (covering the entire industry) and the ENnies (premiere RPG Awards) compliment each other very well.

As to the vote-rigging he mentioned, in the past there have been accusations that the voting has been rigged, through campaigns by companies to get their fans to do block voting and such, and other methods. However, the Academy has taken steps to reduce this factor. First of all, it has instituted a multi-level voting system. With the Gamer's Choice awards mirroring the system that the ENnies uses, and the Peer Awards doing the same thing (though on a smaller scale).

Yes, this year's ceremony was a disgrace and a shambles, but as I pointed out, that train-wreck had nothing to do with the actual awards processes themselves, and was a last minute decision by GAMA - one that the Academy is working towards preventing from ever happening again.

 

[MulhorandSage]

#2: Can't really comment on the vote-rigging, etc. It hasn't been mentioned in this thread and I don't follow industry gossip enough to know. I do know that a LOT of people/companies seem to be upset with the awards, which indicates that there are serious problems. Which means that serious changes need to be made to fix them. But if everyone takes the attitude of, "prove to me they're worth saving", then there are going to be a lot of people sitting around watching and not too many people helping to turn the awards into something good.

They've had the appearance of being broken for *many* years. While I think they're salvageable, I certainly can't blame anyone who's thrown their hands up in the air, especially since the awards seem to be at the heart of a lot of the pettiest GAMA politics of the last few years.

 

[Psion]

And what do you mean that "the ENnies serve the segment of the industry I'm interested in just fine." Are you saying that you only care about the small segment of consumers that frequent EnWorld?

The Origins cover all gaming.

The ENnies are just about roleplaying.

Some have expressed concerns that the fact that ENworld is principally a D&D/d20 site somehow taints them, but the more non-D&D/d20 companies that participate, the more legitimate we become in the larger pool of games. And I am really elated with the increasing participation from well respected non-d20 game companies such as Hero and Guardians of Order (among others.)

 

[DaveMage]

Some have expressed concerns that the fact that ENworld is principally a D&D/d20 site somehow taints them, but the more non-D&D/d20 companies that participate, the more legitimate we become in the larger pool of games. And I am really elated with the increasing participation from well respected non-d20 game companies such as Hero and Guardians of Order (among others.)

I've yammered on enough in other threads why I think the ENnies should only be d20/D&D awards so I'll not do it again here. However, it would be interesting to know how many of the voters of the ENNies are like me and have no interest in other systems. I'm not going to start a poll since I know that it would be unscientific and the results wouldn't matter, but I am curious.

On the other hand, if the ENnies *are* going to be for all RPGs, then I'd suggest changing the name of the place to Morrus' D&D/d20 and other RPG News & Reviews Site.

Of course, then we have to unleash our secret plan to conquer GamingReport....

 

[Rasyr]

They've had the appearance of being broken for *many* years. While I think they're salvageable, I certainly can't blame anyone who's thrown their hands up in the air, especially since the awards seem to be at the heart of a lot of the pettiest GAMA politics of the last few years.

Make no mistake, it will take at least 5 years, and possibly up to 10 years to make the OAs fully respected again. It is a long term goal, no mistake about that.

Yes, the group that got elected as the GAMA Board last year made a major issue out of it. One of those elected (who later resigned due to the scandal cause by his penetrating the Board email list and reading their emails for at least 6 months prior to his election) even wanted to make one of the criteria for being nominated for an OA be the number of units sold, and also wanted (IIRC) 2 of the nominations to NOT be selected by any sort of jury, but solely on the criteria. This would have severely biased the OAs towards larger companies, and I am glad that it never got adopted.

Psion - I think that I may have been one of those who expressed concern over the possibility that since EN World is dedicated to d20, that there may be some unintended bias in the system. However, I did have some things about the future direction of the ENnies explained to me by a few people, and they were explained very well, so that any reservations that I may have had were taken care of. In any case, even with those concerns, I would have still supported the ENnies (as I did this year and last), and I (and ICE) will continue to do so in the future. This is because I do believe that the ENnies serve as an excellent Award for RPGs.

 

[fusangite]

Michael, you might see if there is already some pre-written open source code for running AV. A bunch of your work may already have been done for you. I would check out the UK electoral reform society. I know they have STV software so they may have AV/IRV software.

 

[Psion]

I'm not going to start a poll since

Since there is already one up?

I know that it would be unscientific and the results wouldn't matter, but I am curious.

A poll on ENworld might have a weak correlation with the opinions of the gaming populace at large... but a poll about the interests of ENworlders on ENworld (presuming the poll is properly structured) would have a pretty strong statistical significance since you are directly polling the body of concern.

 

[Psion]

Psion - I think that I may have been one of those who expressed concern over the possibility that since EN World is dedicated to d20, that there may be some unintended bias in the system. However, I did have some things about the future direction of the ENnies explained to me by a few people, and they were explained very well, so that any reservations that I may have had were taken care of. In any case, even with those concerns, I would have still supported the ENnies (as I did this year and last), and I (and ICE) will continue to do so in the future. This is because I do believe that the ENnies serve as an excellent Award for RPGs.

I think other things can be done and are being considered.

But Rome wasn't built in the day. Especially not on our budget.

And we thank you for your participation. Like I said, if it wasn't for the publishers beleiving in the ENnies, it wouldn't have the legitimacy it has.

 

[Michael Morris]

Michael, you might see if there is already some pre-written open source code for running AV. A bunch of your work may already have been done for you. I would check out the UK electoral reform society. I know they have STV software so they may have AV/IRV software.

Too late, I already got it (finally)

 

[francisca]

That magic item is sooo appearing in my next game.

Cool! Don't forget the Counch of Sleeping, and the "D&D 30th Anniversary Bag of Blindness". (Last game session, two of my players were blinded, so I put the bags I grabbed at GenCon last year over there heads.)