2023 Easy Allies Awards Deliberations
Added 2024-01-24 20:55:37 +0000 UTC2023 was an absolute bonkers year for games, and this year we're changing our approach to celebrate all the different games we played rather than focus on winners and losers, but still, there can only be one Game of the Year. (Streamed Jan 23, 2024)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7exKNdBO_E
0:00 - Intro
4:00 - Best Boss Fight
33:36 - Best Multiplayer
50:31 - Best Seven
1:15:09 - Best Remaster / Remake
1:33:47 - Best Additional Content
1:52:51 - Best Game to Play in One Night
2:05:54 - Best Character
2:22:41 - Best Narrative
2:46:32 - Damiani's Goof Troop
2:49:57 - Huber's Best Weapon
3:02:02 - Best Music
3:21:02 - Appreciated From Afar
3:33:34 - Game of the Year
Comments
I think Huber, Isla and Damiani heard more from Don about the game beforehand and weren't convinced it was actually good. Still though, it would be nice to have a few minutes of Don gushing about Avatar. They were too quick to cut him off when he really did seem to enjoy it.
Zorgla
2024-01-30 23:15:49 +0000 UTCReally a bummer to see how Don was treated in these discussions - noting he really cares about two games, only to be shut down without a chance to elaborate on Avatar, then minutes later to have the nominee list expanded to 12 games because the numbers are arbitrary... with how much passion he's held for that game over all recent EZA content, how can it not make the overall outlet top 10+ in a team of 6? Bump the list to 13!
Stackhouse
2024-01-29 22:42:33 +0000 UTCIs Damiani a secret excellent jokes writer? That bit was hilarious. I would love to hear more of this. Great work.
Kraid Belmont
2024-01-29 17:24:17 +0000 UTCSpoilers have always been opened up in our awards deliberations. While I do think there's a balance and potentially giving a heads up when needed, it's just a natural part of things. If you're going to really dig in to make an argument for why a certain thing is the best, your argument is likely going to include some spoilers of the best moments to make your point. That's just one of the things you need to be aware of if you want to be a fly on the wall in these conversations. As for the podcast, I don't remember that specifically, not sure when that came up. -Bloodworth
Easy Allies
2024-01-28 02:59:35 +0000 UTCReally was looking forward to this, but the "no warning" declaration from Michael "Spoilers" Damiani means it'll be the first time I don't listen. Between this and the "just don't listen" warning in this week's podcast, I've had to outright stop listening because I don't often have the ability to skip around (driving, etc). I hope this anti listener stance doesn't become the norm.
Sam Sorensen
2024-01-28 01:39:39 +0000 UTCJust finished listening to this at work today. I loved the passion and the serious consideration everyone gave to the game of the year decision and I'm very happy with the result! While listening tho, I couldn't help but think about something that might make the dilliberations a bit less of a heart rending decision. As someone who listens to a few goty shows every year, I tend not to think of each outlet's goty being them declaring what they believe is the world's game of the year should be, but rather, what was the game that defined the year for that outlet specifically. I think it makes a lot of sense to believe BG3 deserves the highest honors of the year for it's towering achievements but I think it's totally and completely ok for BG3 to just not happen to be EZA's bag on the whole, and I think it's completely ok for that to factor into the decision. I know Isla and others were strong proponents for it and I think she articulated what makes it special excellently. But from what I was hearing it just didn't *speak* to many of you in that way. Where as, from what was said in the room and just looking back at the year, RE4 was a *moment* for EZA and your community. It may feel like it won because you took an average and it happened to be in the top 5 of everyone's list, but I think what that really means is Easy Allies happens to be compromised of people that strongly resonate with what RE4 is offering. It just sings over here! Though you may agonize about BG3 or Tears potentially /objectively/ deserving it more, I think you should feel no obligation to be objective for gotys. Other places will sing the praises of those games but The Easy Allies' game of the year is clearly Resistant Evil 4. It was significant for you and a special moment for us watching your content to see the EZA channel cover it because we know EZA is made up of people who resonate with that kind of game extremely strongly. And ofcourse, cast aside any ickyness about it being a remake or not breaking new gaming ground. The EZA Goty shouldn't be a gaming Nobel Prize, it should simply be what was the outlet's favorite game this year, and it so obviously was Resident Evil! Sorry that was so long. I got very invested in your discussion as it went! Excellent show, excellent year, can't wait to see what happens in 2024. Love and, indeed, respect.
Colin Luton
2024-01-27 02:58:49 +0000 UTCyes, but since we did it live, it will take time to put together. probably early next week. -Bloodworth
Easy Allies
2024-01-25 20:32:37 +0000 UTCAre we going to get a sizzle video with all of the winners this year?
Tyler Travis
2024-01-25 19:43:54 +0000 UTC
