Braid
The Writers Guild of America Videogame Writing Award nominations have been hobbled by politics, according to some.
A number of games were notably absent from the list of nominations, including the likes of GTA IV. The companies behind that, Dead Space, Call of Duty: World at War, Mirror’s Edge, Far Cry 2, Lost: Via Domus and No More Heroes have all confirmed that they did not even submit their games for consideration and that they did not have their writers join the guild - two conditions for eligibility.
Similarly, games such as Left 4 Dead were ineligible because they don't have a specifically-credited writer.
Some have suggested that this is because games publishers are anti-union and do not want to see their members organised. Variety claims that unnamed 'industry insiders' have told it as much.
Fees would certainly be an issue for publishers. An average game writer reportedly draws in around $50,000 (£35,884) for a project, while top screen writers for film can command fees of millions of dollars. The people paying game makers' salaries are unlikely to want writers who see themselves as contemporaries of those kinds of big earners.
While this may be the case, however, The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists states that "the major videogame producers" have agreed to extend their agreement to certain rates and conditions for another year. While specific companies were not named in that announcement, it certainly doesn't paint games companies as entirely anti-union.
Jonathan Blow, the creator of best-selling Xbox Live Arcade title, Braid, gives another reason for games to not be submitted. "The problem is that it’s not really an award ceremony. It’s a membership drive masquerading as an award ceremony", says Blow on his blog. Applicants must pay $75 for membership.
He further points out that joining as a games writer will not even get full membership. Rather, it gets the applicant caucus membership. "Video Game Writers Caucus membership does not provide the right to vote in WGAW elections, to run for office or to attend WGAW membership meetings for the Writer’s Guild of America, West Inc", the application states.
It is worth noting that animation independent film and non-fiction writers also do not get the above rights.
To get full credits, Blow notes, the writer must, "accrue a bunch of points by doing radio, TV and movie stuff. In other words, there is no path available to him for actual guild membership." Full members must also pay $2,500 to join.
Blow basically indicates that the award is an attempt to gather up second class members for the WGA. Maybe, with members like Micah Wright who say pompous things like "A film writer is like a composer. The director can improvise on the work, but in general, you can't change Tchaikovsky without it sounding like something else", games writers won't be too bothered about membership...
For the record, the five titles that did get nominated are Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3, Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble, Fallout 3, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and Tomb Raider: Underworld.
A number of games were notably absent from the list of nominations, including the likes of GTA IV. The companies behind that, Dead Space, Call of Duty: World at War, Mirror’s Edge, Far Cry 2, Lost: Via Domus and No More Heroes have all confirmed that they did not even submit their games for consideration and that they did not have their writers join the guild - two conditions for eligibility.
Similarly, games such as Left 4 Dead were ineligible because they don't have a specifically-credited writer.
Some have suggested that this is because games publishers are anti-union and do not want to see their members organised. Variety claims that unnamed 'industry insiders' have told it as much.
Fees would certainly be an issue for publishers. An average game writer reportedly draws in around $50,000 (£35,884) for a project, while top screen writers for film can command fees of millions of dollars. The people paying game makers' salaries are unlikely to want writers who see themselves as contemporaries of those kinds of big earners.
While this may be the case, however, The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists states that "the major videogame producers" have agreed to extend their agreement to certain rates and conditions for another year. While specific companies were not named in that announcement, it certainly doesn't paint games companies as entirely anti-union.
Jonathan Blow, the creator of best-selling Xbox Live Arcade title, Braid, gives another reason for games to not be submitted. "The problem is that it’s not really an award ceremony. It’s a membership drive masquerading as an award ceremony", says Blow on his blog. Applicants must pay $75 for membership.
He further points out that joining as a games writer will not even get full membership. Rather, it gets the applicant caucus membership. "Video Game Writers Caucus membership does not provide the right to vote in WGAW elections, to run for office or to attend WGAW membership meetings for the Writer’s Guild of America, West Inc", the application states.
It is worth noting that animation independent film and non-fiction writers also do not get the above rights.
To get full credits, Blow notes, the writer must, "accrue a bunch of points by doing radio, TV and movie stuff. In other words, there is no path available to him for actual guild membership." Full members must also pay $2,500 to join.
Blow basically indicates that the award is an attempt to gather up second class members for the WGA. Maybe, with members like Micah Wright who say pompous things like "A film writer is like a composer. The director can improvise on the work, but in general, you can't change Tchaikovsky without it sounding like something else", games writers won't be too bothered about membership...
For the record, the five titles that did get nominated are Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3, Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble, Fallout 3, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and Tomb Raider: Underworld.
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Comments
Joji 26 Jan 2009 17:35
1/3
This doesn't sound like something worth joining. Its sounds like a masked organisation, that only benefits those with the most money, with a very weird join us or your are evil attitude.
Interesting they chose Braid, but I'd like to know who voted. If its not a public/consumer vote then its note worth listening to much.
Interesting they chose Braid, but I'd like to know who voted. If its not a public/consumer vote then its note worth listening to much.
TimSpong 26 Jan 2009 17:55
2/3
Joji wrote:
Interesting they chose Braid, but I'd like to know who voted. If its not a public/consumer vote then its note worth listening to much.
Wha? No, actually, I won't disagree: Creative writing should be indeed be voted on by the public/consumer. Firstly, because awards for creativity are counter to creativity. Secondly, because Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code exists and, like government, the public gets exactly what it deserves.
Doorman! Call me a handsome cab and take me immediately to the Club Du Les Snobbes H'Interlectuelle, my copy of Projet pour une révolution à New-York is going cold!
Ta ta
Tim
SPInGSPOnG 27 Jan 2009 11:28
3/3
Secondly, because Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code exists and, like government, the public gets exactly what it deserves.
So... you're saying that because Dan Brown's DaVinci Code exists, government (and the public) gets what it deserves?