UK Dev Calls for Major Rethink of BAFTAs
Ste Pickford on why the BAFTAs must change to encourage UK game innovation
While the games industry lauds itself while rolling about in a mass debate about 'Games as Art' one very successful independent developer, is starting to see the Emperor's new clothes. Ste Pickford, one of the two Pickford Brothers responsible for the excellent Magentic Billiards speaks out in an upcoming interview.
Taking BAFTA's TV and movie heritage, Ste points out that, "Big budget, top grossing action movies tend to win technical awards (best sound design, best special effects, etc.), but the prestigious 'best director' or 'best actor' gong winners tend to come from films aimed at more niche audiences, recognising that the kind of compromises needed to make a massive commercial hit often mean playing it safe in terms of performances, direction, script writing, etc. Making money and pursuing excellence rarely go hand in hand in the film world.
"A smart, low key movie like The King's Speech is always more likely to get the plum acting and directing awards, whereas a big, daft, flashy movie like Transformers 3 might pick up some technical awards."
"In video game awards, the equivalents to Transformers 3 win everything."
It's not that we don't have video game equivalents to The King's Speech. Just like in movies some of the most interesting work is done in small, niche, low budget titles, but these rarely get a look in at the video game BAFTAs."
The full - and very frank - opinion piece is available right here and now.
Taking BAFTA's TV and movie heritage, Ste points out that, "Big budget, top grossing action movies tend to win technical awards (best sound design, best special effects, etc.), but the prestigious 'best director' or 'best actor' gong winners tend to come from films aimed at more niche audiences, recognising that the kind of compromises needed to make a massive commercial hit often mean playing it safe in terms of performances, direction, script writing, etc. Making money and pursuing excellence rarely go hand in hand in the film world.
"A smart, low key movie like The King's Speech is always more likely to get the plum acting and directing awards, whereas a big, daft, flashy movie like Transformers 3 might pick up some technical awards."
"In video game awards, the equivalents to Transformers 3 win everything."
It's not that we don't have video game equivalents to The King's Speech. Just like in movies some of the most interesting work is done in small, niche, low budget titles, but these rarely get a look in at the video game BAFTAs."
The full - and very frank - opinion piece is available right here and now.
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Ste Pickford
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