2022 Game Awards Thoughts
Posted on December 9, 2022 by Aywren
This was my first year watching the Game Awards live - lured in by the chance at a free Steamdeck, I admit. The show was pretty great - I won't say anything bad about the presentation or the folks involved in the show. However, this is not a post listing the games that drew my attention.
What the show really drove home was how disconnected I feel from many of the larger games that were announced there. They all looked really cool, don't get me wrong. However, the one thought that ran through my mind often (especially for flashy action games) was - "Wow, that looks absolutely exhausting to play."
It’s just a sign that I’m getting old, I guess. There's a reason I gravitate towards quieter, smaller and more indy games now days. Action games of today are not like the action games I grew up with, for certain. Even FFXVI seems way too actiony for my tastes – I’m still not sure how I feel about the game in general yet.
This also tells me that I’m pretty comfortable playing the games I already have. There was hardly a game there that excited me or made me think – “I really need that!” There were plenty that I admired for graphics, design or ideas – just nothing that grabbed me as a MUST HAVE. I also had no connection to most of the winning games because I’ve not played any of the games nominated this year – aside from FFXIV.
I am super stoked that FFXIV won twice – considering the age of the game! – for both best community and best ongoing game winner. That was the highlight of my night. Well, that and the epic flute guy!
I didn’t actually mean to turn this into a full blown post today. I just wonder if there were other folks out there that felt similar. I’m not sad that I’m being left behind in the advancements of the gaming world, I can still enjoy the show and be happy for those who won. I’m just nowhere near as connected to the newer gaming trends as I once was.