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Chronicles

Spike TV VGA has 4 chronicles

  1. Spike TV VGA VGA Experience: Cy4n

    Player Chronicle -- Posted on Dec 19 2008

    So me and my buddy Slim drove down from NorCal, San Francisco area to LA for the VGAs... roughly five or six hours each way. But the event itself really was worth it.

    We were pretty early in the line to get in, which is good since we were the first of the audience members to show up. I spent some of the time chatting with members of the media from various other sites, though no individuals I'd heard of (Geoff Keighly did some stuff at the show, and we were asked a few times if we were there to pick stuff up for him... should've probably said "yes," though we might've gotten in serious trouble 500 miles from home...). Most of our time was spent waiting, first near the entrance, then in the line, then waiting in what I call the "holding cell" of a studio adjacent to the one the awards were held in... then, into the main area!

    One thing I've learned about studios for TV (after one other televised experience) is that they're typically MUCH smaller than you might expect watching it on a screen. The main section was fairly tiny; three spots for performances and presentations. Watching the equipment being set up so quickly was like a tiny hurricane rushing to pull microphones and drums and electric guitars and stuff.

    As for the actual awards, a lot of the games nominated were to be expected: Grand Theft Auto IV, Little Big Planet, Gears of War 2, Metal Gear Solid 4, Fallout 3... I was looking for a real surprise this year, like Persona showing up somewhere. But having World of Goo, something I'd only heard of in passing, nominated and winning for best downloaded game (best indie game? Someone please correct me, I'm tired still!) was a pleasant surprise. Too many times these are basically put up to a vote by people you know are voting for the game that's just made the most money instead of necessarily the game they honestly had the most enjoyment from. But it might just be me... they're doing something right, since I don't have a game winning Game of the Year.

    The performances were a blast though. LL Cool J performed during the showing of the upcoming UFC 2009 title, which kicked ass since he's always an entertaining guy. 50 Cent was promoting, though quietly, his upcoming title "50 Cent: Blood in the Sand," during his session with a mike which went over really well. The surprising disappointment was Weezer; they just weren't very entertaining, and I can't pinpoint just why. Maybe they were just having an off night, or phoned it in, I have no idea.

    What I thoroughly enjoyed, even though they were just teasers, were the "World Premier" videos. And my favorite? DANTE'S INFERNO. Mostly because the rest I could see coming... c'mon, a "World Premier" of new Gears maps? I'm sorry, DLC doesn't really count. But Dante's was something I have no idea about, and it could turn out just about any way, and have anything done with it. Is it an RPG? An action title? Are you Dante, Virgil, someone sent down to each level for some level of "cleansing" or... what? I have no idea, but from the teaser it looks like something I'd like to see more of... and it got me to actually - FINALLY - pick up a copy of Dante's Inferno. ^_^

    To be honest the bulk of it was all kind of a blur, it just sort of went through some paces, some performances, a lot of presenters (Neil Patrick Harris!? If he wasn't as badass as he is I might've been more confused and/or offended), at lot of BAD presenters (WTF was Kim Kardashian doing there?), but Jack Black... entertaining fella, that one. Except during that Brutal Legend intro... especially since that game was supposed to come out something like two years ago. >_<

    Hope it was entertaining to watch for you that caught it on the tube, next year if you can, try to head out and check out a live performance! Smile



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Chronicle Comments

Spike TV VGA has 2 comment s on this chronicle.

  1. BEN BEN
    Posted On Jan 03 2009

    Indeed, it took me forever to read this, but I'm also glad you had a great time!

    Thanks for representing this video game community at Spike TV's 2008 Video Game Awards!

    Maybe next year I can join you Very Happy

  2. Silent Bob Silent Bob
    Posted On Dec 19 2008

    Thanks for the update. It sounds like you really enjoyed the event, despite a few hitches. You certainly had a better time than the two ladies from GameGirl.com who got the runaround and made their night miserable.

    Were you seated close enough we could catch a glimpse when they repeat this broadcast?