PREVIEW: GOLDEN JOYSTICK AWARDS
EVENT GUIDE TIMETABLE
11.15am - Champagne reception 12.00pm - Call for lunch 12.30pm - Four-course lunch 2.00pm - Award ceremony 4.00pm - Aftershow party 11.00pm - Ends
VENUE Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7UT Tel: 0844 415 6790
WHEN Friday, October 29th, 2010
HOST
Now celebrating its 28th year, the Golden Joystick Awards has etched itself into video gaming folklore. Kristan Reed asks just why this celebrated event is so important to the industry
LET’S FACE IT – the games industry likes nothing better than a gigantic piss-up at someone else’s expense, and the annual Golden Joystick Awards has become a key industry knees-up offering just that. Any event that kicks off by thrusting glasses of champers into the hands of attendees at 11.15am is clearly making a statement of intent – the noble goal of making sure that most people are already well lubricated before they’ve even taken their seats. Anyone who adheres to the general rule of no drinks before noon is, quite literally, fucked. Whatever you make of the winners and losers, it’s a cracking day out, akin to rounding up half of the UK games industry in one room, getting everyone sozzled, feeding them until they pop, and then plying the assembled with some of the finest comedy on the circuit. It’s a winning formula. As ITN’sNathaniel Lippiett notes: ‘’Imagine if the Oscars suddenly realised games were better than films, then let their hair down and got a sense of humour. That’s the Golden Joystick Awards – glitz, glamour, games and plenty of good gags.’’
ROUND ONE, FIGHT This year, there are 16 categories, and the whole rundown has been given a much-needed kick up the arse. Gone are the rather pointless categories, such as PC Game of the Year, Nintendo Game of the Year and so on, and in comes a much
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broader yet focused set of nominations, including Racing Game of the Year. Music, Action, Puzzle, Shooter, Sports, Strategy, RPG and Fighting games now get their own distinct categories, too.
And reflecting the growth in the digital download sector, handheld and downloadable games also get to have their day in the sun, meaning indie sensations like Plants Vs Zombies, Trials HDand ‘Splosion Mancan finally rub shoulders with the Call of Dutiesand Assassin’s Creedsof the world. What the host will think of it – 56-year-old Rich Hall – should be amusing to witness.
VOTE FOR CHANGE
As before, the entire event is exclusively voted on by members of the public from over 30 countries. Last year 1.2m votes were cast, making it officially the biggest video game awards in the world. Far from being a horribly corporate exercise, the Golden Joysticks really is the people’s awards – even if us lot in the industry are the ones benefitting from the flow of booze. Raise a glass to the public, if you end up going. Without them, it wouldn’t happen. And if you’re still able to raise a glass come 4pm, there’s always the aftershow. This year’s promises to be absolutely epic, with three top- class DJs taking the decks, including the legendary Norman Jay MBE, Rampage, and Steve Redux. See you on the dance floor.
US comedy stalwart Rich Hall takes the podium this year. He’s a fixture on the standup circuit, as well as a regular panelist on various BBC TV shows including QI, Have I Got News For Youand Never Mind The Buzzcocks.
VOTING DEADLINE
Monday, October 25th, 2010. To make your vote count, head to
www.computerandvideogames.com /joystick/
shortlist.php
AFTERSHOW PARTY
Kicking off at 4pm, this year's party is not to be missed. Legendary British DJ Norman Jay has been confirmed as the headline act to ensure the night ends with a bang. As the only UK DJ to be awarded an MBE for services to music, expect “a trademark party set of rare edits and mixing”. In addition, Steve Redux will provide “prime wedding disco cuts amongst the usual electro, house and hip-hop,” while BBC 1Xtra's Rampagewill also be lending their talents to the night.
TICKET INFORMATION Tables of ten are £2,800 each, and these include the champagne reception, awards lunch and aftershow party. With just a few tables remaining, call Sean Igoe on 0207 042 4150 for details.
Previous Joystick hosts include (top to bottom): Chris Tarrant, Phil Jupitus, Matt Lucas, Justin Lee Collins, David Mitchell and Rich Hall
October 22nd 2010
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