Game BAFTAs skipping '08

Prestigious awards ceremony not taking place this year, committee member confirms "bigger and better ceremony" coming in March 2009.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts handed out its first video game awards during its regular March ceremony in 1998. In 2006 and 2007, the game BAFTAs were held in October instead, so as to coincide with the London Games Festival. This year, though, there won't be a 10th anniversary party--in fact, there isn't going to be a 2008 ceremony at all.

GameSpot UK has confirmed that the next BAFTA game awards will be held on March 10, 2009, instead of during this year's LGF in October, as had been widely expected. Tim Wapshott, journalist with The Times newspaper and a member of the BAFTA video games committee, told GSUK, "The awards are indeed going back to the early part of next year for a number of valid reasons, one of them being to improve the judging process to make sure these are the best and most democratic recognising the UK games industry."

He continued, "One spurious story [in the UK trade press], widely considered to merely be a rather tiresome windup, suggested that the awards 'may' happen next year. There's no doubt about it--they will happen next year. 'They'll be back,' as Arnie [Schwarzenegger] might say! Not only that, they'll be bigger and better than ever."

One likely reason for the move is that the new date will allow the full range of games released throughout 2008 to be judged. Controversy erupted in 2007 when only games received by BAFTA in a complete form by September 6 of that year were eligible, thus eliminating from the running such games as Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3.

Last year, the BAFTAs were held on October 23 at Battersea Evolution in London. Nintendo's Wii Sports won numerous awards, BioShock took Best Game, and God of War II and Crackdown nabbed two gongs each.

30 Comments

  • jets78

    Posted Oct 2, 2008 8:22 pm GMT

    this game blows big time waist of time and money not a true 360 game no wonder it was exclusive it was exclusive garbage

  • gbrading Site moderator

    Posted Apr 20, 2008 4:17 pm GMT

    Seems logical if they want to include all games released in that year. A shame that they won't be celebrating their 10th anniversary though.

  • Buttonio

    Posted Apr 20, 2008 1:34 pm GMT

    I enjoyed Wii Sports but it wasn't actually innovative in the least, it's the console that would deserve the award. Rather than being one of the best Mini game compilations it was merely the first and was free.

  • Irve

    Posted Apr 20, 2008 4:05 am GMT

    Hmmm , it's not like i had it pinned to my social calendar .. if ... IF it does come back i think they will need to think long and hard over how it's made as to me it was a bit of a joke.

  • yetiboy15

    Posted Apr 19, 2008 5:08 am GMT

    i hope its better next year cause last year the presenters were just patronising. every 5 mins just calling developers nerds. also the wii kept winning everything for games that didnt deserve it.

  • 8434

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 11:20 am GMT

    Well that way i suppose they have a wider range of games for awards

  • digi_matrix

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 10:22 am GMT

    Well, that's not so bad. I thought they were skipping the whole year, but they're just delaying it so they can review every game in 2008, from January to DECEMBER, instead of just to September. Good move, BAFTA!

  • Nomad0404

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 5:44 am GMT

    So is this going to be March '09 they give out Baftas for the games released in 2008.

    Phil

  • Avenger1324

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 2:50 am GMT

    How can you just skip a whole year?

    That means games like COD4, GTAIV, Halo 3, Assassin's Creed, SSBB will be skipped by BAFTA, despite being some of the best selling games ever.

    When you consider the predictions for GTAIV that it will outsell the biggest blockbuster films like Pirates of the Carribean At Worlds End ($404m opening week), the announcement there will be no BAFTA's is very strange.

  • deadlynatas

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 5:56 pm GMT

    cool i guess bring on better games.

  • wiifan001

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 3:46 pm GMT

    Super Smash Bros Brawl vs. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots vs. Grand Theft Auto 4 vs. Gears of War 2. And the winner is... [This part of the message has been delayed TBA].

  • okassar

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 3:08 pm GMT

    Yep,they definitely are waiting for the next bunch of good games to roll in.I bet Gears of War 2 is going to be up there in the next BAFTA,that's far off though.And ya,you better bet MGS4 could be the best.GTAIV?Maybe,it will surely be up there,but I don't think it'll be the best,partly because FPS always take the top spot(at least recently).That is,even though GTA IV is going to be one of the best frikkin' games ever...And ya,Ninja Gaiden 2 and Fable 2 are sure to own,no doubt.I cannot wait for all these games,it's like Fall '07 all over again,except over a longer span of time...and hopefully less disappointments.Never mind, we had Assassin's Creed,Mass Effect,Halo 3,Bioshock,and...hellz yes,COD4.I was hoping UTIII would be good though,and same with Ratchet and Clank,both made me mad.There was more disappointments than that but I don't feel like remember.i really don't want to be disappointed this time because I'm bringing out the cash,all the new games I'm getting.

  • Hoski0999

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:57 pm GMT

    Hey hardcore, don't diss something you don't know about, you make yourself look foolish.

  • frog154

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:14 pm GMT

    "They'll be back,' as Arnie [Schwarzenegger] might say!" - Hipster and man of the times, Tim Wapshott

  • danthegamer32

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:10 pm GMT

    Now that can't be right, Bioshock won ONE award, but Wii Sports won several??!! I hope they get it right next time...

  • HardcoreBunni posted Apr 17, 2008 1:06 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    HardcoreBunni

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:06 pm GMT (hide)

    why do many of you say GTA IV and MGS 4 are gonna be games of the year? I mean hello! Gears of War 2 anyone?! Banjo-Kazooie 3? Ninja Gaiden 2? Fable 2? What's so special about MGS anyways...

  • angelkimne

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 12:42 pm GMT

    Well last years bafters seemed like they were chosen by casual gamers so hopefully theyll clean up there act.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 12:41 pm GMT

    Well thats to bad

  • ClassicPlayer

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 12:17 pm GMT

    I don't think it will be GTA 4 vs MGS 4, it'll probably be Prototype vs GTA 4. either way just gives the companies more time to perfect their games.

  • 0678

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 11:45 am GMT

    oh my! but that probably means that its gonna be GTA 4 vs MGS 4 next year

  • Kenji_Masamune

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 11:18 am GMT

    07 games still have a chance of getting some awards, but GTA 4 is a shoe-in for game of the year

  • ichiban30

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 10:48 am GMT

    It gives all games that came out a certain year a chance for an award. As long as they continue this trend, it makes more sense.

  • Calmed_Fury

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 10:38 am GMT

    makes sense to have the awards after the year is over

  • Proman84

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 10:27 am GMT

    Sucks for '07 games ut oh well.

  • Razac17

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 10:21 am GMT

    Why make things complicated? I just don't see what anybody has to gain out of this

  • Arnoco

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 10:17 am GMT

    Man no competion for GTA4 and Gears of War2 anyways.

  • StanleyL GameSpot staff member

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 10:13 am GMT

    So Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3 will have to go up against SSBB and GTA4 for 2008 awards? That's going to be crowded.

  • Stabby

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 10:09 am GMT

    No awards for Brawl or GTA in that case.

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