Hello again,

I’m in but it doesn’t matter for a while because I have an announcement.

I would like to introduce a Golden Frog award for the extraordinary theme suggestions. As you know, there are many different kinds of themes: some are good, some are bad, many of them are slaughtered. I would like to present those, which excel in something, which are good but also those which are bad and deserve to die. I think that it is somehow better than presenting my pure pluses/minuses. Also I’m glad that suggestions were made anonymously so I don’t need to fund the gold (I’ll keep them for myself, thank you, sponsors).

May the ceremony begin.

Most surprising (but also important) award goes to “You are the Companion”.

Almost every game teaches us that we either are in the centre of attention or we simply doing something bad. But there are often a lot of back-story characters who are willing to help. Do you ever think about how they feel when you take the whole pride from victory or shout at their “stupid” AI. The companion’s rights is an open topic and I’m glad that we matured to start talking about it.

Most thought-provoking award goes to “Backwards”.

Think for a minute about a FPS, RTS, RPG or even a platform game played backwards and you have tons of fresh game ideas. This theme is packed with unexploited content. The only reason I won’t vote for that theme is because I won’t be able to play those game for whole 3 weeks

Most difficult award goes to “You play both sides”.

I like that one. It’s extremely challenging. In fact I think that deploying a game which are fun even if you play both (for me it means all of) sides in 2 days is almost impossible. For instance, think about chess where you have to play black and white at once: booooring. Or 1P Quake Arena: boooring. A small game modification is needed. It is easier to modify a coop game, but, as long as I am concerned, I would go for powerful hardcore, for creating a real competitive game where you are your own true opponent!

Most annoying award goes to “Parallel worlds”.

Each time I was like “Oooh, it sure can win”. But this time I vote against. Why? Dunno, maybe because I prefer fresh ideas

Great but I saw it before award goes to “Colours”.

In general, “Colours” is a decent theme. It is wide, deep, interesting and all. The thing is: it is being exploited with literally every LD. I remember LD about evolution: every fifth entry was about colours/colouring; LD about villains: you are bad, you are white-and-black, hero is colourful – that scheme I saw also few times; LD about minimalism: well, you know

NO award goes to “Hacking”.

For me this one isn’t even a theme. It should be slaughtered, and not once but Sean-Bean-kind-of-slaughter times. Hacking in movies and games are overrated, we are totally fed up with it and, essentially, no matter how hard you try, your game  cannot be more thematic than “Hacker Evolution” or “Uplink”.

I don’t want to even write about it award goes to “Glitch”.

Runner-up awards goes to “10 seconds”, “Hunted”, “Contrast”, “Time”.

They are suggestions which almost won Golden Frog 2013 Grand-Prix. I will be glad if any of them is chosen.

And, ladies and gentlemen, it is the time to announce the big winner of our first annual Golden Frog Grand-Prix winner.

The editor’s choice award goes to “Space”.

I would ask the author to make a speech but since he is anonymous I will write just few words:

The first thing in my mind when I saw “Space” was a game from “The Next Game Boss” show where you had to punch people to make you some space in the crowd. I did some research and it was called “Cheap shot”. Space may also mean the space where we live or, according to “The Longest Journey” serie, space beyond that one where we live. They can interact with each other etc. Also “The Settlers” and “Liquid War” are good exemplars of game where space is of prime importance. This theme is still fresh, open, wide and fun. The one and only ultimate Golden Frog 2013 winner.

From this place I would like to congratulate all the winners and participants of Golden Frogs 2013 awards. See you all next year.