Chapter 445: Game of the Year, Well Deserved!
After Chen Mo struggled for a long time and squeezed out the four words "Thank you, country," the designers in the audience barely held back their laughter.
"I'm dying of laughter. You can tell Chen Mo was totally at a loss for words!"
"He struggled for ages and came up with 'Thank you, country,' hahahaha!"
"Clearly, his ideological awareness isn't high enough. Shouldn't the country be the first one to thank? Putting it last and sounding reluctant—if this were the sports world, he'd already be ordered to write a self-criticism!"
"Exactly, they might even take the award back!"
The designers in the audience and the netizens on the live streaming platforms were all teasing him, mainly because Chen Mo had won way too many awards this year.
Many designers sitting near Chen Mo sneaked glances at his seat. On stage, Chen Mo held one trophy, while five more sat on his seat below, leaving almost no room to sit.
Fortunately, although the trophies were exquisitely made, they weren't big—about the size of a water bottle, just slightly larger. If they were as big as the championship trophy for "League of Legends," Chen Mo might have needed to call a moving company to haul them back.
Chen Mo returned to his seat, picked up all six trophies with great annoyance, and arranged them on the floor before sitting down.
After the buildup of the four major awards, the final and biggest award—Game of the Year—was about to be announced.
Everyone was watching the stage, eagerly anticipating which game would take the prize.
The host stepped onto the stage.
"This year has been a bountiful harvest for the domestic gaming industry. From the previous awards, we've seen this year's outstanding games, truly a dazzling array of brilliance and a hundred flowers blooming."
"So, who will take home this year's Game of the Year? Please look at the big screen. Next are the nominated candidates for this year's Game of the Year."
The big screen began playing highlight reels of the nominated games.
Against a backdrop where the celestial realm, demon realm, and human realm coexisted, countless cultivators were flying on swords, streaking across the sky in unison. In the dark and chaotic demon realm, immortals with flowing robes wielded flying swords to slay demons and vanquish evil.
...
Under the night-shrouded Chang'an city, an assassin in a black night suit was swiftly traversing the roof tiles. A Tang sword was strapped to his back, and hidden weapons in hand, he hung upside down from a beam, observing his prey.
...
Pharah swooped out from the clouds, heading to a distant battlefield; Mercy reached out to a child collapsed in the ruins; Reinhardt raised his shield to block a thrown Molotov cocktail...
Each time a highlight clip played, the big screen displayed the game's name, and the venue echoed with its background music.
Although two other games were nominated, everyone knew they were just fillers, lacking real competitiveness. The true Game of the Year would be decided among these three games.
"Grand Tang."
"Three Realms."
"Overwatch."
On various live streaming platforms, countless bullet comments flooded the screens.
Many players had followed the awards ceremony in previous years but never had the chance to witness it live. This year was the first live broadcast, and many were speculating about which game would win the grand prize.
"Grand Tang! It has to be Grand Tang!"
"Three Realms is good too. Why not Three Realms?"
"Online games are trash, get lost! This is an awards ceremony! Clearly, Grand Tang beats your Three Realms in storytelling, artistry, and gameplay."
"Stop arguing, you two. In my opinion, this award belongs to Overwatch!"
"Impossible! It would be a crime against heaven if Grand Tang doesn't win!"
The applause gradually subsided as Zhang Zhongxiang, the chairman of the Game Committee, stepped onto the stage. In his left hand, he held the Game of the Year trophy, and in his right, he opened the list of winners.
"I announce that this year's Game of the Year goes to—"
He paused, then looked at the designers in the audience: "Overwatch, designed by Chen Mo!"
The venue instantly erupted in thunderous applause and cheers!
Amid Overwatch's most iconic background music, Chen Mo stood up and walked to the stage once more.
"Knew it! Overwatch!"
"Too bad, it wasn't Grand Tang?"
"Grand Tang's quality would have been competitive for Game of the Year in any other year! This year, it missed out on both the biggest awards: Best VR Game and Game of the Year?"
"Ah, no way around it. Strictly speaking, Grand Tang isn't flawless; it has imperfections. Giving this award to Overwatch was within expectations."
"Just a real shame that Grand Tang and Overwatch ended up in the same year."
"Chen Mo really swept everything this year. He's winning awards left and right!"
The designers in the audience clapped and chatted among themselves.
For most of the designers present, Overwatch winning Game of the Year wasn't unacceptable; it was within expectations. Although there was some suspense between Grand Tang and Overwatch, in the eyes of these professional designers, Overwatch clearly edged ahead in various aspects.
Chen Mo reached the stage, took the trophy from Zhang Zhongxiang, and stepped up to the microphone.
"Thank you, everyone. Once again, thank you to every player who loves Overwatch."
"To quote a line from Overwatch: 'The world could always use more heroes,' and 'This world is worth fighting for!'"
"This is also the philosophy I hope to convey to everyone through Overwatch: perhaps this world isn't perfect, but we should all strive to make it better. Each of us can be a hero in this world."
"As for Game of the Year, everyone may have different opinions. I've always believed that the best games exist in everyone's hearts. As long as a game is made with care by its designer, it's a good game."
"Overwatch is my first work to win Game of the Year, but it certainly won't be the last. In the future, all the R&D staff at Thunderbolt Entertainment will create more and better games to bring to everyone! Thank you!"
The venue once again erupted in thunderous applause and cheers that lasted endlessly!
Chen Mo's acceptance speech was truly well said, practically flawless. Overwatch indeed conveyed such a philosophy: peaceful coexistence among countries and regions worldwide. Though the world isn't perfect and heroes face countless misunderstandings, everyone who strives to make the world better is a true hero.
Moreover, regarding the controversy over Game of the Year, Chen Mo gave his own answer: the best games exist in everyone's hearts. As long as a game is made with care by its designer, it's a good game!
Genius remembers this site's address in one second: