BAFTA explains Red Dead snub

By Johnny Minkley Published 16 March, 2011

"We don't have the right" to enter it.

It's one of the biggest nights in the gaming calendar, and BAFTA has insisted that the "quality" of the 2011 GAME British Academy Video Games Awards is not affected by Rockstar's surprise decision not to enter the phenomenally successful Red Dead Redemption.

Speaking exclusively to Eurogamer TV ahead of this evening's ceremony, BAFTA COO Kevin Price said: "We don't have the right to automatically enter a video game. We encourage the publishers and developers to enter.

"We're not happy that that game isn't in the longlist this year, but the simple answer is it wasn't entered."

And Price rejected suggestions that the game's absence damaged the credibility of the Awards, stating: "The Awards are a mechanism to draw public attention to the industry and, from BAFTA's point of view, the artform.

"I think one of the positive aspects of this, if there is a positive, is people are talking about it. When we make a decision on Best Game or the winner of a category, we're not saying there's only one good piece of work. It's all about getting the public thinking about what makes a good videogame."

He added: "So no, in short I don't think it affects the overall purpose and the quality of the Awards. We would rather that game was in the longlist and we'll continue to encourage Rockstar to enter in the future".

A Rockstar spokesman declined to comment on its decision when approached.

However, sources familiar with the matter have revealed that relations between the publisher and organisation cooled in the aftermath of the 2009 Awards, when Grand Theft Auto IV failed to win a single prize.

While Red Dead is not up for any of the main BAFTA gongs this year, it does feature on the shortlist for the separate public vote category, the winner of which will also be revealed tonight.

Explaining the entry process for the Awards, Price said: "If we entered everything you would end up with a huge pool of content, many of which wouldn't be in the running. So we deliberately don't go down that route - we adopt a process where you have to physically enter to be considered".

Meanwhile, Price revealed that increasing the number of video games members of the Academy was a "priority in the next five years", to bring it in line with film and TV membership in accordance with the equal weight the charity now gives to gaming as a creative form.

"Specifically [with] video games we have about 300 members," he said. "There are others from film and television that have experience in the field, but in the UK we currently have 5000 members so that gives you an indication of how far we are on the journey.

"In the next five years this is actually a priority for the Academy. We would like to get that 300 up to a much more significant number, certainly into four figures."

Held at London's Park Lane Hilton, this year's British Academy Games Awards will be streamed live via www.bafta.org.

Eurogamer TV today published a video special on the Games BAFTAs, asking how important the Awards are the industry, including exclusive interviews with BAFTA, its games committee and the recipient of this year's Academy Fellowship Peter Molyneux.

EGTV Asks: Does gaming need the BAFTAs?

Picture of Johnny.

About Johnny Minkley

Johnny Minkley is a veteran games writer and broadcaster, former editor of Eurogamer TV, VP of gaming charity SpecialEffect, and hopeless social media addict.

Read more articles from Johnny by visiting the Johnny Minkley archive page.

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Comments (28) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • streetmagix #1 1 year ago

    So it was Rockstar throwing their toys out of the pram because GTA4 didn't win any awards? Well tough, it didn't deserve any awards. It really wasn't that good.

  • FireMonkey #2 1 year ago

    Maybe Rockstar are worried they won't get anything again so aren't going to even enter?
    Bit sad really as if everyone did that then there would be no awards.

  • Bulbatron #3 1 year ago

    @streetmagix - Agreed. GTAIV was boring. Red Dead Redemption, on the other hand, was very good indeed. Shame that won't get any prizes.
    Edited by Bulbatron at 16/03/11 @ 15:01

  • markypants #4 1 year ago

    @streetmagix GTA IV "really wasn't that good"... What planet are you on? You may not particularly like the game, but to say it wasn't good is bollocks.

    Fair play in 2009 there was tough competition in the guise of COD:MW & Super Mario Galaxy... But to get beaten by Fable 2 for best Action/Adventure must have hurt.

    I don't agree with them for snubbing BAFTA as Red Dead should in all fairness of done well in some of the categories... But for GTA IV to have won nothing in 2009 BAFTA's does seem like a kick in the nuts to Rockstar.

  • Eraysor #5 1 year ago

    Arguably, by not entering, the game has received more attention than all the winners regardless. Makes sense to me.

  • TravisTouchdown #6 1 year ago

    That publishers have to submit their own titles for consideration (at a cost at that) remains the fundamental problem with this, and all awards ceremonies of its type. Won't be long - in fact when the membership reaches the numbers they're after - before you see Oscar-style lobbying directed toward the voters. What little credibility there was is lost.

  • rogermellie #7 1 year ago

    I went with Red Dead Redemption in the public vote. They should at least win something for the sound track.

  • GamesConnoisseur #8 1 year ago

    GTAIV wasnt utter shit its made out, but think people detests whats Rockstar tried yo make out as their product uber Hollywood shit when Saints Row doesnt pretends to be anything other than a game.

    Realistically gamers and developers need to accept that gameform cant easily be able to hammers in Hollywood or Arthouse storytelling into game. Saving Private Ryan bloody war film yet only handful of baddies death whereas Uncharted a genteel And fun Saturday Maintee Movie got hundreds and hundreds of death at hand of butcher Drake!!

    BUT great that BAFTA tries to showcase best examples of our hobby but some examples arent that good?!

    Rockstar do need to grow up as cant expect to wins every award, Steven Speilberg doesnt sulk and withdraw from next year nominations just cos didnt win that year.

  • X201 #9 1 year ago

    BAFTA - RDR = ((GTA IV - BAFTA) + Rockstar x (Pram - Teddy))

  • JoeGBallad #10 1 year ago

    It was Shite anyway. Who cares?

  • Trigga_Tybalt #11 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 15:43:01 23-02-2012

  • Natas_Enasni #12 1 year ago

    BAFTA: Shut up; no one cares about your award.

    Games should be judged by gamers; end of story.

  • brseg #13 1 year ago

    if BAFTA want to devalue their awards, fine I guess. RDR wouldve won plenty.
    Saying its because of rule x or y isn't relevant to me; just enter the best games, or look silly.

  • darkmorgado #14 1 year ago

    what is this? an independent film festival? i don't get why you have to pay and enter submission forms to enter for the baftas.

    You realise all awards ceremonies work this way? Especially the oscars, where the film companies bri... sorry, lobby the voting panel to try and secure the awards they want.

  • Phishfood #15 1 year ago

    lol Rockstar got butthurt because they couldn't bride their way in to the BAFTA's like they do with every other reviewer.

  • Alex_976 #16 1 year ago

    This gonna be on tv? I cba to stream it

  • charming_fox #17 1 year ago

    I'll bride you in a minute!

  • X201 #18 1 year ago

    @Alex_976

    Streamed on BAFTA and Game's websites

  • RexRunti #19 1 year ago

    Games should be judged by gamers; end of story.

    Yes that way every year we could be sure that either the latest COD, FIFA or "the bowling one on the Wii" wins. Charts are where the general public decide the most popular game/movie/CD, awards ceromonies are (ideally) where the experts offer their opinion.
    Edited by RexRunti at 16/03/11 @ 16:29

  • LetsGo #20 1 year ago

    @darkmorado but that's not the same. With the Oscars and all the other baftas you don't have to pay to get nominated. And frankly, not having red dead there is stupid.

  • andywilkie35 #21 1 year ago

    Probably wasn't entered because Rockstar were embarrassed by how boring the game was.

  • Natas_Enasni #22 1 year ago

    @RexRunti

    Well in that case, BAFTA is anything but experts on gaming, and should not be trying to "award" them anything.

  • Flabio #23 1 year ago

    @LetsGo - I'm afraid you very much definitely do have to pay to go on the longlist for the Film BAFTAs, and the Oscars etc...

    It's just that in film, the studios tend to enter everything they think will win as a matter of course. Games publishers don't at the moment.

  • LetsGo #24 1 year ago

    @Flabio nope, your wrong on this one. Bafta film has one requirement and that is that a film must have been shown in a UK Cinema for at least seven days. You submit and pay nothing.

  • Flabio #25 1 year ago

    You still need to provide the screener source, at your own cost, though don't you? It's been a while I admit...

  • Murton #26 1 year ago

    "And Price rejected suggestions that the game's absence damaged the credibility of the Awards"

    And what breed of retard exactly was suggesting that it did? I'm not going to contest that RDR wasn't good, but in each of the categories for the Gaming BAFTAs there is a better title, much like GTA4 before it, good game, great even, but it doesn't exactly excel in any single category and as a result will come out empty handed? Does that damage the credibility of the awards? Of course not, having Black Ops in Best Story or Technical Achievement however, certainly does.

  • makeamazing #27 1 year ago

    For me i find it disappointing... Gaming is still fighting this "kids/geeks" only stigma... Bafta is a well known and respected awards organisation... for Rockstar to stay away just because they might not win is pretty stupid really (if thats the reason).

  • Frandroid #28 1 year ago

    streetagix "So it was Rockstar throwing their toys out of the pram"
    FireMonkey "Maybe Rockstar are worried they won't get anything again"
    GamesConnoisseur "Rockstar do need to grow up as [they] cant expect to wins every award"
    Phishfood "lol Rockstar got butthurt"

    What's with all the Rockstar hate? The article clearly states that the publisher did not submit the game, which would be TakeTwo in this case - not Rockstar, the developers.