Overview
The Spike Video Game Awards (VGAs) were an awards show spanning from 2003 to 2013, focused on video games released in a given year. Awards were typically categorized by genre, however additional categories like Best Gaming Website or Break Through Performance were also sometimes presented. As well, every year had a dedicated Game of the Year award, in which games of various genres were weighed against one another.
The shows typically balanced awards with spectacle, frequently featuring famous actors and live musical performances. However, the final VGAs, rebranded "VGX", attempted to highlight "the future of gaming". The show featured trailers for upcoming games and interviews with developers, alongside the show's traditional awards and celebrity appearances. Following the end of the VGAs, producer Geoff Keighley began his own awards show, The Game Awards.
Although more widely-discussed video game award shows have been founded in the time since the VGAs began, the VGAs played a notable early role in bringing wider media attention to video games. The VGAs started at the same time as G4’s G-Phoria, a similar video game awards show which ran until 2009.
Reception
Overall, reception of the VGAs varied. The shows attracted considerable audiences, debuting to 1.23 million viewers in 2003 (albeit declining to 680,000 by 2009), however the more "core" gaming audience had numerous criticisms of the show, especially of its structure. The shows' humor was frequently criticized, with many feeling it pandering and low-effort, such as 2007's awards being announced via body paint on nude women. As well, many felt the shows were more focused on skits and celebrity appearances than the actual awards, with Alex Navarro even suggesting that the shows were more useful for video game reveals than for awards.
Shows & Winners
Details of each show can be seen by clicking the link to the pages in the years below. This is a brief list of the winners of the Game of the Year award.
Red Dead Redemption was awarded Spike's Game of the Year award in 2010."Video Game Hall of Fame" Award
In 2011, the VGAs had their first, and only, "Hall of Fame" award, acknowledging series which "brought the industry to where it is today". The award went to The Legend of Zelda franchise, with Nintendo Representative Director Shigeru Miyamoto making an appearance to accept the award.
Hosts
Each year, save 2009, the show was hosted by a celebrity guest. The hosts for each year were as follows:
Neil Patrick Harris
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