idk how ape did not win labor of love tbh

[REALiNSaNgAMingGODPrODIgY]

i grew up with this game and this game carried me through highschool on my darkest days. i remember watching a few youtubers play it when it came out and bought it myself later on when i was ready to play it.

the impact this game had on me was amazing and really helped my childhood, i really liked the fishing and mining in this game and if i was tired i could just farm and take care of the animals.

i am shocked tbh, the hand craftsmanship and polish in this game was everything i needed. a simple game with a big meaning.

i still remember the intro and it made me cry and also laugh since i knew this might be my new favorite game to relax with.

maybe next year ape with get the award he rightfully deserves after all these years but same time it does not matter since he made such a impact on so many people's lives i think that matters more than a stupid award that is always won by trolls or a popularity contest

[Comrade Burrito]

Elden Ring might be a good game in its genre, but it winning the "Labor of Love" reward is an f-ing joke, yeah. Same goes for Wukong topping the narrative category.

It honestly feels like we've progressed from "obnoxious FPS era" to "obnoxious souls-like era."

[Dax_B]

It's a misunderstood award and has been given out for the wrong reasons most years. Players often reward it for corpos deciding they want to exploit said player base by releasing paid for DLC packs.

"Oh wow, they rewarding us with more content. They really love us." etc.

It really should of been Ape's this year.

[Scorpion]

Mainstream publicity, means nothing. Those of us who love and support C.A. have no need for flashy headtitles etc.

Stardew Valley, is among my top 5 games of all time and am both grateful, as well as happy, for all the new content we are constantly being given... And for free!

Love is not what people think or say, much less announce or exclaim, but what they actually deep down FEEL.-

[ChrillBill]

Of course it means something, otherwise CA himself wouldn't encourage his fans to both nominate and then vote for his game. The fact that he didn't win doesn't make the game less successful or loved though, but I'm sure it would have been a meaningful and definitely a well deserved accomplishment for him.

[Scorpion]

Opprinnelig skrevet av ChrillBill:

Of course it means something, otherwise CA himself wouldn't encourage his fans to both nominate and then vote for his game. The fact that he didn't win doesn't make the game less successful or loved though, but I'm sure it would have been a meaningful and definitely a well deserved accomplishment for him. :MonkLove:

True that. But on the other hand, there are lots of players who don't appreciate quality and dedication in the videogames scenes; those know only of what's trendying, what everybody is playing, what has the best graphics or the most online content/community...

Let's celebrate anyway; it's as if the game got that distinction, for true fans!

[Svaz]

I honestly don't think anything other than Indie games should even make the cut. Not to disparage the efforts of workers in large studios, I know some of them have genuine passion for what they do! but a lot of them are doing it for a paycheck and by someone else's direction. Games like this and Terraria are made because people -really like- the genre they're making a game for and want to bring everything they felt was missing into a real game, you know? I think the backstory alone of working basically nonstop for years would've planted ConcernedApe with it at some point by now, sheesh.

[Korhal]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Svaz:

I honestly don't think anything other than Indie games should even make the cut. Not to disparage the efforts of workers in large studios, I know some of them have genuine passion for what they do! but a lot of them are doing it for a paycheck and by someone else's direction. Games like this and Terraria are made because people -really like- the genre they're making a game for and want to bring everything they felt was missing into a real game, you know? I think the backstory alone of working basically nonstop for years would've planted ConcernedApe with it at some point by now, sheesh.

I agree. Honorably mentioning "Monster Sanctuary", which (for what it is) shows, how the people behind it really were passionate beyond the (most needed surely^^) paycheck. It shows - and it also shows in quad-A gaming and its so called gaming journalism, when its not the case.

[Sstavix]

Opprinnelig skrevet av △Ode2Order:

People don't seem to understand that Labour of Love was initially really meant for indie devs rather than AAA games... Also ngl it doesn't help that Steam gives rewards for voting, so a lot of people will just end up voting for whatever just to get a reward.

True. I will admit that I voted in the VR category even though I don't own any VR gear.

But since none of those were Stardew Valley they weren't important anyway.

[Fellawith]

I like Elden Ring, but, Labor of love? Really? They haven't made continues work like Concerned Ape has to his game. Years of updates and never abandoned. Shame.

[MekaDovah]

Glancing at it, couldn't help but notice how many of the winners were "dark" and "gritty" with an emphasis on "realistic" graphics. Only two winners broke the mold in any way (Liar's Bar, which looks at least comedic and cartoony, if not still dark, and Farming Simulator, which at least isn't dark).

Looks a lot to me like Hollywood and its neverending praise of same ol same ol dark, pretentious dramas and tragedies year after year.

While I personally can't say who deserved what, the samey-ness of it all looks very boring and steeped in bias. I never had much faith in the meaning of awards like these and the preceived narrow-mindedness in its decision making is why.

[◄Karda Zend►]

Still voting year after year SV as Labor of love considering for how long game has been updated. But... ELDEN RING?! REALLY?!

[Garwain]

Opprinnelig skrevet av ChrillBill:

"This game has been out for a while. The team is well past the debut of their creative baby, but being the good parents they are, these devs continue to nurture and support their creation. This game, to this day, is still getting new content after all these years."

I have nothing against Elden RIng, it sure is a very well made game, and it sure deserves an award for that. And I mean, if im not mistaken it has won a lot of different awards.

Its just that what Elden RIng achieved doesnt really fit into the Labor of Love cathegory (yet). When I think of labor of love, I think about games like Terarria, where the Devs added content over the course of several years and really polished it beyond the initial post-release phase.
For me this is less about indi vs. AAA or free updates vs. DLCs, but Elden Ring is just a bit too young for it imho.
But I guess its just die hard Elden Ring fans voting for Elden Ring in every cathegory in which it is nominated, no matter what the cathegory is about. It is like it is. If stardew valleys community is anything like Terrarias, it probably has good chances in one of the next votes.

[Dr. Jan Itor]

ConcernedApe is set for life and put out a game that's loved almost universally. He doesn't need validation, he already has it. He's literally who cite to younger folks wanting to get into game dev; I promptly tell them not to, get into something more immediately fulfilling and profitable, and pick up game dev as a hobby/side hustle so you can put out your vision in its purest form.

CA probably knows he made something awesome and he doesn't need any other award other than the success the game's had.

[M]

It seems the island music fades too fast and some of the animations are really annoying like the opening MAIL and note animation zooming is crazy, settings to reduce animations on the lag or crap like that would be fantastic and the yearly awards obviously favor the newer games of course the updates to SV are great however :D

[Savage Source]

Steam Award has no soul to be honest.