The list of nominees for this year's top game awards had already been published on the official website long before the ceremony began. There were no real surprises. PixelPioneers Games and John secured two nominations with The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and Metal Gear. The only regret was that Resident Evil 2 had missed the cutoff by a narrow margin; with just a little more time, it would almost certainly have earned a nomination as well.
Even so, this was more than enough to ignite excitement among domestic players. Two games, two nominations, this marked the first time PixelPioneers Games had entered such a prestigious international competition, and they even stood a real chance of taking home the coveted Game of the Year award.
"I wonder if Mr. John can actually win Game of the Year. It still feels a bit uncertain. Sure, The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is outstanding, but I have to admit, Epic Continent is truly incredible. From a personal perspective, its story is almost unmatched!"
"Epic Continent is amazing, I won't deny that. But I still think Skyrim edges it out. The world-building is just massive. I finished Epic Continent once and didn't go back, but I've played Skyrim for over two hundred hours, and I'm still enjoying it. The mods alone make it endlessly fun!"
"But why hasn't PixelPioneers Games said anything officially? Usually, companies celebrate nominations right away, posting updates everywhere. But this time, nothing at all. And honestly, Skyrim and Metal Gear: Original Burst Point both have a strong chance of winning!"
"Maybe it's their first time at an event like this, they just don't know how to promote themselves. PixelPioneers always feels a bit… too honest. Their games and in-game items are constantly discounted, like they're afraid we'll spend too much money!"
"Yeah, yeah, PixelPioneers Games is going bankrupt again, right? Didn't President John just buy a building recently? Did everyone forget?"
"So what if he bought a building? I'm happy to throw money at PixelPioneers Games. If other companies treated players like they do, I'd gladly spend on them too. I even went into Resident Evil Resistance and opened 20 loot boxes, beat that!"
As the ceremony officially began, discussions like these flooded online forums and live chats. Often referred to as the "Oscars of the gaming world," the event didn't have the same long-standing history or global fame as the Academy Awards, but in terms of scale and prestige, it was nothing to scoff at.
The opening performance resembled a grand concert, blending music with iconic elements from games. Both timeless classics and this year's nominees made subtle appearances, drawing cheers from the audience.
After the energetic opening and warm-up, the ceremony quickly transitioned into the main event. Much like film award shows, the selection process involved showcasing CG trailers and cinematic clips from each nominated title. In that sense, it felt strikingly similar to a movie awards ceremony.
There were over thirty nominated games from around the world, spanning categories like Best Action-Adventure, Best RPG, Best FPS, Best Action Game, as well as awards for Best Music, Best Cinematography, and Best Narrative. Each category featured introductions for the nominees, partly delivered by the host, but mostly presented through stunning footage on the big screen.
The early awards weren't the ones most players were eagerly anticipating, and the global audience remained relatively calm. That changed when the Best Narrative award was announced. The moment Epic Continent was declared the winner, thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue.
Interestingly, it wasn't Steven who took the stage, but the game's lead narrative designer, fitting, given the nature of the award. It seemed intentional. Immediately following Best Narrative came the Best Cinematography award, where Metal Gear: Original Burst Point stood out as one of the strongest contenders.
Although Metal Gear: Original Burst Point had been released for quite some time, its overseas launch was relatively recent, handled by UEGame. Early on, UEGame hadn't invested heavily in promotion.
After all, the game itself was fairly short. While it connected to the larger masterpiece Metal Gear: Phantom Pain, the overseas rights for that title hadn't been secured at the time. It wasn't until around the New Year that the full distribution agreement was finalized. As a result, outside of industry insiders, relatively few international players had experienced the game firsthand.
So when the host announced that Metal Gear: Original Burst Point had won Best Cinematography, many in the audience, and those watching the livestream, were caught off guard. Confusion spread until the host clarified that the game had been developed by John, the same creator behind The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, under PixelPioneers Games.
"How did Metal Gear: Original Burst Point win Best Cinematography? I thought Singular Journey had that in the bag, it's the only interactive movie-style game nominated this year!"
"I'm curious too. But considering it's from the studio behind Skyrim, maybe it's something special."
"They're about to show the footage. Let's see for ourselves."
Whispers rippled through the audience. Then, as the PixelPioneers Games logo appeared on screen, the cinematic sequence began. A continuous nine-minute-long take unfolded, seamlessly blending storytelling, atmosphere, and direction. Accompanied by a haunting score that abruptly cut off as the skull-faced commander issued orders to XOF soldiers, the scene sent chills through viewers worldwide.
It transitioned into gameplay without breaking immersion, showcasing a base defense sequence that players could actively control. Even the pure CG sequences, unlocked after completing chapters, were integrated flawlessly. Was it comparable to classic action films? Perhaps not entirely. But was it surprising? Absolutely.
When the clip ended, and the host announced that Koch would take the stage to accept the award, the audience seemed to snap back to reality. This wasn't a movie. It was a game.
After a brief second of stunned silence, the hall erupted into thunderous applause.
"Incredible! I don't even know if the game itself is that good, but if this didn't win Best Cinematography, it would've been a robbery!"
"So that's John, the creator of Skyrim? Just like I imagined, a balding guy in his twenties who looks like he's in his forties. That's the true mark of a top-tier programmer!"
International attendees applauded and chatted excitedly. Meanwhile, domestic viewers watching the livestream couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. Why was this middle-aged-looking man the one accepting the award? Where was President John? Wasn't this supposed to be his moment?