game of the year
| Game of the year e. V. | |
|---|---|
| purpose | Promotion of the “game” cultural asset in society and the family |
| Chair: | Harald Schrapers |
| Managing Director: | Guido Heinecke |
| Establishment date: | 1978 |
| Number of members: | 17th |
| Seat : | Kerpen |
| Website: | spieldesjahres.de |
The Game of the Year Critics' Prize is awarded by the Spiel des Jahres e. V. game award awarded since 1979 for German-language board and card game innovations. It is considered to be the world's most important award for non-electronic games, the “ Oscar for board games”. The Settlers of Catan and Carcassonne , with their millions of copies, are the two most popular titles to have received this award. Since 2001 the children's game of the year has also been awarded. Since 2011, the jury has been awarding a third main award, Kennerspiel des Jahres. It is aimed at players "who have been playing for a long time and who have experience in learning new games".
jury
The prize is awarded by the Spiel des Jahres e. V. , whose members work as game critics for German-language media. The currently 14 members of the association who are entitled to vote belong either to the jury for the game and the expert game of the year or to the children's play jury. There are also three advisory association members. The general assembly decides on new jury members. The association's chairman has been the Duisburg-based journalist Harald Schrapers ( spielbox ) since 2018 , and the jury's spokesman has been the Ingolstadt radio editor Bernhard Löhlein (Radio K1) since 2009 . The founding seat of the association is Nuremberg , the office is in Kerpen near Cologne.
The history of the game of the year goes back to 1978, when the WDR journalist Jürgen Herz, together with other game critics, took the initiative to found the club. “The eight of the first hour had no legitimation: a classic act of self-creation. It took a year to put the idea into concrete form. ”The first award ceremony took place in 1979 in Essen with financial support from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs under the patronage of Minister Antje Huber . Since 1996, the winning game has been announced every July at an award ceremony in Berlin, where the award is presented to the author and those responsible for the publishing house.
The association fell into a crisis in 2001 when three members of the jury resigned because they viewed the close cooperation between the jury and the German Games Archive, which was managed by a member of the jury, as problematic. They feared that the work of the archive would be dependent on the jury generating six-figure license income annually. There were also differences in content: The three members did not agree with the jury majority's course of calling on game publishers to look for a “new kind of audience proximity” and to develop games with simple rules and easy access. In addition, the resigned jurors expressed the suspicion that the mostly older jury members lack the competence to competently assess the latest innovations. In the following years, the jury underwent a renewal, which - after the sudden resignation of the then chairman Uwe Petersen - culminated in the election of Stefan Ducksch as jury spokesman in 2006.
The jury's decisions have a major impact on the board game market. The popularity of the award means that more than 300,000 copies of the award-winning game can usually be sold within a year. That means at least a tenfold increase in the original edition of the game. The award-winning games are allowed to wear a red pawn (also known as a Halma cone ), the children's game a blue pawn and the expert game an anthracite-colored pawn. The Spiel des Jahres e. V. a license fee based on the number of games sold. The members of the Spiel des Jahres e. V. work on a voluntary basis. The club's income is primarily used for public relations for the game in general and for the award-winning games in particular. These include trade fair stands where visitors can be advised independently of the company, an annual game designer grant, the Getting Healthy initiative at children's clinics and the Playing for Tolerance initiative . The German Games Archive also benefited from license income for many years. Since 2012 there has been a funding program for “projects that strengthen the position of the game as a cultural asset in society”, within the framework of which a total of 346 projects were funded with around 435,000 euros up to and including 2020.
Electoral process
By 1998, the jury initially set up a list of nominations that comprised between five and twelve titles. From these games, one game was selected as Game of the Year , the other nominated games were awarded a place on the Game of the Year shortlist. Between 1999 and 2003 a selection list with up to 13 games was created first, the list for children's games (since 2001) comprised up to eight games. Three of these titles were nominated for the main prize, one of which was ultimately chosen as the winner. There have been no selection lists since 2004 . Instead, there was initially a nomination list with five titles - both for the game of the year and the children's game of the year . Since 2011 there have been three nominated games for Game of the Year , Children's Game of the Year and the newly introduced Kennerspiel des Jahres . In addition, recommendation lists have been published since 2004 .
The awards are given to games of the current year, that is, titles that were released between April of the previous year and March of the current year. Decisive for the evaluation are the game idea, game rules as well as the presentation and functionality of the game and the material. “In the end, it is always the overall impression that counts, the feel of the game, which can hardly be broken down into individual, measurable parts.” “The Spiel des Jahres jury awards the best game. Knowing that there is no objectively the best game because that would be different in the morning after Sunday breakfast and in the evening after the second beer. Sometimes I have three people at the table, sometimes five, sometimes more playful, sometimes there are children, ”writes Harald Schrapers. In addition to the main prizes, the jury can award special prizes.
A jury of ten critics currently decides on the game and the expert game of the year . The children's play jury is made up of four association members and four advisory boards who are involved in day-care centers, day nurseries and schools or as a toy library with board games as part of their professional activities. The advisory board activity has been advertised publicly since 2019.
Current jury members
- Udo Bartsch since 2007
- Manuel Fritsch since 2019
- Martina Fuchs since 2020
- Stefan Gohlisch since 2012 (Jury Children's Game of the Year)
- Karsten Grosser since 2009
- Stephan Kessler since 2019
- Tim Koch since 2017
- Bernhard Löhlein since 2003
- Stefanie Marckwardt since 2016 (Jury Children's Game of the Year)
- Hauke Petersen since 2019 (Jury Children's Game of the Year)
- Christoph Schlewinski since 2016 (Jury Children's Game of the Year)
- Harald Schrapers since 2017
- Nico Wagner since 2020
- Julia Zerlik since 2018
Former members of the jury (selection)
Well-known (specialist) journalists were members of the jury again and again, including:
- Jochen Corts 1979-2004
- Stefan Ducksch 2003-10 and 2013-15
- Synes Ernst 1982-2007
- Tom Felber 2000-08 and 2010-18
- Andreas Haaß 2008-2013
- Dieter Hasselblatt 1979–1988
- Wieland Herold 1995-2019
- Jürgen Herz 1979–1988
- Dorothee Heß 1989-2008
- Michael Knopf 1997-2001
- Sandra Lemberger 2010-2020
- Birgit Nößler 2004-2013
- Gilbert Obermair 1979-1980
- Edwin Ruschitzka 1998-2001
- Bernward Thole 1979-2004
- Tom Werneck 1979-83 and 1987-2009
Chairman of the association
- 1979-1994: Bernward Thole
- 1994-2004: Synes Ernst
- 2004–2006: Uwe Petersen
- 2006–2008: Stefan Ducksch
- 2008–2011: Bernhard Löhlein
- 2011–2018: Tom Felber
- since 2018: Harald Schrapers
Award winners
For the selection list published between 1979 and 2003, see Game of the Year selection list , for the recommendation list published since 2004 see Game of the Year recommendation list .
Game of the year critics award
Expert game of the year
The Kennerspiel des Jahres prize has also been awarded since 2011 and a list of nominations has been published. “In addition to the Spiel des Jahres clientele of the less experienced players, there is now also an increasingly large group of those who grew up with the Spiel des Jahres and who got into the hobby game more intensively via the award winners, but still rely on the orientation and reliability of the brand Want to build game of the year ”, Udo Bartsch explains the award.
Children's game of the year
The Spiel des Jahres e. V. for titles, the minimum age of which is mostly between four and six years, as children's game of the year. A jury, which is currently made up of four association members and four advisory councilors, who are also entitled to vote, decides on the winner. The prize is the successor to the children's game special prize awarded between 1989 and 2000 .
The games nominated and awarded since 2001 are listed in the main article, for the shortlist created from 2002 to 2003 see Children's Game of the Year - Shortlist , for the list of recommendations published annually since 2004 see Children's Game of the Year - Recommended List .
Special prices
- 2018: Pandemic Legacy - Season 2 ( Matt Leacock / Rob Daviau / Z-Man)
Special price Nice game
- 1979: Seti ( Bütehorn )
- 1980: The Game ( Reinhold Wittig / Edition Guinea Fowl , new edition by Abacus )
- 1981: Ra ( Marco Donadoni / Intelli )
- 1982: script ( Henri Sala / Jumbo )
- 1983: We feed the little hippos ( Reinhold Wittig / Edition Guinea Fowl )
- 1984: Uisge ( Reinhold Siegers / Hexagames )
- 1985: The three magicians ( Johann Rüttinger / Noris )
- 1986: Müller & Sohn ( Reinhold Wittig / Franckh-Kosmos )
- 1987: Tatort Night Express ( Jeff Smets / Jumbo )
- 1988: Incognito ( Alex Randolph / Leo Colovini / MB , new edition by Piatnik)
- 1989: Henne Berta ( Geni Wyss / Haba )
- 1990: Lifestyle ( Ravensburger )
- 1991: The Labyrinth of Masters ( Max Kobbert / Ravensburger )
- 1993: Kula Kula ( Reinhold Wittig / Blatz )
- 1994: Doctor Faust ( Reinhold Wittig / Blatz )
- 1995: Tribalance ( Michael Sohre / Theta , new edition by Goliath)
- 1996: Venice Connection ( Alex Randolph / Three Magicians Games )
- 1997: Aztec ( Niek Neuwahl / Zoch )
Special award for the best solitaire game
- 1980: Rubik's Cube ( Ernő Rubik / Arxon , new edition by Jumbo )
Special prize for cooperative family game
- 1988: Sauerbaum ( Johannes Tranelis / Herder )
Special price children's game
- 1989: Gute Freunde ( Alex Randolph / Selecta , current new edition at Drei Magier Spiele )
- 1990: The Ghost Castle ( Virginia Charves / FX Schmid )
- 1991: Corsaro ( Wolfgang Kramer / Herder , new edition as a pirate adventure at Amigo)
- 1992: Pork gallop ( Heinz Meister / Ravensburger , new edition by Abacus )
- 1993: Ringel Rangel ( Geni Wyss / Haba )
- 1994: Looping Louie ( Carol Wiseley et al / MB )
- 1995: collision ( Heinz Meister / Haba )
- 1996: four to me! ( Heike Baum / ASS , new edition by Schmidt)
- 1997: cast off! ( Alex Randolph / Haba )
- 1998: Zicke Zacke Hühnerkacke ( Klaus Zoch / Zoch )
- 1999: Kayanak ( Peter-Paul Joopen / Haba )
- 2000: Arbos ( Martin Arnold / Armin Müller / M + A)
Since 2001, an independent children's game of the year has been awarded instead of the special children 's game award.
Special price puzzle
- 1995: 3D crime puzzle ( MB )
Special prize game of skill
- 1996: Carabande ( Jean du Poël / Goldsieber )
- 1997: Hussar Golf ( Torsten Marold / Abacus )
Special price story in the game
- 2001: Troia ( Thomas Fackler / Zeitstein Games )
Special prize for literature in the game
- 2001: The Lord of the Rings ( Reiner Knizia / Kosmos )
Fantastic game special award
- 2006: Shadows over Camelot ( Serge Laget / Bruno Cathala / Days of Wonder )
Special price complex game
- 2006: Caylus ( William Attia / Ystari / Huch & Friends )
- 2008: Agricola ( Uwe Rosenberg / Lookout )
Special price party game
- 2009: Gift Trap ( Nick Kellet / Heidelberger Spieleverlag )
Special prize for new play worlds
- 2009: Space Alert ( Vlaada Chvátil / Czech Games Edition )
Special award game of the year plus
- 2010: The Gates of the World ( Michael Rieneck / Stefan Stadler / Kosmos )
Other game prices in the German-speaking area
In addition to the game of the year, there are various other game awards in German-speaking countries. The longest since 1990 assigned to exist German game prize , which is based tuning specialist audience on a broad-based, and since 2001 awarded Game of the Year award for titles that are available on the Austrian market. In Switzerland, between 2002 and 2007 the Swiss game prize , by the local toy libraries forgive and since 2010 Swiss Gamers Award .
The À la carte card game award from Fairplay magazine for the best card game of the year has been awarded since 1991. From 1981 to 2016, the city of Essen also selected the Essen pen for the best rules of the year by a jury of experts and has been awarding it since 1990 as part of the German Game Prize. For the first time in 2009 the Graf Ludo was awarded, which does not see itself as a prize comparable to the game of the year , because it only recognizes the achievements in the field of design in board and card games . The Ali Baba Spieleclub e. V. Two-person games from the previous year that have previously applied with the DuAli .
literature
- Bernward Thole, Tom Werneck (ed.): Game of the year. Adviser to the jury. Hugendubel, Munich 1988, ISBN 3-88034-380-2 .
- Bernward Thole, Tom Werneck (ed.): The excellent games: a guide through the game jungle (= Rororo 8912). Rowohlt, Reinbek near Hamburg 1991, ISBN 3-499-18912-7 .
- Bernward Thole, Tom Werneck (ed.): The excellent games: a guide through the game jungle (= Rororo 8927). Rowohlt, Reinbek near Hamburg 1992, ISBN 3-499-18927-5 .
- Bernward Thole, Tom Werneck (ed.): Excellent games. Advisor to the jury "Game of the Year". Don Bosco, Munich 1997, ISBN 3-7698-1053-8 .
- Bernward Thole, Tom Werneck (Ed.): Excellent games. Yearbook of the jury "Game of the Year". Don Bosco, Munich 1999, ISBN 3-7698-1193-3 .
Web links
- Game of the Year - Official Game of the Year website
- Tom Felber on the work of the Game of the Year jury - video interview with Tom Felber, chairman of the Game of the Year jury 2011
Individual evidence
- ↑ I tried more than 400 games in the last year. In: Süddeutsche Zeitung. July 23, 2018, accessed September 16, 2019 .
- ↑ The three critic prizes. In: Game of the Year. Retrieved August 8, 2018 .
- ↑ New SdJ Board and brochure. In: spielbox.de. July 31, 2018, accessed November 1, 2019 .
- ↑ Successful act of self-creation. In: spielbox, No. 4/2019, p. 20
- ↑ history. In: Game of the Year. Retrieved August 8, 2018 .
- ↑ spiel-des-jahres.org: Games in Difficult Times ( Memento from January 13, 1997 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ meome.de: Jury Game of the Year: Resignations ( Memento from February 18, 2001 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ meome.de: Jury Game of the Year: Business as usual ( Memento from October 31, 2002 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ Profession game author. Predictable clientele. In: Süddeutsche Zeitung. August 11, 2010. Retrieved July 29, 2015 .
- ↑ a b FAQ. In: Game of the Year. Retrieved August 8, 2018 .
- ↑ Game of the Year funding program. In: Game of the Year. Retrieved April 9, 2020 .
- ↑ Is Game of the Year the Board Game Oscar? In: Game of the Year. September 30, 2018, accessed March 11, 2019 .
- ↑ Reorganized : the Children's Game of the Year jury In: Game of the Year. July 17, 2019, accessed September 3, 2020 .
- ↑ spiel-des-jahres.com: Five years of the Kennerspiel des Jahres ( Memento from June 23, 2018 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ The best 2-player game ; accessed on April 9, 2020.