Each year the industry has a good laugh at the ISDA and it's entirely brain-dead CODIE awards that supposedly nominate and award awards to only the very best gaming has to offer. Take a look at the list and put down your coffee for this one. The comments are of course added by yours truly:
Links 2001, Microsoft Corporation: Ok, this one is a good choice.
PGA Championship Golf 2000, Sierra Online: Ok, so is this one.
SimPlayer Baseball, SimPlayer Sports: I couldn't find a single gaming sports expert who had any idea what this game is.
MicCombat Flight Simulator 2: World War 2 Pacific Theater, Microsoft Corporation: It fits, it flies, it's fine.
Return of the Incredible Machines: Contraptions, Sierra Online: Um… ok.
Ground Control, Sierra Studios: Good looking, brain-dead, but good looking!
Homeworld: Cataclysm, Sierra Studios: All right, it's basically Homeworld redux though.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, Westwood Studios:
Mickey Saves The Day 3D Adventure, Disney Interactive: Huh? Maybe this is the kids section.
The Emperor's New Groove, Disney Interactive: Huh? This game isn't even out yet! Maybe this is the psychic kids section.
Crimson Skies, Microsoft Corporation: Ok, no argument here.
M&M's: The Lost Formula, Simon & Shuster Interactive: Oh good lord. A commercial is going to win Best Action/etc.,/etc., Game?
Nox, Westwood Studios: Right. Nox from Westwood Studios? Nox, from Westwood Studios. Right.
Aside from a bunch of corporate software that's pretty much it. No kids section (save above), no RPGs, and only a handful of worthy games. Want to know why this is? Because the CODIES are essentially an ISDA fund raiser. Each nominee pays for the privilege of consideration. Pays thousands of dollars (reportedly) to have their games on this list. That's why you're seeing a lot of Sierra games, a few Microsoft games and, yep, no mention of most of the best games of the year. No NOLF, no Baldur's Gate 2, no Need for Speed: PU, no High Heat Baseball 2001 or NHL 2001, no Thief 2 or Deus Ex (thankfully no Daikatana), no sense, no legitimacy and no wonder I make fun of it every freaking year.