spike video game awards 2011

 

PLATFORM: Cable TV
STATION: Spike

It is easy to bash the awkwardness of an award show. Frankly, I believe they are all somewhat awkward from the Oscars down to the Kids Choice Awards. The VGA 2011 is not immune to this same awkwardness. In addition, they have an unfair disadvantage of not having an easy form to art to display on live TV. This year marks the return of Spike's on-stage "augmented reality" that debuted last year. Was there ever a time of "good" award shows? When were they in their prime anyway; was it Howard Stern's Fart-Man from '92? Nevertheless the online complaints are as annual as the VGAs themselves.

A new host for 2011, Zachary Levi (TV's Chuck) does a very smooth and authentic commentary. Original music by Deadmau5 (from the upcoming game Sound Shapes for PS Vita). Zachary starts off his presentation flying over the audience and landing on the stage using his portal gun (of course). His monologue leads off with some interesting facts that might surprise you if you haven't been paying attention. This year is the first time the VGA was streamed live around the world and 42% of gamers today are women. Hit the jump for a quick recap and links to the world premiere trailers.

The VGA Vector Monkey Award

• Probably the first on-air live tea-bagging is demonstrated as the penalty for long acceptance speeches
• Return of some pretty fancy (and tacky) on stage CGI graphics
• will.i.am is the first presenter of the world premier trailer for The Last of Us by Naughty Dog
• Brooklyn Decker (Star of the upcoming movie version of Battleship) presents the award for Best Action Adventure: Batman: Arkham City
• Deadmau5 is wearing his signature "mouse" mask done up to resemble a Mario Chain Chomp
• Zachary rants on how not to be a douche bag online
• LL Cool J (Old school rapper and founder of boomdizzle.com) presents the winner of Most Anticipated Game: Mass Effect 3.  Plus, a trailer for a new game from Bioware Command & Conquer Generals 2
• Felicia Day does some kinda-awkward but equally adorable velgro stunt for charity
• Kevin Jonas reveals the Tom Clancy's Rainbow 6 world premiere
• Live online voting for the cover for EA NFL Blitz
• Call of Duty commercial for hireavet.spike.com is pretty awesome
• The World Premiere trailer of Alan Wake American Nightmare
• Seth Green (Robot Chicken) presents the first ever inductee to the Video Game Hall of Fame: The Legend of Zelda. Shigeru Miyamoto is there to accept (without translator!)
• Another Felicia Day stunt with a live action version of Fruit Ninja. She displays a pretty good mastery of the katana
• Pretty sick introductions throughout the show for the Game of the Year nominees as well as custom made cut scenes for each of the character of the year nominees
• Tony Hawk (from an upcoming Tony Hawk game, yawn) drops the world premiere of The Amazing Spider-man (Yes, another Spider-man game)
• "The star of video games for 25 years" Hulk Hogan recapps the winners of the awards they aren't featuring tonight
• Felicia and Brooklyn do a live action Little Big Planet cake-a-nator challenge. Basically bobbing for cupcakes. Now this is entertainment.
• Performance of Lonely Boy by The Black Keys
• Youtuber: The Black Baron was invited to show after his comentary video last year. There was some weird moment there with him and the Spike executive he was sat next to
• Stacy Keibler (actress/wrestler/model) presents the world premeire trailer for Transformers Fall of Cybertron (yes, it's epic and I'm tingly all over)
• Charlie Sheen presents nominees for Best Shooter; and he needs a haircut. The winner is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 the acceptors ironcially get tea-bagged
• Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens) wins the online vote for the cover for EA NFL Blitz
• Cliffy B (Gears of War) presents the world premiere trailer for Fortnite
• Jason Biggs and Shawn William Scott present this year's "Gamer God" award (You can't make this stuff up) to Blizzard Entertainment and they bring the introductory cinematic for Diablo 3. It is an amazing blend of still animation and some of the best CGI well worth hitting the link
• Felicia day (now basically a co-host at this point) presents Bioshock Infinte's world premiere trailer
• Presenting winner for Character of the Year are Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler  (MMA fighters). Taking home the title is the Joker from Batman: Arkham Asylum
• And Game of the Year vector monkey goes to: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim by Bethesda
• Finally the Metal Gear Solid Rising trailer comes to light with a new world premiere trailer. What looks like a hack &slash entry into this franchise staring the cyborg ninja Raiden

Link to the complete list of winners: www.spike.com