In the latest installment of our gamer-vs-gamer debates known as 2Bits, a pair of Gamertell writers ponder the possibility – and possible necessity – of a major video game industry award.

Would an awards ceremony the size and spectacle of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science’s (AMPAS) Oscars be a positive and beneficial annual event for the industry or would it simply implode due to politics and overt commercialism?

Read opposing takes on the possibility (or actuality) of such an industry event…

As video games continue in their quest to achieve acceptability in the eyes of the public, their cause was bolstered by the news that more individuals engage in gaming than venture to the movies. This report taken along side continuing statements that claim the industry is thriving despite tough economic times offers enough reason to believe that the state of the video game industry is in relatively good stead.

However, with the report that it is more preferable to play a video game than see a movie and news stating that games are outdoing movies in terms of revenue, it begs the question of whether or not games should receive movie-like treatment and have their own Oscar-styled event.

I believe that the time is right for such an event.

The idea of a video game industry awards show, one much like the Oscars, is a pretty intriguing idea. Much like the Oscars, though, it would most likely fall apart due to industry politics.

One of the great things about entertainment is that some people do it simply because they love to do it. If not, they at least love to please an audience. However, with the multitudes of industry-specific awards, most of the love and life that went into industries including music, film and literature has disappeared…

Welcome to the latest installment of Gamertell’s 2Bits, where writers debate opposing sides of video game issues.

For this round, Gamertell writers ponder the Entertainment Electronics Expo (aka E3) and whether or not it should be an industry-only event or open its doors to the public.

While most debates have two sides, we’re adding a third for your reading pleasure because, let’s face, some people simply don’t care if E3 is open to the public or not. Sure, we should probably call it “3Bits” this week but, hey, who ever said we have to follow the rules?

E3 – Open, Closed or Who Really Cares

• E3 should open its doors, let the people flow
• Keep those E3 doors closed
• It doesn’t matter whether E3 goes public or not

E3 should not be open to the public. It is a convention for people in the gaming industry. Period.

Though it would be nice to let anyone go to this convention, if they allow that to happen then E3 will basically end up becoming the next Comic-Con which means thousands and thousands of people, crowded around an already cramped convention center (many carrying pointy sticks, mind you).

People go to E3 to have intelligent conversations with…

Honestly it really wouldn’t matter. The entertainment industry is built on information and hype. Public or not, the information would get out to the public. It’s just a question of how quickly the word would actually get to the public. With E3 public, anyone who is able to go to the convention would get instant access to information on the upcoming “next best thing.” Without the convention going public, it’s a matter of seeing what the press shows the public.

Some people complain about…

E3 2008 was an unmitigated disaster.

This singular sentence summed up the reaction that gamers felt towards this version of the long-running video-game based trade show. Once an event celebrated as much for its extravagance as its large variety of video games on display, the 2008 version of the Electronic Entertainment Expo, now known as the E3 Media & Business Summit, was a shadow of its former self, stripped of its style and verve which resulted in its popularity with gamers plummeting faster than the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

The reason E3 lost its luster can be attributed to…

Zombies get a bad rap. The majority of them just can’t help their innate, ravenous urges. I’m sure if they had a choice in the manner, we’d see quite a few vegetarian, or even vegan, members of the Undead. You don’t get mad at lions for chasing cute zebras, or vultures from scavenging off the zebras’ carcass once the lions are done.

Quite a few video games even portray some more rational zombies. So since not all zombies are evil, we shouldn’t instantly condemn or fear them. Zombies are simply a part of the circle of life, and we should accept the good along with bad. Besides, if someone isn’t able to outwit/outrun a zombie, then maybe that person deserves to get eaten…