The British Academy Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) conducted a public poll asking players about their choice of the most iconic video game character. The list of results is out, and fans are not amused.
PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo are the big three in the console gaming market, and all three of these titans make up almost 95% of the console market. Console fans passionate about their love for video game characters are invalidating the list and expressing their displeasure vehemently on social media.
BAFTA becomes the accidental mediator in the Console wars
To give readers some context, the discussion began when this list was published by one of the most reputed names in the film and television award show fraternity. Moreover, BAFTA also conducts an award ceremony for video games, which has been around since 2004.
Since it was a Players’ poll, questions about individual bias do not make a lot of sense, and understandably so; however, as soon as the list was published, players voiced their displeasure on social media vehemently:
Some people even made their polls on Twitter to check if the gamers on Twitter agree with the list. :
Some people were even mad that some characters from a single installment of a game like Baldur’s Gate 3 were more popular than characters who have been around for decades:
Some fans even accused the BAFTA of regionalism:
My observations see that it was BAFTA games, so ofc they would pick the most iconic BRITISH character
— sibe2004 (@sibeesh_p) April 4, 2024
Some Mario fans were also visibly unsatisfied with the British Academy ranking the character below Lara Croft:
While the list caused some incredibly polarizing opinions on social media, many players disagreed with the basis of the ranking in the list and not just the ranking of characters from their favorite console brand, a rare occasion for gamers to put their associations behind them.
The BAFTA list ranks characters based on a subjective parameter
Gamers are naturally passionate about their games and, naturally, their favorite characters. However, when one brings the subjectivity of human experience into play, it is clear that no two gamers will make the same choices or preferences.
While the list may have been an honest attempt to establish a clear winner or a biased publication, as many people claim it to be, it certainly doesn’t matter because the ranking parameter is vague and subjective. Instead, celebrating video games that have shaped generations of gamers without ranking them is a much better approach to paying homage to their legacy.
And as long as there is a ranking involved and the parameters are as subjective as they were in the list, the legitimacy of the verdict will always be in limbo, especially when the percentage of votes received by various entries is not disclosed.
What do you think of this list? Do you agree or disagree with most of its inclusions and rankings? We would love to know your thoughts in the comment section below!
