itch.io Community » General » General Discussion

Review Copies for the 2019 Nebula for Game Writing

A topic by Stewart C Baker created Dec 23, 2019 Views: 676 Replies: 15

Viewing posts 1 to 6

Stewart C Baker4 years ago (2 edits)

Hello itch.io community!

I’m reaching out as assistant to the commissioner of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer’s Association (SFWA) Nebula Awards to ask if any of you would be interested in providing a list of your games released in 2019, and/or electronic review copies of the same.

The Nebulas are a bit different than other industry awards, because they aren’t selected by a jury. Instead, current SFWA members–roughly 1,900 professional authors and game writers–are the ones who identify work they think is notable and vote on the final ballot.

Members nominate fiction and games between November 15 and February 15, and the works with the highest number of nominations make it into the final ballot, which is sent to all SFWA members in March. One winner is selected in each category based on member votes, and winners are announced at the annual Nebula ceremony in April.

Starting with last year’s awards, SFWA has added a game writing category to the Nebulas, and if you’re a game designer or author yourself I would love to be able to share any work you released in 2019 with SFWA members.

Any type of game writing is eligible, so long as it:

Is “an interactive or playable story-driven work which conveys narrative, character, or story background”
Has at least one credited author
Was broadly released for the first time in 2019 (so if your work was only on a limited release this year, it isn’t yet eligible, but if you had a limited release of a game in 2018 or earlier and it officially released in 2019, it is eligible)
Is a finished work, and not a demo, beta release, or other kind of early release

New editions of games are also eligible, so long as they represent “substantive changes” from earlier editions.

If you would like to provide an electronic review copy or purchase code (or just a description) of something you released in 2019, I can post it to SFWA’s secure forums, which are restricted to registered SFWA members.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at stewart.c.baker@gmail.com, or the Nebula Awards Commissioner, Jim Hosek, at nac@sfwa.org

Of course, you can also just respond to this thread!

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Stewart C Baker

dino999z4 years ago

Would demos be fine?

I invested a tremendous amount of time working on the writing of my game Vincent: The Secret of Myers, and I wonder if it would be eligible.

Stewart C Baker4 years ago

Hello!

The award is only for completed games, unfortunately.

On the other hand, it’s an annual award, so I hope you’ll keep it in mind when Vincent is ready for final release. It looks pretty fantastic!

Halloween Astronaut4 years ago (1 edit)

Interesting, but unfortunately, even if I wanted to make a simple recommendation, I could not. I do not know of any such games. No games that would actually satisfy my ideal of 'science fiction'.

Stewart C Baker4 years ago

No worries! Also, in case I wasn’t being clear, this post is intended for game designers and authors, rather than readers and players. :)

DireBoarGames4 years ago

I released my game at October. It's sci-fi, and with heavy emphasis on storyline.

So, what should I do to be reviewed? Since the game is paid, I guess I need to provide Steam keys?

Stewart C Baker4 years ago

Hello!

Since the Nebulas are voted on by everybody in SFWA, and Steam keys can only be used once, the easiest way to provide Steam keys is probably to provide contact information for SFWA members who are interested in playing the game. That way, you only need to create a Steam key for each member who contacts you, rather than a bunch at once.

Or, if you prefer, you could provide a set number and only the first few people to use them get to try the game.

It’s up to you. :)

DireBoarGames4 years ago

So, again, what I need to do from my side? Whom I should contact?

Can\Should I apply directly on https://nebulas.sfwa.org/?

Stewart C Baker4 years ago

You can email me the game description and any keys you’d like to provide to stewart.c.baker@gmail.com, or the Nebula Awards Commissioner, Jim Hosek, at nac@sfwa.org

From there, one of us will post it to the secure forum.

DireBoarGames4 years ago (2 edits)

Is it this site: https://nebulas.sfwa.org/?

If it is, as I see I can just register and nominate my game, even that it has a price.

EDIT: Very important - can those who live outside of USA participate?

Stewart C Baker4 years ago

Any game is eligible so long as it was “published and available to the public” during 2019.

That is the site for the Nebula awards, but I think you’re misunderstanding. What you are registering for on that site is for the annual Nebula conference, essentially a 3-day writing conference attended mostly by SFWA members. You don’t have to attend the conference for your game to be eligible.

As I said in my initial post, the Nebulas work a little differently from other game awards. You don’t have to apply or register in order for your game to be eligible. This means there is no way to “submit” or “nominate” your own game.

However, because this is only the second year that game writing has been a category, and not many SFWA members keep tabs on new game releases, I have been contacting game writers and publishers and asking them for information about their game, as well as electronic review copies or download keys. I am posting this information to our secured member forum, which only SFWA members can access.

If you would like me to share information about your game, or if you would like to provide keys, you can email me or the Nebula Award Commissioner with the relevant information and one of us will post it to the forum.

Krunchy Fried Games4 years ago(+1)

Hi Stewart, this might be for you:

The Bunny Hill Horror (free to download or play in browser)

"You have a problem: you're out of work, and the government is threatening to cut off your benefits. Don't worry- Oswald Mandias will help you. He'll help everybody. Once his dreams of resurrecting an ancient kingdom are realised, nobody will be spared his benevolence.

In this visual novel adventure, you must outwit drugged-up zombies, genetically modified monstrosities, seductive sisters and one very sadistic secretary, in order to prevent a dark and terrifying future for mankind. Oh, and get to the pub quiz in time because your mate Dave won't stop nagging you about it."

One of the problems we have is sometimes people who like video games are put off by too much prose, and people who like prose are put off by video games, so it's good to see this category in the contest! Let me know what you think, and please let me know if you have any questions :)

Dominic O'Reilly

redrum110 at gmail dot com

Stewart C Baker4 years ago(+1)

Look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair!

Thanks. :)

Krunchy Fried Games4 years ago

Haha, I don't think too many people got that reference!

SUPERSTRING4 years ago(+1)

Hi Stewart! I'm chucking a couple of Headspun keys to your email now.

Headspun is a narrative game that explores the theme of logic vs emotion. Set in Cortex - the world of the human brain - it follows the personification of the rational, human voice in the brain, and the primal emotional voice - and the differences in their philosophies.

The game combines live-action FMV scenes (the real world - outside the brain) with more traditional visual novel elements to create a new narrative hybrid.

Headspun was released in August 2019 for PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch.

If you have any questions, drop me a line!

Jamin

Stewart C Baker4 years ago

Thanks!

Log in to reply Join the discussion. Log in or create a free itch.io account to continue.