Every year I tell myself, "It won't be so bad. Spike TV might do something refreshing, and actually adhere to quality standards."

Once again, I was wrong.

Like always, social networking sites (namely Twitter) exploded with remarks. Game fans begin trashing on their own hobby, asking "why do I even like this," while journalists and executives in charge of the event scramble to defend its integrity. One Tweet of Geoff Keighley, in reply to an upset viewer, stated "the show is not just for core guys who know every game. You have to understand that."

We understand...some gamers play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, but not The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Some individuals prefer an open-ended RPG over a side-scrolling action game; it takes all kinds. Regardless, it doesn't mean the award show must blatantly involve so many B-list celebrities -- having almost nothing to do with video gaming -- making the growing mainstream aspects of this hobby look laughable. In more ways than one, Spike's show only fuels negative stereotypes related to gamers, including but not limited to "only men play games," and "most gamers express their anger by swearing at people."

More specifically, Spike knows the VGAs are awful, which is why they went through the trouble of getting that "Black Baron" character on the show. When I looked at this guy, I didn't see a blogger attempting to voice his opinion on the program's lack of Nintendo titles, but rather a "comical" individual being publically ridiculed for the sake of everyone's entertainment. Again, this reinforces a negative "gamer" stereotype, and gives them something to feel better about. It also gives other consumers -- namely casual and non-gamers -- a terrible idea of what many gamers are really like.

The VGAs are the only widely televised video game award show, and that's why there's a problem. Keighley himself said "the show is not just for core guys," but what kind of image is this painting for consumers who aren't "core" gamers? If this really is a portrayal for the outsider, then the VGAs are truly disgraceful. I seriously hope Spike's cute little award show improves for the sake of the hobby, the industry, and every common gamer.

Then again, I go through this every year, so maybe the VGAs should just quit.