GDC Reconsidering Bushnell Award After Backlash

GDC Reconsidering Bushnell Award After Backlash
[Jan 31, 2018, 11:18 am ET] – Share – Viewing Comments

Rolling Stone's "Glixel" reports that the Game Developer's Conference is reconsidering plans to honor Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell with their Pioneer Award at the 2018 GDC Awards. This follows an outcry that's spawned a #NotNolan campaign, citing well-publicized stories of how the original Atari culture was a hotbed of drinking, drugs, hot tubs, and sexism (in other words, the 1970s). Concerns are being voiced that the timing of this award is especially inappropriate in light of the current focus on movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp, and a GDC spokesperson tells Glixel they are looking at the choice "more closely" in light of this.

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22.

Re: GDC Reconsidering Bushnell Award After Backlash
Jan 31, 2018, 20:05

jdreyer

22.

Re: GDC Reconsidering Bushnell Award After Backlash Jan 31, 2018, 20:05

Jan 31, 2018, 20:05

jdreyer

They have officially withdrawn the award. Nolan will not receive it this year.

On the one hand, it sounds like the stuff Nolan did was similar to the behavior that forced Al Franken out of the Senate. We don't forgive Nazis and Klanners just because "the culture was different then."

On the other hand, as someone pointed out, no rock star ever would get an award. Jimmy Page was banging a 14 year old in the early 70s. I have a female friend who was a groupie, and she has stories about illegal behavior involving nearly every major rock act from the 70s and early 80s.

Incredibly talented people are capable of terrible acts. Humans are complicated. I don't know what the answer is.

RIP RedEye9. We miss you.