On March 9th, 2008, at 4:00 P.M. EDT, the XYZZY Awards Ceremony was held at ifMUD. Below is the transcript of the event, including side-comments that those in attendance made on the #peanut-gallery channel. Should you not wish to see those comments, an expurgated version is also available.

 

lpsmith walks to the front and steps up onto the stage.
lpsmith waves to everyone!
Thrax says (to Miseri), "I'd be surprised if it were up to code"
Ellison says, "I do not have a hidden beanstalk. I'm just happy to see you all"
yandexx asks, "Is this ceremony legal?"
lpsmith exclaims, "Welcome, everyone, to the XYZZY awards for the best games of 2007!"
duesen says, "not really"
Gunther says (to yandexx), "only in California#"
DavidW clap
Jota exclaims, "Woo!"
VictorGijsbers rolls in the kettle drums for the Richard Strauss sound effects.
zarf says, "woot"
Jacqueline applauds.
yandexx claps
duesen whistles
Miseri says (to Thrax), "I think it's up to Code. The 1827 Code, but nevertheless."
Ellison claps
Merk exclaims, "Hey all!"
Gunther turns on applaudinator
Sargent says, "Yay!"
McMartin awaits with properly-spelled bated breath
Miseri applauds.
Guenni turns on applaudinator
djfletch exclaims, "Hurrah!"
Eric applauds
Taleslinger takes a puff on his cigarette, clapping one-handed.
Miseri baits breath with cheese.
lpsmith says, "This makes the 11th Annual Awards, and (I believe) our 10th year here on ifMUD."
DavidW says, "ack. no cigs!"
Taleslinger gives cigarettes to David.
Jaybird says, "This is our eleventh year on ifmud"
Otto walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice him approaching it from the other side.
lpsmith exclaims (at Jaybird), "Well then!"
lpsmith exclaims, "So thank you all for coming!"
[peanut-gallery] Jota says (to W), "Fortunately, our fire-prevention system automatically generates an impermeable forcefield around any smokers."
Thrax says, "and we're approaching our 100,000th 'yay'"
[peanut-gallery] DavidW says, "whew"
yandexx exclaims, "yay!"
Ellison says, "haha"
NamelessAdventurer walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice it approaching it from the other side.
duesen exclaims, "shh!"
[peanut-gallery] Gunther says, "also airtight, as he will soon discover."
[peanut-gallery] Taleslinger screams: "Let me outta here!
Thrax says (to yandexx), "step over here for your medal"
lpsmith says, "Remember to try to keep chatter to #peanut-gallery, but feel free to cheer and stuff in the main room."
[peanut-gallery] Sargent says, "Soon the ceremony will wear its hair over its eyes and listen to Dashboard Confessional"
yandexx comes to Thrax
Jaybird asks, "Hey! Whre's PerrySimm?"
[peanut-gallery] Taleslinger bangs weakly on the forcefield.
[peanut-gallery] McMartin asks, "emo ceremonies?"
[peanut-gallery] Merk is going to cheer in the peanut-gallery.
[peanut-gallery] djfletch chatters
[peanut-gallery] Guenni asks, "Ice cream anyone?"
djfletch cheers and stuffs
lpsmith exclaims, "As is traditional, we start with the award for Best Use of Medium, and here to present the award, your friend and mine, NamelessAdventurer!"
Gunther says, "w00t"
DavidW cheers.
NamelessAdventurer walks to the stage.
Thrax gives yandexx a medallion inscribed YAY
McMartin channels
yandexx exclaims, "yay!"
Taleslinger says, "yay!"
NamelessAdventurer says, "The 'Best Use of Medium' was not part of the originaly XYZZY awards in 1996, but was introduced in 1997."
<BrenBarn> a /= b
Celestianpower cheers
DavidW says, "ooh, history"
NamelessAdventurer says, "Kathleen Fisher introduced the idea, claiming we needed an award for "the game that reduces the number of "You can't see any such thing." and "You can't do that." to a bare minimum.""
[peanut-gallery] zarf says, "Damn new-fangled additions"
NamelessAdventurer says, "Based on the nominees, however, everyone basically ignored this."
[peanut-gallery] Sargent says, "heh"
Gunther asks, "oh, is that what it is?"
NamelessAdventurer says, "Instead, people seem to vote for games that live up to what the title more directly implies: cool or interesting ideas that turn out to make fun IF."
<PerrySimm> PerrySimm has connected to ifMUD.
Jacqueline pushes the button on her new applaudinator.
[peanut-gallery] Thrax says, "yay repurposing"
PerrySimm walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice it approaching it from the other side.
NamelessAdventurer says, "Past winners include a game written entirely in a made-up language, Shakespeare as IF, and other games that brought new ideas to the medium."
NamelessAdventurer says, "And this year we have five games nominated that continue that great tradition."
NamelessAdventurer says, "The nominees this year are:"
NamelessAdventurer says, "An Act of Murder, by Christopher Huang as "Hugh Dunnett". The clever idea in this one is that you're solving murder with randomly-generated murderer and clues."
[peanut-gallery] olethros says, "haha"
DavidW cheers for Miseri
[peanut-gallery] Miseri says, "oh, that would never work."
olethros says, "hoooray"
[peanut-gallery] Gunther says, "ooh, recaps for those who have not played! I approve"
Taleslinger claps.
Emily says, "yay!"
McMartin cheers, unless we're saving our applause or something
[peanut-gallery] Thrax says (to Miseri), "no, you should try it"
Merk exclaims, "Goo luck!!"
Jota claps.
Merk says, "Good, even."
[peanut-gallery] Thrax says, "it's really very good"
[peanut-gallery] olethros says, "I second!"
NamelessAdventurer says, "Deadline Enchanter, by Alan DeNiro as "Anonymous" An Infocom mash-up with 'Enchanter'-style spells within the 'Deadline' setup."
Jacqueline says, "Good luck!"
NamelessAdventurer checks his notes.
NamelessAdventurer says, "Wait, no."
DavidW says, "ha ha"
McMartin says, "oy"
NamelessAdventurer says, "I guess this is supposed to be a crazy game with a note from yourself and a built-in walkthrough you have to follow."
Emily says, "ha"
Jacqueline says, "Um, to both of those. Good luck to bother of those."
yandexx applauds
Jacqueline says, "Also, hahaha."
yandexx liked this one. And don't you laugh.
olethros laughs. Outloud
Jota claps for whichever version is actualyl nominated.
[peanut-gallery] McMartin says, "This report is due on Tuesday, and it's a DEADLINE +3"
Merk claps
Emerald claps for Act of Murder and Deadline Enchanter.
NamelessAdventurer says, "Fate, by Victor Gijsbers. A game that asks what you're willing to do for your unborn daughter."
McMartin claps
duesen says, "wow"
Jota claps again.
olethros says, "really"
Merk Claps
DavidW claps
olethros whistles.
jscott walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice him approaching it from the other side.
Taleslinger says, "Yay!"
yandexx whistles
Jacqueline claps.
NamelessAdventurer says, "Lost Pig, by Admiral Jota as "Grunk". A game with a strongly characterized but nontraditional protagonist."
Emerald claps.
Guenni pushes button on applaudinator.
Merk claps.
McMartin hit hand with other hand
olethros says, "hoot hoot hoot"
Jacqueline's applaudinator claps for her, but then Jacqueline claps along.
DavidW says, "hooray nontraditional"
[peanut-gallery] baf says, "Lost Pig also fits Kathleen's original intent well."
Taleslinger like game. Taleslinger clap. Pig clap, too.
NamelessAdventurer says, "Slap That Fish, by Peter Nepstad, where you fight fish rpg-style in non-random combat."
[peanut-gallery] Jacqueline says (to Taleslinger), "Yay"
<WeirdBeard> Your sword's blowing glue! Let me try that again. Your sword's glowing blue!
baf applauds wildly
Jota claps that fish.
[peanut-gallery] olethros says, "huh"
[peanut-gallery] DavidW says (to baf), "true dat"
McMartin Woo for doomfish!
Jacqueline applauds.
olethros asks, "who claps for the fishies?"
Merk Claps again.
NamelessAdventurer says, "And the winner is..."
Taleslinger gasps.
yandexx slaps everyone a bit with a small trout
[peanut-gallery] Sargent says, "In the JRPG version of Slap That Fish, they're all pieces of sushi"
NamelessAdventurer exclaims, "Alan DeNiro, for Deadline Enchanter!"
Emily says, "yay!"
Sargent says, "Yay Deadline Enchanter!"
DavidW says, "woot!"
Jota applauds.
olethros says, "GO GO GO Alan DeNiro!"
zarf cheers
duesen claps like crazy!
Miseri applauds
Baryon cheers
Eric applauds loudly
djfletch claps
olethros looks around for Alan.
yandexx exclaims, "yahoo!"
Emerald says, "yay Deadline Enchanter!"
NamelessAdventurer asks, "Do we have an Alan DeNiro in the house?"
Merk asks, "Cool! Way to go!! Is Alan here?"
McMartin exclaims, "Hooray!"
McMartin cheers
Taleslinger tramples.
Guenni for a change, Guenni claps herself
NamelessAdventurer peers at the audience.
DavidW says, ">yomin Mr Robner"
Eric exclaims, "Congatulations!"
Jacqueline applauds for Alan.
NamelessAdventurer exclaims, "Well, we can send him his award later. Congratulations to him and to all the nominees!"
Celestianpower applauds raptuously
VictorGijsbers plays the barrel organ some more, producing more festive music.
yandexx exclaims, "Congrats!"
Emily says, "woo"
Taleslinger gnustos.
lpsmith exclaims, "Thanks, Nameless!"
Merk says, "Well done, Nameless."
Taleslinger asks, "Will we ever see you again?"