That's a fair point (the objective metrics). That being said, if we look at the recent awards for the MLB season that just concluded, many of the awards defied statistical logic. A player that should have gotten a Gold Glove award (a defensive award) didn't get it despite having better defensive stats. Panels and fan voting do not go hand in hand.

I think E33 is a rare case that we don't get to see often, and I would argue that it deserves to, at the very least, be in the categories it is nominated for. I think for a game to be in the GOTY nomination there also needs be some very strong individual aspects of it to get there. So, in theory, I think it makes sense to have an overwhelming presence.

I don't think E33 being in those categories is objective, it is voted in which means subjective, right? The panelists feel that it should be in that category. And, to just play to the scenario, if we say E33 wins them all, that doesn't mean it is better, it just means that voters feel it was better, not that it is an objective fact that you can fact check through a legal bill or anything. I feel that is subjective, no?

That being said, if it is anything like last year, they have a bunch of unqualified panelists having far too much of an opinion so it's best to just treat it as an entertainment event rather than the results being "truth".

Try the same example but with Lord of the Rings and Oscars?

E33 is not an indie! Stop saying this! It's published by Kepler Interactive! It's a great game, you dont need to put artificial feathers in its cap. (I'm not actually made about this despite the exclamations but Indie has become such a nothing term because its been abused to hell)