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Story by Nathan Grayson

Mon, Jan 05, 2009 | 12:37 GMT

Eurogamer responds to Peter Moore’s “WTF?”

EA Sports president Peter Moore’s Christmas could’ve been better. After tearing through five days’ worth of wrapping paper, the one gift he most desired failed to materialize. And sadly, no amount of Hallmark-disguised holiday cash will ever net FIFA 09 a spot on Eurogamer’s prestigious Top 50.

“Huh? WTF?? As in WHERE THE HELL IS FIFA 09???” Moore blogged after his breadwinner failed to nab even a participation ribbon.

“Now I get that the sports genre is the Rodney Dangerfield of games when the awards are handed out. But c’mon, one of the best sports games of recent times not even in the Top 50? This title will sell in excess of 10 million units when all is done and dusted, but doesn’t even rank a mention?”

In response, Eurogamer reiterated its award policy, giving a disappointed shake of the head to readers world over.

“Most damaging of all though, people still believe we are presenting these as the definitive games of the year when, as the above illustrates, we are not,” Eurogamer editor Tom Bramwell emphasized. “The Readers’ Top 50, to which over a thousand people contributed, reflects much broader tastes.”

“The formula is designed to highlight games that our staff and core contributors have played – whether through choice or obligation – and then enjoyed over the year. We take top ten lists from our core staff and contributors, and combine them to produce the list of 50 games, which we then comment on as a group. Unfortunately for Peter, we sports fans form a minority of Eurogamer’s editorial staff.”

So there you go. No Electoral College here, folks. Just awful, awful bias.

By Nathan Grayson