Not unlike the rest of the entertainment industry, the vast majority of philosophically and ontologically compelling games don't make it into the mainstream.
As bullshit as the Oscars are, they at least try. There is no equivalent in the Gaming industry.
Just check out Galatea. Very few people know about that game, but it is amazing.
The Independent Games Festival gives awards out to plenty of games no one has ever heard of.
Even the Game Awards, the most Oscar-like award show that video games have, gives awards to smaller, more "artsy" titles. For instance "Her Story" won best narrative for 2015 over more mainstream blockbuster titles like "The Witcher 3".
The Witcher 3 can hardly be categorized as a "mainstream blockbuster." It's more akin to a cult classic that was finally accepted by a larger audience.
Beyond that the original comment was lamenting the lack of a central cultural authority on gaming, which there is none (and I don't think there necessarily needs to be one given the lack of marketable personalities or reasons to watch one beyond ad space). "Her Story" was recognized last year because of its approachable, non-linear play mixed with FMV, but there dozens of other titles released that would be easier to argue for as "art" that aren't going be recognized in any notable manner. Does something need to have recognition to designated as art? No. Neither sculptures nor paintings have award shows, so I think it's fair to say that artistic merit goes beyond gaming having an Oscars.
There are many attempts, but most people don't care. You like what you like, awards are generally bullshit and gamed.
The only industry award for gaming I respect are those given out at GDC to industry people who've had an impact on the industry and a few games, but it isn't a spectacle, its more a pat on the back from other industry members.
I don't think people don't care. It's just like sales/marketing - you need to communicate the value of artistic games to the people.
No one cared about quality in the early days of film/tv either. But, eventually, some people saw value in them as an art form, and started helping others understand how.
As bullshit as the Oscars are, they at least try. There is no equivalent in the Gaming industry.
Just check out Galatea. Very few people know about that game, but it is amazing.