19:58 (BST), 22/08/2008

GC - Games Convention 2008

21 - 24 August 2008

(Press & Trade Visitor Day: 20 August 2008)

For the sixth time, the Leipziger Messe has awarded the title of "Best of GC" to the most innovative new products at the GC - Games Convention. This year's winners in nine categories were announced yesterday evening. A total of 29 exhibitors at the GC - Games Convention had submitted 122 hardware items and software titles (2006: 85) for the award.

The happy winners were:

SPORE - Electronic Arts

In "Spore", Will Wright lets players create their own species and send them off on a journey through five billion years of evolutionary history. In the process, he succeeds in combining elements from casual, strategy, role-play and action simulations into a single game - and opens the door to a games galaxy in which all living elements are designed by the players themselves. "Spore" is at the same time both complex and comprehensible and will have an inspirational effect on video game development for many years to come.

MIRROR'S EDGE - Electronic Arts

"Mirror's Edge" sends its title heroine "Faith" off into a modern police state full of contrasting colours and vertiginous architecture. The special achievement of the action adventure is to cloak the player particularly closely in the skin of his or her avatar. Acrobatic leaps, fierce close combat and the character's increasing exhaustion are almost physically perceptible.

RESISTANCE: RETRIBUTION -

Sony Computer Entertainment Deutschland

This makes it official at last: shooters for out and about can be fun. With outstanding visuals, in "Resistance: Retribution" neither the small console nor the gamer can take a breather till Europe has been liberated from an extraterrestrial fleet of invaders. It also includes a multiplayer setting for up to eight players.

LITTLE BIG PLANET -

Sony Computer Entertainment Deutschland

Sony brings new life to an old genre, the laterally scrolling platformer. It also adds both a social and a creative element to the console world: the gamer community becomes the developer community. "Little Big Planet" comes with a convincingly vivid backdrop and almost unlimited possibilities with entertaining level structure.

SKATE IT - Electronic Arts

The Wii Fit Balance Board can do much more than just aerobics and yoga: by shifting weight and skilful use of the Nunchuk, the player carries out the most amazing tricks in (four) virtual roles. A genuine skater feel is created on the run through half-pipes and over ramps. "Skate it" gives an authentic and original recreation of the trend sport and benefits from the special features of the Nintendo console.

SONIC CHRONICLES: Die Dunkle Bruderschaft - SEGA

What looks at first like a colourful jump'n'run, turns out after only a few minutes to be an atmospheric RPG. Thanks to the exciting story, the amusing dialogue and the tactical fight system, older Sonic fans will also find this very entertaining. BioWare has given the DS an epic adventure all about the blue hedgehog.

In the category BEST MOBILE Game:

PES 2009 - Konami

Smoothly animated mini-players, a passing game and runs into the centre - it's all possible, even on a small mobile phone screen. Depending on the type of phone and with a certain amount of practice, the one-button control makes even complex game moves possible. "PES 2009" for mobile phones even allows for multiplayer games by Bluetooth and is much more than just a stopgap to pass the time.

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning - GOA GOA (developed by Mythic Entertainment)

The creators of the online RPG legend "Dark Age of Camelot", still so successful today, are back with "Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning". GOA squares up to the alpha male "World of Warcraft" with spectacular visuals, innovative play modi, neat control and an enormous, appealing fantasy world.

PlayTV - Sony Computer Entertainment Deutschland

The PlayTV enables users to record, play back and pause for playback of TV programmes received in DVB-T format. This is the first time that a game console serves as a hard drive recorder. The remote function is particularly impressive, making it possible to watch recorded TV shows or live TV programmes on the Playstation Portable (PSP).

As there were too few entrants, no award was made in this category.

With the "Best of GC" title, the GC - Games Convention awards the computer and video game industry's most outstanding product achievements every year. Exhibitors at the GC - Games Convention had until 1 August 2008 to make submissions in the category hardware accessories as well as in the categories Best Game PC, Xbox 360, PSP, PS2, PS3, Wii, NDS, mobile and online. All companies exhibiting at the GC were eligible, if their products could be played in the public area and had not been published before the fair.

Torsten Anke, Press Officer

Phone: +49 (0) 341 678 8198

Fax: +49 (0) 341 678 8182

E-mail: t.anke@leipziger-messe.de

Peggy Schönbeck, Project Director

Phone: +49 (0) 341 678 8281

Fax: +49 (0) 341 678 8282

E-mail: p.schoenbeck@leipziger-messe.de

http://www.gc-germany.com

http://www.gcdc.eu

http://www.leipziger-messe.de