2009 British Academy Video Game Awards
Call of Duty 4, Boom Blox and Dead Space among the tearful winners.
Wednesday 11th March/...Tonight, Steven Spielberg claimed his third BAFTA mask, but this time it was not for a film but for his début as a games creator with his Boom Blox winning the BAFTA in the Casual category, outplaying Guitar Hero, LittleBigPlanet, Singstar Vol 2, Wii Fit and Buzz! Quiz TV.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare which plunges its players into the frenzied epicentre of a 21st century war zone won for Gameplay, Story & Character and also proved to be the public's game of choice, winning the GAME Award of 2008 with a record 60,000 gamers casting their votes this year. The shortlist of titles in the public award category were derived from the top-selling games sold in GAME stores in 2008.
The GAME British Academy Video Games Awards which took place at the London Hilton on Park Lane, were hosted by games aficionado Dara O'Briain who described these times as a 'Golden Age' for video games. Consoles like the Wii, and handheld devices like the PSP, DS and iPhone have revolutionised the gaming world and made games accessible to all ages, making what was once described as a rather solitary hobby for teenage boys into a very social and stimulating leisure pursuit for the whole family. This year's winners certainly showcase the creative innovation taking place in the games sector.
Dead Space, the bone-chilling, deep space, horror survival game took the coveted BAFTA mask in both sound categories (Use of Audio and Original Score) evoking a genuinely scary atmosphere onboard the game's deserted space ship. One of the most fiercely contended awards, Artistic Achievement, went to the stitched and glued 3D world that is LittleBigPlanet while the Technical Achievement BAFTA went to Spore, which allows players to control the development of a species from its beginnings as a single cell organism, to an intelligent and social creature, a tribe, a civilisation and then once uploaded to the internet, interacting with other civilisations.
In the Strategy category, Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution, the latest iteration of a game which first appeared 15 years ago, proved that strategy games requiring clever thinking, tactical planning and logistical exploration are as compelling today as they were last century.
FIFA 09 and Football Manager took on Wii Fit, but it was Race Driver: GRID which outraced the monster trucks and rally cars of Motorstorm Pacific Rift and the off-road quad bikes of PURE to claim the BAFTA for Sport.
Left 4 Dead took the BAFTA in the Multiplayer category, Fable II won in Action and Adventure, while Professor Layton and the Curious Village was victorious in the Handheld category. This year's highly-prized Best Game went to Super Mario Galaxy which fought off very stiff competition from Call of Duty 4 : Modern Warfare, Fable II, Fallout 3, Grand Theft Auto IV and Rock Band.
The Academy is keen to nurture and encourage the up-and-coming stars in games, as well as recognising those at the peak of their talent. This year's ceremony also included The BAFTA Ones To Watch Award. Working with the University of Abertay and its Dare To be Digital competition, this award was contended by three groups of university graduates who had each designed a new game prototype. The winning game was Boro-Toro, designed by a team calling themselves DarkMatter Designs.
The climax of the evening saw Jonathan Ross present the Academy's highest honour, the Fellowship, to one of the founding fathers of the video games industry, electrical engineer, entrepreneur and founder of Atari inc, Nolan Bushnell. Credited by many for kick-starting the video games revolution, his Pong was the first video game to achieve widespread popularity in both the arcade and home console markets.
In an exclusive Q&A at BAFTA on March 19, Nolan Bushnell will discuss the past, present and future of social gaming*.
Ends.(**For full winners list - see below.)
NOTES TO EDITORS
About BAFTA:
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is the UK's leading organisation dedicated to the recognition and promotion of excellence in the fields of the moving image.
About the judging process:
Games were entered by developers and publishers into all the categories listed in this release and were initially voted on by BAFTA games members and approximately 200 additional industry experts via a secure website. The titles garnering the most votes went through to the category-specific juries who received the games approximately six weeks prior to making their nominations. Each juror signed confidentiality papers and cast their votes in writing. The results in each category are not known until the envelope is opened on the night.
* The Nolan Bushnell Q&A takes place at BAFTA from 6pm, Thursday 19 March (tickets £7.50, please book in advance. Price includes champagne reception. BAFTA members free). Go to www.bafta.org/whats-on/ or contact Dave Green on 07742 711026 or 0207 734 0022.
About GAME:
GAME is Europe's leading specialist retailer of pc and video game products. Since the start of trading in 1991 with 11 stores in the UK, it has grown both organically and through acquisition to a chain of over 1,300 outlets in January 2009. It operates stores in ten countries, supported by eCommerce websites. Online retail is located at www.game.co.uk.
About the GAME Award of 2008
Each panellist was sent a list in advance of the top selling games sold in GAME stores in 2008 and selected their top 10 plus up to three more suggestions of their own. These results were collated and a shortlist of 20 was drawn up. The panel then convened on January 22 2009 at BAFTA and after various stages of discussion, reached a shortlist of 10 for the public to vote upon. Voting took place at www.baftagameaward.com and was open to anyone to vote from around the world between February 10 - midday on March 7. More than 60,000 votes were cast.
For further corporate information, log onto www.gamegroup.plc.uk.
About the GAME Award of 2008 The panel: Johnny Minkley - Eurogamer, Alex Wiltshire - Edge, Steve Boxer - The Guardian, Jason Bradbury - The Gadget Show, Jonathan Weinberg - News of the World, Adam Rosser - Radio Five Live, Michael French - MCV & Develop, Martin Stanford - Sky News, Ross Atherton - PC Gamer, Jon Hicks - Official X Box Magazine, Tom Clark - Official Playstation magazine, Neil Long - Official Nintendo magazine, Nick Cowen - The Daily Telegraph, Keith Chegwin - gamer, Rhianna Pratchett - writer and freelance Margaret Robertson.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Nominated - normal type
Winners - bold type
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ACTION & ADVENTURE
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Development Team
Infinity Ward/Activision
Dead Space
Glen Schofield, Chuck Beaver, Bret Robbins
Electronic Arts/Electronic Arts
Fable II
Development Team
Lionhead Studios/Microsoft Game Studios
Grand Theft Auto IV
Development Team
Rockstar North/Rockstar Games
Prince Of Persia
Ben Mattes, Jean-Christophe Guyot
Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft Entertainment
Tomb Raider: Underworld
Development Team
Crystal Dynamics/Eidos
ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT
Assassin's Creed
Jade Raymond, Patrice Desilets, Claude Langlais
Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft Entertainment
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Development Team
Infinity Ward/Activision
Dead Space
Ian Milham
Electronic Arts/Electronic Arts
Gears of War 2
Development Team
Epic Games/Microsoft Game Studios
LittleBigPlanet
Kareem Ettouney, Mark Healey, Leo Cubbin
Media Molecule & XDev Studio Europe/Sony Computer Entertainment
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Yoji Shinkawa
Kojima Productions/Konami Digital Entertainment
BEST GAME
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Development Team
Infinity Ward/Activision
Fable II
Development Team
Lionhead Studios/Microsoft Game Studio
Fallout 3
Todd Howard, Emil Pagliarulo, Gavin Carter
Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks Europe
Grand Theft Auto IV
Development Team
Rockstar North/Rockstar Games
Rock Band
Alex Rigopulos, Eran Egozy, Mike Dornbrook
Harmonix Music Systems/MTV Games
Super Mario Galaxy
Development Team
Nintendo/Nintendo
CASUAL
Boom Blox
Steven Spielberg, Louis Castle, Amir Rahimi
Electronic Arts LA/Electronic Arts
Buzz! Quiz TV
David Amor, Andrew Eades, Lee Clare
Relentless Software & XDev Studio Europe/Sony Computer Entertainment
Guitar Hero: World Tour
Development Team
Neversoft/Activision
LittleBigPlanet
Mark Healey, Dave Smith, Pete Smith
Media Molecule & XDev Studio Europe/Sony Computer Entertainment
SingStar Vol. 2
Vera So, Gillian Connole, Kevin Mason
SCE London Studio/Sony Computer Entertainment
Wii Fit
Development Team
Nintendo/Nintendo
GAMEPLAY
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Development Team
Infinity Ward/Activision
Grand Theft Auto IV
Development Team
Rockstar North/Rockstar Games
Left 4 Dead
Gabe Newell, Mike Booth, Chet Faliszek
Valve/Valve
Mario Kart Wii
Development Team
Nintendo/Nintendo
Rock Band
Alex Rigopulos, Dan Teasdale, Tracy Rosenthal-Newsom
Harmonix Music Systems/MTV Games
Super Mario Galaxy
Development Team
Nintendo/Nintendo
HANDHELD
Geometry Wars: Galaxies
Development Team
Doublesix/Sierra
God of War: Chains of Olympus
Development Team
Ready at Dawn & SCE Santa Monica Studio/Sony Computer Entertainment
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Development Team
Nintendo/Nintendo
Patapon
Development Team
Pyramid & SCE Japan Studio/Sony Computer Entertainment
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Development Team
Nintendo/Nintendo
Soul Bubbles
Olivier Lejade, Omar Cornut, Frederick Raynal
Mekensleep/Eidos
MULTIPLAYER
Buzz! Quiz TV
David Amor, Andrew Eades, Lee ClareRelentless Software XDev Studio Europe/Sony Computer Entertainment
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Development Team
Infinity Ward/Activision
Gears of War 2
Development Team
Epic Games/Microsoft Game Studios
Left 4 Dead
Gabe Newell, Mike Booth, Chet Faliszek
Valve/Valve
Mario Kart Wii
Development Team
Nintendo/Nintendo
Rock Band
Alex Rigopulos, Kasson Crooker
Harmonix Music Systems/MTV Games
ORIGINAL SCORE
Assassin's Creed
Jesper Kyd
Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft Entertainment
Dead Space
Jason Graves, Don Veca
Electronic Arts/Electronic Arts
Fable II
Russell Shaw
Lionhead Studios/Microsoft Game Studios
Fallout 3
Inon Zur
Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks Europe
LittleBigPlanet
Kenneth Young, Mat Clark, Daniel Pemberton
Media Molecule & XDev Studio Europe/Sony Computer Entertainment
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Harry Gregson-Williams
Kojima Productions/Konami Digital Entertainment
SPORTS
FIFA 09
Andrew Wilson, David Rutter, Gary Paterson
EA Canada/Electronic Arts
Football Manager 2009
Development Team
Sports Interactive/SEGA
Motorstorm Pacific Rift
Development Team
Evolution Studios/Sony Computer Entertainment
Pure
Development Team
Black Rock Studios/Disney Interactive Studios
Race Driver: GRID
Development Team
Codemasters Studios/Codemasters
Wii Fit
Development Team
Nintendo/Nintendo
STORY AND CHARACTER
Assassin's Creed
Jade Raymond, Patrice Desilets, Claude Langlais
Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft Entertainment
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Development Team
Infinity Ward/Activision
Fable II
Development Team
Lionhead Studios/Microsoft Game Studios
Fallout 3
Todd Howard, Emil Pagliarulo
Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks Europe
Grand Theft Auto IV
Development Team
Rockstar North/Rockstar Games
Mass Effect
Casey Hudson, Drew Karpyshyn, Derek Watts
Bioware/Electronic Arts
STRATEGY
Advance Wars: Dark Conflict
Development Team
Nintendo/Nintendo
Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3
Development Team
EA Los Angeles/Electronic Arts
Ninjatown
Brandon Curiel, Jeremy Pope, Shawn Smith
Venan in conjunction with Cashmere Productions & Shawnimals/SouthPeak Games
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution
Development Team
Firaxis Games/2K Games
SOCOM: US Navy Seals Tactical Strike
Development Team
Slant Six Games & SCE Foster City Studio/Sony Computer Entertainment
Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise
Gary Richards, Paul Machacek, Joe Humfrey
Rare/THQ
TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Assassin's Creed
Jade Raymond, Patrice Desilets, Claude Langlais
Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft Entertainment
Fable II
Development Team
Lionhead Studios/Microsoft Game Studios
Fallout 3
Todd Howard, Guy Carver
Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks Europe
Grand Theft Auto IV
Development Team
Rockstar North/Rockstar Games
LittleBigPlanet
Alex Evans, Dave Smith, Leo Cubbin
Media Molecule & XDev Studio Europe/Sony Computer Entertainment
Spore
Development Team
Electronic Arts Montreal/Electronic Arts
USE OF AUDIO
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Development Team
Infinity Ward/Activision
Dead Space
Don Veca
Electronic Arts/Electronic Arts
Gears of War 2
Development Team
Epic Games/Microsoft Games Studios
Grand Theft Auto IV
Development Team
Rockstar North/Rockstar Games
LittleBigPlanet
Kenneth Young, Mark Healey, Leo Cubbin
Media Molecule & XDev Studio Europe/Sony Computer Entertainment
Super Mario Galaxy
Development Team
Nintendo/Nintendo
THE BAFTA FELLOWSHIP
Nolan Bushnell
BAFTA ONES TO WATCH AWARD in association with Dare to Be Digital
Boro-Toro
Adam Westwood, Graham Ranson, Yves Wheeler, Matthew Booton, Owen Schwehr (DarkMatter Designs)
Origamee
Richard Barlow, Alberto Fustinoni, Jonathon Holmes, Kevin Dunlop, Jade Law
(Blue Skies)
VegeMe
Guo Lin, Gao Ting, Zhang Jun, Laing Wei, Alexander Syminton
(Ctrl_D)
GAME Award of 2008
(The only award to be voted for by the public)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Infinity Ward/Activision
Fallout 3
Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Software Europe
Gears of War 2
Epic Games/Microsoft Game Studios
Grand Theft Auto IV
Rockstar North/Rockstar Games
Guitar Hero World Tour
Neversoft/Activision
Left 4 Dead
Valve/Valve
LittleBigPlanet
Media Molecule & XDEV Studio Europe/Sony Computer Entertainment
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Nintendo/Nintendo
Wii Fit
Nintendo/Nintendo
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
Blizzard Entertainment/Blizzard Entertainment
NOTES TO EDITORS:
About BAFTA:
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is the UK's leading organisation dedicated to the recognition and promotion of excellence in the fields of the moving image. Renowned for its high profile Film & Television Awards ceremonies, the prestigious BAFTA mask has long been seen as a symbol of excellence.
About the judging process:
Games were entered by developers and publishers into all the categories listed in this release and were initially voted on by BAFTA games members and approximately 200 additional industry experts via a secure website.
The titles garnering the most votes went through to the category-specific juries who received the games approximately six weeks prior to making their nominations.
Each juror signed confidentiality papers and cast their votes in writing. The results in each category are not known until the envelope is opened on the night.
*The Nolan Bushnell Q&A takes place at BAFTA from 6pm, Thursday 19 March, at 195 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LN (tickets £7.50, please book in advance. Price includes champagne reception. BAFTA members free). Go to www.bafta.org/whats-on/ or contact Dave Green on 07742 711026 or 0207 734 0022.
About GAME:
GAME is Europe's leading specialist retailer of pc and video game products. Since the start of trading in 1991 with 11 stores in the UK, it has grown both organically and through acquisition to a chain of over 1,300 outlets in January 2009. It operates stores in ten countries, supported by eCommerce websites. Online retail is located at www.game.co.uk.
For further corporate information, log onto www.gamegroup.plc.uk.
About the GAME Award of 2008
Each panellist was sent a list in advance of the top selling games sold in GAME stores in 2008 and selected their top 10 plus up to 3 more suggestions of their own. These results were collated and a shortlist of 20 was drawn up. The panel then convened on January 22 2009 at BAFTA and after various stages of discussion, reached a shortlist of 10 for the public to vote upon. Voting took place at www.baftagameaward.com and was open to anyone to vote from around the world between February 10 - midday on March 7. More than 60,000 votes were cast.
The panel: Johnny Minkley - Eurogamer, Alex Wiltshire - Edge, Steve Boxer - The Guardian, Jason Bradbury - The Gadget Show, Jonathan Weinberg - The News of the World, Adam Rosser - Radio Five Live, Michael French - MCV & Develop, Martin Stanford - Sky News, Ross Atherton - PC Gamer, Jon Hicks - Official X Box Magazine, Tom Clark - Official Playstation magazine, Neil Long - Official Nintendo magazine, Nick Cowen - The Daily Telegraph, Keith Chegwin - gamer, Rhianna Pratchett - writer and freelance Margaret Robertson.