GDC 2011 - Game Developers Choice Awards

The Game Developers Choice Awards kicked off right after the Independent Game Festival awards show, with Double Fine studio head Tim Schaefer hosting it once again. Schaefer pulled out all the stops and delivered a funny and entertaining presentation throughout the 1 hour awards time. Schaefer makes jokes about various things throughout the show, taking a jab at his one-time enemy Bobby Kotick, engaging in a healthy discussion about the difference between Roger Ebert’s perspective on the games-are-indeed-art-(or not) debate and the meaning of visual art, and his games not winning any awards that night. The jokes were as clever as they were funny, and who can forget the hilarious videos of longtime GDC contributor, Mega 64?

 

 

Honors were also given to industry luminaries: the Ambassador of the Year Award was given out to both Tim Brengle and Ian McKenzie for helping others get jobs in the industry; Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Lionhead studio head Peter Molyneaux (also of Fable series); last but certainly not the least, the Pioneer Award was granted to Sega legend, Yu Suzuki (Shenmue, Outrun, Space Harrier). Suzuki was also the subject of a parody video by Mega 64, detailing the “true” ending to Shenmue.

 

The awards show ended in a high note, with Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption taking 4 awards that night, Minecraft with 3, and Limbo, Mass Effect 2, and Cut the Rope taking home one award each. Tim Schaefer also announces Double Fine’s latest downloadable game called Trenched, complete with a trailer.

 

You all know these games, so they don’t need any introduction. So, without further ado, here are the results for the 2011 Game Developers Choice Awards:

 

Winner for Best Audio: Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego)

Other nominees: Limbo, Halo: Reach, Mass Effect 2, Battlefield: Bad Company 2

 

Winner for Best Debut Game:Minecraft (Mojang)

Other nominees: Limbo, Monday Night Combat, Darksiders, Super Meat Boy

 

Winner for Best Writing:Mass Effect 2 (Bioware)

Other nominees: Fallout: New Vegas, Heavy Rain, Red Dead Redemption, Costume Quest

 

Winner for Best Game Design:Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego)

Other nominees: Limbo, Mass Effect 2, Super Mario Galaxy 2, God of War III

 

Winner for Best Downloadable Game: Minecraft (Mojang)

Other nominees: Limbo, Monday Night Combat, Super Meat Boy, Costume Quest

 

Winner for Best Visual Art:Limbo (Playdead Studios)

Other nominees: Call of Duty: Black Ops, Red Dead Redemption, God of War III, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

 

Winner for Best Technology:Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego)

Other nominees: Mass Effect 2, Heavy Rain, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty, God of War III

 

Winner for Best Handheld Game:Cut the Rope (ZeptoLab)

Other nominees: God of War: Ghost of Sparta, Dragon Quest IX, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Game Dev Story

 

Winner of the Innovation Award:Minecraft (Mojang)

Other nominees: Limbo, Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Dance Central, Heavy Rain

 

And the Game of the Year goes to…

 

Red Dead Redemption!

 

Other nominees: Call of Duty: Black Ops, Limbo, Mass Effect 2, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

 

Aaannnd…that about wraps up our coverage for the Game Developers Choice Awards! Tune in next year to catch the next annual Game Developers Choice Awards at GDC 2012!

 

David Gabriel, NoobFeed.