Sony ignored among 2006 Spike TV major awards winners
Spike TV has released the list of its 2006 Video Game Awards winners, expunging all temptation to tune into the televised presentation this coming Wednesday. While the results hold little standing in the industry, it's interesting to note that Sony has seemingly fallen out of popularity with Spike TV's award ceremony, perhaps implying a shift in popular brand.Last year, Sony enjoyed (at least shares in) Game of the Year, Best Action Game, Best Original Score, Best Graphics, Best Handheld Game, and Best Technology; this year, Xbox 360 is tied to all of those awards (except 'Best Technology' & 'Handheld Game'), along with Studio of the Year, Best Shooter, Best Multiplayer Game, Best RPG, Best Racing Game, and Most Addictive. Sony currently has stake in none*.
Sure, PlayStation 3 hasn't even been on the market for a month, but Wii managed to earn the 'Breakthrough Technology' award, and Twilight Princess nabbed Critic's Choice; plus, with New Super Mario Bros., DS won out over PSP. Is 'Comeback Company of the Year' in the cards for Sony in 2007?
*Oblivion will end up on PlayStation 3 next year.
Full list of award winners:
GAME OF THE YEAR
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Bethesda Softworks)
BEST INDIVIDUAL SPORTS GAME
Tony Hawk Project 8 (Activision/Neversoft)
BEST TEAM SPORTS GAME
NBA2K7 (2K Sports/Visual Concepts)
BEST SONG
"Lights and Sounds" by YellowCard in Burnout Revenge, XBOX 360 (Electronic
Arts/Criterion Games)
BEST SOUNDTRACK
Guitar Hero II (Red Octane/Harmonix)
STUDIO OF THE YEAR
Epic Games (Gears of War)
BEST WIRELESS GAME
SWAT Force (Vivendi/KAOLink)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A HUMAN - MALE
Patrick Stewart in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Bethesda Softworks)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A HUMAN - FEMALE
Vida Guerra in Scarface: The World is Yours (Vivendi/Radical
Entertainment)
BEST CAST
Family Guy (2K Games/High Voltage Software)
MOST ADDICTIVE
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Bethesda Softworks)
CRITIC'S CHOICE
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Nintendo/Nintendo EAD)
BEST DRIVING GAME AWARD
Burnout Revenge, XBOX 360 (Electronic Arts/Criterion Games)
BEST ACTION GAME
Dead Rising (Capcom)
CYBER VIXEN OF THE YEAR
Alyx Vance, Half-Life 2: Episode 1 (Valve)
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Bethesda Softworks)
BEST FIGHTING GAME
Mortal Kombat Armageddon (Midway Games)
BEST PC GAME
Company of Heroes (THQ/Relic)
BEST RPG
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Bethesda Softworks)
BEST SHOOTER
Gears of War (Microsoft/Epic Games)
BEST MILITARY GAME
Company of Heroes (THQ/Relic)
BEST GRAPHICS
Gears of War (Microsoft/Epic Games)
BEST HANDHELD GAME
New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo/Nintendo EAD)
BEST MULTI-PLAYER GAME
Gears of War (Microsoft/Epic Games)
BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY
Wii (Nintendo)
BEST GAME BASED ON A MOVIE OR TV SHOW
Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (LucasArts/Traveller's Tales)
BEST SUPPORTING MALE PERFORMANCE
James Gandolfini in The Sopranos: Road to Respect (THQ/7 Studios)
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE PERFORMANCE
Rachel Leigh Cook in Kingdom Hearts II (Square Enix)
GAMERS CHOICE: BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
Rosario Dawson in Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure
(Atari/The Collective)
GAMERS CHOICE: CHARACTER OF THE YEAR
"Jack Sparrow" portrayed by Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: The
Legend of Jack Sparrow (Bethesda Softworks/7Studios/Buena Vista Games)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BklynKid @ Dec 9th 2006 12:33PM
Patrick Stewart was in Oblivion?? Wow.
Otherwise, pretty meh. The fanboy that I am though I think GoW should have won GOTY.
Knoxximus @ Dec 9th 2006 12:33PM
The changing of the guard has begun.
JRM @ Dec 9th 2006 12:36PM
At least all the winners this year are available for purchase...
Pete C @ Dec 9th 2006 12:40PM
Oblivion is the polar opposite of meh. It's the best RPG I have ever played, and easily deserving of the award.
Axel @ Dec 9th 2006 12:43PM
Best Military Game goes to wha? They're kidding right? They're all the same thing as far as I can tell, and I've played'em all.
Andrew @ Dec 9th 2006 12:49PM
I think instead of the 'Comeback Company of the Year' award, perhaps it should be the 'Where are they now' award.
sicsided @ Dec 9th 2006 12:49PM
at least some of these winners are better than the previous year. enter the matrix... ew.
Kizzle Robizzle @ Dec 9th 2006 1:04PM
"Twilight Princess nabbed Critic's Choice"
Which lineup of "critics" would that be? I don't care one way or another, I'm just wondering.
Not a terrible lineup of winners, especially considering it's freaking Spike TV.
Nicolas Redfern @ Dec 9th 2006 1:10PM
Way to go Alyx!
Shagg187 @ Dec 9th 2006 1:11PM
How is Sony ignored?
Guitar Hero II, Anyone?
Sure, you might say "ZOMG! 360!!". Well, they are planning for it to be multiplatform, but currently it isnt and wont be till the mid/end of 2007.
Now if you repharsed it and said "Playstation 3" was ignored, and not worry about the multiplatform games, then i might agree with you... :)
Zack @ Dec 9th 2006 1:13PM
"Best Cast" should not include games based on characters preexisting in other media, such as movies or TV shows. Family Guy has a great cast, yes, but apparently the game adaptation is terrible. Terrible. Total loss of credibility for these awards.
Of the games with original casts I've played recently, I have to say GoW had the most enjoyable. Because the Cole Train is a smooth ride, baby.
delldude420 @ Dec 9th 2006 1:19PM
did they show anything on the tna wrestling video game? it was rumored to debut in some form
KineticOnline @ Dec 9th 2006 1:23PM
GOW wins best graphics, lol, sony must be pissed at that one.
SergeXIII @ Dec 9th 2006 1:36PM
I disagree by far on many of these awards (I'll see your New Super Mario Brothers and raise you a PHOENIX WRIGHT) but Spike TV has as much credablity as G4, which is 3 fewer than none.
Now If Joystiq were to arrive at the same conclusion, well I'd be pretty disapointed.
http://gnerds.comicgenesis.com
NotAnElitistPrick @ Dec 9th 2006 1:37PM
I'm suprised Company of War got as much love as it did. It does seem like quality, but I figured more of the people who voted for these awards were looking for a FPS game, and not a military RTS.
Maybe Relic just spammed the voting?
eggfou @ Dec 9th 2006 1:41PM
Not only was Sony ignored, but look for EA games on there. I only see Burnout. Of course, I doubt that will raise any eyebrows.
get the bleep off @ Dec 9th 2006 2:09PM
this is good. im starting to go from i want sony to win the next generation to u know what let these fuckers have their day so everyone knows how bad they will stsgnate shit (windows anyone?)
Judd @ Dec 9th 2006 2:29PM
Considering these video game awards(and award shows in general) are way off, this is not the bad of a selection. Sure everyone is always going to disagree with award selections(there are 6 voice acting awards! Yet somehow there is no best multi-platform game or most original game), but overall considering how bad these winners usually are I can't really complain. But the fact that Joystiq seems to care about this award show after the way they dissed it last year, seems a little strange. http://www.joystiq.com/2005/12/11/joystiq-takes-highest-honors-at-spike-vgas-finishes-dead-last/
Joe @ Dec 9th 2006 2:44PM
such a popularity contest...
but i have to say for a award show that knows nothing about games they did a bit better they still suck though
jack and family guy arent origgnaly video games and shouldnt have won anything though
DirtDevil @ Dec 9th 2006 3:11PM
Sony says: Who cares? We are still number one and we have the best technology in the world.
And Mortal Kombat: Armageddon for best Fighting Game?
Mr. Khan @ Dec 9th 2006 3:45PM
Well, my biggest gripe with Spike's Video Game Awards was always a complete and utter lack of recognition for Nintendo, but (along with a few awards) they seem to be getting more attention from Spike (all the Reggie Interviews)
My other gripe was that they never seemed to give recognition where it was due (Scarface was a TERRIBLE game)
But they do seem to be getting better about all of this, maybe this is a step to usurp G4's position and become "America's main source for Gaming" and an overall more legitimate Game Awards Show
(Yes i know its democratic, but THEY choose the candidates)
Now their next target will be MTV
dan s. @ Dec 9th 2006 3:51PM
Lame. Okami wins a lot of those categories if it sold more copies. The game was awesome, hands down.
earl g @ Dec 9th 2006 3:53PM
Zelda > Elder Scrolls: Crap.
Ninegauger @ Dec 9th 2006 3:58PM
Wow... those awards are semi-decent. Oblivion is great. Burnout Revenge 360 was great. They managed to get Zelda in there, Gears of War and Dead Rising. I mean Oblivion on its own merited my purchase of a 360, Zelda the same for the Wii...
Shouldn't the more important news than "Next Gen Systems beat PS2" be that Oblivion beat Final Fantasy XII?
hollerback @ Dec 9th 2006 4:06PM
Ah, Sony will bounce back when the big boy called Final Fantasy XII is in the running.
Zelda being Critic's Choice = whack. I'll never understand how Zelda can be lauded over several other, more innovative, more epic games when really it is only so great as compared to other Zeldas.
Still no voice acting. Still incredibly slow and tedious introductions. Still no character development for our cornerstone heroes and villain. Tomb Raider: Legend was an equally good game if we go by the "standards" of Twilight Princess.
FrankTheCrank @ Dec 9th 2006 4:09PM
Spike TV??? Huh?? isn't this Leo Laporte's old channel?? No wait, that's G4SpiketechTV or something like that?
I can never tell the difference between those two horrible channels.
mo @ Dec 9th 2006 4:14PM
@ 20
sonys # 1?? hahahahahahahaha
ill admit i own a playstation 2 and its a fine system, but cmon
everytime sony sells a PS3 system, they loose 240$ THEY LOOSE MONEY
there gaming division plans on loosing over a 200 dollars this year and next
the wii and xbox have sold more consoles
sony is definatly #3 by ALOT
mo @ Dec 9th 2006 4:15PM
@ 20
sonys # 1?? hahahahahahahaha
ill admit i own a playstation 2 and its a fine system, but cmon
everytime sony sells a PS3 system, they loose 240$ THEY LOOSE MONEY
there gaming division plans on loosing over a 200 **million **(oops)dollars this year and next
the wii and xbox have sold more consoles
sony is definatly #3 by ALOT
Mr. Khan @ Dec 9th 2006 5:10PM
@ hollerback
The beauty of Zelda is that at its core, its still the same as the 8-bit days just with worlds better graphics, physics, and controls
Zelda retains the ability to tell a compelling story without voice-overs OR character development for the main hero, damsel, and villain (one has to admit, Midna has character development on a fairly deep level, and so did Tatl in Majora's Mask)
That's why i don't understand Twilight Princesses critics, they're not criticizing TP, they're just criticizing the things they dislike about the Zelda series in general
mikey @ Dec 9th 2006 5:17PM
ill take clover studios over epic games any day
DirtDevil @ Dec 9th 2006 5:25PM
@27: That was meant to be a sarcasm.
Yeah, where is Okami, that was an innovative game.
SuicideNinja @ Dec 9th 2006 6:49PM
I don't really see anything out of line.
I hated Elder Scrolls, but I understand why some medieval-lovers might like it. The story was definitely better than Final Fantasy XII's, even though I didn't like either.
If it was up to me, Dead Rising should have beat out Gears for GOTY. Gears is fun and pretty and everything, but it gets old really quick. 2 days with it and I was essentially done with it.
MeltedGeneral @ Dec 9th 2006 8:44PM
All of Clover's games got ignored. Sigh
TwilightKnight @ Dec 9th 2006 9:20PM
Oblivion should not of won to begin with on the sheer amount of bugs and glitches in the game. Seriously, this game should of gotten another year at least of debugging. Then again this is just a sham of a awards show anyway, so expecting anything out of it would of been a stretch.
It is also funny how people dislike Zelda even though Zelda is responsible for ALOT of game advancements over the years. But to explain this would go over most people who would actually watch this crap.
Wait for the Game Developers Choice Awards, where the panel of judges actually have a clue.
bearattack79 @ Dec 10th 2006 3:16AM
Dirt Devel,
Yep SONY says that alright. And you believe them. Sony loves you to.
real_gamer @ Dec 10th 2006 11:28AM
Sony still #1?
Hardware Sales, end of Sept 2006:
PS2 - 111.25 million
Xbox - 24.5 to 24.6 million
GameCube - 21.2 million
Xbox 360 - 6 million
Game Boy Advance - 76.79 million
Nintendo DS - 26.82 million
PSP - 22.94 million
Software revenue, Nov 2006:
PS2 - 34%
360 - 19%
PC - 10%
NDS - 10%
XBX - 6%
GBA - 6%
Wii - 5%
PSP - 5%
GCN - 4%
PS3 - 1%
That's probably a "yes"
Didi Mik @ Dec 10th 2006 11:46AM
360 wins big this year and will win big again next year. Good on Nintendo to gain some awards too.
Next year, can anyone really see any of these NOT be game of the year?
Bioshock
Mass Effect
Halo 3
Huxley
Unless Sony pulls something big out, then the PS3 will not see a good game to rival the 360s best for years.
Good luck Sony, you will need it. I can't see you doing it but who knows, maybe Halo 3 will flop. Oh wait it is over for Sony.
Fan @ Dec 10th 2006 12:23PM
"Next year, can anyone really see any of these NOT be game of the year?
Bioshock
Mass Effect
Halo 3
Huxley"
Personally I think Heavenly Sword, The Naughty Dog Project and Mercenaries 2 look way better than any of those games. Sorry.
SolidTy863 @ Dec 10th 2006 3:46PM
I'm sick of all these 360 supporters thinking they're something special because their system was released before PS3. If they could separate themselves from the Microsoft propaganda they would quickly realize that they are being taken for a ride that PS3 fans are avoiding by purchasing the superior system. Furthermore, a look at the numbers will show you that the 360 and its games are actually selling at a proportionately slower rate than the original xbox did in the months following its launch. The Wall Street Journal did an excellent piece on this topic, but then again the cult followers of Microsoft probably can't pull themselves away from Halo long enough to read a newspaper.
Concerning the awards, PS3 is obviously not going to do as well because it has only been around for a month - I feel like I'm taking crazy pills reading these postings. Also, Metal Gear Solid 3 got hosed. That game is sick and everybody knows it. MGS4 is going to be even nastier. But I'm not a mindless zombie like all the 360 guys out there, so I'm not going to start nominating all sorts of game of the year candidates before any of them have even been released. I honestly think that Bill Gates could crap in a box and you xbox sheep would praise it as the next generation of gaming. He could probably also get you to pay another couple hundred for crap-playing add on for your system so that you could enjoy his bowel movements in high-definition
Tim @ Dec 10th 2006 4:13PM
@ SolidTy863
Perhaps you should renew your prescription for those crazy pills.
The Wii came out virtualy the same time as the PS3, yet it wasn't ignored. Perhaps because it was original. Hmmmm...
And this comment...
'But I'm not a mindless zombie like all the 360 guys out there, so I'm not going to start nominating all sorts of game of the year candidates before any of them have even been released.'
Yet the sentence before it...
'Also, Metal Gear Solid 3 got hosed. That game is sick and everybody knows it. MGS4 is going to be even nastier.'
Wow, Mr. Blantant Fanboy. I'm so persuaded by your stunning logic I think I'll trade in my xbox and a kidney for a PS3.
I want all three companies to succeed. More competition means better games and services for everyone. When your head isn't in your ass its so much easier to see a larger picture than your colon.
scottishtuner @ Dec 10th 2006 6:43PM
the ps3 is basicly a useless piece of junk because it doesn't have rumble it's 6 axis movement is totally not used and the graphics aren't as good as 360s and 360 is 200 dollars cheaper. HELLO!
plus halo 3 will own all and mercinaries 3 is being released for 360 as well.
TheRequiem @ Dec 10th 2006 10:18PM
This Spike TV is pathetic... best technology, the Wii? Are you serious? Thats the first thing I saw and I can't believe that I actually read that. The PS3 and 360 are FAR more innovative if you ask me. The Wii is last generation technology with a new controller, give me a break. What about the HD era and the way better graphics, online play... Windows Live Anywhere? Come on.
Also, the list of the games are also pathetic. Oblivion? Decent, but not revolutionary... please. Gears of War and Company of Heroes are the only two games I can agree that are worthy to be on there.... and where the hell are PC games, just CoH??? I'm glad I missed this show, I would've puked.
Phil @ Dec 11th 2006 12:49AM
okay....people need to stop referring to GoW
Anyone else notice there are two recent and excellent games that fit those intials?
kodec @ Dec 11th 2006 8:16AM
Sony's having a bad year fiscally and couldn't afford to buy any VGAs. Is it really that difficult to see?
Alpha 84 @ Dec 11th 2006 10:13AM
This Spike TV is pathetic... best technology, the Wii? Are you serious? Thats the first thing I saw and I can't believe that I actually read that. The PS3 and 360 are FAR more innovative if you ask me. The Wii is last generation technology with a new controller, give me a break. What about the HD era and the way better graphics, online play... Windows Live Anywhere? Come on.
when the better graphics have been innovate? if you want superreal things, go and watch a movie, if you want hours of entertainment, play Wii and you will have it. the PS3 is EXACTLY the same of PS2 just whit better graphics, when the PS4 is out, the graphics will be at the level of the reality, then sony will be stuck there forever. wii got an innovate controller whit motion sensor, and the graphics are way better than PS2 Xbox or the GameCube. the graphics do not make the game, TheRequiem, you have much to learn.
Dave @ Dec 11th 2006 10:22AM
Well done GOW and Oblivion
and all the 360 vs ps3 tards, can you please shut up, both machines are great and both machines have exclusives that are or should be awesome, any true gamer will have a 360, Wii and a ps3 so please just take your pathetic bullshit to another place maybee ?
You fanboys realy do make yourself look very nerdy and stupid.
ACSeraph @ Dec 11th 2006 11:19AM
Mortal Kombat for best fighting game of the year? I'm glad I don't watch this crap...
SolidTy863 @ Dec 12th 2006 12:23AM
Vick, nice post. Unfortunately, voices of fact and reason such as yours are usually drowned out during these types of debates.
I'm going to have to disagree with Dave that "any true gamer will have a 360, Wii and a ps3." That's $1,000 worth of hardware and we haven't even purchased one game yet. I don't know what kind of jobs "true gamers" have, but I'm a college student and do not have the time/money for 3 systems and games to play for all of them. This is exactly why this debate is important. For people like me buying gaming equipment is a pretty large investment. And nobody wants to be stuck with an inferior system or hidden costs because of a sly and misleading media campaign.
vick @ Dec 18th 2006 6:06PM
Wii breakthrough technology? if you admire cartoon like games, yes.. If you like the ‘close the realism’-consoles, the 360 and PS3 are competing. With some more intrinsic technical advantage for the PS3 versus MS having the advantage of being around for a year, allowing their software developers to push the limit a bit further in exploiting the 360's capabilities, the market hasn't produced a definite winner. The current state of both consoles are at the beginning of their life cycle, I would see it too premature to declare a winner based on current technical capabilities and software titles.
The Wii again doesn't compete in this battle.
Winning awards doesn't say anything about sales numbers nor about winning the next gen console war, which is going on.
The 360 sells about 50/60k units per month in Europe and about 10/15k units in Japan. With those numbers the 360 can only dream about winning the console war in the USA where sales are around 200-220k per month in the off-peak months, spiking to 550k in November and probably 2 times that number in December. That makes some 3,5 Million a year in the USA and maybe 1,5 million in the rest of the world, at the current run rate. Compare that with the PS2, which has sold close to 20 million per year worldwide (roughly 120 million units in 6 years), that makes a winner!
It is MS's claim that the 10 Million mark will make them the winner, personally I doubt the validity of that statement: look at the PSP, it sold 22 Million and is considered a looser in its market, they were at the 10 million mark before their competition.
If the PS3 will sell as bad as the 360, the next gen war is a defeat for both MS and Sony.. Let's wait until the sales numbers in quarter 1 and the launch in Europe shows some more detail.
Earlier launch statements of Sony stated that they wanted 4 million units on the market before year end (in a 2 month selling period, excluding Europe). Clearly they overestimated their production capabilities at start-up, but it shows the numbers that Sony is calculating with: 4 million units in 2 markets (Japan and USA), add another 50% of that number for the European launch.. Once that will be reality, then by mid-year '07 the 360 would be defeated by the PS3. Unless MS finds new ways to make the 360 more appealing and increase sales numbers across the ocean.. and price drops only won't work, since if I want a cheap console, I buy the PS2 or the Wii.. and that's EXACTLY what we see in november’s sales of both consoles.
Perhaps the marketeers of Sony and MS should look at the recent successes of Nintendo and the PS2 to re-evaluate their current strategy, maybe the time isn't right yet for a wannabe home-gaming-super-computer.
As for my sources: I used NPD and Mediacreate numbers for USA and Japan, the European number is derived from the worldwide sales minus Japan and USA. Although NPD's number is heavily criticized for not including some of the major retailers, the general picture seems consistent on the longer run.