Rock Band slays 2007 Game Critics Awards
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jul 31st 2007 at 11:30PM }
Second place goes to Bioware's Mass Effect, winning Best Console Game and Best RPG. Some more fun stats: Xbox 360 is the winningest platform, with 11 wins, while Electronic Arts is the winningest publisher, with 6 wins (remember, three are for Rock Band!). Bringing up the rear, surprisingly: Nintendo.
Best of Show
Rock Band
(Harmonix/MTV Games/EAP for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
Best Original Game
LittleBigPlanet
(Media Molecule/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for PS3)
Best Console Game
Mass Effect
(Bioware/Microsoft Games Studio for Xbox 360)
Best PC Game
Crysis
(Crytek/EAP)
Best Handheld Game
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
(Nintendo for Nintendo DS)
Best Hardware/Peripheral
Rock Band Instruments
(Harmonix/MTV Games/EAP for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
Best Action Game
Call of Duty 4
(Infinity Ward/Activision for PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
Best Action/Adventure Game
Bioshock
(Irrational Games/2K Games for PC, Xbox 360)
Best Role Playing Game
Mass Effect
(Bioware / Microsoft Games Studio for Xbox 360)
Best Racing Game
Burnout Paradise
(Criterion Games/Electronic Arts for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
Best Sports Game
Madden NFL 08
(Electronic Arts for All Platforms)
Best Fighting Game
Virtua Fighter 5
(Sega for Xbox 360)
Best Strategy Game
World in Conflict
(Massive Entertainment/Sierra for PC)
Best Social/Casual/Puzzle
Rock Band
(Harmonix/MTV Games/EAP for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
Best Online Multiplayer
Halo 3
(Bungie/Microsoft Games Studio for Xbox 360)
Special Commendation for Graphics
Killzone 2
(Guerilla Games/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for PS3)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
colin @ Jul 31st 2007 11:33PM
'nuff said, read 'em and weep boys.
ChiefMagua @ Aug 1st 2007 1:13PM
This is all bogus hype - how can you pick "winners" from a group of games that has largely not shipped? All you are doing is making this blog appear to be a shill for the developers and destroying its credibility with readers.
EihBeir @ Jul 31st 2007 11:39PM
Yeah, that's a big chunk of whoopass from Microsoft.
Imadogg99 @ Jul 31st 2007 11:41PM
Hellllll yes. Another win for us
cc123 @ Jul 31st 2007 11:42PM
Good list.
I don't understand the hype around Rock Band though, I'm just not into the music games.
Also they really need to break Social/Casual/Puzzle into three separate categories now.
Jonny @ Jul 31st 2007 11:46PM
Let's just keep in mind that this list includes EA as the winningest publisher. Also pretty much everything that PS3 won is basically an Xbox 360 port.
cc123 @ Jul 31st 2007 11:54PM
If by 'port' you mean the 360 was the lead platform and if by 'everything' you mean Rock Band, COD4, and Madden, then yeah.
Otherwise STFU.
Spartacus @ Aug 1st 2007 1:43AM
Actually, 6 out of 8 awards given to the PS3 ARE multiplatform titles, so his point is arguable.
As for exclusives, the 360 won 3 awards (4 if you count VF5) while the PS3 won 2. So any way you look at it, Microsoft's console is leading in achievements- pun intended- not the least of which is the "Best Console Game" award. Sony's most notable award was for graphics with KZ2, which while comendable, is like getting an Oscar for best special effects- it doesn't mean much.
cc123 @ Aug 1st 2007 2:41AM
No, his point was not that they were multi-platform. He was trying to be a dick and make it sound like everything on the PS3 was a PORT of a 360 game. Something that's not the case so I'm not even sure why you jumped in here to argue something that wasn't debated.
And yes I can count that the 360 has more exclusive winners, congratulations. Again that wasn't being debated so I don't understand why you butted in with these.
Spartacus @ Aug 1st 2007 12:21PM
Wow, my bad cc123, I didn't mean to offend you... Having a bad day? You sounded a bit cranky and vengeful, that's why I posted. Not to correct you, but to point out that while he wasn't wholly correct, he wasn't wholly wrong either, so telling him to "STFU" was a bit childish. But hey do whatever you want, it's your internet...
cc123 @ Aug 1st 2007 12:42PM
Actually your first sentence WAS an attempt to correct me when I wasn't wrong.
The sole purpose of your post was to fellate the 360. Mission accomplished.
hvnlysoldr @ Jul 31st 2007 11:48PM
Joystiq is tobias!
Roddie @ Jul 31st 2007 11:55PM
No Wii in site. Ouch.
Neebs @ Jul 31st 2007 11:58PM
Woo Crysis...
And by the way, I upload an avatar, but it does not seem to stay. I just get Paper Mario still. Is anyone else having this issue?
Neebs @ Jul 31st 2007 11:59PM
And with that ladies and gentlemen, we have our man.
Anonymousaurus @ Aug 1st 2007 12:01AM
-i am not surprised with the wii getting the least awards this year.
-dont get me wrong, i love the system, but their presentation was lacking in anything new.
-although the wiiboard is going to be a new control interface for select games, in the end its just another peripheral.
-i wish next time they bring more cards to the table along the lines of new titles that think outside of the box they had already created themselves.
Charron @ Aug 1st 2007 12:03AM
I'd love to see how these translate in sales down the road. I mean, some of these (Madden, Halo) are guaranteed sellers, but it'd be interesting to see if any games that got beat out for the top spot end up outselling the top of their class.
Well, interesting to me at least.
jackbauer @ Aug 1st 2007 12:06AM
really no galaxy? wow..well good choices anyways
Splinter @ Aug 1st 2007 12:12AM
I didnt even realize Nintendo had anything at e3 for the ds.
OTAM @ Aug 1st 2007 12:13AM
360 mops up the competition again.
I'm actually surprised to see Nintendo in the bottom considering the amount of hardware they're selling every week between the Wii and DS.
NintendoFanbot @ Aug 1st 2007 12:22AM
The press is still doubting Nintendo. Granted, they didn't show a lot of new stuff (and that Sony had a good showing) but they're ignoring what will be here in just a few months!
Yeah... yeah... that's it.
Hashbrown_Hunter @ Aug 1st 2007 12:26AM
Wow. Microsoft did get a crapload of wins this year.
...but Killzone 2 got the graphics award! muhahahahaha!
Jake @ Aug 1st 2007 9:52AM
Only because Gears wasn't eligible. Zing!
Emerson @ Aug 1st 2007 12:40AM
360 rules !!! WOOT!!
Michael Gu @ Aug 1st 2007 12:55AM
While I'm dissapointed that Nintendo got the shaft, I understand that it is a "gamers" choice award and "hard-core" gamers will lean toward the xbox because the Wii doesn't have any "hard-core" games.
Nintendo considers mp3 and brawl to be hardcore and although I will be playing them on day one, I feel those games are very niche and taylored to nindendo fanboys.
Anyways.. nintendo fanboy for life and this won't change a thing.
Hashbrown_Hunter @ Aug 1st 2007 1:05AM
well its good to see you remain faithful to your fanboy-ism. But Nintendo had a very unusual and kind of weak showing at E3 this year. The only notable games they had was Mario, Smash Bros, Metroid, and Zelda DS. It's true all of those games totally rock, I just didnt think it was enough.
...besides who gives a crap about a balance board anyways??
NintendoFanbot @ Aug 1st 2007 1:10AM
Hashbrown_Hunter
Fair enough and I agree that they didn't show enough new stuff. As for WiiFit though, if Miyamoto is backing its development that might be enough for some Nintendo fanboys (I know I'm intrigued). :P
Hashbrown_Hunter @ Aug 1st 2007 1:24AM
Well all I'm saying is that they haven't shown anything useful or even remotely fun to do with it that I think it may be a shallow investment.
But I totally respect Miyamoto and you are right...if he's backing it up, it's probably gonna kick ass.
1up @ Aug 1st 2007 1:02AM
Rockband needs to be in my house sooner!
mr nimblewick @ Aug 1st 2007 1:08AM
So many shooters got awards. Really shows how out of touch the gaming community is with my tastes. Or how out of touch I am with the gaming community. Or why Nintendo will still be the only gaming company that can interest me now that Sega is dead.
Ngamer @ Aug 1st 2007 1:28AM
Congrats to the winners but the (Game Critic Awards) are just as out of touch with every other award show out there like the ones on Spike tv and beyond. Every time a company puts together an award show for the industry and throws together a couple of A-list celebrities at you thinking they have gamers figured out are WRONG and misinformed. The truth is gamers are the smartest demographic on the planet and dont like to be defined and mislabeled by hollywood standards. We know it's pathetic whenever corporations try to blend us into the wack music industry and other forms of the media. We as gamers remain misunderstood still to this day.
Avatar @ Aug 1st 2007 3:34AM
I agree, enough with this "gaming is cool" spin. We're nerds, and we're proud, damnit!
Watership @ Aug 1st 2007 1:55AM
I can't wait to get my hands on all of these games.
XyTec @ Aug 2nd 2007 1:13AM
no psp stuff what-so-ever. man that sucks.
monmin @ Aug 1st 2007 2:29AM
How is it that Killzone 2 has better graphics than Crysis?
Anyway, overall it looks like a great list of games, and I pretty much would want to play them all. Just don't have the time.
Miles @ Aug 1st 2007 4:06AM
i figure it won, because with all of Sony's chicanery involving their first Killzone 2 video, the fact that it wasn't god awful pushed it to the front
embassy @ Aug 1st 2007 5:04AM
and of course the Wiifit board will get the most commericial attention.
its interesting to see guitar hero 3 absent, i wud not want to work at neversoft right about now.
Curmeo @ Aug 1st 2007 6:48AM
the awards sound about right. MS number 1, Sony number 2, Wii number 3.
Wii = *mostly* mediocre software largely geared towards casual and non-gamers.
StunpalS @ Aug 1st 2007 6:51AM
I noticed JodyAnthony has nothing to say now that his Wii has shown its ass. Good to see that games that are truly next-gen are coming out on top, regardless of the stupid Nintendo sales figures that show the DS and the lackluster Wii selling like crazy...it's one thing to fly off the shelves, but once people get them home, do they really play em? is the Wii any fun for more than a week? Congrats to Microsoft and Sony(I own a 360 and PS3)...the two platforms who worked to get where theyre at, and arent just a fad. theyre here to stay, and the games awards represent that. *Wii is TehSuXoRz*
Curmeo @ Aug 1st 2007 7:23AM
yup, agreed. i going PS360 this gen myself. just waiting for a more reliable 360 before i Jump in.
Jonny @ Aug 1st 2007 9:36AM
Sorry I couldn't reply sooner but I was too busy playing Strikers Charged. Have fun playing EXACTLY the same games on both of your "next-gen" systems, I'll think of this conversation fondly as I'm Wii60-ing it up. The really sad thing is that the PS4 and Xbox1080 are both going to be based around a motion-sensing controller, and when that happens guys like you and Curmeo are gonna be creaming each others' pants and shouting some nonsensical crap like, "PSBOX is teh innovative!!111!11"
DUG E. FRESH @ Aug 1st 2007 7:56AM
ROCK ON 360!!!
Great Games coming out very soon!!!
Kenofthedead @ Aug 1st 2007 8:22AM
The world needs more cowbell, and the people of the world reward those who give it so.
Evan @ Aug 1st 2007 8:43AM
I have serious doubts about any awards that are given out BEFORE the game is released!
How do they judge the games, based on watching the trailers? Have the judges even touched the Rock Band instruments?
bender @ Aug 1st 2007 9:57AM
Ok, pretty good list of games there. I would have put Crysis for best graphics, but it's there call. Nintendo had a piss poor showing at E3 and I hope they go to these gaming websites to see just how displeased we are. Microsoft easily won this E3. Good thing for them that most of what is on the ps3 will be on the 360. Little Big Planet looks good but I'm still not sold on the ps3 yet. Sony still has a long way to go.
Jake @ Aug 1st 2007 10:06AM
Well, if you want to get technical, the 360 has an extra award because they mistakenly left World of Conflict as a PC exclusive, when it is announced for 360. It probably just hasn't been shown on the hardware for journalists.
The 360 had 4 more awards than PS3 with that correction, so 12 to 8. If you subtract the games that each platform shares (including VF5), you are left with:
Xbox360: 5 (Bio, Halo, Mass E, World in Con, and Mass E) All this year
PS3: 2 (Killzone, LBP) Both next year
Can I finally start saying the 360 has the superior fall lineup without people constantly bitching at me?
Also, it is a shame that Burnout beat out PGR4 for best racing game. WTF am I missing something? Since when is Burnout really a "racing" game anyways. I classify it as action. ;)
cc123 @ Aug 1st 2007 10:11AM
"WTF am I missing something?"
Day and night races on the same track. ;)
Jake @ Aug 1st 2007 11:40AM
Weak comment. PGR4 is going to be a bomb ass game. Don't be envious. They are having like 5 different weather conditions for each and every race, which the last really good PGR game didn't even have.
cc123 @ Aug 1st 2007 12:06PM
Well my comment was poking fun at you xbox fanboys since you just got bitchslapped by Bizarre. Your developer made all the people that have been screaming about how bigger disc size was unnecessary look like asses.
Anywho the serious answer to why Burnout beat PGR4 on all the awards from different sites is simple, it just looks like a hell of a lot more fun. People that got their hands on it have been commenting on how well it's coming along.
And to answer your other question:
"Can I finally start saying the 360 has the superior fall lineup without people constantly bitching at me? "
Speak for yourself.
Brian @ Aug 1st 2007 10:13AM
I don't get why they claim mulitplatform games as wins for any system. Any game that's coming out to any other system (including PC) shouldn't factor into which system had the best show. Seems to make that list kind of pointless.