Gears of War wins Golden Joystick GotY ... 2007?

When we saw Gears of Wars hoisted up at the 25th annual Golden Joystick Awards, we scratched our heads and checked the calendar. Yep, it is 2007. So why is Gears still winning 'Game of the Year' awards?

As it turns out, the people's choice ceremony was honoring games form last year, and a few, like God of War II, which sorta seem like games from last year. The rather untimely celebration featured nominees like Guitar Hero II and Call of Duty 3 just as their respective sequels prepare to enter the market. Halo 3 Beta was considered among the 'Innovations' of the year, but the actual game, well, that will have to wait until ... next year.

Full list of award winners follows.

02 Ultimate Game of the Year 2007 - Gears of War
Sonopress Xbox Game of the Year 2007 - Gears of War
PC Game of the Year 2007 (sponsored by PC Gamer) - The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of Angmar
PlayStation Game of the Year 2007 (sponsored by Official PlayStation Magazine UK) - God of War II
Nintendo Game of the Year 2007 (sponsored by Official Nintendo Magazine) - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Editor's Choice - Gears of War
The Publisher of the Year 2007 (sponsored by Future) - Nintendo
The Vivendi Retailer of the Year 2007 - Game
The One to Watch (sponsored by Total Film) - Assassin's Creed
Next-Gen.biz UK Developer of the Year - Codemasters
The GameTribe Online Game of the Year 2007 - World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade
Nuts All-Nighter - Gears of War
The 1Xtra Soundtrack of the Year - Guitar Hero II
The Innovation of the Year 2007 (sponsored by T3) - Nintendo Wii
4Talent Mobile Game of the Year 2007 - Final Fantasy
Games Radar Handheld Game of the Year - GTA Vice City Stories
The Sun Family Game of the Year 2007 - Wii Sports
The Bliss Girls' Choice Game of the Year 2007 - Guitar Hero II

Reader Comments (26)

I love the games but I'm sick of Guitar Heros winning soundtrack awards. It just doesn't make sense. What are these people thinking?

They should give the award to Katamari every single year anyway.

Hell yah! Katamari has the best sountrack EVAH! so freaking addicting...na na na na katamari damacy~

One thing tho, only the first 2 Katamari games are worth metioning (and well, the one for psp since its considered a port with extras), the last one just plain sucks...

this falls into the difference between a soundtrack and a score. I agree with you, scores should get more recognition than the simple notion of putting a well known recording artist songs into the game. It should really be two separate categories. score and licensed soundtrack.

This causes me to bring up a relevant question:

Which awards do you lot all follow? The game industry seems peculiarly divided in how it doles out awards, with tons of parties (including the ESA itself), who has the most credible and/or comprehensive awards?

I say IGN, giving awards for all genres, no overall GOTY, and then various technical awards, as well as their "Best game that Nobody Played" which is always a pleasant hats off to the hidden gems

I don't know. I never really follow any of them I guess. It all depends on who calls Portal the Game of the Year. They will earn my trust. Because they'll be right.

http://bestof.ign.com/2006/overall/39.html
Ign does give out an overall goty, it was okami last year.
And I think portal needs to be a little bit longer to be considered for goty. The gameplay is good, but it is short.

I trust IGN about as far as I can throw them after they have God Hand a 3/10. A snubbing like that deserves only my ire.

Nah, I actually kinda follow all over them and sort of make an aggregate consensus over what the best game in what category was. This method also enables my own personal biases to come into play, thus insulating me from the cold hard Hell that is oftentimes reality.

Damn, i must've missed that overall thing

Oh well, doesn't change my opinion much...

Pardon me for asking, but I was wondering what is so innovative about the Halo 3 Beta?

The Spartan Laser... duh!

I'm kinda surprised that Bioshock didn't even get a look in. Also, a lot of those awards are pretty similar - best game, best [insert console here] game, best game, and a few others. I prefer the more specific ones - like Mr Khan says, IGN do the awards very well.

meh bioshock=overrated anyway

last third of the game was a joke

You should probably kill yourself now because life is never going to get good for you

Arrgh is right. Bioshock is a great game very much worthy of GOTY. If you think Bioshock sucks then I guess nothing can impress you. Stop playing games all together.

Totally agree. Bioshock was pretty and the art direction was spot on, but the gameplay was not all that innovative. And the splicer enemies looked pretty generic.

No one has given me a serious answer of why you have to switch between plasmids and guns. It makes no sense.

And why isn't there multiplayer? Cause it's not Halo? I swear, I'll break your neck if that's the best you people can come up with.

Is "Gears of Wars" the sequel? I didn't even know it was out, and being hoisted up at some awards ceremony. This is big news!

What do you mean, 'Bomberman Zero' didn't win it!?

About what about such classics as 'Vampire Rain', 'Kengo: Legend of the 9', 'Cyberball 2072' not being nominated?

Time to start a petition, me thinks...

Or Tenchu Z, Sonic the Hedgehog 2006, or Far Cry: Vengeance

GEARS OF WAR STILL REIGNING SUPREME =)
CONGRATS!!!
CANT WAIT TILL GEARS 2

Yes the best game ever made in 2 colors!!!! Now More blocks to hide behind!!!

The only game I ever played with more blocks than that piece of crap was tetris.

You overstate its flaws. Sure its one of the biggest offenders in "bland-looking hardcore games" and its short, but otherwise it was an excellent title

dude.... IT"S CALLED ART DIRECTION!

Every once in a while, I'd like to play a game that DOESN'T take place in Willy Wonka's factory.

Lol, Call of Duty 3...

Test

... given the big game releases are usually in the holiday season, does it really make sense to dish out the awards just months before that said season?

why not just give these out at the beginning of january every year?

oh... and why not just disband BAFTA altogether? =)

i am feeling the awards!!

http://www.xtremegadgets.net

Gears of War wins Golden Joystick GotY ... 2007?

Reader Comments (26)

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:05PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:25PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 6:04PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:07PM Mr Khan said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:13PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:17PM R V said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:21PM samfish said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:51PM Mr Khan said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:16PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:19PM kinshadow said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:16PM Babel said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:20PM arrrgh said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:56PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 27th 2007 12:05PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 18th 2007 2:41PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 6:22PM Sloar said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:35PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:52PM Mr Khan said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:40PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:58PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 6:20PM Mr Khan said

Posted: Nov 18th 2007 2:46PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 7:08PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 7:09PM einhanderkiller said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 7:27PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 9:03PM (Unverified) said

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