BioShock Infinite sweeps Best of E3 Game Critics Awards, PlayStation Vita wins Best Hardware

by Christopher Grant on Jun 28th 2011 12:20PM

There was little confusion amongst this year's E3 judges as to which game was most deserving: Super Stick Man Golf. Unfortunately it wasn't eligible for nomination, already being out and all, so the judges (this writer included) had to settle on another game. Luckily, Ken Levine and his crew at Irrational Games brought the scrumtrulescent BioShock Infinite which, when the votes were all tallied up, managed to win an admittedly finite number of awards. While we're sure the team is disappointed, we'd like to remind them that Infinite won every award it was nominated for, including Best of Show.

Other notable winners include The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which bagged both Best Role-Playing Game and Best Console Game; Battlefield 3, which took home Best Action Game and Best Online Multiplayer; and Sound Shapes which scored Best Handheld Game and Best Social/Casual Game. We've assembled a list of all the nominees with the winners in bold just past the break. If you want some more stats (Xbox 360 was the lead platform with 14 wins) check out the Fast Facts link below!

Best of Show
Batman: Arkham City (Rocksteady/WB Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
BioShock Infinite (Irrational Games/2K Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Tomb Raider (Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (Naughty Dog/SCEA for PlayStation 3)

Best Original Game
Bastion (Supergiant Games/WB Games for PC, Xbox 360)
BioShock Infinite (Irrational Games/2K Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
From Dust (Ubisoft Montpellier/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Journey (Thatgamecompany/SCEA for PlayStation 3)
Sound Shapes (Queasy Games/SCEA for PSVita)

Best Console Game
Batman: Arkham City (Rocksteady/WB Games for PS3, Xbox 360)
Mass Effect 3 (Bioware/EA Games for PS3, Xbox 360)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda for PS3, Xbox 360)
Tomb Raider (Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix for PS3, Xbox 360)
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (Naughty Dog/SCEA for PlayStation 3)

Best Handheld/Mobile Game
Contre Jour (Mokus/Chillingo/EA for iPad, iPhone)
Mario Kart (Nintendo/Nintendo for 3DS)
Sound Shapes (Queasy Games/SCEA for PSVita)
Super Mario (Nintendo EAD Tokyo/Nintendo for 3DS)
Uncharted: Golden Abyss (SCE Bend Studio/Naughty Dog/SCEA for PSVita)

Best PC Game
Battlefield 3 (DICE/EA Games for PC)
BioShock Infinite (Irrational Games/2K Games for PC)
End of Nations (Petroglyph Games/Trion Worlds for PC)
Star Wars: The Old Republic (Bioware Austin/EA Games for PC)
Torchlight 2 (Runic Games/Perfect World for PC)

Best Hardware
PlayStation Vita (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Rocksmith (Ubisoft San Francisco/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Sony 3D Display (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Wii U (Nintendo)
Zoom for Kinect (Nyko)

Best Action Game
Battlefield 3 (DICE/EA Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer/ATVI for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Gears of War 3 (Epic Games/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
Prey 2 (Human Head Studios/Bethesda for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360)
Rage (id Software/Bethesda for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360)

Best Action/Adventure Game
Assassin's Creed: Revelations (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360)
Batman: Arkham City (Rocksteady/WB Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
BioShock infinite (Irrational Games/2K Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Tomb Raider (Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (Naughty Dog/SCEA for PlayStation 3)

Best Role Playing Game
Dark Souls (From Software/Namco Bandai Games for PS3, Xbox 360)
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (Big Huge Games/38 Studios/EAP for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360)
Mass Effect 3 (BioWare/EA Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin/EA for PC)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

Best Racing Game
Driver: San Francisco (Ubisoft Reflections/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Forza 4 (Turn 10 Studios/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
Mario Kart (Nintendo/Nintendo for 3DS)
Need for Speed:The Run (EA Black Box/EA Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii)
Wipeout 2048 (Studio Liverpool/SCEE for PSVita)

Best Fighting Game
Skullgirls (Reverge Labs/Autumn Games for PS3, Xbox 360)
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition (Iron Galaxy Studios/Capcom for PS3, Xbox 360)
Street Fighter X Tekken (Capcom/Capcom for PS3, Xbox 360, PSVita)
Soul Calibur V (Namco/Namco Bandai for PS3, Xbox 360)
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Namco Bandai Games for Arcade)
WWE 12 (Yuke's/THQ for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii)

Best Sports Game
FIFA Soccer 12 (EA Canada/EA Sports for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Madden NFL 12 (EA Tiburon/EA Sports for PS3, Xbox 360)
NBA 2K12 (Visual Concepts/2K Sports for PS3, Xbox 360)
SSX (EA Canada/EA Sports for PS3, Xbox 360)
UFC Undisputed 3 (Yuke's/THQ for PS3, Xbox 360)

Best Strategy Game
Age of Empires Online (Gas Powered Games/Microsoft Studios for PC)
End of Nations (Petroglyph/Trion Worlds for PC)
From Dust (Ubisoft Montpellier/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Skulls of the Shogun (Haunted Temple Studios for PC, Xbox 360)
Trenched (Double Fine/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)

Best Social/Casual Game
Dance Central 2 (Harmonix/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
Disneyland Adventures (Frontier Developments/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
Rocksmith (Ubisoft San Francisco/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Rhythm Heaven (TNX/Nintendo for Wii)
Sound Shapes (Queasy Games/SCEA for PSVita)

Best Motion Simulation Game
Dance Central 2 (Harmonix/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
Fruit Ninja Kinect (Halfbrick/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster (Double Fine Productions/WB Games for Xbox 360)
The Gunstringer (Twisted Pixel Games/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo for Wii)

Best Online Multiplayer Game
Battlefield 3 (DICE/EA for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer/ATVI for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Gears of War 3 (Epic Games/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin/EA for PC)
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (Naughty Dog/SCEA for PlayStation 3)

Best Downloadable Game
Bastion (Supergiant Games/WB Games for PC, Xbox 360)
From Dust (Ubisoft Montpellier/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet (Fuelcell Games/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
Journey (Thatgamecompany/SCEA for PlayStation 3)
Papo & Yo (Minority/SCEA for PlayStation 3)

Source: Game Critics Awards
More coverage: 2011 Winner Fast Facts

Tags: 2k-games, bioshock-infinite, e3-2011, game-critics-awards, irrational-games, microsoft, nintendo, playstation, playstation-vita, ps3, psp, sony, take-two, wii, xbox

Reader Comments (125)

Those would be my choices for best game and hardware too

Wow, still nothing for Deus Ex... Is it going to suck?

@DannyT - I'm hearing bad things from critics that have played it. Who knows how much of the game they've gotten their hands on though. I'm definitely worried.

@DannyT

Considering Square Enix is doing it, I'm quite concerned especially after what they did with dungeon siege. I can just see it now, the aliens in Deus ex and the illuminati are all traditional Japanese demons in disguise. In the end game your augments all revert to either actually throwing pieces of holy paper or enhance your calligraphy skill. Here's to Square Enix ruining all of my favorite games. Ok, maybe that was a bit much but I am definitely worried.

@BananaBoat

Really? That's a shame. I was really impressed with the beta, personally, I hope that they haven't screwed it up completely from there.

@Vladeon
Square Enix is merely the publisher for Deus Ex and Dungeon Siege. Deus Ex is developed by Eidos, and Dungeon Siege, I believe, is by Obsidian.

@BananaBoat
Exactly how many critics do you mean when you say "critics"? With the exception of one negative review from Giant Bomb, all the press I've seen about the game and the leaked footage has been overwhelmingly positive?

Actually agree w/ the whole list

I've yet to figure out what makes Bioshock Infinite an original game. :|

@collinc I think because it's not a direct sequel.

@gordeaux have you seen the trailers? that is why the game isn't just a FPS it is way more.

@collinc - It's original in the sense that it's not a direct continuation of a story. There may be some innovative gameplay mechanics as well (the sky-hook system looks pretty amazing).

That said, it being in the same category as downloadable titles, is a travesty. Garnett Lee (one of the judges) kind of summed up how that happened, as people were allowed to vote for games in any category they wanted. There were also mainstream media organizations voting, that obviously had no idea which category they were supposed to put a game in.

Oh well, Journey is the best original game...in my heart...

@BananaBoat Great reply good sir, thank you.

@BananaBoat then COD MW2 deserves best original game for some new mechanics and a zombie mode by your incredibly low standards.

@BananaBoat
Even though I'm anticipating Bioshock Infinity so, so very much, when I look at what it was running up against, I gotta say that this game is pretty undeserving of being there, no matter how you try to reason.

@Fire Walk With Me - How do you define originality? New gameplay mechanics? We're over a decade into the 3D era, and new gameplay mechanics are difficult to come by. Journey has the unique (and original, I believe) online co-op element, but other than that, it seems to be a pretty straightforward platformer (to say nothing of the story, etc). Bastion seems to play like a lot of SNES action adventure games. From Dust seems to follow in the footsteps of God games that have come before. Sound Shapes has some interesting ideas when it comes to music, but the gameplay looks to be mostly platforming.

I guess I just don't know what you want when it comes to originality. Either way, there is a huge difference between a COD game and a Bioshock game. The similarities end at them both being first person shooters.

@TheShaper - I'm not sure undeserving is the word I'd use. I definitely think it was placed in the wrong category though. There is no reason why a GOTS candidate should be in the same category with downloadable titles that cost 1/50th or less of the price.

@BananaBoat
I didn't mean it like that. I mean, out of the other four games, we're getting this year's Braid, this year's Limbo, but I don't mean it in a DLC sense rather than a "sparkling with originality" sense. Bioshock Infinity is day-one purchase for me, but it doesn't belong to that category. You know what full-retail game I think would be a better fit? Child of Eden. I mean, I haven't played it yet and I know the game was about to be released so it wouldn't make much sense running up for prizes at E3, but I think you know what I mean, right?

@TheShaper - Don't get me started on Child of Eden. I'm hearing like 40-50k sales worldwide. We don't get the NPD numbers anymore, so it is hard to be sure, but I definitely hope that it is doing better than I think it's doing.

I think the critics awards needs to find a better way to classify smaller, unique titles. There are individual categories for retail games, but only one for downloadable titles. Bastion won, but it is a completely different genre than the other titles. There is no reason to lump them together.

Then again, I guess downloadable titles will get their due when they start pulling in hundreds of millions of dollars instead of millions (and thousands, in some cases).

@collinc
Except of course that TES:V Skyrim not winning Best of Show is pure blasphemy.

@Fermie Prime Agreed. But to be fair I've never had any interest in any of the Bioshock games, so I may be a bit biased.

Bioshock should have never been entered as Best original game much less won it. I am flipping through Webster right now and you fail to understand what original means

@Fire Walk With Me

I can see either side of this argument. Bioshock Infinite has new engine, new characters, new gameplay mechanics, new story, new everything. The only thing it has in common with Bioshock is the name and some broad themes.

Was BioShock an original game, or a follow-up to System Shock 2?

If the judges felt it was distinct enough to be classified as an Original game, I don't have any problem with it.

@copa I look at Infinite and I consider it a sequel to the original. Its not going to keep me up at night it just seems like it doesnt belong since its left to interpretation.

@Fire Walk With Me
Ok, what's reused about it? It seems to be an entirely new game in every way I can think of, save for the title.

@mrantimatter themes, combat, art style

@mrantimatter They use Plasmid type powers?

@Fire Walk With Me

That's weird, it seemed to have kept you in the comments section.

If you look at Infinite as a sequel/prequel, then what about Grand Theft Horse? Was Red Dead Redemption a sequel to Red Dead Revolver and GTA? Was LA Noire truly Grand Theft Facial Expressions?

I don't know, think whatever you want to think. Cheers.

@copa The fact that it's officially part of an existing franchise should be enough to remove it from the original category entirely.

@RussellGorall Where did RDR win Best original Game during E3? I couldnt find an example.

Are you confusing original game with best game overall?

@RussellGorall L.A. Noire wasn't set in the same fictional world as GTA. Same with the Red Deads. Infinite is. To me it's like if they had considered Mario Kart: Double Dash an original game because they used two people in the kart rather than one.

@Fire Walk With Me
I can see where the name might confuse people, but only very broad game philosophy joins this to the previous games. That and the use of biological powers, but that's like saying all games with guns should be considered the same. ;-)

Infinite isn't set in the same universe as the first two, so the setting and story are entirely new. Add in the new engine, radically different philosophies being debated, mechanics of free-floating topography, high-speed skyrail combat, a talking protagonist, and companion elements with Elizabeth....well, THAT'S what makes is original. If they put a different name on the box, I doubt anyone would be saying it was "just like Bioshock".

Happy with these results

Really surprised Uncharted 3 didn't win any of those.

@mywhitenoise

yea i agree Bioshock Infinity doesn't really impress me at all seems like a ordinary bioshock game too me but in the sky

@HardBoiled2009 maybe you will like it if they add zombies?

@mywhitenoise

Just wait until next year when it nearly sweeps the 'Game of the Year 2011' awards all over the internets, just like UC2. It will get its due. ;)

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

And just like Bioshock did two years before that. I will lose faith in game critics if Uncharted beats out Infinite. Either you guys haven't looked into Infinite enough or you are just being fanboys. Uncharted 3 literally IS Uncharted 2. I see virtually no difference, at all. No new gameplay mechanics, didn't see any new weapons, nothing. Even the setting looks the same (Needz moar crumbly buildings!) The only thing that's new is the story (And that's debatable). And you guys bash Call of Duty.

@TraceurRyuk Part III
"Uncharted 3 literally IS Uncharted 2."

I think you need to look up the definition of the word "literally".

@TraceurRyuk Part III

Wow, did a Nathan Drake look-alike kill your dog or something? =P

Oh noes, Uncharted 3 looks like more of the amazing and highly-praised 96% rated Uncharted 2, with new characters and a new story.

You goddamned fanboys, stop being excited for it!

Now!

@TraceurRyuk Part III

I wouldn't sweat it, guys. Bioshock Infinite is a 2012 game, Uncharted 3 is 2011. They won't be going head-to-head, they will both be awesome.

@TraceurRyuk Part III
Is it okay if I buy both games? Or would that make me a fanboy of UC3 because it'll be released sooner...
...oh wait, I won't give a damn, because they're *both* good impending titles.
And what the hell -- You don't like it because there isn't a vast change of new weapons in UC3? What were you honestly expecting common thugs/henchmen to have outside of handguns and AKs? x_o?

Wow, the Vita looks like a great piece of hardware, but I can't shake the feeling that the Wii U just got a bit of a collective bitchslap.

Skyrim beat out some heavy, HEAVY, competition to win Best Console game. I think I've only seen a couple of screenshots. I really pray this game delivers.

@copa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic6dKnv3WdU

Bioshock Infinite looks awesome and hopefully with the move support it will be better. Does bioshock 1 have move support?

Most of the winners are multiplatform. What's a fanboy to do?

@Andyr2120
Pick up knitting.

@kvn7918

Pfft, knitting is for noobs and babies, everyone knows hardcore types do embroidery.

I'm still not sure how to pronounce Vita. Is it VEE-tuh? VIH-tuh? Vih-TAH?

I probably missed the relevant post.

@Ranus Studios

Just call it the PSV, saves you the trouble.

@Ranus Studios i don't have it's problem i pronounce i like Italian word just go to google translate and type in Vita and select from "Italian" hit listen button sounds good to me.

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BioShock Infinite

BioShock Infinite sweeps Best of E3 Game Critics Awards, PlayStation Vita wins Best Hardware

Reader Comments (125)

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:23PM aaronharmon said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:25PM DannyT said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:41PM BananaBoat said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 3:43PM Vladeon said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 3:52PM KeenCommander said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 6:46PM GuardianLegend said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 10:36AM qrack said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:26PM GTThaAceman said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:27PM collinc said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:21PM gordeaux said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:34PM GTThaAceman said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:47PM BananaBoat said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 2:01PM collinc said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 2:21PM Fire Walk With Me said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 3:09PM TheShaper said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 3:39PM BananaBoat said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 4:10PM TheShaper said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 6:20PM BananaBoat said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 10:39AM Fermie Prime said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 10:42AM collinc said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:27PM Fire Walk With Me said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:34PM copa said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:43PM Fire Walk With Me said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:50PM mrantimatter said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:00PM Fire Walk With Me said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:01PM Domino2097 said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:08PM RussellGorall said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:10PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:20PM Fire Walk With Me said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:44PM collinc said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 5:40AM Zippon said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:29PM Measlesopolis said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:30PM mywhitenoise said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:59PM HardBoiled2009 said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:01PM Fire Walk With Me said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:03PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:15PM TraceurRyuk Part III said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:26PM mywhitenoise said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:27PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:33PM copa said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 2:06PM foxhound said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:30PM copa said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:59PM TraceurRyuk Part III said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:32PM Mustang Fanboy said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:32PM Andyr2120 said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:36PM kvn7918 said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 1:37PM freaparn said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:33PM Ranus Studios said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:37PM jph89 said

Posted: Jun 28th 2011 12:58PM DokiDokiBawanga said

BioShock Infinite Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

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