The Game Awards, the Oscars of video games, was held last Thursday, Dec. 1, in Los Angeles.
The event was live streamed online across various platforms including, but not limited to, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook Live and Twitch. It was also the first time a live event was streamed through VR technology.
The award show began with acclaimed game designer Hideo Kojima receiving the Industry Icon Award. Last year, Kojima was unable to attend the Game Awards due to his unceremonious departure from publisher Konami.
“Last year I thought I lost everything, but I didn’t lose anything thanks to all of you,” Kojima said onstage to his fans and the whole world.
Kojima then presented new footage of his upcoming game” Death Stranding,” starring Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus, notorious film director Guillermo Del Toro, and Hannibal’s Madds Mikkelsen. “Death Stranding’s” concept is bizarre to say the least, but very intriguing.
Blizzard’s online multiplayer shooter “Overwatch” won the coveted Game of the Year award along with trophies for Best Game Direction, Best Multiplayer Game and Best eSports Game. “Overwatch” was one of the most popular games of this year, forming a massive fan base.
The main winners of the night, alongside “Overwatch,” were “Doom,” “Inside,” and “Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.”
“Uncharted 4” also won the awards for Best Narrative and Best Performance for Nolan North who portrays series main protagonist Nathan Drake. North has become a staple for gaming performance in the last decade.
Other notable winners included “That Dragon, Cancer” winning the award for Games for Impact. The game tells the true story of Joel Green, a small child struggling with terminal cancer. The game was created by his parents, Ryan and Amy Green.
Ryan talked about the power of games to show “not just who we want to be, but who we are.”
Other winners of the night were the smash-hit “Pokemon Go,” earning Best Mobile/ Handheld Game, and “Dishonored 2,” being named Best Action/Adventure Game.
The night was also highlighted new trailers for high-anticipated games such as Nintendo’s “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” Telltale’s “Walking Dead Season 3” and Bioware’s Mass “Effect: Andromeda.
Here is a list of all the winners:
Game of the Year: Overwatch (Blizzard)
Best Game Direction: Blizzard (for Overwatch)
Best Narrative: Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (Naughty Dog/SIE)
Best Art Direction: Inside (Playdead)
Best Music/Sound Design: Doom (id Software/Bethesda)
Best Performance: Nolan North as Nathan Drake, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Games for Impact: That Dragon, Cancer (Numinous Games)
Best Independent Game: Inside (Playdead)
Best Mobile/Handheld Game: Pokemon Go (Niantic)
Best VR Game: Rez Infinite (Enhance Games)
Best Action Game: Doom (id Software/Bethesda)
Best Action/Adventure Game: Dishonored 2 (Arkane Studios/Bethesda Softworks)
Best RPG: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Blood and Wine (CD Projekt RED)
Best Fighting Game: Street Fighter V (Capcom)
Best Strategy Game: Civilization VI (Firaxis Games/2K)
Best Family Game: Pokemon Go (Niantic)
Best Sports/Racing Game: Forza Horizon 3 (Playground Games/Microsoft Studios)
Best Multiplayer Game: Overwatch (Blizzard)
Most Anticipated Game: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo)
Best eSports Game: Overwatch (Blizzard)
Best eSports Team: Cloud9
Best eSports Player: Marcelo “coldzera” David
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