I’m mildly annoyed at The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, but that won’t stop me from writing about the 2013 DICE awards! The big winners this year were Journey and The Walking Dead. I was thrilled that both of those games did well, though it wasn’t surprising considering that these awards are peer based and both of these games are popular within the business. I was also happy to see XCOM: Enemy Unknown snag an award. Naturally, I’d love to hear your take on this year’s winners. Here’s the full list:
Action Game of the Year
Borderlands 2
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Gearbox Software
Mobile Game of the Year
Hero Academy
Publisher: Robot Entertainment
Developer: Robot Entertainment
Handheld Game of the Year
Paper Mario Sticker Star
Publisher: Nintendo of America, Inc.
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany
Outstanding Achievement in Story
The Walking Dead
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games
Outstanding Character Performance
The Walking Dead: Lee Everett
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games
Downloadable Game of the Year
The Walking Dead
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games
Casual Game of the Year
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany
Web Based Game of the Year
SimCity Social
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Maxis, Playfish
Family Game of the Year
Skylanders Giants
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Toys for Bob
Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year
Mass Effect 3
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Bioware
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Firaxis Games
Outstanding Innovation in Gaming
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany
Sports Game of the Year
FIFA Soccer 13
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada
Racing Game of the Year
Need for Speed Most Wanted
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Criterion Games
Fighting Game of the Year
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: SuperBot Entertainment, Inc.
Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany
Outstanding Achievement in Connectivity
Halo 4
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Developer: 343 Industries
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Assassin’s Creed III
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany
Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering
Halo 4
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Developer: 343 Industries
Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Firaxis Games
Adventure Game of the Year
The Walking Dead
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany
Game of the Year
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany
How is it that Mass Effect 3, a game that has its story ridiculed almost constantly online, won over every single Roleplaying and MMO game released last year? I don’t know about anyone else, but that seems wrong.
I mean, story isn’t everything, but I am reasonably certain that there were better games released than that.
These awards are peer-based, not fan-based. Besides, the “problems” with Mass Effect 3 were given a larger life by a vocal minority.
Yeah Witcher 2 was snubbed at other places and it is amazing. Oh well.
I liked me3 even without the new endings.
Upset about mordin though