GDC: Gears bags more awards

By Robert Purchese Published 9 March, 2007

Followed by Okami, Wii Sports.

Epic Games' Gears of War has won three awards at the annual Game Developers Choice Awards, including Best Game - with Capcom's Okami and Nintendo's Wii Sports also picking up multiple honours.

Gears of War, which was published by Microsoft Game Studios, also picked up the gongs for Best Technology and Best Visual Arts at the prestigious awards ceremony, held last night in San Francisco.

Okami and Wii Sports picked up two awards each. Both games were honoured in the Innovation category, alongside independent title Line Rider, while Okami picked up an award for Character Design, and Wii Sports' second gong came for Game Design.

Head over to GamesIndustry.biz for the full story.

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About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (43) Latest comment 5 years ago

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  • retr0gamer #1 5 years ago

    Edit: First w00t!
    GoW was alright at best but game of the year ahead of Zelda and Okami. I don't think so.
    Edited by retr0gamer at 09/03/07 @ 15:20

  • skillian #2 5 years ago

    It's a cool game but disappointing that it made GOTY.

    Then again, what else was in for it - there was nothing of the calibre of Half-Life 2 this year...

  • Xerx3s #3 5 years ago

    So we are still going to bash it right? Surely we can't have THAT kind of games on the No. 1 spot.

  • skillian #4 5 years ago

    I don't mean to sound snobbish, but it wasn't really that groundbreaking, more a refinement of previous games.

    In a year that was a big one for teh games industry, I might hope for a more standout game to be top of the tree.

  • AcidSnake #5 5 years ago

    Zelda and Okami FTW indeed...
    I still haven't played GoW I admit...
    But I have seen a friend play it...
    And it's not GOTY material...

  • ChrisBen #6 5 years ago

    A big "fuck you" to all the haters then? Gears of War has been lauded by the industry itself. Fellow developers. Basically, Epic's peers have said "your game was the best". I'll take their opinion over a bunch of pretensious net fanboy jockeys any day. It's the equivalent of a footballers fellow professionals voting him player of the year. Can we get over the Gears hate now?

    Okay, it's big burly soldiers, gun porn, homoerotic, 'lacks innovation', is 'brainless', blah, blah, fucking blah. It's garnered amazing reviews, annhihilated the sales charts, been award GOTY by countless publications, and now, to cap it off, has been lauded by the industry itself.

    Face it, Gears of War is an amazing game, that has captured the hearts of many, and is clearly one of the greatest games of all time. And all the snobbery in the world from the haters will not change this fact.

  • dirigiblebill #7 5 years ago

    +1 all GoW great-but-not-GOTY posting.

  • Putty-Man #8 5 years ago

    Gears was my GOTY so I agree with these Game Developers dudes, tho who said they know anything about games.

  • SeesThroughAll #9 5 years ago

    I don't mean to sound snobbish, but it wasn't really that groundbreaking, more a refinement of previous games.

    I saw it in action (friend's place), and I have to say, yes, it actually is brilliant. It's a very tactical shooter, levels look well designed, and those subtle tweaks like active reloading make a huge difference in gameplay.

    But my expectations from the PS3 have increased again since Phil's keynote. Now I'm just waiting for the BC list to make my mind.

  • Carrybagma #10 5 years ago

    Ahhh, so what. I've awarded myself a packet of crisps for my contribution to the cupboard-making industry. Anyone care to dispute that???

  • President_Weasel #11 5 years ago

    Carrybagma, what is it? 3 walls, a door, maybe some shelves or racks?
    Sounds a bit derivative to me...

  • the_sas_man #12 5 years ago

    It's not that Gow is utterly Brilliant - it's just that Zelda and Okami are better. It certainly desrves its staus being in the top 3 however...just at the bottom of those 3.

  • ChrisBen #13 5 years ago

    Says you. But clearly, the industry, developers and journalists alike, do not agree. Gears of War was the clear award winner of 2006. It cannot be denied. It's swept up the majority of GOTY accolades, and deservedly so, in my opinion.

  • Xerx3s #14 5 years ago

    I quite disagree. I think that GoW is the best. The fun factor (the thing that games boil down to) is incredible. I can't even begin to count the nights that sessions went on till deep in the night. Hammering rodpad is just priceless.

  • JediMasterMalik #15 5 years ago

    You just dislike Japanese games though.

  • Skooch #16 5 years ago

    I'll be honest and say I haven't played Okami and have only really played a few hours of Wii Sports (although that is probably enough to cast a personal judgement). I can say that having netted around 2000 online kills and countless campaign playthroughs I thought GOW was excellent. Any game that can shift 3m units in 10 weeks (attach rate of around 40%!) has got to be awesome and deserves GOTY, imo.

  • AcidSnake #17 5 years ago

    @Skooch:
    Just because a game shifts a lot of copies doesn't mean it's actually any good...

    Little brittain?

  • AtomicBanana Verified Level Designer, Playground Games #18 5 years ago

    'You just dislike Japanese games though.'

    What a poor defense. Are we not allowed to think it's better than both of them on merit, instead of because we're blinded by our supposed dislike of jap games? Equally I could turn it around to you and say 'You just dislike Western games though'. Equally as pointless.

  • skillian #19 5 years ago

    For me, GoW was the gaming equivalent of the Spider-Man 2 movie. Very well presented, looked fantastic, loads of fun, very successful.

    Despite all that , no-one would expect it to win best movie at the Oscars.

  • CitizenGeek #20 5 years ago

    One reason these awards deserve not our attention: Final Fantasy XII and, more specifically, where the hell is it?

  • JediMasterMalik #21 5 years ago

    It wasn't a defence, just an observation from his previous posts. I really don't have opinion on Gears having not played it, but it looks great.

    In fact I've only played Okami out of those 3, and it's bloody brilliant.

  • spongebob #22 5 years ago

    GoW won over Okami because it made so much money. It's like the Titanic at the Oscars :)

  • ChrisBen #23 5 years ago

    Gears won because it was the best game of 2006. Period. End of story. Next!

  • groovychainsaw #24 5 years ago

    I thought gears of war was pretty poor, to be honest, traded it in a few weeks ago after getting bored of running into walls etc. when the controls failed me (which happened far too often). Okami however must be one of the best games I've ever played, so its a no-brainer for me. Maybe I'm just bored with shooters now...

  • Xerx3s #25 5 years ago

    You just dislike Japanese games though.

    Not all. But yeh, a lot. That's not the point though. I played through all 3 but I'm still playing GoW. I play games for fun (and assume everybody does?) and the GoW mp just keeps on delivering the fun.

    But then again, I'm a mp whore. :(

    /bursts into tears

    What a poor defense. Are we not allowed to think it's better than both of them on merit, instead of because we're blinded by our supposed dislike of jap games? Equally I could turn it around to you and say 'You just dislike Western games though'. Equally as pointless.

    He is right, I have a disliking for most japanese games. That however is not what I'm talking about here. GoW has a MP fun factor that rivals that of H2. I just look at how much fun I can get for my buck. Then I will have to say GoW because I'm still playing that while Okami is returned to it's propper owner and we moved on to wiisports on the wii.
    Edited by Xerx3s at 09/03/07 @ 18:22

  • Xerx3s #26 5 years ago

    GoW won over Okami because it made so much money. It's like the Titanic at the Oscars :)

    Titanic is rubbish.

    ....

    ..

    Oh...

    ;p

  • The-Bodybuilder #27 5 years ago

    I'm sure the internet "journalists" know more than the developers of the industry in deciding what is the best game of the year...

  • Inquisitor #28 5 years ago

    This is the developers who voted, not some corruptable sponsored panel who know nothing about games.

    I've not played okami or wii sports or zelda, but I have played gears, and it really is very, very good.

    Only shooter I've ever got my mate to play, why? because its so fun in co-op and looks amazing.

  • Les #29 5 years ago

    From a development (technical) POV it's undoubtedly a great achievement (and this is after all the GDC). Just think what a developer with actual taste would have been able to achieve...

    But I'm sure that if Okami had featured background loading, it would have topped GoW... ;-)

  • GitSomE_UK #30 5 years ago

    I love GoW it's over the top action and lots of fun, I love the 2000ad art style of chunky weapons, chunky fellas and over the top "Hell yeah".

    Okami is totally different, it's like playing a piece of art, great to look at and damned interesting to play. Like Ico, worth buying a console for to play IMO.

    GoW the popcorn block buster, Okami Art House genious.... love 'em both.

    Zelda not played, still can't get my hands on a Wii :(

  • GamesConnoisseur #31 5 years ago

    I got all three titles, Okami is certainly more deserving of consideration above Zelda TP due to the new brave franchise and style, but damn me GoW is still taking my time. My mates are still wowed by it (easily pleased perhaps?!), once I got used to control and now almost always got perfect reload and nothing best it as a artful and fun way of releasing all the stresses of the day/week/month/year!

    FPS is not always a game for everyone, so some will always hate the genre.

    Game Developers know what they admire and recognition from peers are important. They say test of time will show if it is deserving of GOTY, so see if it will be part of the all time classic.

    Wonder if it is also released on PS3 it will get more support from gamers?

    Edited by GamesConnoisseur at 09/03/07 @ 20:46

  • NewbieZilla #32 5 years ago

    Gears has sold four million units, too.

    It is a very enjoyable game. I'm usually more into RPGs but I do enjoy a good shooter, and had a great laugh on the campaign. Even more fun going through on co-op with a friend.

    I think i'll get more fun out of it once I bother to get xbl set up.

    Something to pass time till Mass Effect comes out.

  • Curion #33 5 years ago

    God of war NOW Gears of war, americans give awards to amaricans USA,USA.

  • smelly #34 5 years ago

    GoW?? Oh come off it.

    Sure it looks pretty, but the gameplay is just a shooting gallery! It's an overly extended mini game!

  • smelly #35 5 years ago

    "I'm sure the internet "journalists" know more than the developers of the industry in deciding what is the best game of the year... "


    Well if GoW is the type of game developers think is the best game of the year.. then it doesnt bode well really for the games their developing!!!

    "Lets make another pretty game where all you do is shoot things until you're bored.."

  • GitSomE_UK #36 5 years ago

    @smelly
    "Lets make another pretty game where all you do is shoot things until you're bored.."


    Umm isn't this most games?

  • corner #37 5 years ago

    Well deserved imo. For pure fun, it's one of the best games I've played in God knows how long.

  • corner #38 5 years ago

    "God of war NOW Gears of war, americans give awards to amaricans USA,USA."

    Maybe they're just fanboys of games with the acronym "GoW"?

    /uses XNA to develop a game called "Girls or Women"
    /prepares GDC GOTY acceptance speech in advance

  • Les #39 5 years ago

    "Wonder if it is also released on PS3 it will get more support from gamers?"

    Why would it?! It'd still be the same game.

  • Foxclose #40 5 years ago

    I saw the awards on Gamespot and it seemed even they thought Okami should have won!

  • bdc #41 5 years ago

    Twilight Princess in no way deserves GOTY. It's not a big enough leap over its predecessors. Suck it up. Oh, and everyone I spoke to, who has played both TP and GoW, all agree that GoW is infinitely more fun.

    TP doesn't even have any online modes or longevity.

  • smelly #42 5 years ago

    >Umm isn't this most games?

    That's why it doesnt deserve to win.

    Okami alone shouldve won lots of awards for being great and taking a risk. I dont even think zelda TP shouldve won anything because it's easily the worst game of the series.

  • Latin #43 5 years ago

    Here is my (worthless) opinion;

    TP and Okami are both great games no doubt, but they can only really be appreciated by the more hardcore gamers.

    What I mean by this is that out of the three, GOW is the only one that got my friends interested and actually having loads of fun gaming. These are people who normally hate video games and think it's sad, geeky, etc.etc.

    Whenever I played the other two, they'd start heckling me and force me to turn it off even if I showed them all the cool things about them and the beutiful artisitic design etc. But GOW looks so god damn fun to play, which it is, that even they wanted a piece of the action.

    Maybe that's why it won because it is unashamedly focused on fun, it doesn't give a crap about art style, plot, originality... whatever. And when it comes down to it, if you've played all 3 extensively, which I am fortunate to have done, I think you'll find (I know i did) that the most enjoyable experience (IMO) comes from GOW. If that's not enough to win GOTY, I don't know what is.

    Let me reiterate, before I get flamed and accused, this is all my own opinion and experiences.

    Anyway I've spoken my brain.