While the Game BAFTAS are – in theory - concerned more with quality than hype the Golden Joystick awards are unashamedly populist. Not surprising really seeing as the Joysticks are voted for by gamers rather than industry types.
This years awards – dished out last Friday – are short on shocks with no sign of anything even vaguely leftfield. The big winners were Call of Duty 4 and GTA IV, with presumably Beautiful Katamari running them both close. Or maybe not. But let's not get snooty here. COD4 is a genuine classic and deserves the accolades. GTA IV has aged less well – the "try, die, restart from beginning" is getting tired – but is still impressive.
The rest of the results threw up few surprises – although Keef may despair at Bejeweled 2 winning the mobile game of the year – although Call of Duty: World at War's award for being the "one to watch" was a liitle unexpected. Is it really more anticipated than, say, Gears of War 2, LittleBigPlanet and WoW: Lich King? If so then it's confirmation that Call of Duty has overtaken Halo, Half Life and the rest to become the number one first person shooter brand.
Anyway, read on for the results. Oh and when the awards are clearly "wrong" I've stuck in some handy "what should have won" comments.
The Sun Family Game of the Year: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
(Surely this should have been Mario and Sonic at the Olympics?)
Bliss Handheld Game of the Year: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
(Good choice, though probably not the type of game Bliss expected to win when they sponsored the award)
Activision Blizzard Retailer of the Year: Play.com
The E4 Talent Mobile GOTY: Bejeweled 2
(Mobile game of the year? No, me neither. Keef? Anyone else who should have won this award?)
Nintendo GOTY Sponsored by Official Nintendo Magazine: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
(Mario Kart Wii surely?)
Nuts All-Nighter Multiplayer GOTY: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
BBC1Xtra Soundtrack of the Year: Grand Theft Auto IV
(Ok, I guess, but GTA IV's selection hardly matches up to Vice City)
ARVATO Xbox Game of the Year: Grand Theft Auto IV
(If only Fable 2 had been out sooner…not that it would have won the votes of course but it is clearly the 360 game of the year)
PC GOTY Sponsored by The United Kingdom e-Sport Association: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
(e-Sport Association??)
The Play.com One to Watch: Call of Duty: World at War
(What no Alan Wake??)
CVG.co.uk UK Developer of the Year: Rockstar
(Media Molecule for 2009…)
PlayStation GOTY Sponsored by Official PlayStation Magazine: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
(Not a tricky choice this year, considering the paucity of quality PS3 exclusives…)
Publisher of the Year: Activision
Edge Most Wanted: Fallout 3
(What no Alan Wake??)
E4.com Grand Master Flash award: Stickman Madness
Games Radar's Online Game of the Year: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Virgin Media Ultimate Game of the Year: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
