Game Stooge

2007 GameStooge Award Nominations

• Scribbled on November 10th, 2007 by Jonah Falcon
• Filed in Game Genres, GameStooge Game of the Year Awards, Platforms, Press Release

BioShock, Halo 3 and Portal Lead GameStooge Award Nominations

The first annual GameStooge Awards nomination list has been announced at video and computer game journalism website GameStooge (www.gamestooge.com), with some expected blockbuster games, some surprising big nominees from unexpected sources, and some shocking omissions.Perhaps the biggest surprise were the seven nominations garnered by Valve’s unexpected hit Portal, which received nods for Best Puzzle Game, Best Voice Acting - Performer (Ellen McLain), Best Writing, Best Breakout Character (with two nominations), Best Budget Game, and the sole nomination for Best Song (”Still Alive”). Part of the surprise was that it was initially viewed as a “throw in” game for The Orange Box bundleware, alongside the long-awaited Half-Life 2: Episode Two and Team Fortress 2, as well as the original Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One. “It was a dazzling puzzle game that people really latched onto,” stated senior writer Jonah Falcon, “People enjoyed the wackiness of the main villain GLaDOS, which contrasted with what was really a dark game, and the closing credits song ‘Still Alive’ sealed the deal for many people.” The Orange Box itself garnered a nomination for Best Bundleware, while Half-Life 2: Episode 2 and Team Fortress 2 each earned three and two nominations respectively; as a whole, The Orange Box accounted for 13 nominations total, the most of any game.BioShock received the most nominations of any single game, with an astounding 12 nominations for Best PC Game, Best Xbox 360 Game, Best Shooter, Best Graphics - Artistic, Best Graphics - Technical, Best Music Score - Adapted, Best Sound, Best Voice Acting - Cast, Best Voice Acting - Performer (Armin Shimmerman), Best Writing, Best Plot Twist, and Best Breakout Character (Big Daddy). BioShock was a huge hit with gamers, exceeding its already high expectations for Ken Levine’s spiritual successor to System Shock. Part of its success was its relatively new IP; System Shock and System Shock 2, while considered some of the best games in history, failed in terms of sales, so many gamers had never experienced the sort of universe that Levine’s Looking Glass Studios/Irrational Games/2K Boston development companies were capable of delivering. Halo 3 earned a large number of nominations as well (11), which was expected for a game that sold 3.3 million copies in the first week of release alone, and helped Microsoft’s games division get into the black for the first time since, well, Halo 2 launched. The game was surrounded by unprecedented hype helped by loyal fans and clever marketing, but none of it would have helped it sell an unprecedented number of games without its thrilling campaign (the constant ponderings of whether Master Chief would live was a major topic among fans) and its brilliant multiplayer mode which featured distributable saved films and a “Forge” mode which allowed gamers to design their own map layouts. Contributing writer Mitchell Dyer praised, “Halo 3’s campaign blew me away. As an avid Halo 2 hater, Bungie really sacked up and hit the nail on the head with an explosive conclusion that’s infinitely replayable.”

Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was another big winner in nominations with six. Site contributor Devin Grimes noted, “In a year with so few exclusive quality titles on the PlayStation 3, Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction was a surprisingly solid example of the system’s strengths.  Visuals and creativity impressed, and in a year so jam-packed full of shooters, an old school action/platformer is just what the industry needed to freshen things up.” Ratchet & Clank earned three nominations for Best PlayStation 3 game, Best Action game, and Best Graphics – Artistic.

The Awards also bid farewell to three console systems that all debuted in 2001: the original Xbox, the GameCube, and the GameBoy Advance, all of which had their last games released for them early in the year. However, Final Fantasy VI Advance, which received a Legacy Award for being the last great game for its system, managed to garner an additional nomination for Best Roleplaying Game, proving that the handheld was finishing strong at the end of its life cycle.

One of the most shocking lack of nominations was for the critical and commercial hit Wii game Super Mario Galaxy, which earned nominations for Best Wii Game, Best Music Score – Original, and Best Platformer. “I don’t think Mario fans have anything to worry about,” Falcon said, “It’ll probably have a fourth nomination, which has as good as shot as any of winning it”, referring to the Best Game of the Year category, whose nominees remain unannounced ‘til the Awards. The other big surprise was that Unreal Tournament III  went completely unnominated, while Enemy Territory: Quake Wars received one sole nomination for Best Multiplayer. Another shocker was a lack of a Best Sports Game nomination for Madden NFL 08, which received only one special Legacy Award for the GameCube. This reflected the decline overall this year of Madden sales, indicating a waning interest for the yearly updates of the football game. Other games that received far less nominations than expected included the major PC roleplaying game release of 2007, Hellgate: London (which received only two noms), Sony’s hyped Heavenly Sword (one nomination), and both major music games, Guitar Hero III and Rock Band, which each garnered three and four nominations respectively, three in the same categories: Best PlayStation 2 game, Best Music/Rhythm Game, and Best Music Score – Adapted. (Rock Band also earned a Best Co-Op nomination.) However, two other Guitar Hero games earned nominations; the spinoff Guitar Hero: Rock the 80’s garnered two nominations (Best Music Score – Addapted and Best Standalone Expansion), while Guitar Hero Mobile earned a nomination for Best Mobile Phone game. Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars earned only one nomination for Best Strategy Game, though The Command & Conquer Saga snagged a nomination as well for Best Bundleware. The biggest selling PC game of the year, World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, earned only one nomination for Best Expansion.

Editor-in-Chief Derrick Schommer summarized, “I believe this year marks a very important milestone in gaming history. We’ve seen huge hit games arrive this year that blew away reviewers and gamers alike. Games like BioShock rocked review scores and change the way we see single-player game titles, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare finally left the WWII genre and created a multiplayer experience, with the addiction of “Halo-meets-Battlefield”. Halo 3 broke records throughout the entertainment industry, followed by Guitar Hero III which brought together casual gamers and hardcore gamers for the first time in ages. Peggle was a PopCap title which had the game play addiction of heroin,  and The Orange Box was the best bundleware in centuries. So many great games arrived late that many gamers have yet to tap into the industries titles for the rest of the year. Although World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade deserves best expansion, I personally found it didn’t live up to my expectations. After reaching level 20 with my new character, it dawned on me…it’s still just World of Warcraft.”

The winners will be announced at GameStooge.com on January 1, 2008, as will the lead award, Best Game of the Year, whose nominations will not be announced until then.

PLATFORMS
Best Game of the Year
Nominees to be announced

Best PC Game of the Year
BioShock
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Crysis
Supreme Commander
World in Conflict

Best Xbox 360 Game of the Year
BioShock
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Forza Motorsport 2
Halo 3
Mass Effect

Best PlayStation 3 Game
Assassin’s Creed
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Motorstorm
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

Best PlayStation 2 Game
God of War II
Guitar Hero III
Odin Sphere
Persona 3
Rock Band

Best Wii Game
Mario Strikers Charged
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Paper Mario

Best Nintendo DS Game
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Planet Puzzle League
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

Best PlayStation Portable Game
Crush
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Jeanne d’Arc
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow

Best Mobile Phone Game
Critter Crunch
God of War: Betrayal
Guitar Hero Mobile
Might & Magic II
Orcs & Elves 2

LEGACY AWARDS
Best Xbox Game
NCAA Football 08

Best GameCube Game
Madden NFL 08

Best GameBoy Advance Game
Final Fantasy VI Advance

GENRES
Best Action Game
Assassin’s Creed (Multi)
Crackdown (Xbox 360)
God of War II (PlayStation 2)
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PlayStation 3)
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (PlayStation 3)

Best Shooter
BioShock (Multi)
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Multi)
Crysis (PC)
Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl (PC)

Best Fighting Game
Naruto: Rise of the Ninja (Xbox 360)
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection (PlayStation 3)
Virtua Fighter 5 (Multi)

Best Platform Game
Crush (PlayStation Portable)
Prince of Persia Classic (Xbox 360)
The Simpsons Game (Multi)
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Super Paper Mario (Wii)

Best Roleplaying Game
Final Fantasy VI Advance (GameBoy Advance)
Jeanne d’Arc (PlayStation Portable)
Mass Effect (Xbox 360)
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl (Nintendo DS)
The Witcher (PC)

Best Massively Multiplayer Online Game
Hellgate: London (PC)
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (PC)
Tabula Rasa (PC)

Best Strategy Game
Catan (Xbox 360)
Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars (Multi)
Europa Universalis III (PC)
Supreme Commander (PC)
World in Conflict (PC)

Best Wargame
Ageod’s American Civil War (PC)
Battlefront (PC)
Guns of August (PC)
Napoleon in Italy (PC)
Theatre of War (PC)

Best Simulation
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (Xbox 360)
Battlestations: Midway (Multi)
Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII (Multi)
Rail Simulator (PC)
Silent Hunter 4: Wolves of the Pacific (PC)

Best Racing/Driving Game
DiRT (Multi)
Forza Motorsport 2 (Xbox 360)
Motorstorm (PlayStation 3)
Project Gotham Racing 4 (Xbox 360)
Race 07: The Official WTCC Game (PC)

Best Adventure Game
Culpa Innata (PC)
Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (Nintendo DS)

Best Sports Game
NBA 2K8 (Multi)
NHL 08 (Multi)
Out of the Park Baseball 2007 (PC)
skate (Multi)
Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 (Multi)

Best Music/Rhythm Game
Boogie (Multi)
Lumines II (Playstation Portable)
Every Extend Extra Extreme (Xbox 360)
Guitar Hero III (Multi)
Rock Band (Multi)

Best Puzzle Game
Crush (PlayStation Portable)
Peggle (PC)
Planet Puzzle League (Nintendo DS)
Portal (PC)
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (Multi)             

OTHER
Best Multiplayer
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Multi)
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (Multi)
Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
Team Fortress 2 (Multi)
Warhawk (PlayStation 3)

Best Co-Op Multiplayer
Crackdown (Xbox 360)
Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
Hellgate: London (PC)
Rock Band (Multi)
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 (Multi)

Best Bundleware
The Command & Conquer Saga (PC)
Galactic Civilizations II: Gold (PC)
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Multi)
The Orange Box (Multi)
Starcraft Battle Chest (PC)

Best Expansion
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword (PC)
The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles (Multi)
Flight Simulator X Acceleration (PC)
Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar (PC)
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (PC)

Best Standalone Expansion
Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts (PC)
F.E.A.R. Files (Xbox 360)
Guitar Hero: Rock the 80’s (PlayStation 2)
Half-Life 2: Episode Two (Multi)
Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance (PC)

Best Console Downloadable Game, Original
Catan (Xbox 360)
Calling All Cars (PlayStation 3)
Everyday Shooter (PlayStation 3)
Pac-Man Championship Edition (Xbox 360)
Super Stardust HD (PlayStation 3)

Best Console Downloadable Game, Adaptation
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Xbox 360)
Prince of Persia Classic (Xbox 360)
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (Multi)
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (Multi)
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection (PlayStation 3)

Best Graphics, Artistic
Assassin’s Creed (Multi)
BioShock (Multi)
Eternal Sonata (Xbox 360)
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (PC)
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PlayStation 3)

Best Graphics, Technical
BioShock (Multi)
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Multi)
Crysis (PC)
Gears of War (PC)
Halo 3 (Xbox 360)

Best Music Score, Original
Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
Lair (PlayStation 3)
Mass Effect (Xbox 360)
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (PlayStation 3)

Best Music Score, Adapted
BioShock (Multi)
Eternal Sonata (Xbox 360)
Guitar Hero III (Multi)
Guitar Hero: Rock the 80’s (PlayStation 2)
Rock Band (Multi)

Best Original Song
“Still Alive” by Ellen McLain, Portal (Multi)

Best Sound
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (Xbox 360)
BioShock (Multi)
Crackdown (Xbox 360)
Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
Silent Hunter 4: Wolves of the Pacific (PC)

Best Voice Acting, Cast
BioShock (Xbox 360)
Half-Life 2: Episode Two (Multi)
Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
Sam & Max Season 1 (PC)
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (PlayStation 3)

Best Voice Acting, Performer
Dan Castanella (Homer Simpson), The Simpsons Game (Multi)
Merle Dandridge (Alyx Vance), Half-Life 2: Episode Two (Multi)
Ellen McLain (GLaDOS), Portal (Multi)
Armin Shimmerman (Dr. Andrew Ryan), BioShock (Multi)
Jen Taylor (Cortana), Halo 3 (Xbox 360)

Best Writing
BioShock (Multi)
Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
Mass Effect (Xbox 360)
Portal (Multi)
Sam & Max Season 1 (PC)

Best Plot Twist
Assassin’s Creed (Multi)
BioShock (Multi)
Crackdown (Xbox 360)

Best Use of Licensed Property
Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck (Nintendo DS)
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (PC)
The Simpsons Game (Multi)
Stranglehold (Multi)
The Witcher (PC)

Best Trailer
“Dance With an Angel”, Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (Xbox 360)
“Lonely Soul”, Assassin’s Creed (Multi)
“Believe”, Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
“Medal of Homer”, The Simpsons Game (Multi)
“Heavy Weapons Guy”, Team Fortress 2 (Multi)

Breakout Character of the Year
Altair, Assassin’s Creed (Multi)
Big Daddy, BioShock (Multi)
GLaDOS, Portal (Multi)
Nariko, Heavenly Sword (PlayStation 3)
Weighted Companion Cube, Portal (Multi)

Best Game No One Played
Earth Defense Force 2017 (Xbox 360)
Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (Nintendo DS)
MLB Power Pros (Multi)
Shadowrun (Multi)
Surf’s Up (Multi)

Best Budget (Under $20) PC Game
Chocolatier
Peggle
Portal
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
Switchball

NOMINATION BREAKDOWNS
12 Nominations: Bioshock
11 Nominations: Halo 3
7 Nominations: Portal
6 Nominations: Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
4 Nominations: Crackdown, Mass Effect, Rock Band, The Simpsons Game, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
3 Nominations: Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, Crush, Crysis, Guitar Hero III,  Half-Life 2: Episode Two, The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Sam & Max Season 1, Super Mario Galaxy
2 Nominations: Catan, Eternal Sonata, Final Fantasy VI Advance, Forza Motorsport 2, God of War II, Guitar Hero: Rock the 80’s, Heavenly Sword, Hellgate: London, Hotel Dusk: Room 417, Jeanne d’Arc, Motorstorm, Peggle, Planet Puzzle League,  Prince of Persia Classic, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, Silent Hunter 4: Wolves of the Pacific, Super Paper Mario, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Supreme Commander, Team Fortress 2, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, The Witcher, World in Conflict

(Portal (7), Half-Life 2: Episode Two (3), Team Fortress 2 (2), and The Orange Box (1) combined for 13 nominations.)