Videogame Industry Celebrates Canadian Creativity With First Annual Awards

Dragon Age: Origins Named Canada's Game of the Year, Wins Two Awards

VANCOUVER, May 5 /CNW/ - The first Canadian Videogame Awards were handed out in Vancouver this evening, with Dragon Age: Origins from Electronic Arts/BioWare taking home two awards, including Canadian Game of the Year. Assassin's Creed II received a total of three awards and the other winners included Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes and Dawn of War II among others.

"This first event was an excellent showcase of the amazing talent of our videogame developers in Canada," said Michael Bidu, President of DigiBC. "Interactive entertainment is one of our country's leading industries where we are clearly world-renowned, and this world-class event was a fitting way to showcase to the globe the great work done in Canadian studios coast to coast."

"The awards punctuated what many of us already know; that Canada is home to some of the biggest and most amazing games on the planet," said Victor Lucas, host of Electric Playground and one of the award event organizers. "We look forward to a bigger and even better show next year to celebrate the kick-ass work of our industry."

A 30-minute special on the Canadian Videogame Awards is scheduled to premiere on G4 Canada on May 16. Sponsors of the 2010 Awards included G4, XBOX 360, Sony PlayStation, and The Georgia Straight.

Here is the full list of all the winners and nominees from the inaugural event:

    
    Game of the Year - Dragon Age: Origins (Electronic Arts/BioWare)

    -   Assassin's Creed II
    -   Dawn of War II
    -   Dragon Age: Origins
    -   FIFA 10
    -   Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes

    Best Console - Assassin's Creed II (UbiSoft Montreal)

    -   Assassin's Creed II
    -   Dawn of War II
    -   FIFA 10
    -   NHL 10
    -   Prototype

    Best Handheld Game - Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes (Capybara Games)

    -   Battle of Giants: Dragons
    -   LEGO Battles
    -   Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes
    -   MySims Racing
    -   Pandemica

    Best Downloadable Game - Critter Crunch (Capybara Games)

    -   Critter Crunch
    -   Implode!
    -   Osmos
    -   Pandemica
    -   Super Monkey Ball 2

    Best Audio - Dawn of War II (THQ/Relic)

    -   Assassin's Creed II
    -   Dawn of War II
    -   Dragon Age: Origins
    -   Skate 2
    -   WET

    Best Game Design - Assassin's Creed II (UbiSoft Montreal)

    -   Assassin's Creed II
    -   Dawn of War II
    -   Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes
    -   NHL 10
    -   Prototype

    Best Technology - Prototype (Radical Entertainment) & Assassin's Creed II
    (UbiSoft Montreal)

    -   Assassin's Creed II
    -   FIFA 10
    -   Fight Night: Round 4
    -   Prototype
    -   Skate 2

    Best Visual Arts - Assassin's Creed II (UbiSoft Montreal)

    -   Academy of Champions: Soccer
    -   Assassin's Creed II
    -   Dragon Age: Origins
    -   Fight Night: Round 4
    -   Punch-Out!!

    Best Writing - Dragon Age: Origins (Electronic Arts/BioWare)

    -   Assassin's Creed II
    -   Dawn of War II
    -   Dragon Age: Origins
    -   Prototype
    -   WET

    In-Game Cinematic - Ghostbusters: The Video Game Cinematics (Rainmaker)

    -   Ghostbusters: The Video Game Cinematics
    -   LEGO Battles
    -   NBA Live 10
    -   Prototype Web of Intrigue

    Most Promising Game - ModNation Racer (United Front Games)

    -   Dead Rising 2
    -   Deus Ex: Human Revolution
    -   ModNation Racers
    -   Need for Speed World
    -   TRON: Evolution
    

The Canadian Video Game and Digital Arts Awards are produced by DigiBC - The Digital Media + Wireless Association of BC, in partnership with Reboot Communications, Seven Group and Greedy Productions. The producers are joined by a national industry committee of developers and leaders of the Canadian digital entertainment industry.

For further information: Kathy Gibson, Reboot Communications/Greedy Productions, [phone], [email protected]