Golden Joystick Winners Announced

[fitbabits]

GTA San Andrea cleaned up at the 2005 Annual Golden Joystick (http://www.goldenjoystick.co.uk/) Awards held in London.

Next Generation (http://www.next-gen.biz) has the full details (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1519&Itemid=2) along with a list of the winners:

PlayStation 2 Game of the Year – Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
GameCube Game of the Year – Resident Evil 4
Xbox Game of the Year – Halo 2
PC Game of the Year – Half Life 2
The Carphone Warehouse Handheld Game of the Year – Super Mario 64 DS
Best Film-Based Game of 2005 – Resident Evil 4
BBC Radio One – Colin and Edith’s Best Game Soundtrack of 2005 - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The Sun Online - Online Game of the Year – World of Warcraft
Publisher of the Year - Nintendo
The In Stock Magazine Retailer of the Year – Play.com
The Game One Gaming Innovation of the Year - PSP
The MCV One to Watch for Xmas – The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Sun’s One to Watch for 2006 – Resident Evil 5
Hero of 2005 – CJ from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Villain of 2005 – Officer Tenpenny from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The Girl’s Choice for 2005 – The Sims 2
Editor’s Game of the Year – Resident Evil 4
Unsung Hero of the Year - Fahrenheit
Nuts Magazine’s Ultimate Game of 2005 - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
A couple of things here - Resident Evil 4 was not based on a movie and Twighlight Princess will not be out in time for Christmas! I guess, though, it's better than the Spike TV awards.

[Akeldama]

What a depressingly dull list of winners. Looks like they really phoned this one in. Did they only play four games this year.

[Abednigo]

RE4 is, in my opinion, the best game of the year, even if it wasn't based on a movie (unless they're confusing the RE movies). And the new Zelda is one to watch regardless of when it comes out.

[Busted_Astromech]

I think it's user-based--an online voting system or somesuch. As you can see, it says "Editor's Game of the Year - Resident Evil 4," so at least someone knows what they're doing.

And since it was a voting contest, this was probably started before the Twilight Princess delay.

But still, meh.

[fitbabits]

RE4 is, in my opinion, the best game of the year, even if it wasn't based on a movie (unless they're confusing the RE movies). And the new Zelda is one to watch regardless of when it comes out.
I don't disagree with your statements, the point I was making is that somebody should really have been checking this list for accuracy.

[Paltry]

Resident Evil 4 is easily one of the best games ive ever played in my entire life.

[MrWonderstuff]

Resident Evil 4 was not based on a movie

Yea they should have put Best Game-Based Film of 2005

[Ernst_Jager]

Hero of 2005 – CJ from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

haha the irony. The GTA series is extremely overrated in my opinion. Fun for about 30 mins tops.

[normyk]

Why do they have all these award things BEFORE the year is over?

[bapenguin]

I've got your golden joystick...RIGHT HERE

[fitbabits]

I've got your golden joystick...RIGHT HERE
Holy crap, bapenguin, quit with the funnies! :D

[*Legion*]

The Game One Gaming Innovation of the Year - PSP

Nintendo fanboy heads explode in 3... 2... 1....

[fitbabits]

Nintendo fanboy heads explode in 3... 2... 1....
ABORT, ABORT SELF-DESTRUCT. I repeat ABORT SELF-DESTRUCT...

Publisher of the Year - Nintendo

That could have been really messy there!

[CapnBob]

Note to self: If I ever get into videogame design, consider winning Golden Joystick to be an insult.

[fitbabits]

Note to self: If I ever get into videogame design, consider winning Golden Joystick to be an insult.
And that's why this is so sad. Winning a Golden Joystick Award used to mean something. Now it's just another exercise in marketing to the masses.

[The Iron Weasel]

I have NOTHING TO SAY about this blasphemy, how is HL2 not anywhere on that list, and how is GTA:SA game of the year? seriously it was great and all. But not game of the year great! No mention of Halo 2 multiplayer? bah, this IS as bad as the spike TV awards.

[fitbabits]

I have NOTHING TO SAY about this blasphemy, how is HL2 not anywhere on that list, and how is GTA:SA game of the year? seriously it was great and all. But not game of the year great! No mention of Halo 2 multiplayer? bah, this IS as bad as the spike TV awards.
PC Game of the Year – Half Life 2

Feel better? :D

[Worldcrafter]

I have NOTHING TO SAY about this blasphemy, how is HL2 not anywhere on that list, and how is GTA:SA game of the year? seriously it was great and all. But not game of the year great! No mention of Halo 2 multiplayer? bah, this IS as bad as the spike TV awards.

It looks like you contradicted your first statement with every following one. ;)

HL2 is there as Best PC Game or some such. These award shows seem to give GoTY to the GTA game that came out that year.

The PSP Innovation award does leave me scratching my head since the PSP is basically a mini PS2 played on a smaller screen (than a TV). Still, I suppose it's impressive they managed to cram that tech into that case.

I'm glad RE4 got a lot of praise, because it's probably my favorite console game of this generation; perhaps all generations. However, having it win in the movie-based-game category is pretty insulting to the game.

The list isn't entirely what I'd choose, but it's not as out to lunch as the Spike VGA.

[The Iron Weasel]

Yeah well....when I see something that frusterates me I kinda.....loose all rational and coherant thought......

[The Iron Weasel]

PC Game of the Year – Half Life 2

Feel better? :D

*shrinks from Hulk, back into mild mannered Matt Watson*

[TheKeck]

Resident Evil 4 was not based on a movie

That has to be the biggest slap in the face on this whole list.

[kizke]

Fahrenheit as the unsung hero? What kind of ridiculous crap is that?

Everyone I know who played it was sorely disappointed by how linear and dull and outright STUPID the story got to be by the very end. Maybe I sound like a crotchety old man, but I'm hard-pressed to find anyone who really thinks Fahrenheit deserves a medal or something.

PS the rest of that list is stupid too. Super Mario 64 DS is one of the worst titles on the DS. Where's Advance Wars?

[superherotaco]

Every game on that list except Fahrenheit was a sequel in some form, that was just my first impression.

[The Iron Weasel]

That has to be the biggest slap in the face on this whole list.

Thats for sure.....

*puts ice on face*

[MStiles]

It's a shame GTA: SA did so well. It's by no means a bad game, but terribly overrated (like most GTA stuff). They still haven't fixed a lot of basic problems with running, jumping, aiming, the physics of driving around, etc. The game has the same "feel" problems it had in GTA3, and they've only grown worse over time. Meanwhile they add stuff like working out, eating to get fat, buying clothes and bling...

fine additions, sure, but Rockstar needs to go back and fix the basic moment-to-moment gameplay. The grand metagame is fine - it's long past time to sweat the little things you do continuously throughout it.

[TrackZero]

Pretty good, my only "complaint":

The Game One Gaming Innovation of the Year - PSP

I own both systems, and love them both. But there's nothing "innovative" about the PSP's gaming experience. It's a movie/mp3 player as well, yes, but that's nothing to do with games.

Flame on?

[fitbabits]

Pretty good, my only "complaint":

The Game One Gaming Innovation of the Year - PSP

I own both systems, and love them both. But there's nothing "innovative" about the PSP's gaming experience. It's a movie/mp3 player as well, yes, but that's nothing to do with games.

Flame on?
No flaming from me. I personally would have given it to the DS due to the touch screen.

[TrackZero]

No flaming from me. I personally would have given it to the DS due to the touch screen.

Just occured to me, maybe it's reference to the PSPs wireless play (which the DS has as well though....).

[fitbabits]

Just occured to me, maybe it's reference to the PSPs wireless play (which the DS has as well though....).
Perhaps, but the category is titled Game One Gaming Innovation - no mention of online doohickery at all there. Plus, as you point out, the DS has that also.

[jwbxx]

I thought san andreas really got the feel of california in the mid 90s. Being from california and living during those times, I thought the game did really good job capturing the feeling of california in the mid 90s.

[AzN.Homeboy]

If I might add another point to the grievance list, the soundtrack category. Quite frankly, getting a bunch of licensed songs that fit your time period isn't exactly hard with the kind of money Rockstar has. At the very least they need a separate, "Best Original Score/Soundtrack" category... for the games that, you know, have their own music and recognition for the people that composed it.

[The Iron Weasel]

If I might add another point to the grievance list, the soundtrack category. Quite frankly, getting a bunch of licensed songs that fit your time period isn't exactly hard with the kind of money Rockstar has. At the very least they need a separate, "Best Original Score/Soundtrack" category... for the games that, you know, have their own music and recognition for the people that composed it.

I agree whole heartedly.

[mister_slim]

I've got your golden joystick...RIGHT HERE
Dude, never spray gold paint on your body... especially not there.

[Sensei-X]

Hero of 2005 – CJ from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

haha the irony. The GTA series is extremely overrated in my opinion. Fun for about 30 mins tops.

LOL, Hero? What the heck were they smoking when they came up with that one, CJ belongs behind bars, how the heck is he a hero? None of the main characters in GTA games have ever been hero types, they were just less scummy then the other scum they associated with.

[51|RandoM]

psp innovative?

I can see somebody saying that, I can't see somebody saying it is/was more innovative than the DS, though.

Somebody wants to be innovative with the PSP? Make some decent games for it already, lol.

[TKO]

Wow, who would have though that *voted* awards would turn out all populist and 'general-public' like? :) </feign suprise>

Did anyone read the original article? A couple of amusing bits: It seems GTA: SA had a villain called Officer Two-penny. Yeah? And "..developers love winning because they are awarded solely by the votes of those people who *buy* and play their work" ..Awww, they think the voters *bought* these games? That's so cute! ;)

It would be nice to have an *original* soundtrack category too, but it's a bit heartlesss to refer to a GTA ones as if they are just thrown together. Remember the DJ's? And the adverts? There was a helluva lot o' work put into the GTA soundtracks. It's a part of what makes the GTA world. People love them (thinking of Vice City too), rave over them. Some even want a 'walkman' hack so they can listen to them outside of the cars. ..The GTA soundtracks aren't simple compositions. I think the award is deserved.

It is a great sequel, expanding on the original (with massiveness, detail, physics, combat, weather, storyline and customisation) without betraying the GTA feel and style. ..I got *weeks* of solid gaming and entertainment right to the end of the story. And *still* had fun exploring the city I had unlocked afterwards. Best money I spent this year.

If anyone doesn't feel San Andreas is much improved over its predecessors, try Vice City again. While the 80's retro-ness rocks in a way only the 80's can, the game itself is positively small and primitive. The cars are more tonka-toys that will flip at the drop of a hat, (kind of fun in its own way, as is the more concentrated city layout) but the overall feel is definitely san-andreas-little-brother.

Half Life 2's placing is well deserved too. It brought a few new things to the FPS genre (which is hard to do with the FPS-type done to death already) with the kind of style and polish that only comes from Valve. ..That and GTA were the only games that were a significant chunk of my time this year.

I could well imagine why the PSP would get its award (when voted for by people who *don't* own it.) :) It looks way cool. The first portable gaming device that really makes you drool. First impressions of the DS are kind of "Eh? What's that?" ..once you own them, of course, the tables are completely turned.

[Rommel]

I can see how the PSP would be voted most innovative design. Still, that understanding of the reasoning also acknowledges said reasoning is flawed and incorrect. I would also know what Nintendo did this year to deserve the publisher award. Ubi Soft was a better choice, I thought.

[dead]

Unsung Hero of the Year - Fahrenheit

couldn't have agreed more

[F3nyx]

... didn't the PC version of Half-life 2 come out in 2004?

[fitbabits]

... didn't the PC version of Half-life 2 come out in 2004?
Yup, it sure did. Still, why let a little thing like that get in the way?

[TKO]

... didn't the PC version of Half-life 2 come out in 2004?Yup, it sure did. Still, why let a little thing like that get in the way?

That's the fun of getting joe-public to vote. Can't guarantee any of the answers will be 'right.' Just like the claim the PSP is innovative, or Resident Evil is based on a film.

But hey, if that's the first thing that comes to people's mind after all this time when asked about the best game, all the greater accomplishment. I'm curious just how much people are thinking about, say, Doom3 these days. I suspect not very much. :)

[Dirty Harry]

I smell a doom(movie)dvd/doomIII dvd box set ;)