Game of the Year Awards 2007

2007 eh? What a year! Personally, it was one of the best years in gaming I've ever experienced, and I'll certainly look back on it with many fond memories. From genre-defining masterpieces such as Super Mario Galaxy, to the awesome value-for-money package Valve bestowed upon us with The Orange Box, it's been a year filled with gaming fabulosity.

Quite a lot happened too. Gerstmanngate, Banhunt 2, the GTA delay, EA making way for Activision Blizzard, Duke Nukem Forever showing signs of life, E3 showing signs of death, developers coming and going, 3 year warranties, price cuts, SKU season, contributions to society - it's been eventful!

The industry itself seems to be in a state of Revolution.
Nintendo's welcome/not-so-welcome return to form in the home console market took many by surprise, and as 2007 came to a close the Wii showed no sign of slowing in its assault upon the world. Nintendo's got themselves a new money printer it seems, sitting proudly beside the DS.

Xbox 360 owners on the other hand continued to empty their wallets into the pockets of publishers and developers, breaking tie-ratio records and proving the console to be a hotbed of game sales success for both first and third parties. The RRoD troubles were finally admitted, Peter Moore waved us goodbye while donning his "I *heart* all platforms" cap at EA, and Bungie were set free and scampered off into the wild after a job well done with Halo 3.

Sony had a pretty rough time with the PS3 through 2006 (as was reflected in last year's awards), and this did continue somewhat through 2007, but things are certainly looking up for them in 2008. Krazy Ken has handed the reins to Krazy Kaz, the price has come down a bit, the games are finally starting to appear, and the PS2 gravy train keeps on chuggin'.

Overall, the games industry is looking healthy, competitive and diverse, which is sure to lead to great things for gamers throughout 2008 and beyond


On to the awards then!
The votes have been counted, and it's now time to reveal the winners as chosen by you, the GamesRadar forum.


THE AWARD WINNERS


Best Action/Adventure Game



1st - Crackdown
2nd - Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
3rd - The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass


Best Fighter



1st - Virtua Fighter 5
2nd - Tekken: Dark Resurrection (PS3)
3rd - Streets of Rage 2 (360)


Best Platformer



1st - Super Mario Galaxy
2nd - Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction
3rd - Crackdown


Best Puzzle Game



1st - Portal
2nd - Picross DS
3rd - Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords


Best Racing Game



1st - Project Gotham Racing 4
2nd - Forza Motorsport 2
3rd - MotorStorm


Best RPG



1st - Mass Effect
2nd - Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
3rd - Final Fantasy XII


Best Rythym/Music Game



1st - Guitar Hero 2 (360)
2nd - Guitar Hero 3
3rd - Elite Beat Agents


Best Shooter



1st - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
2nd - Halo 3
3rd - The Orange Box


Best Sports Game



1st - FIFA 08
2nd - Skate
3rd - Pro Evolution Soccer 2008


Best Strategy Game



1st - Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
2nd - Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts
3rd - Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions


The Oddball Award



1st - Hotel Dusk: Room 215
2nd - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations
3rd - Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles


Best Visuals



1st - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
2nd - BioShock
3rd - Crysis


Best Audio



1st - Super Mario Galaxy
2nd - Halo 3
3rd - BioShock


Best Multiplayer Experience



1st - Halo 3
2nd - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
3rd - Team Fortress 2


The Innovation Award



1st - Portal
2nd - Halo 3
3rd - Super Mario Galaxy


Import Game of the Year



1st - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations
2nd - Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2
3rd - Manhunt 2


Top Gaming News Story of 2007



1st - Banhunt 2
2nd - Gerstmanngate
3rd - GTA delay


Biggest Disappointment of 2007



1st - Assassin's Creed
2nd - Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
3rd - The PlayStation 3 in general


Games Magazine of the Year



1st - EDGE
2nd - games™
3rd - NGamer


Games Website of the Year



1st - Eurogamer
2nd - GameTrailers
3rd - GamesRadar


Publisher of the Year



1st - Microsoft Game Studios
2nd - Nintendo
3rd - Electronic Arts


Developer of the Year



1st - Nintendo
2nd - Valve
3rd - Bungie Studios


Hardware of the Year



1st - Xbox 360
2nd - Wii
3rd - PlayStation 3


Overall Game of the Year



1st - Super Mario Galaxy
2nd - The Orange Box
3rd - Halo 3
4th - Call of Duty 4
5th - Mass Effect


Most Anticipated Game of 2008



1st - Grand Theft Auto IV
2nd - Super Smash Bros. Brawl
3rd - Metal Gear Solid 4


That's it for the 2007 awards! Thanks for voting, have a great 2008!