PROVING TO BE THE BEAST THAT CAN’T BE KILLED, “SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS” WINS GAME OF THE DECADE AMID “ICO” SURGE IN FINAL ROUND
November 3, 2011 — NAVGTR Corp. has announced the results in all 43 categories for its first ever Game of the Decade awards program, the culmination of 9 years of annual awards races (2001-2009). The academy was founded in 2001.
NOMINATION PROCESS
Following four months of elimination rounds conducted by superdelegates in the Academy, the final nominations in all but the top category were announced on March 28, 2011.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves received the most nominations (8), followed closely by ICO with seven. Other leaders were Batman: Arkham Asylum (6), Bioshock (6), Little Big Planet (5), and Shadow of the Colossus (5).
Additional high totals went to Gears of War (4), God of War (4), Mass Effect (4), Final Fantasy X (3), Guitar Hero (3), Kingdom Hearts (3), Okami (3), Psychonauts (3), and Resident Evil 4 (3).
Final nominees for Game of the Decade were announced on October 16, 2011. Of the final ten, Shadow of the Colossus won three (3) awards and was the only Game of the Decade nominee to win multiple awards. Only four other Game of the Decade nominees won awards: Arkham Asylum, Bioshock, God of War, and Rock Band 2.
AWARD WINNERS AND TALLY
Overall, the leader in nominations for all categories was also the leader in total wins, as Uncharted 2 won 5 awards. Shadow of the Colossus won 3 awards, as did Kingdom Hearts. Dead Space won 2 awards, as did Okami.
Games from the first half of the decade won 30 percent (13 of 43) of the categories. New intellectual properties won 46.5 percent (20 of 43) of the categories.
The winners in all categories were determined by superdelegates (weighted at 40%) and public votes (weighted at 60%).
In the top category of Game of the Decade, the actual winner contrasted sharply with the Academy’s own prediction polls, where 48% predicted Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 would be the winner.
GAME OF THE DECADE: AN EPIC HORSE RACE
The Game of the Decade category was decided using a caucus voting style, where participants were able to change their votes if their initial choices were not among the top contenders.
The initial round of voting had Shadow of the Colossus in first place with 17%, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was a close second with 16%.
In the final round of voting, ICO was able to consolidate its votes with an astonishing 46.15% of superdelegate support (up from 20%).
Among public votes, Resident Evil 4 garnered the most support, moving from 20% to 38.46% in the final round.
Despite these movements, Shadow of the Colossus held the lead with 24.616% of overall votes, with Resident Evil 4 securing 23.076%.
Without weighting, the race would have been even closer, with Shadow of the Colossus at 23.0775% and ICO at 23.075%.
INTERESTING RACES
Some categories were won with strong support from one voting group. Most astonishing is Mark Hamill’s victory, propelled by 100% support among superdelegates. Equally impressive is Psychonauts’ win for Writing in a Comedy with 80% of superdelegate support.
For Adventure Game Sequel of the Decade, Uncharted 2 won 77.8% of superdelegate votes, despite competing against Metal Gear Solid 2, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Resident Evil 4, and Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Uncharted 2 was the youngest franchise in that race.
In conclusion, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Psychonauts, Uncharted 2, and Dead Space (75% in Sound Effects) achieved the highest levels of superdelegate support in individual races.
By comparison, Pikmin (70% in Control Design), Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (66.7% in Original Children/Family Game), Kingdom Hearts (70% in Original Role Playing Game), Super Smash Bros. Brawl (66.7% in Fighting Game Sequel), and Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (70% in Racing Game Sequel), achieved the most public support in individual races.
The tightest races were Control Precision (Guitar Hero II won by 0.28%) and Original Musical Score (Kingdom Hearts beat Mass Effect by 0.20%).
ABOUT SUPERDELEGATES
Superdelegates are contributors from varied outlets such as 1up, About.com, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Austin American-Statesman, Chicago Sun-Times, CNN, Contra Costa Times, Detroit Free Press, Digital Journal, EclipseMagazine.com, FHM, Gannett News Service, LA Weekly, Los Angeles Times, National Post, National Public Radio, NBC, New York Times, The Ottawa Citizen, PC Gamer, Philadelphia Inquirer, Play Magazine, Public Radio International, The Regina Leader-Post, Salon, San Jose Mercury-News, USA Today, The Vancouver Sun, Wired News, Wizard Magazine, WOW Weekly, Ziff-Davis Media, and others.
ABOUT NAVGTR CORP.
NAVGTR Corp. is a non-profit corporation devoted to promoting and recognizing the developments and achievements of the interactive entertainment industry for public awareness and education.
Through annual awards, television specials, videos, special events, and other future plans, the Academy hopes to preserve the history of the medium as well as honor the creative and technical individuals who have paved the way for new ideas and innovations.
And the winners are…
NAVGTR Game of the Decade
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Bioshock
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
God of War
ICO
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Resident Evil 4
Rock Band 2
Shadow of the Colossus – WINNER
World of Warcraft
NAVGTR Animation of the Decade
Final Fantasy X
ICO
God of War
Shadow of the Colossus
Okami – WINNER
NAVGTR Art Direction of the Decade
Final Fantasy X
ICO
God of War
Okami – WINNER
Bioshock
NAVGTR Camera Direction of the Decade
ICO
Sly 2: Band of Thieves
Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
Gears of War
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – WINNER
NAVGTR Character Design of the Decade
Oddworld Munch’s Oddysee
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
Viewtiful Joe 2
Shadow of the Colossus – WINNER
Batman: Arkham Asylum
NAVGTR Control Design of the Decade
Pikmin – WINNER
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Sly 2: Band of Thieves
Guitar Hero
Wii Sports
NAVGTR Control Precision of the Decade
Soul Calibur II
Gran Turismo 4
Guitar Hero II – WINNER
The Orange Box
inFamous
NAVGTR Costume Design of the Decade
Devil May Cry
Kingdom Hearts – WINNER
Final Fantasy X-2
Devil May Cry 3
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
NAVGTR Direction of the Decade
Metal Gear Solid 2
Final Fantasy XII
Bioshock
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – WINNER
NAVGTR Gameplay Design of the Decade
ICO
Shadow of the Colossus – WINNER
The Orange Box
Little Big Planet
Batman: Arkham Asylum
NAVGTR Graphics of the Decade, Technical
Half-Life 2
Shadow of the Colossus
Crysis
Little Big Planet
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – WINNER
NAVGTR Innovation in Game Play of the Decade
Pikmin
Animal Crossing
Katamari Damacy
Little Big Planet – WINNER
Scribblenauts
NAVGTR Innovation in Game Technology of the Decade
Xbox Live
Eye Toy
Nintendo DS
Guitar Hero
Nintendo Wii – WINNER
NAVGTR Lighting/Texturing Effects of the Decade
ICO
Resident Evil 4
Gears of War
Bioshock – WINNER
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
NAVGTR Original Musical Score of the Decade
Kingdom Hearts – WINNER
Silent Hill 3
Halo 2
Mass Effect
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
NAVGTR Original/Adapted Song of the Decade
“Late Goodbye,” Max Payne 2
“Katamari on the Swing,” We Love Katamari
“Still Alive,” Portal – WINNER
“The One Star,” The World Ends With You
“LaLaLa,” Klonoa
NAVGTR Sound Effects of the Decade
Silent Hill 2
Doom 3
Bioshock
Dead Space – WINNER
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
NAVGTR Use of Sound of the Decade
F.E.A.R.
Gears of War
Flow
Dead Space – WINNER
Batman: Arkham Asylum
NAVGTR Lead Performance of the Decade in Comedy
Richard Horvitz, “Psychonauts”
Max Casella, “Daxter” – WINNER
David Kaye, “Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction”
Robin Atkin Downes, “No More Heroes”
Jack Black, “Brutal Legend”
NAVGTR Lead Performance of the Decade in Drama
Ray Liotta, “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City”
Thomas Jane, “Gun”
Jennifer Hale, “Mass Effect”
Liam Neeson, “Fallout 3”
Nolan North, “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” – WINNER
NAVGTR Supporting Performance of the Decade in Comedy
Sherrie Jackson, “Psychonauts”
Peter Vack, “Bully”
Will Wright, “The Simpsons Game”
Stephen Fry, “Little Big Planet”
Bill Murray, “Ghostbusters: The Video Game” – WINNER
NAVGTR Supporting Performance of the Decade in Drama
Adam West, “XIII”
Adam Sietz, “Neverwinter Nights 2”
Cam Clarke, “Mass Effect”
Timothy Adams, “Grand Theft Auto IV”
Mark Hamill, “Batman: Arkham Asylum” – WINNER
NAVGTR Writing of the Decade, Comedy
Psychonauts – WINNER
Sam and Max: Episode 1
The Simpsons Game
Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 1
Brutal Legend
NAVGTR Writing of the Decade, Drama
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – WINNER
Indigo Prophecy
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
NAVGTR Outstanding Classic Revival Game of the Decade
Conker: Live & Reloaded
Final Fantasy III
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (XBLA)
Chrono Trigger – WINNER
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
NAVGTR Outstanding Music or Performance Game of the Decade
Frequency
Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero II
Rock Band 2 – WINNER
The Beatles: Rock Band
NAVGTR Original Action Game of the Decade
Max Payne
Call of Duty
God of War – WINNER
Gears of War
Bioshock
NAVGTR Original Adventure Game of the Decade
ICO
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Beyond Good & Evil
Okami
inFamous – WINNER
NAVGTR Original Children/Family Game of the Decade
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga – WINNER
Katamari Damacy
Viva Pinata
Little Big Planet
Scribblenauts
NAVGTR Original Fighting Game of the Decade
War of the Monsters
Custom Robo
The Warriors
God Hand
Madworld – WINNER
NAVGTR Original Racing Game of the Decade
TrackMania – WINNER
Jak X: Combat Racing
Excite Truck
Motorstorm
Trials HD
NAVGTR Original Role Playing Game of the Decade
Kingdom Hearts – WINNER
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
World of Warcraft
Mass Effect
Demon’s Souls
NAVGTR Original Sports Game of the Decade
World Soccer: Winning Eleven 6 Int’l
ESPN Major League Baseball
Mario Superstar Baseball
Skate – WINNER
NAVGTR Action Game Sequel of the Decade
Grand Theft Auto 3
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Half-Life 2 – WINNER
Grand Theft Auto IV
Batman: Arkham Asylum*
NAVGTR Adventure Game Sequel of the Decade
Metal Gear Solid 2
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Resident Evil 4
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – WINNER
NAVGTR Children/Family Game Sequel of the Decade
Super Mario Sunshine
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door – WINNER
We Love Katamari
Super Mario Galaxy
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
NAVGTR Fighting Game Sequel of the Decade
Dead or Alive 3
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Soul Calibur II
Dead or Alive: Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Brawl – WINNER
NAVGTR Racing Game Sequel of the Decade
Burnout 2: Point of Impact
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! – WINNER
Burnout 3: Takedown
Burnout Paradise
Forza Motorsport 3
NAVGTR Role Playing Game Sequel of the Decade
Final Fantasy X – WINNER
Star Wars KOTOR II: The Sith Lords
Dragon Quest VIII
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade
Fallout 3
NAVGTR Sports Sequel of the Decade
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
ESPN NFL 2K5
World Soccer Winning Eleven 9
Madden NFL 08
Wii Sports Resort – WINNER
NAVGTR Simulation Game of the Decade
Steel Battalion
The Sims 2 – WINNER
The Movies
Sid Meier’s Railroads
Spore
NAVGTR Special Class Game of the Decade
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
Lumines
Brain Age – WINNER
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
Flower
NAVGTR Strategy Game of the Decade
Advance Wars
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
Rome: Total War – WINNER
Company of Heroes
PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe