Game developers and distributors debuted their latest titles last month at the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, Calif. Now the results of the Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 2003 are in with Valve LLC and Vivendi Universal Games’ Half-Life 2 for PC taking Best of Show.
Half-Life 2 was also named Best PC Game and Best Action Game, and was awarded the Special Commendation for Graphics. “As the sequel to one of the most lauded products in PC gaming history, expectations were through the roof. The demonstration didn’t disappoint,” notes Game Critics Awards associate chairman Rob Smith.
Full Spectrum Warrior for Xbox and PC from Pandemic Studios and THQ was voted Best Original Game and Best Simulation Game. The military simulation title was conceived as a training tool for the U.S. Army and puts players in control of a light infantry squad to guide troops through treacherous city streets using an intuitive point-and-click interface.
Sony Computer Ent.’s EyeToy for PlayStation 2 won the distinction of Best Peripheral/Hardware and Best Puzzle/Trivia/Parlor Game. The product features a USB camera and motion tracking capability that maps the palyer’s physical movements into games. Sony will bundle the hardware with 12-mini games featuring activities like swatting at mosquitoes, defending against a horde of tiny ninjas, washing windows and keeping a ball airborne. The manufaturer also hopes developers will integrate the device into future titles. Eyetoy is scheduled to hit shelves this holiday season and will retail for less than $40.
Other winners:
Best Console Game
Halo 2 for Xbox
Bungie Studios/Microsoft
Best Action/Adventure Game
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time for all game systems
Ubi Soft Montreal/UbiSoft
Best Fighting Game
Soul Calibur 2 for all console systems
Namco
Best Roll-Playing Game
Fable for Xbox
Big Blue Box/Microsoft
Best Racing Game
Gran Turismo 4 for PlayStaion 2
Polyphony Digital/Sony Computer Ent.
Best Sports Game
Tony Hawk’s Underground for all consoles
Neversoft/Activision
Best Strategy Game
Rome: Total War for PC
Creative Assembly/Activision for PC
Best Online Multiplayer
City of Heroes for PC
Cryptic Studios/NCSoft
