IDG media brands “GameStar” and “GamePro” named the most popular PC and console games of the previous year in Leipzig last night. Around 200 invited guests from the games industry attended as winners across twelve categories and three overall divisions received the GAME STARS 2007 awards. The ceremony took place at Leipzig’s Panometer during “Rome 312”, Yadegar Asisi’s exhibition space for the world’s largest 360-degree panoramas. Television presenter Alexandra Polzin hosted the gala.
Around 12,500 gaming fans selected the winners in an online poll on the high-reach websites http://www.gamestar.de and http://www.gamepro.de.
The most popular PC game of the previous year was “Crysis” from German game developer Crytek. In issue 12/2007, “GameStar” awarded it platinum status and a gold award for outstanding graphics. The title also set a new “GameStar” rating record with 94 of 100 possible gameplay points. “‘Crysis’ is a genuine milestone in computer-game history in terms of graphics, sound and atmosphere, presenting a credible representation of reality for the first time,” says “GameStar” Editor-in-Chief Michael Trier.
The Console Game of the Year award went to Nintendo’s “Super Mario Galaxy”, which the “GamePro” editorial team gave a platinum award and an overall score of 94 points in issue 12/2007. “‘Super Mario Galaxy’ stands out for its brilliant level design and many amusing ideas. The title is one of the best games currently available for Nintendo’s Wii console,” says “GamePro” Editor-in-Chief Markus Schwerdtel.
The GAME STAR award for the most popular handheld game of 2007 also went to Nintendo, this time for “The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass”, the first Zelda title for Nintendo’s DS system.
Michael Körner from the City of Leipzig’s Office for Economic Development presented a special prize to Dr Jörg Müller-Lietzkow of Friedrich Schiller University Jena for “EDU-Shooter”, an educational action game.
