Archive notice: This article was originally published on August 24, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
According to gamescom, “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” (console), “The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks” (mobile), “Aion” (online), and “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” (PC) were also winners of the 2009 gamescom Award from among 100 submitted games. The six jury members from IDG Entertainment Media, Computec Media, Computer Bild Spiele, Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK), Brot und Spiele, and retail chain Müller also unanimously selected “Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games” (SEGA) as the best family-entertainment game.
AND THE WINNER IS: StarCraft II – Wings of Liberty. The new episode in the suspenseful StarCraft science-fiction narrative is the best game of gamescom 2009. An expert jury comprising representatives of the leading specialist games media, retail and the USK selected Blizzard Entertainment’s StarCraft II as the best game at gamescom 2009 from more than 100 games. “Without doubt the game with the perfect balance of graphics, sound, gameplay, fun and progress,” the jury said of the real-time strategy game.
“Progress and fun for the whole family” were also the decisive points prompting the jury to create an additional award for the trade fair’s best family-entertainment product alongside the advertised categories. In the jury’s unanimous opinion, SEGA’s “Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games” won the race. “Of all the games in the family-entertainment segment, this one has the greatest fun factor,” the jury said of the Nintendo Wii game.
“Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” clearly prevailed in the console-games segment. In Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, adventurer, fortune hunter and likable daredevil Nathan Drake returns spectacularly to PlayStation 3. According to the jury, “graphical precision combined with intelligent gameplay” left no doubt about the victory of Sony’s Uncharted 2. Call of Duty - Modern Warfare 2 (Activision) won among PC games at the gamescom premiere. Modern Warfare 2 continues developer Infinity Ward’s gripping saga with fast-paced action. According to the jury, “the overall presentation with its multitude of spectacular features” makes the game exciting adult entertainment. Among games for mobile devices, the jury was particularly impressed by the imaginative presentation of “The Legend of Zelda – Spirit Tracks.” In “The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks” for Nintendo DS, the famous little hero Link with the green hat once again takes center stage and will also excel as a train driver. Ingenious puzzles paired with an interesting story, good playability and imagination convinced the jury.
The 2009 gamescom Award was rounded off by the victory of “Aion” in the “Online” category. In NCsoft’s Aion, the world of Atreia impresses with its variety, endlessness and beauty. At its premiere, the graphically “overwhelming” massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) convinced the jury through its “gigantic” presentation and technical implementation.
The 2009 jury comprised Michael Trier, Editor-in-Chief, IDG Entertainment Media; Petra Fröhlich, Publishing Manager, Computec Media; Christian Bigge, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Computer Bild Spiele; Jürgen Hilse, Permanent Representative of the Supreme State Youth Authorities, Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK); Oliver Hartmann, Project Manager, spieletipps.de (Brot und Spiele); and Bernhard Schneider, Central Buyer, Multi Media Müller. Fans of interactive entertainment and games still have through Sunday to test the winners of the 2009 gamescom awards extensively in the halls.
The Winners at a Glance:
Best of Show Award: StarCraft II – Wings of Liberty (Blizzard Entertainment)
Best Console Game: Uncharted 2 – Among Thieves (Sony)
Best PC Game: Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 2 (Activision)
Best Mobile Game: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (Nintendo)
Best Online Game: Aion (NCsoft)
Best Family Entertainment: Mario and Sonic at the
Olympic Winter Games (SEGA)
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