The video games industry heralded "Untitled Goose Game," made by a small Australian studio, as the finest game of 2019. House House, the game developer, was among indie outfits that won big Feb. 6 at the 2020 DICE Awards, hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences in Las Vegas.
Besides Game of the Year, the goose also won Outstanding Achievement in Character and Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game.
House House wasn't in town to accept its triump over award-winning big-budget titles such as "Death Stranding" and "Control." Instead, they sent their pal and fellow Melbourne developer Trent Kusters, co-founder of game development collective League of Geeks.
"It was the hip thing to be into indie games, but now indie games are so accessible and ubiquitous, they're now just games that cater to different types of people," Kusters said, beaming with pride for his friends and peers. "Just like 'Disco Elysium' caters to different people than 'Sekiro' does."
"Disco Elysium," by developer ZA/UM, won Outstanding Achievement in Story.
Other big indie wins: "Baba Is You" by Hempuli Oy won Outstanding Achievement in Game Design, beating out "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice" by From Software, the Japanese studio behind the "Dark Souls" series.
Immersive Reality Game of the Year went to "Pistol Whip," a VR game made by Cloudhead Games, which beat out Sony's "Blood and Truth" (which won the award for Immersive Reality Technical Achievement). Cloudhead Games, based in Vancouver, has a staff of 20 people.
Big budget titles won big awards at DICE, including Remedy's "Control" for Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction, EA's "Apex Legends" for Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay; Nintendo won the Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year for "Fire Emblem: Three Houses"
Kusters said he believes award categories for smaller games — think "Best Indie Game" versus "Best Game" — are still necessary, but he welcomed the celebration of small budget works.
"Maybe it's unfair to put a micro game up against 'Sekiro' or 'Overwatch' for game of the year, so it's good to have your own categories," Kusters said. "But when it comes to actual game of the year? Let it take down 'Sekiro,' or if 'Sekiro' is better, let it take the win. Doesn't matter if it's made by three dudes in Slovakia or some girl in Estonia Skyping in most days."
Here is the full list of winners:
Game of the Year: Untitled Goose Game
Publisher: Panic
Developer: House House
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction: Control
Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design: Baba Is You
Publisher: Hempuli Oy
Developer: Hempuli Oy
Portable Game of the Year: Sayonara Wild Hearts
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Developer: Simogo
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game: Untitled Goose Game
Publisher: Panic
Developer: House House
Immersive Reality Game of the Year: Pistol Whip
Publisher: Cloudhead Games
Developer: Cloudhead Games
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement: Blood & Truth
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: SIE London Studio
Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay: Apex Legends
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year: Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Publisher: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Developer: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Intelligent Systems Co., Ltd. and Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd.
Sports Game of the Year: FIFA 2020
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: EA Vancouver
Role-Playing Game of the Year: The Outer Worlds
Publisher: Private Division
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Racing Game of the Year: Mario Kart Tour
Publisher: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Developer: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Fighting Game of the Year: Mortal Kombat 11
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Family Game of the Year Super: Mario Maker 2
Publisher: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Developer: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Adventure Game of the Year: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Action Game of the Year: Control
Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Outstanding Technical Achievement: Death Stranding
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Kojima Productions Co., Ltd.
Outstanding Achievement in Story: Disco Elysium
Publisher: ZA/UM
Developer: ZA/UM
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design: Death Stranding
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Kojima Productions Co., Ltd.
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition: Control
Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Outstanding Achievement in Character: Untitled Goose Game
Publisher: Panic
Developer: House House
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction: Control
Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Outstanding Achievement in Animation: Luigi's Mansion 3
Publisher: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Developer: Next Level Games
videogames-awards
ActiveStyle on 02/24/2020