So nobody in Japan bought Okami. Doesn't stop the game winning stuff. The winners of Japan's trendy Media Arts Festival awards have been announced, and in the "entertainment" division (ie, video games), Okami has taken out the Grand Prize. The judge's reason?

An aspiring piece of work which adopted Japanese myth into a game. It achieved a very high level of finish, both as a game and as entertainment. His beautiful graphic and distinct style of presentation received high commendation from abroad. It is a pity that Clover Studio, which created this work, dissolved. However, I would like to send cheers for the staff who was involved in this work and wish them good performance in the future.

Couldn't be more on the mark. Hit the link for the other winners, including the oh-so-patronising "encouragement award". Luke Plunkett

Award-winning Works [2006 Japan Media Arts Festival, via 1UP]