EA's Simpsons Win Golden Trailer Award

With Halo 3's "Believe" ad campaign winning advertising awards left and right, it's time for EA to step up to the award podium, or at least EA's trailer producers, Hammer Creative. They've just been awarded the "Best Video Game Trailer" award at the 9th Annual Golden Trailer Awards for their The Simpsons Game: Medal of Homer trailer. A spoof of EA's own Medal of Honor series, the ad features Bart and Homer invading Franchise, belching, and scratching their asses...truly the hallmarks of a truly great trailer, ever since Humphrey Bogart garlic-burped in Ingrid Bergman's face in the classic Casablanca teaser. Hammer Creative is no stranger to the Golden Trailer Awards, having won last year for the trailer to Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent and the year before for The Godfather: The Game. Hit the jump to see the award-winning clip in all its pristine glory.

"The 'Believe' campaign catapulted Halo 3 from an ordinary video game into a worldwide cultural phenomenon due to its ability to build an emotional rapport with the audience," said Mary Warlick, CEO of The One Club. "The innovative stream of interactive TV, Web and cinema advertisements was an inspired approach that successfully attracted an audience beyond the typical gamer."

No Gaming BAFTAs For 2008, Life Goes On

Madden Wins Kids' Choice Award

The 2008 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards have come and gone. and it was yet another glorious year for children young and old everywhere. Highlights include a celebrity sliming performed on Orlando "Immensely Overrated" Bloom, Hannah Montana desperately trying to get her own name back, and the Naked Brothers' Band once again receiving condemnations from NAMBLA for false advertising. From a gaming standpoint, my nephew narrowly avoided getting a sympathetic smack upside the head as EA's Madden 2008 inched out High School Musical: Sing It! for the coveted Favorite Video Game award. It's nice to see that children faced with a crappy selection of titles went for one of the lesser evils.

2008 Kids' Choice Awards [Nickelodeon]

Every year newspapers and alt papers around the country print mammoth guides to their community to highlight the best places to eat, hang-out, drink, go shopping and what have you.

This year I was surprised to find that (Denver) Westword's 25th Annual Best of edition included a special category just for Kotaku, complimenting both video games and our site in the entry:

Best Worldwide Resource for Video Games (2008)
www.kotaku.com
Video games are quickly ascending to a place of cultural dominance, joining movies and music in terms of earning power and cultural cachet. One of the biggest and best websites covering this transformation is Denver-based www.kotaku.com, which includes live coverage of key events, such as the recent Game Developers Conference, and original features on nearly every important thing in gaming. Managing editor Brian Crecente, a longtime veteran of the Rocky Mountain News, runs the megablog, continuing a tradition of delivering top-notch coverage.

Woo-hoo time to break out the cake and champagne. OK, maybe just Twinkies and punch.

Best Worldwide Resource for Video Games (2008) [Westword]

Gamefly's Fifth Annual Q Awards

When I first read the words "Q Awards" I auto-magically thought of the late, great actor Desmond Llewelyn but was apparently way off track. These are Gamefly's version of the Oscars sans the cheesy dance routines.

Winners are determined by GameFly members, who according to the GameFly press release are the "... most discerning community of online video game renters." Unfortunately I'm not terribly discerning as I can be easily distracted by bright colors and flashing lights.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare took the Q awards triumvirate, winning "Game of the Year," "Xbox 360 Game of the Year," and "PlayStation 3 Game of the Year."

Hit the jump to read about the other winners.

Lair Score Wins IFMCA Award

The International Film Music Critics Association have announced their 2007 award winners, and this year sees the debut of their Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media award, which recognizes the increasing importance of music in gaming and gaming as an entertainment medium. This year's winner is John Debney for the wonderful score to Lair for the PlayStation 3. While I didn't spend much time with the game myself, the music did indeed stand out, to the point where I thought it was a bit wasted on the game. If you'd like to hear this award-winning music without having to shell out $59.99 for a game hardly worth $59.99, then hit up iTunes, where the whole shebang can be yours for $9.99.

2007 AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED BY INTL FILM MUSIC CRITICS ASSOCIATION [Film Music Magazine]

First a thing about the name: I didn't pick it. I think it's hilarious, but I'd never name an award after myself, it's obnoxious... and quite funny. Which is what I think the Rocky was going for. There are quite a few closet smart-asses over there. :)

So my annual pick for best video game ran in the Rocky Mountain News today and I picked Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare as the overall winner. The game beat out The Orange Box, Bioshock, Super Mario Galaxy and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.

Here's why I decided to pick a war-time first-person shooter sequel over the splendor of a dystopian society, amazing character interaction of Uncharted and innovative design of Galaxy and Orange Box:

XBLA Award Finalists Announced

WGA Game Writer Nominees

Rodent Game Awards

Way of the Rodent's Game Awards are one of the few that I actually look forward to reading. So I was psyched to see the run down of their finalists and the news of where it would be held.

This year's Rodent Game Awards (Not bigger and better - still small, still rubbish) will take place in the downstairs room of a tiny London pub.

Hit the jump for the full run-down of categories and finalists. Keep an eye out for categories like the Technical Achievement: The Holy Shit will you just look at that Eyes of Jesus Award and the Gameplay: Most difficult moment in a video game to explain to the missus award.

2008 Tech Emmy Winners

Running With Scissors, publishers of controversial shooter Postal, announced today that they have named Tommy Tallarico, the man behind the Video Games Live concerts, the person of the year.

Why is a developer handing out Person of the Year awards? Good question.

"This is an acknowledgment on our part," explained RWS CEO Vince Desi, "of someone who has been both a dynamic force within the video game industry and a good friend to Running With Scissors. Tommy Tallarico has achieved what so few artists have in any field by successfully crossing over two giant industries, blending games and music; truly an amazing feat. He has brought a unique recognition to our industry and his musical talent and relentless effort have made a difference for all of us."

The award was announced at the publisher's annual Christmas party in Tucson, Arizona. Tallarico sounded adequately befuddled.

"It's an honor to be recognized for bringing recognition to the industry that I love so much," Tommy responded. "As the industry starts to take itself more seriously I hope it never loses sight of what we're all about.... fun. I've seen a lot of industry progress over my career and still think there is a lot more to go. I'm looking forward to what the future holds and I'm humbled and grateful to receive this acknowledgment."

I do like what Tallarico is doing for the industry (and still want him to have a concert here in Denver), but I'm not sure how delighted he actually is being named Postal's Person of the Year.

Kotaku's 2007 Pointies