Every year, the Game Developers Conference holds awards in celebration of excellence in games. There's the IGF (Independent Games Festival)—you can think of it as something similar to Sundance. There's also the Game Developers Choice Awards. The event was held today, and these are the winners.
Independent Games Festival
Excellence in visuals art award: Kentucky Route Zero
Nuovo award: Cart Life
Excellence in audio: 140
Excellence in narrative: Cart Life
Excellence in technical excellence: Little Inferno
Best student game: Zinith
Audience award: FTL
Excellence in design: FTL
Seamas McNally grand prize: Cart Life
Choice Awards:
Best downloadable game: Journey
Best narrative: The Walking Dead
Best visual arts: Journey
Ambassador of the year award:Chris Melissinos
Technology award: Far Cry 3
Best game design: Journey
Best handheld/mobile game: The Room
Best audio: Journey
Pioneer award: Steve Russell
Best debut game: {Subset{games}}
Innovation award: Journey
Audience award: Dishonored
Lifetime achievement awards: Dr. Ray Muzyka, Dr. Greg Zeschuk
Game of the year: Journey