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    Game Developers Choice Awards

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    The Game Developers Choice Awards is an annual awards ceremony recognizing the work of video game developers of the previous year. Since 2001, it has been held during the Game Developers Conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.

    Short summary describing this concept.

    Game Developers Choice Awards last edited by Marino on 03/22/23 08:29PM View full history

    Advisory Committee

    The editors of Game Developer Magazine and Gamasutra choose an Advisory Committee, made up of distinguished game industry veterans, to select Special Honors winners following public nominations.

    Active

    Alumni

    Awards

    Game of the Year

    2019 Game of the Year
    2019 Game of the Year

    The best game of the previous year decided by the game developers themselves.

    Innovation Award

    2013 Innovation Award
    2013 Innovation Award

    Celebrating the one game that best advances the medium in ways previously unimaginable.

    Best Audio

    2010 Best Audio
    2010 Best Audio

    The Best Audio award takes into account all forms of audio including music, sound effects, voice over, and sound design.

    Best Debut

    2012 Best Debut
    2012 Best Debut

    Formerly known as the Rookie Studio award, this is awarded to a development studio who release their first publicly available game.

    Best Design

    2008 Best Game Design
    2008 Best Game Design

    The Best Game Design award encompasses gameplay mechanics, level design, playability, and balance.

    Best Narrative

    Formerly known as the Excellence in Writing Award, this award celebrates the game with superlative storytelling, plot, and dialogue.

    2011 Best Narrative
    2011 Best Narrative

    Best Technology

    2005 Best Technology
    2005 Best Technology

    The Best Technology Award celebrates the best in artificial intelligence, programming, physics modeling, and networking.

    Best Visual Arts

    2004 Best Visual Arts
    2004 Best Visual Arts

    The Best Visual Arts award is not simply celebrating the best graphics in a game, but is more specifically about art direction, character design, animation, and textures.

    Audience Award

    2016 Audience Award
    2016 Audience Award

    Introduced in 2013, the Audience Award is the only award not selected by the advisory committee.

    Social Impact Award

    Introduced in 2022, the Social Impact Award celebrates equality and justice represented in games.

    Special Honors

    Three special honors, selected by the Game Developers Choice Awards advisory board, are presented annually at the ceremony.

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    2007 Lifetime Achievement Award
    2007 Lifetime Achievement Award

    The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates ones entire career of achievements as a game developer.

    Pioneer / First Penguin Award

    2008 Pioneer Award
    2008 Pioneer Award

    The Pioneer Award (formerly known as the First Penguin Award) celebrates those whose contributions were groundbreaking and/or paved the way for future generations.

    Ambassador / Community Contribution Award

    2001 Ambassador Award
    2001 Ambassador Award

    The Ambassador Award (formerly known as the Community Contribution Award) celebrates those who best represents the industry as a whole whether it be from within or from the outside.

    Maverick Award

    The Maverick Award, retired after 2007, celebrated those who recently introduced exceptionally new ideas to the industry.

    Hosts

    2014 Host
    2014 Host

    Retired Awards

    Best Handheld/Mobile Game

    2014 Best Handheld Game
    2014 Best Handheld Game

    Celebrating the best game that was released exclusively for mobile platforms whether they be handheld consoles or mobile devices such as phones and tablets.

    Best VR / AR Game

    Introduced in 2017 to celebrate the best virtual or augmented reality games of the year.

    Character Design

    The Character Design Award was given to the game with the best well-rounded, non-licensed characters based on design, story, and originality. Prior to 2005, the award was given to a single character and was known as the Original Game Character of the Year Award.

    Downloadable Game

    Introduced in 2008, the Best Downloadable Game Award celebrates the best game that was exclusively available via digital distribution.

    Level Design

    The Excellence in Level Design Award was given to the game with the best created environments and worlds. After 2003, level design was lumped into the Game Design Award.

    Programming

    After 2004, the Excellence in Programming Award became part of the Best Technology Award.

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