The 1st Annual New York Videogame Critics Circle Awards were distributed last night at New York’s Cantor Film Center.
In addition to some terrific music from Darren Korb and Ashley Barrett from Bastion, a brilliant host in Logan Cunningham, a thoughful appearance from Oscar nominee Bill Plympton, an hilarious presentation from The Daily Show’s Daniel Radosh, the Critics Circle presented 11 Awards for the best games of the year.
The night included two panel discussions, one about the Critic Circle’s origins, the other, a lively tete a tete about the year’s best games.
Frank Lantz, the director of NYU’s Game Center, also spoke about the Game Center’s new MFA in Game Design.
Later, members, nominees and winners repaired to the East Village’s Scratcher Bar for a rousing after party.
Overall, it was a D.I.Y. kind of night in which all of the Circle’s members pitched in to help, a fine evening full of wit, heart, soul and charm.
Here are the winners:
Manhattan Award for Most NY Centric Game
Crysis 2
Battery Park Award for Best Handheld Game
Super Mario Land 3D
Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game
Bastion
A Train Award for Best Mobile Game
Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP
Herman Melville Award for Best Writing in a Game
Portal 2
Off Broadway Award for Best Indie Game
Bastion
Statue of Liberty Award for Best Open World Game
Saints Row: The Third
Great White Way Award for Best Overall Acting in a Game
Portal 2
Algonquin Roundtable Award for Best Book
All Your Base Are Belong to Us, How 50 Years of Videogames Conquered Pop Culture by Harold Goldberg
Mad Men Award for Best Videogame Commercial
Long Live Play – Michael
Big Apple Award for Best Game
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
