2009 Video Game Awards

Asia is set for an unforgettable evening of electrifying entertainment as Animax brings to the region Video Game Awards 2009 (VGA 2009) – the greatest global video gaming TV event! Prepare to witness the biggest game studios in the world unveil the most highly-anticipated new video games including ‘Halo: Reach’, as the hottest celebrities from Hollywood and beyond honour the very best of the video games industry at the outrageously unconventional VGA 2009!

Taking worldwide audiences by storm, Video Game Awards 2009 (VGA2009) is set for an unprecedented international broadcast across 180 territories around the world including Animax TV networks worldwide! VGA 2009 will be unleashed across Asia on the region’s first and leading anime and youth entertainment destination, Animax Asia!
To be held 12 December 2009 in Los Angeles by Spike TV and premiering 16 January 2010 Saturday, 9pm (SEA/PH/SA) on Animax, VGA 2009 will see a total of 28 awards including top honours ‘Game of the Year’ and ‘Studio of the Year’ presented, based on results from online votes cast globally. Fans anywhere in the world can play their part to determine the results of VGA 2009 by voting for their favourite nominees at www.spike.com/event/vga2009 from now 11 December 2009.

Animax viewers can look forward to a sneak preview of the highly-anticipated ‘Halo: Reach’ in an exclusive world premiere of the game’s opening video on VGA 2009. ‘Halo: Reach’ is the latest prequel instalment to international blockbuster video game hit ‘Halo’ trilogy for the Xbox console, by Bungie and Microsoft Game Studios, to be launched in fall 2010. In addition to ‘Halo: Reach’, a whopping 11 other world premieres of upcoming games are being lined-up specially for VGA 2009. These include exclusive showcases by gaming giants including 2K, Activision, Disney Interactive Studios, Electronic Arts, LucasArts Entertainment, Microsoft Game Studios, THQ, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, among others.

“Truly dedicated to the many passionate gaming fans among the millions of Animax viewers worldwide including Asia, Video Game Awards 2009 pays the ultimate tribute to one of the most popular forms of entertainment loved by youth and young adults everywhere. Showcasing an art form that breaks new ground each day, VGA 2009 provides important recognition for video games which continue to inspire and be inspired from anime – the genre of content that has made Animax the leading youth entertainment destination that it is today,” said Gregory Ho, Vice President & General Manager, Animax Asia.

Topping the VGA 2009 nomination list with eight nods including for ‘Game of the Year’ and ‘Studio of the Year’ prizes is game studio Naughty Dog with action-adventure game ‘Uncharted 2: Among Thieves’. Chalking up seven nominations including ‘Game of the Year’ and ‘Best Voice’ for Mark Hamill’s part as The Joker character is ‘Batman: Arkham Asylum’ the dark and edgy new installment of the Batman franchise from Rocksteady Studios. Valve’s zombie thriller ‘Left 4 Dead 2’ and Infinity Ward’s military first person shooter ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’ notched six nominations each. Refer to Annex A for the full nomination list.

Nominees for VGA 2009 were selected by the VGA Advisory Council which comprises industry experts from video game media including GameTrailers.com, Game Informer, USA Today, Wired, Penny Arcade, GameSpot and IGN. Get set for a mind-blowing night of video games action as fans around the world bestow top honours to the very best in the gaming industry at the electrifying Video Game Awards 2009, premiering January 2010 across Asia, first and exclusively on Animax!

Video Game Awards 2009 premieres 16 Jan 2010 Sat, 9pm first & exclusively on Animax, Astro Channel 715

About ANIMAX ASIA
Launched 1 January 2004, ANIMAX is Asia’s first youth brand specialising in the fastest growing youth entertainment genre – anime; along with youth programming including exclusive original productions, music, technology, gaming and lifestyle shows.

ANIMAX offers youth and young adults a place to escape to. An extraordinary world where anything is possible. A world where they can express their thoughts, communicate their passion and exercise their creativity. A world which celebrates the joy of youth and recognises them for who they are; a world of fun, happiness and excitement… In short, A World Less Ordinary.

Reaching 40 million viewers in 25 million homes across 18 countries, ANIMAX is wholly-owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and managed by SPE Networks – Asia which also operates AXN, AXN BEYOND and SONY ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION. Visit www.animax-asia.com for more.

• ANNEX A: Video Game Awards 2009 Full Nomination List

GAME OF THE YEAR
•    Assassin’s Creed 2 (Ubisoft / Ubisoft Montreal)
•    Batman: Arkham Asylum (Eidos Interactive – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment / Rocksteady Studios)
•    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Activision Publishing / Infinity Ward)
•    Left 4 Dead 2 (Valve)
•    UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves (Sony Computer Entertainment / Naughty Dog)

STUDIO OF THE YEAR
•    Infinity Ward
•    Naughty Dog
•    Rocksteady Studios
•    Valve

BEST SHOOTER
•    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Activision Publishing / Infinity Ward)
•    Halo 3: ODST (Microsoft Game Studios / Bungie)
•    Killzone 2 (Sony Computer Entertainment / Guerrilla Games)
•    Left 4 Dead 2 (Valve)

BEST RPG
•    Borderlands (2K Games / Gearbox Software)
•    Demon’s Souls (Atlus / FromSoftware)
•    Dragon Age: Origins (Electronic Arts / BioWare)
•    Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story (Nintendo / AlphaDream)

BEST FIGHTING GAME
•    BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger (Aksys Games / Arc System Works)
•    Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny (NAMCO BANDAI Games / Project Soul)
•    Street Fighter IV (Capcom / Capcom/Dimps)
•    Tekken 6 (NAMCO BANDAI Games)

BEST INDIVIDUAL SPORTS GAME
•    EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 (Electronic Arts / EA Canada)
•    Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 (Electronic Arts / EA Tiburon)
•    UFC 2009 Undisputed (THQ / Yuke’s Media Creations)
•    Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo)

BEST HANDHELD GAME
•    Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (Rockstar Games / Rockstar Leeds)
•    Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story (Nintendo / AlphaDream)
•    Professor Layton and The Diabolical Box (Nintendo / Level-5)
•    Scribblenauts (Warner Bros. Interactive / 5th Cell)

BEST GRAPHICS
•    Batman: Arkham Asylum (Eidos Interactive – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment / Rocksteady Studios)
•    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Activision Publishing / Infinity Ward)
•    Killzone 2 (Sony Computer Entertainment / Guerrilla Games)
•    Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (Sony Computer Entertainment / Naughty Dog)

BEST GAME BASED ON A MOVIE OR TV SHOW
•    Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Atari / Terminal Reality)
•    South Park Let’s Go Tower Defense Play! (Microsoft / DoubleSix)
•    The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (Atari / Starbreeze AB)
•    X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition (Activision Publishing / Raven Software)

BEST MUSIC GAME
•    DJ Hero (Activision Publishing / FreeStyleGames)
•    Guitar Hero 5 (Activision Publishing / Neversoft Entertainment)
•    LEGO Rock Band (MTV Games – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment / Traveler’s Tales Games – Harmonix)
•    The Beatles: Rock Band (MTV Games / Harmonix)

BEST DRIVING GAME
•    Dirt 2 (Codemasters)
•    Forza Motorsport 3 (Microsoft Game Studios / Turn 10)
•    Gran Turismo (PSP) (Sony Computer Entertainment / Polyphony Digital)
•    Need for Speed SHIFT (Electronic Arts / Slightly Mad Studios)

BEST ACTION ADVENTURE GAME
•    Assassin’s Creed 2 (Ubisoft / Ubisoft Montreal)
•    Batman: Arkham Asylum (Eidos Interactive – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment / Rocksteady Studios)
•    Brütal Legend (Electronic Arts / Double Fine Productions)
•    Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (Sony Computer Entertainment / Naughty Dog)

BEST TEAM SPORTS GAME
•    FIFA Soccer 10 (Electronic Arts / EA Canada)
•    Madden NFL 10 (Electronic Arts / EA Tiburon)
•    NBA 2K10 (2K Sports / Visual Concepts)
•    NHL 10 (Electronic Arts / EA Canada)

BEST SOUNDTRACK
•    Brütal Legend (Electronic Arts / Double Fine Productions)
•    DJ Hero (Activision Publishing / FreeStyleGames)
•    Guitar Hero 5 (Activision Publishing / Neversoft Entertainment)
•    The Beatles: Rock Band (MTV Games / Harmonix)

BEST XBOX 360 GAME
•    Batman: Arkham Asylum (Eidos Interactive – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment / Rocksteady Studios)
•    Forza Motorsport 3 (Microsoft Game Studios / Turn 10)
•    Halo 3: ODST (Microsoft Game Studios / Bungie)
•    Left 4 Dead 2 (Valve)

BEST Wii GAME
•    MadWorld (SEGA / Platinum Games)
•    New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Nintendo)
•    Punch-Out!! (Nintendo / Next Level Games)
•    Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo)

BEST PS3 GAME
•    inFAMOUS (Sony Computer Entertainment / Sucker Punch)
•    Killzone 2 (Sony Computer Entertainment / Guerrilla Games)
•    Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (Sony Computer Entertainment / Insomniac Games)
•    Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (Sony Computer Entertainment / Naughty Dog)

BEST PC GAME
•    Dragon Age: Origins (Electronic Arts / BioWare)
•    Left 4 Dead 2 (Valve)
•    Plants vs. Zombies (PopCap Games)
•    The Sims 3 (Electronic Arts / The Sims Studio)

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
•    Assassin’s Creed 2 (Ubisoft / Ubisoft Montreal)
•    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Activision Publishing / Infinity Ward)
•    Halo 3: ODST (Microsoft Game Studios / Bungie)
•    Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (Sony Computer Entertainment / Naughty Dog)

BEST MULTIPLAYER GAME
•    Borderlands (2K Games / Gearbox Software)
•    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Activision Publishing / Infinity Ward)
•    Halo 3: ODST (Microsoft Game Studios / Bungie)
•    Left 4 Dead 2 (Valve)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A HUMAN MALE
•    Bill Murray as Dr. Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Atari)
•    Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition (Activision Publishing)
•    Samuel L. Jackson as Afro Samurai / Ninja Ninja in Afro Samurai (Surge)
•    Shia LaBeouf as Sam Witwicky in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Activision Publishing)
•    Vin Diesel as Richard B. Riddick in The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (Atari)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A HUMAN FEMALE
•    Eliza Dushku as Rubi Malone in WET (Bethesda Softworks)
•    Kristen Bell as Lucy Stillman in Assassin’s Creed 2 (Ubisoft)
•    Megan Fox as Mikaela Banes (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen / Activision Publishing)
•    Tricia Helfer as Dare (Halo 3: ODST / Microsoft Game Studios)

BEST CAST
•    Brütal Legend (Electronic Arts / Double Fine Productions)
•    Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard (D3 Publisher / Vicious Cycle)
•    Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Atari / Terminal Reality)
•    South Park Let’s Go Tower Defense Play! (Microsoft / DoubleSix)
•    X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition (Activision Publishing / Raven Software)

BEST VOICE
•    Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn in Batman: Arkham Asylum (Eidos Interactive – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
•    Claudia Black as Chloe Frazer in UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves (Sony Computer Entertainment)
•    Jack Black as Eddie Riggs (Brütal Legend / Electronic Arts)
•    Mark Hamill as The Joker in Batman: Arkham Asylum (Eidos Interactive – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
•    Nolan North as Nathan Drake in UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves (Sony Computer Entertainment)

BEST DOWNLOADABLE GAME
•    Battlefield 1943 (Electronic Arts / DICE)
•    Fat Princess (Sony Computer Entertainment / Titan Studios)
•    Plants vs. Zombies (PopCap Games)
•    Shadow Complex (Microsoft Game Studios / Chair Entertainment)

BEST DLC
•    Fallout 3 – Broken Steel (Bethesda Softworks / Bethesda Game Studios)
•    Fallout 3 – Point Lookout (Bethesda Softworks / Bethesda Game Studios)
•    Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony (Rockstar Games / Rockstar North)
•    Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost & Damned (Rockstar Games / Rockstar North)

BEST INDEPENDENT GAME FUELED BY DEW
•    ’Splosion Man (Twisted Pixel)
•    Flower (ThatGameCompany)
•    Osmos (Hemisphere Games)
•    Trials HD (RedLynx)

MOST ANTICIPATED GAME
•    Bioshock 2 (2K Games / 2K Marin)
•    God of War III (Sony Computer Entertainment / SCE Studios Santa Monica)
•    Mass Effect 2 (Electronic Arts / BioWare)
•    Starcraft II (Blizzard Entertainment)

Peter Moore.

• Video Game Industry Facts and Statistics

GAME LAUNCHES ARE BIGGER THAN MOVIE LAUNCHES — In 2008, GRAND THEFT AUTO 4 earned $500M in its first week.  THE DARK KNIGHT movie earned $239 M in its first week.

THE GAME INDUSTRY IS THE FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT OF ENTERTAINMENT — The industry grew a stunning 26% in 2008 to $22.3 B in revenue in the US.

THE GAME INDUSTRY IS INTERNATIONAL — In 2007, global video game revenues were $37B dollars, versus $26B for the film business (Hudson Square Research, April 2008)

GAMES ATTRACT HUGE-NAME STARS — In 2009, video games will star huge celebrity names such as Hugh Jackman, Jack Black and Bill Murray.

NEARLY 65% of US households now own one or more console gaming system.

OVER 250,000,000 games were sold worldwide in 2008.

44.6 MILLION gamers are males between the games of 18-44.  And 69% of US males 18-34 consider themselves gamers.
The NINTENDO WII has sold 49 Million Units Worldwide, with 23M in the US and 26M in other territories.

The SONY PLAYSTATION 3 has sold 22 Million Units Worldwide, with 8.5M in the US and 13.5M in other territories.

The MICROSOFT XBOX 360 has sold 30M worldwide, with 17M in the US and 13M in other territories.