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  • Best Graphics
  • Best Sound
  • Most Innovative
  • Most Mojo
  • Best Multiplayer
  • Best Character
  • Best Follow Up
  • Biggest News

 

 
GEARS OF WAR
Publisher - Microsoft
Developer - Epic
Gears of War takes full advantage of the Xbox 360's power and pushes out on of the most detailed and graphically impressive games ever seen. Epic's Unreal Engine provides it still is the industry leader with its showcase in Gears of War. Graphically, Gears of War is impressive and brutal and even though its creative end is lacking, it's technical prowess is enough to snag our best graphics of 2006 award.
Runner-Up: THE ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION (2K Games)
Honorable Mentions: SC: DOUBLE AGENT, LOCO ROCO, VIVA PINATA, DEAD RISING

 

 
GEARS OF WAR
Publisher - Microsoft
Developer - Epic
Gears of War hits a double whammy with our sound and graphics award in 2006. All it takes is a few moments with Gears to realize how special and top notch the production value is in this game. Gears of War seems do everything right in the audio end, building up and releasing when necessary. The overall score of the game along with the sound effects and voice acting are the best of the year.
Runner-Up: THE ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION (2K Games)
Honorable Mentions: RAINBOW SIX: VEGAS, G.R.A.W, DEAD RISING

 

 
VIVA PINATA
Publisher - Microsoft
Developer - Rare
Viva Pinata is nothing but innovative, from its gameplay, to its pinata farming concept. Even though Viva Pinata is a basic sim-styled game, the underlined mechanics are impressive and original. The concept tops Viva Pinata off with the offbeat objective to raise pinatas while maintaining a profitable and enjoyable ecosystem. Rare still has some spirit left in them, and I'm more than proud to send the innovation award towards the UK, for there work on Viva Pinata.
Runner-Up: OKAMI (Capcom)
Honorable Mentions: LOCO ROCO, OBLIVION, GEARS OF WAR, DEAD RISING

 
THE ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION
Publisher - 2K Games
Developer - Bethesda Softworks
Unlikely mojo winner, Oblivion sneaks up and takes one for the role-playing "geeks" across the world. Oblivion has some awesome moments on an epic scale that no other game could compete with. If you don't get into Oblivion that's one thing, but if you get hooked then you can agree that Bethesda and 2K Games packed this game full of all the role playing love any gamer could ask for.
Runner-Up: GEARS OF WAR (Microsoft)
Honorable Mentions: DEAD RISING, SAINTS ROW, LOCO ROCO, G.R.A.W.

 
GEARS OF WAR
Publisher - Microsoft
Developer - Epic
Gears of War is one of the best multiplayer experiences this year which can be enjoyed online over Xbox Live or at home in co-op with friends. The smaller scaled four vs. four battles can get heated and intense making the players think as much as react, and the ability to play through the story mode online, or offline, makes Gears of War an easy pick for multiplayer game of the year.
Runner-Up: RAINBOW SIX: VEGAS (Ubisoft)
Honorable Mentions: WII SPORTS, RESISTANCE: FALL OF MAN, SC: DOUBLE AGENT

 
TONY MONTANA (SCARFACE: THE WORLD IS YOURS)
Publisher - VU Games
Developer - Radical Entertainment
Say hello to the winner of Best Character of 2006, Tony Montana. One of the best characters in cinema history has finally made his digital appearance in a game with outstanding results. The Scarface game success wouldn't of been the same if they didn't capture the likeness of Tony Montana as close as they did. What could be better then controlling the man himself? Tony Montana is our Best Character of 2006.
Runner-Up: FRANK MILLER (Dead Rising)
Honorable Mentions: Loco Roco (Loco Roco), Marcus Fenix (Gears of War)

 
GHOST RECON ADVANCED WARFIGHTER
Publisher - Ubisoft
Developer - Ubisoft
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter wins our best follow up award because Ubisoft did an amazing job reinventing the series with a new focus on tactics, strategy, and story telling. Advanced Warfighter is easily the best Ghost Recon game of the series and marks a new direction for the series to follow.
Runner-Up: THE ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION (2K Games)
Honorable Mentions: ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS, TOMB RAIDER LEGEND, TONY HAWK'S PROJECT 8

 
DEATH OF E3
2006 had its share of news stories and the one that will have the longest impact on the gaming industry is the "death" of E3 (Electronic Arts Expo). E3 has been a staple in the industry since the early days (11 years in total), the booth babes, the swag, the hype, the new games, it's all going to be re-focused. Only time will tell if this was a good decision and if the community as a whole will be refocused without this yearly focal point.
Runner-Up: PLAYSTATION 3 LAUNCH
Other mentions: Nintendo Wii Success, Clover Studios Closing, DS over PSP