User:Gregcrowe/draft article on game industry news
Game Industry News (GiN) is a website and newsletter publication devoted to covering all aspects of the video game industry. Published by Noble Order Press Enterprises Inc, based in Germantown, Maryland, Game Industry News was founded in 1997 by John Breeden II and Nate Wooley. The site is devoted primarily to game reviews and industry news, but also has editorial columnists and interviews with influential people in the game industry. The GiNdex is a unique feature on Game Industry News, offering a weekly stock index comprised of publicly traded companies that make video games. The site also hosts weekly podcast, The GiN Lounge, and quarterly podcast, The Gamer Geeks. Anyone who registers at Gameindustry.com receives an email newsletter, which encapsulates articles that have been added to the website that week.
History
In the summer of 1997, founders John Breeden II and Nate Wooley came up with the idea for starting a website devoted to the news of the video game industry. They recruited writers and product reviewers while they assembled content for the website, which was launched in the autumn of 1997. The first review published was for
Interactive Digital Software Association
Since then, the staff has expanded to many editors and contributors, and as of September of 2011 the site has over 1265 reviews and over 3500 industry-related news items.
International
In 2001, Chella Ramanan joined the editorial team, as a reviewer based in the UK. She then stepped into the role of columnist, in 2002, alongside Todd Hargosh. Chella's column, the Eurofiles (formerly known as the GiN Playmate 2002-2011), provides a British and European perspective of the games industry, covering subjects as diverse as trade shows, women in games and the death of Solzhenitsyn.
Business
With a continued interest in encouraging small developers and independent game companies, Game Industry News has kept advertising rates low to appeal to budgets of all sizes. GiN prides itself on having honest, unsponsored reviews by reviewers that love gaming.
Current Staff
The current staff of Game Industry News as of September 2011 are as follows:
| Regular Staff | Regular Reviewers |
|---|---|
| Publisher: Nate Wooley | Kelly Adams |
| Chief Editor: John Breeden II | Lisa Campos |
| Features Editor/Webmaster: Greg Crowe | Alia Reed |
| Testing Director/Columnist: Todd Hargosh | Chris Richards |
| European Correspondent/Columnist: Chella Ramanan | Billy White |
| Senior Reviewer: Jevon Jenkins | |
| Family Titles Reviewer: Karen Rosenberry | |
| Sales and Marketing: Marie Flanigan |
Note that the regular staff also write reviews in addition to their other duties.
The current staff working on the podcasts as of September 2011 are as follows:
| The GiN Lounge | Gamer Geeks |
|---|---|
| Host: John Breeden II | Co-Host: Todd Hargosh |
| Frequent Guests | Co-Host: Kelly Adams |
| Kelly Adams | |
| Marie Flanigan | |
| Todd Hargosh | |
| Chella Ramanan | |
| Nate Wooley |
Game of the Year Awards
In 1998, Game Industry News launched its Game of the Year Awards. In a unique move for games websites, the GiN Game of the Year Awards are voted for by gamers who subscribe to the site's weely newsletter. The nominees are decided by the editorial team and announced on Game Industry News for subscribers to choose and register their favourites in each category. No nominee is suggested for Game of the Year leaving that accolade open to any game. Voters simply write the name of the game, making it possible for any title to win, regardless of whether it has been nominated in any of the other categories.
The various categories have changed over the years, but an overall winner has always been awarded every year. The categories and winners for each year are as follows:
Awards for 2010 Game of the Year
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Adventure Game | Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood |
| Best Family Game | Bejeweled 3 |
| Best Mobile Game | Cobra Command
|
| Best Online Only Game | Halo Reach
|
| Best Peripheral | Microsoft Kinect
|
| Best Puzzle Game | Bejeweled 3 |
| Best Rhythm/Music Game | Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock |
| Best RPG | Fallout: New Vegas |
| Best Shooter | Call of Duty: Black Ops |
| Best Simulation | Railworks 2
|
| Best Sports Game | NBA 2K11 |
| Best Strategy Game | Sid Meier's Civilization V
|
| Best Environment | Final Fantasy XIII |
| Best Soundtrack | Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City
|
| Best DS Game | Bejeweled Twist |
| Best Expansion Pack or DLC | Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening |
| Best PC Game | StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty |
| Best PlayStation 3 Game | Heavy Rain |
| Best PSP Game | Tekken 6 |
| Best Wii Game | GoldenEye 007 |
| Best Xbox 360 Game | Mass Effect 2 |
| Game of the Year Runner-up | Mass Effect 2 |
| Overall Game of the Year | Red Dead Redemption |
Awards for 2009
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Adventure Game | Assassin's Creed II |
| Best Family Game | Wallace and Gromit's Grand Adventures
|
| Best Online Only Game | Fallen Earth |
| Best Peripheral | DJ Hero Turntable |
| Best Puzzle Game | Plants vs. Zombies |
| Best Rhythm/Music Game | The Beatles: Rock Band |
| Best RPG | Torchlight |
| Best Shooter | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2
|
| Best Simulation | The Sims 3 |
| Best Sports Game | Race On
|
| Best Strategy Game | Elven Legacy |
| Best Environment | Borderlands |
| Best Soundtrack | Batman: Arkham Asylum |
| Best DS Game | Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits
|
| Best Expansion Pack or DLC | The Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood |
| Best PC Game | Plants vs. Zombies |
| Best PlayStation 2 Game | Up |
| Best PlayStation 3 Game | Uncharted 2: Among Thieves |
| Best PSP Game | Final Fantasy: Dissidia
|
| Best Wii Game | House of the Dead: Overkill
|
| Best Xbox 360 Game | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2
|
| Game of the Year Runner-up | Borderlands |
| Overall Game of the Year | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2
|
Awards for 2008
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Adventure Game | LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
|
| Best Family Game | Happy Tails Animal Shelter |
| Best Online Only Game | World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King |
| Best Peripheral | iZ3D 22-Inch LCD |
| Best Puzzle Game | Defense Grid: The Awakening |
| Best RPG | Fallout 3 |
| Best Shooter | Call of Duty: World at War |
| Best Simulation | Mount and Blade
|
| Best Sports Game | NHL 09 |
| Best Strategy Game | Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution
|
| Best Environment | Fallout 3 |
| Best Soundtrack | Grand Theft Auto IV |
| Best DS Game | Guitar Hero: On Tour |
| Best PC Game | Fallout 3 |
| Best PlayStation 2 Game | LEGO Batman
|
| Best PlayStation 3 Game | Grand Theft Auto IV |
| Best PSP Game | Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII |
| Best Wii Game | Super Smash Bros. Brawl |
| Best Xbox 360 Game | Gears of War 2 |
| Overall Game of the Year | Fallout 3 |
Awards for 2007
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Adventure Game | Assassin's Creed |
| Best Family Game | Pet Vet 3D Wild Animal Hospital |
| Best Online Only Game | Pirates of the Caribbean Online |
| Best Peripheral | I Can Play Guitar |
| Best Puzzle Game | Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice for All
|
| Best RPG | Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles
|
| Best Shooter | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare |
| Best Simulation | Race 07 |
| Best Sports Game | Tony Hawk's Project 8 |
| Best Strategy Game | Dawn of War: Dark Crusade
|
| Best Environment | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare |
| Best Soundtrack | Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock |
| Best DS Game | Naruto: Ninja Council 3
|
| Best PC Game | The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
|
| Best PlayStation 2 Game | Tomb Raider Anniversary
|
| Best PlayStation 3 Game | Assassin's Creed |
| Best PSP Game | Silent Hill: Origins |
| Best Wii Game | Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
|
| Best Xbox 360 Game | Halo 3 |
| Game of the Year Runner-up | Pirates of the Caribbean Online |
| Overall Game of the Year | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare |
Awards for 2006
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Adventure Game | Dreamfall: The Longest Journey |
| Best Family Game | Pet Vet 3D Animal Hospital |
| Best Online Only Game | Final Fantasy XI Online
|
| Best Peripheral | Guitar Hero II |
| Best Puzzle Game | Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure |
| Best RPG | Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
|
| Best Shooter | Gears of War |
| Best Simulation | DarkStar One |
| Best Sports Game | Madden NFL 07 |
| Best Strategy Game | Company of Heroes |
| Best Environment | Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
|
| Best Soundtrack | Guitar Hero II |
| Best GameCube Game | Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
|
| Best PC Game | Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
|
| Best PlayStation 2 Game | Guitar Hero II |
| Best PlayStation 3 Game | Resistance: Fall of Man |
| Best PSP Game | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories |
| Best Wii Game | Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
|
| Best Xbox 360 Game | Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
|
| Best Xbox Game | Hitman: Blood Money |
| Overall Game of the Year | Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
|
Awards for 2005
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Adventure Game | Haunting Ground |
| Best Family Title | Wallace and Grommit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
|
| Best Online Game | Star Wars: Battlefront 2 |
| Best Peripheral | Guitar Hero |
| Best Puzzle Game | Myst V: End of Ages |
| Best RPG | Dungeon Siege II |
| Best Shooter | Call of Duty 2 |
| Best Simulation | GTR |
| Best Sports Game | Madden NFL 06 |
| Best Strategy Title | Age of Empires III |
| Best Environment | Myst V: End of Ages |
| Best Soundtrack | Myst V: End of Ages |
| Best GameCube Game | Resident Evil 4 |
| Best PC Game | Myst V: End of Ages |
| Best PlayStation 2 Game | Resident Evil 4 |
| Best PSP Game | GTA Liberty City Stories
|
| Best Xbox 360 Game | Perfect Dark Zero |
| Best Xbox Game | Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil |
| Overall Game of the Year | Myst V: End of Ages |
Awards for 2004
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Adventure Game | Myst IV: Revelation |
| Best Family Title | The Sims 2 |
| Best Online Game | World of Warcraft |
| Best Peripheral | AirFlow Wireless Controller |
| Best Puzzle Game | Myst IV: Revelation |
| Best RPG | The Bard's Tale |
| Best Shooter | Half-Life 2 |
| Best Simulation | The Sims 2 |
| Best Sports Game | Madden NFL 2005 |
| Best Environment | Myst IV: Revelation |
| Best Soundtrack | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas |
| Best Strategy Game | Medieval Conquest |
| Best GameCube Game | Resident Evil 4 |
| Best PC Game (exclusive) | Half-Life 2 |
| Best PlayStation 2 Game | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas |
| Best Xbox Game (exclusive) | Halo 2 |
| Overall Game of the Year | Half-Life 2 |
Awards for 2003
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Action Game | Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
|
| Best Adventure Game | Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
|
| Best Family Game | Toontown Online |
| Best Online Game | Star Wars Galaxies |
| Best Peripheral | EyeToy |
| Best Puzzle Game | Uru: Ages Beyond Myst |
| Best Role-Playing Game | Morrowind Bloodmoon
|
| Best Shooter Game | Call of Duty |
| Best Simulation Game | Railroad Tycoon 3 |
| Best Sports Game | Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 |
| Best Strategy Game | Command and Conquer: Generals
|
| Best Environment | Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
|
| Best Soundtrack | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City |
| Best Game for GameCube | Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
|
| Best Game for PC | Call of Duty |
| Best Game for Playstation2 | Silent Hill 3 |
| Best Game for Xbox | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic |
| Game of the Year Runner-up | Second Life |
| Overall Game of the Year | Morrowind Bloodmoon
|
Awards for 2002
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Action Game of the Year | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers |
| Adventure Game of the Year (Tie) | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring |
| The Watchmaker | |
| Educational Game of the Year | Buddy Brush and The Painted Playhouse |
| Family Entertainment Game of the Year | Chemicus: Journey to the Other Side |
| Puzzle Game of the Year | Assimilation |
| Role-Playing Game of the Year | Neverwinter Nights |
| Shooter Game of the Year | Iron Storm |
| Sports Game of the Year | Madden NFL 2003 |
| Strategy Game of the Year | Warcraft III
|
| Best Overall Environment | The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind |
| Game Soundtrack of the Year | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City |
| Most Innovative Game of the Year | The Sims Online |
| Game Peripheral of the Year | Xbox Live Kit |
| Online Game of the Year | Battlefield 1942 |
| Mac Game of the Year | Alchemy
|
| Microsoft Xbox Game of the Year | Splinter Cell
|
| Nintendo GameBoy Advance/Color Game of the Year | Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance |
| Nintendo Gamecube Game of the Year | Spider-Man
|
| PC Game of the Year | The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind |
| Sony PlayStation 2 Game of the Year | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City |
| Overall Game of the Year | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City |
Awards for 2001
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Action Game of the Year | Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty |
| Adventure Game of the Year | The Longest Journey |
| Arcade Game of the Year | Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex |
| Educational Game of the Year | Mindrover: The Europa Project |
| Best Environment | Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis |
| Family Game of the Year | Nancy Drew: The Final Scene |
| Innovative Game of the Year | Max Payne |
| Online Game of the Year | Dark Age of Camelot |
| Peripheral of the Year | SportsBoard |
| Puzzle Game of the Year | Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions |
| Real-time Strategy Game of the Year | Tropico |
| Role Playing Game of the Year | Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal |
| Shooter Game of the Year | Return to Castle Wolfenstien
|
| Simulation Game of the Year | Gran Turismo 3
|
| Soundtrack of the Year | Myst III: Exile |
| Sports Game of the Year | Madden NFL 2002 |
| Turn-based Strategy Game of the Year | Civilization III |
| Dreamcast Game of the Year | Phantasy Star Online |
| GameBoy Game of the Year | Lego Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge |
| GameCube Game of the Year | Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2 |
| Mac Game of the Year (tie) | Aliens vs. Predator
|
| Sethi and the Crown of Egypt | |
| PC Game of the Year | Civilization III |
| PlayStation 2 Game of the Year | Grand Theft Auto III |
| Xbox Game of the Year | Halo: Combat Evolved |
| Overall Game of the Year | Grand Theft Auto III |
Awards for 2000
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Educational Game of the Year | Mia 2: Romaine's New Hat |
| Family Entertainment Game of the Year | Gromada |
| Action Game of the Year | Diablo II |
| Adventure Game of the Year | Blair Witch Volume 1: Rustin Parr
|
| Arcade Game of the Year | Crazy Taxi |
| Puzzle Game of the Year (tie) | Lemmings Revolution |
| Traitors Gate | |
| Real Time Strategy Game of the Year | Ground Control |
| Role Playing Game of the Year | Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn |
| Shooter Game of the Year | Quake III Arena |
| Simulation Game of the Year | Aerowings 2: Air Strike |
| Sports Game of the Year | NFL 2K1 |
| Turn-based Strategy Game of the Year | Disciples: Sacred Lands |
| Best Overall Environment | Nox |
| Game Soundtrack of the Year | Space Channel 5 |
| Most Innovative Game of the Year | MTV Music Generator
|
| Online Game of the Year | Quake III Arena |
| Peripheral of the Year (tie) | Razer Boomslang |
| S4 7100 Speaker System | |
| Console Game of the Year | Shenmue |
| PC Game of the Year | Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn |
Awards for 1999
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Educational Game of the Year | Star Wars: Yoda's Challenge |
| Family Entertainment Game of the Year | TriBond |
| Action Game of the Year | Wild Wild West: The Steel Assassin |
| Shooter Game of the Year | MechWarrior 3 |
| Role Playing Game of the Year | Baldur's Gate |
| Adventure Game of the Year | Nocturne |
| Realtime Strategy Game of the Year | Age of Empires II |
| Turn-based Strategy Game of the Year | Jagged Alliance 2 |
| Puzzle Game of the Year | Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy |
| Sports Game of the Year | NFL 2K |
| Simulation of the Year (tie) | Touring Car Challenge |
| AMA Superbike | |
| Innovative Game of the Year | Homeworld |
| Game Soundtrack of the Year | Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri |
| Best Game Environment of the Year | System Shock 2 |
| Value Software Title of the Year | Gruntz |
| Online Game of the Year | Unreal Tournament |
| Console Game of the Year | Medal of Honor
|
| Overall Game of the Year | Asheron's Call |
Awards for 1998
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Educational Game of the Year | Droidworks
|
| Action Game of the Year | Unreal |
| Strategy Game of the Year(tie) | Myth: The Fallen Lords |
Safecracker
| |
| Innovative Game of the Year | Hexplore |
| Online Game of the Year | Sanctum |
| Sports Game of the Year | NASCAR Racing 1999 Edition |
| Console Game of the Year | Metal Gear Solid
|
| Game Soundtrack of the Year | Grim Fandango |
| Role Playing Game of the Year | Fallout 2 |
| Simulation of the Year | Gran Turismo |
| Overall Game of the Year | Heart of Darkness |