Home Gaming The Witcher 3 and Her Story lead the charge at the Game Developer’s Choice Awards

The Witcher 3 and Her Story lead the charge at the Game Developer’s Choice Awards

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TW3

The Game Developer’s Choice Awards that happen at the Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco every year are a little different to the usual game awards that are handed out by publications and organisers every year. For starters, as the name implies, they’re decided upon by an advisory board made up of game developers, along with Gamasutra’s editorial staff – so they’re all about peer recognition.

And the game’s they’ve recognised this year? Pretty damned good ones, with The Witcher 3 grabbing what I hope at this point is its last Game of the Year Award (not because it’s not deserving, but rather because we’re a quarter of the way in to a new year) , and Sam Barlow’s Her Story winning big in both the regular and independent game-focused awards.

Here’s the full list of winners for the main prizes, which includes two wins for the excellent Ori and the Blind Forest. While Fallout 4 didn’t win any awards this time, Bethesda’s Todd Howard did take home the Lifetime achievement award.

  • Ambassador Award: Tracy Fullerton, USC
  • Pioneer Award: Markus “Notch” Persson, Mojang
  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Todd Howard, Bethesda Studios
  • Best Technology: The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
  • Best Audio: Crypt of the Necrodancer
  • Best Narrative: Her Story
  • Best Visual Art: Ori and the Blind Forest
  • Best Handheld/Mobile Game: Her Story
  • Best Game Design: Rocket League
  • Best Debut: Ori and the Blind Forest
  • Innovation Award: Her Story
  • Audience Award: Life is Strange
  • Game of the Year: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Independent Games Fesitval Awards say Her Story winning another handful of awards – including the Seumas McNally Grand Prize.

  • Excellence In Visual Art: Oxenfree
  • Excellence In Audio: Mini Metro
  • Excellence In Design: Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
  • Excellence In Narrative: Her Story
  • Nuovo Award: Cibele
  • Best Student Game: Beglitched
  • Audience Award: Undertale
  • Seumas McNally Grand Prize: Her Story

Last Updated: March 17, 2016

20 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief [BFTS]

    March 17, 2016 at 08:24

    • miaau

      March 17, 2016 at 08:46

      that is big slice of truth right there.

      By this logic, Cyperpunk 2077 may not fill the big shoes left by Witcher 3, expectation in the heart of fans.

      Reply

    • Mossel

      March 17, 2016 at 08:52

      Although I still feel W1’s story was the best. It had a very dark and sinister tone which the others couldn’t quite pull off.

      Reply

      • miaau

        March 17, 2016 at 08:54

        true, but the game balance issues!

        Reply

    • Raptor Rants

      March 17, 2016 at 11:04

      You know, I agree and disagree at the same time.

      Witcher 3 was amazing. The settings were great. The world felt alive. It was truly a great game.

      But somehow Witcher2 felt more “Epic” in some way. Yes it was a little more on the rails but it just felt more engrosing and more focused.

      Witcher 3 I often would get lost on side quests while my sole purpose is meant to be finding Ciri.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief [BFTS]

        March 17, 2016 at 11:14

        But that is to be expected, being open world and all

        Reply

  2. miaau

    March 17, 2016 at 08:44

    still not my game of the year.

    Fallout 4>Witcher 3 (not story, how it made me feel playing it)

    Story: Witcher 3
    Character you love: Witcher 3
    NPC’s you genuinely care about: Witcher 3
    The feeling when you blow somebodies head off from a long distance: Priceless

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief [BFTS]

      March 17, 2016 at 08:49

      So you are all about the blow job eh?

      Reply

      • Ghost In The Rift

        March 17, 2016 at 08:50

        HA!!!!!

        Reply

      • miaau

        March 17, 2016 at 08:52

        no the blowing off the heads of baddies at a distance, with my gun. Typically a long bore,smooth shooting gun. Although, sometimes, a lot can be said for the satisfaction you get from whipping out a pistol and firing off a quick head shot.

        I do not properly understand what you are saying? I suppose you call it a “job” but blowing off raiders heads is more like a pleasure than a job.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief [BFTS]

          March 17, 2016 at 08:57

          My my, aren’t we defensive…

          😛

          Reply

          • miaau

            March 17, 2016 at 08:58

            I think taking head shots is extremely aggressive, do you not agree?

            Also, sometimes, the very best defence is a strong offence.

          • Admiral Chief [BFTS]

            March 17, 2016 at 08:59

            Back to your job then

          • miaau

            March 17, 2016 at 09:00

            sigh. yes. probably should work and stuff while at work. Been here since stupid o clock this morning as well.

          • Admiral Chief [BFTS]

            March 17, 2016 at 09:01

            Ditto

    • Ryanza

      March 17, 2016 at 11:49

      What you feeling comes down to guns. Fallout 4 is the first Fallout game where you can actually shoot shit without using vat all the time. So the guns and shooting is fun in Fallout 4. But that’s all Fallout 4 has.

      Oh yeah guns and they fun to shoot, oh wait, long loading screens. Fuck that. Back to Witcher 3.

      Cyberpunk 2077 is coming for the gun loving crowd.

      Reply

      • miaau

        March 17, 2016 at 12:17

        I love fantasy RPG’s more than Sci-fi ones, normally. There was just something about the gameplay that kept me coming back.

        Reply

  3. Ghost In The Rift

    March 17, 2016 at 08:52

    I’m on my third playtrough, in a row, i cant help it, damit

    Reply

  4. Ryanza

    March 17, 2016 at 11:52

    Witcher 3 – Game of The Fucking Year. But it never sold like one. So there is a problem in the system. Cyberpunk 2077 will fix that problem.

    Reply

    • miaau

      March 17, 2016 at 15:13

      That is an interesting point.

      May be a lot of peoples choice for GOTY, but if we vote and count by sales alone, I would say one of the COD, GEARS or whatever these things are called would win.

      Democracy in action. Love the masses. Actually more complicated. than that. A great game, but the appeal of, effectively, an action RPG is not for the masses. Not if we look at sales and playtime on online systems.

      Reply

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