The Canadian Videogame Awards Roundup and Winners

What were you doing last Friday night?

Chances are something big went under your radar.  The 5th annual Canadian Videogame Awards was held at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario.

It was a night to celebrate videogames created and produced in Canada.  There were big changes to the event.  The CVA’s were held in April or May.  This is all changing, as the awards will now be held at the end of the year.  This meant, for one year only, we got a double treat of awards.  However, that wasn’t the only treat.

Mark Meers, Commander Sheppard himself, was the host for the evening.  He kicked off an amazing night which showcased the abundant talent in Canada for videogames.  This was a coming out party for the awards.  The production quality was high, the event was complete, but there was this feeling that something big was building.

As the awards were handed out, there was one running theme that was present in each acceptance speech, Canada is an untapped resource for making videogames.  Ubisoft dominated the night, winning 7 of 10 awards for 2013, and raking in 10 awards for 2014, but the accolades were shared throughout the room.  Everyone loved the other games made, and they were amazed at the talent Canada was producing.

It was a great night for Canadian gaming.  If you don’t believe us, check out Erika’s channel (her video coverage is above too).

It was awesome to see everyone cheering on the talent that was present.  There was a sense that something bigger was being built, and that the next show would be an eruption of talent.  The feeling in the crowd was, the U.S. is missing out.  Ubisoft’s domination of the nominations and award wins showed, if you invest in Canadian gaming, you will be successful.  It wasn’t all big brands that made names.  A lot of the indie games made a mark as well.

It was great to see games from Gamer Camp, and other venues, get acknowledge and rewarded for their hard work.  Great games like Super Time Force, Always Sometimes Monsters, and Contrast showed that independent game development is strong and healthy in Canada.  It also made you begin to reorganize your budget, because it’s possible that you missed some great indie games in the last year.

The big winners for Game of the Year for 2013 and 2014 were both Ubisoft titles.  Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Watch_Dogs took home the prizes.  It did show that Ubisoft knows something that a lot of the gaming industry is just starting to see.  Canada is a quality place to make games.  In the category for Console of the year, Ubisoft held 66 per cent of the nominations.  That’s not a bad thing, it just means that they’ve invested in Canada, and it’s paying off.  It’s paying off for the country as well.

Here is a list of the winners for 2013 and 2014.

2013 Award Winners

Best Console Game: Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

Best Downloadable Game: Guacamelee!

Best Game on the Go: Luigi’s Mansion: Dark moon

Best iOS Game: Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition

Best Social/Casual Game: UNO & Friends

Best Animation: Batman: Arkham Origins

Best Audio: Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

Best Game Design: Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

Best Game Innovation: Contrast

Best Indie Game: Guacamelee!

Best New Character: Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (Edward Kenway)

Best Original Music: Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (Power Core by Power Glove)

Best Technology: Dead Rising 3

Best Visual Arts: Batman: Arkham Origins

Best Writing: Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

Fan’s Choice Award: Outlast

Game of the Year: Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

2014 Award Winners

Best Console Game: Watch_Dogs

Best Downloadable Game: Child of Light

Best Game on the Go: Skylanders Trap Team

Best iOS Game: Hitman GO

Best Social/Casual Game: i saw her across the world

Best Animation: Child of Light

Best Audio: Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Freedom Cry

Best Game Design: Hitman GO

Best Game Innovation: Super Time Force

Best Indie Game: Always Sometimes Monsters

Best New Character: Child of Light (Aurora)

Best Original Music: Child of Light (Child of Light’s Theme)

Best Technology: Watch_Dogs

Best Visual Arts: Child of Light

Best Writing: Always Sometimes Monsters

Fan’s Choice Award: Dragons: Rise of Berk

Game of the Year: Watch_Dogs

If you got to watch the event live on Twitch, or the broadcast on television, it was the event that set the bar high.  You could feel this was only going to get bigger and better.  It was a great night to be a gamer, and a great night to be Canadian.

Remember to get your tickets next year, because you may be on the outside looking in when Canada’s videogame talent is honoured in 2015.

Do you agree with the winners?  What games made in Canada do you think should have won an award?  Let us know in the comments below, or on our Facebook Page.