While gamers are still arguing the finer points of one of next year's sure-to-be-contenders, Mass Effect 3, the 3rd Annual Canadian Video Game Awards took place over this past weekend, awarding some of Canada's finest projects. Whereas an awards show like the Spike Video Game Awards doles out its trophy's to fan or critic-chosen nominees, the CVAs can only be won by a production that places a specific section of development in Canada.
That's why on the winners list, which we have included below, you might see a game nominated (or winning) in a given category, but non-existent anywhere else. The true Canadian productions that swept the awards were Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP.
Alas it wasn't either of those games that ended up taking the coveted Game of the Year title from the awards, it was actually a sports title, and not the one you might think. Despite Deus Ex winning Best 'Console' Game and Sword and Sworcery winning best game on the go, it was EA Sports' FIFA 12 that came out of nowhere to claim the top prize.
One would think that if any sports title were to win Game of the Year it would be NHL 12, which ironically was named the top selling video game in Canada, but somehow FIFA 12 squeaked out its only win of the night.
Here's the full list of nominees and winners:
Game of the Year: FIFA Soccer 12 (Electronic Arts)
· Assassin's Creed Revelations - Ubisoft Montreal
· Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Eidos-Montreal
· FIFA Soccer 12 - Electronic Arts
· Fight Night Champion - Electronic Arts
· Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP - Capybara Games
Best Console Game: Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Eidos-Montreal)
· Assassin's Creed Revelations - Ubisoft Montreal
· Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Eidos-Montreal
· Dragon Age II - Bioware
· FIFA 2012 - Electronic Arts
· Fight Night Champion - Electronic Arts
Best Game on the Go: Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (Capybara Games)
· A Space Shooter for Free - Frima Studio
· Assassin's Creed Recollection - Ubisoft Montreal
· Squibble - MassHabit Games
· Super Stickman Golf - Noodlecake Studios
· Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP - Capybara Games
Best Downloadable Game: Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (Capybara Games)
· Capsized - Alien Trap Games
· Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes - Cabybara Games
· Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP - Capybara Games
· Swarm - Hothead Games
· Tales From Space: About a Blob - Drinkbox Studios
Best Audio: Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Eidos-Montreal)
· Assassin's Creed Revelations - Ubisoft Montreal
· Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Eidos-Montreal
· Fight Night Champion - Electronic Arts
· Need for Speed: The Run - Electronic Arts
· Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - Relic Entertainment
Best Social/Casual Game: Margaritaville Online (Exploding Barrel Games)
· Cranky Cat - March Entertainment
· GreenSpace - RocketOwl Inc.
· Margaritaville Online - Exploding Barrel Games
· Sissy's Magical Ponycorn Adventure - Untold Entertainment
Best Game Design: Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Eidos-Montreal)
· Assassin's Creed Revelations - Ubisoft Montreal
· Dead Rising 2: Off the Record - Capcom Vancouver
· Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Eidos-Montreal
· Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP - Capybara Games
· Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - Relic Entertainment
Best Technology: Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012 (Ubisoft Montreal)
· Assassin's Creed Revelations - Ubisoft Montreal
· FIFA Soccer 12 - Electronic Arts
· Just Dance 3 - Ubisoft Montreal
· Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - Relic Entertainment
· Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012 - Ubisoft Montreal
Best Visual Arts: Assassin's Creed Revelations (Ubisoft Montreal)
· Assassin's Creed Revelations - Ubisoft Montreal
· Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Eidos-Montreal
· Need for Speed: The Run - Electronic Arts
· Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP - Capybara Games
· Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - Relic Entertainment
Best Writing: Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Eidos-Montreal)
· Assassin's Creed Revelations - Ubisoft Montreal
· Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Eidos-Montreal
· Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP - Capybara Games
· To the Moon - Freebird Games
· Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - Relic Entertainment
Best Indie Game: Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (Capybara Games)
· Capsized - Alien Trap Games
· DLC Quest - Going Loud Studios
· Super Stickman Golf - Noodlecake Studios
· Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP - Capybara Games
· Tales From Space: About a Blob - Drinkbox Studios
Best New Character: Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Eidos-Montreal)
· Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Adam Jensen) - Eidos-Montreal
· Sissy's Magical Ponycorn Adventure (Sissy) - Untold Entertainment
· Tales From Space: About a Blob (The Blob) - Drinkbox Studios
· Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine (Captain Titus) - Relic Entertainment
· Yeti (Yeti) - Metanet Software Inc.
Best Original Music: Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (Capybara Games)
· Assassin's Creed Revelations - Ubisoft Montreal
· Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Eidos-Montreal
· Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes - Cabybara Games
· Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP - Capybara Games
· Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - Relic Entertainment
Future Shop Gamers' Choice Award - Top Selling Canadian Videogame: NHL 12 (Electronic Arts)
· Assassin's Creed Revelations - Ubisoft Montreal
· Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Eidos-Montreal
· FIFA Soccer 12 - Electronic Arts
· NHL 12 - Electronic Arts
Innovation Award: Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (Capybara Games)
· Battlefield 3 - DICE/Electronic Arts
· Cows vs. Aliens - XMG Studio
· Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP - Capybara Games
· To the Moon - Freebird Games
· Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - Relic Entertainment
With so many awards shows doling out trophies to the likes of Batman and Skyrim, it's good to see the lesser known, or at least lesser appreciated titles get a little recognition. Our own Rob Keyes participated in the voting, and also wrote Game Rant's review for Deus Ex: Revolution (a game we highly recommend you check out).
And now we look forward to next year's awards, which are sure to be much more controversial based solely on the presence of Mass Effect 3. Congrats to all the winners for this year, though, and make sure get out there and check out some of these games if you haven't.
What do you think of the winners and losers coming out of the Canadian Video Game Awards? Why did FIFA 12 end up as the Game of the Year if Deus Ex was the console game of the year?