Gaming Oscars: The Envelope, Please

by Dana Jongewaard

Since gaming doesn't have its own big flashy awards ceremony (sorry, Spike Video Game Awards -- we refuse to cede you supremacy), we asked you to vote on your favorite games from over the past year. So who ended up winning? And here's where the benefits of not having a big awards ceremony become clear: you don't have to sit through three-plus hours of self congratulation to find out the answers -- you just have to read the winners below!

Best Male Character in a Leading Role
Winner: Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Other Nominees: Kratos, God of War: Chains of Olympus; Niko Bellic, Grand Theft Auto IV; Professor Layton, Professor Layton and the Curious Village; Prince of Persia, Prince of Persia

Best Female Character in a Leading Role
Winner: Faith, Mirror's Edge
Other Nominees: Elika, Prince of Persia; Lara Croft, Tomb Raider Underworld; Shanoa, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia; You, any game with customizable characters

Best Art
Winner:LittleBigPlanet
Other Nominees: Echochrome, Prince of Persia, Valkyria Chronicles, World of Goo

Best Narrative
Winner: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Other Nominees: Braid, Fallout 3, Grand Theft Auto IV, The World Ends With You

Best Special Effects
Winner: Burnout Paradise
Other Nominees: Grid, Soulcalibur IV, Spore, Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Best Music
Winner: LittleBigPlanet
Other Nominees: Civilization Revolution, Fable II, Grand Theft Auto IV, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

Best System
Winner: Xbox 360
Other Nominees: DS, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii

Best Game
Winner: Fallout 3
Other Nominees: Grand Theft Auto IV, LittleBigPLanet, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Rock Band 2

Thanks to everyone who voted, and we'll see you back here next year for the same event!