Hugo Awards get gaming category

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpot
Posted Jan 4, 2006 4:47 pm PT

The best in science fiction and fantasy video games to be honored for first time in August award ceremony.

Hugo, meet Halo. The biggest name in science fiction and fantasy awards is making room for a new category this year, as a Hugo Award for Best Interactive Video Game will be given out for the first time at this year's ceremony.

"Games are not just something that some science fiction fans do," according to the official site of this year's L.A. Con IV, where the Hugos will be given out. "We believe that interactive video games have become an important part of the tapestry that is science fiction. And for that reason, we have decided to include them among the Hugo Categories for the first time."

Games with a science fiction or fantasy theme published for the first time in 2005 are eligible for the award, which will be voted on starting in April and presented at the LA Con IV on August 26.

24 Comments

Sino21
Posted Jan 12, 2006 7:29 pm PT

Darkside, read the article.

As for the Hugo Awards deciding to take on games, YAY. Finally, a very prestigious honor (no offense Gamespot's Game of The Year awards.) look at Video Game as art.
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darkside5001
Posted Jan 8, 2006 8:09 pm PT

Hugo... awards? Whats that?
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ninjacat11
Posted Jan 5, 2006 12:53 pm PT

I see Jak, Ratchet, not Half-Life (plase, that came out in 2004), Quake, WoW, and PoP dominating.
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VanillaFire1000
Posted Jan 5, 2006 12:46 pm PT

I'm betting Advent Rising will win. The story was writen by Orson Scott Card, a former Hugo award winner.
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Viquist
Posted Jan 5, 2006 8:31 am PT

This is excellent for the gaming industry. Maybe companies will start competing in these catagories and we'll see great games once more (like FF7, Kingdom Hearts, Battlefront II)
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chrisdojo
Posted Jan 5, 2006 5:40 am PT

hopefully GTA never makes Hugo's list.
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crayakow
Posted Jan 5, 2006 4:38 am PT

i well cant wate but i think they shoed also incloed some of the best fantasy games that have olredy been relest like years ago like Final Fantasy 7

but we all no if they ever do a fall remack of Final Fantasy 7 it woed win a Hugo Award may be 100 Hugo Awards

( Final Fantasy 7 Tech demo check it out on game spot it looks very good to me and i cant wayt to see it out in the shops one day)

all so incloed the old game's some of the story lines in the past or so much beter then some of the one today.

its not riyt giving a awared to new poop game with onle good grathinks then a rilly good story were the game play ceeps you hooked all day and nite

Give Final Fantasy 7 a Hugo Awards its got to be one of the best Fantasy story's ever made

(poop grathics thats why they shooed finesh of the remace then we all no it will get a Hugo Award strayt away)
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Cartman86
Posted Jan 4, 2006 10:59 pm PT

If Halo is nominated then that is rediculous. It wasn't released last year anyways. Spike TV have done this before. Even if its for a lifetime achievment type thing it wouldn't matter. These awards are being given for good sci-fi. Not for fun multiplayer. Halo is not good sci-fi/fantasy. Sorry.
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forever_blank
Posted Jan 4, 2006 10:59 pm PT

Something Sci-Fi gamers can look forward to... IE: Me.
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snipergimp
Posted Jan 4, 2006 9:32 pm PT

Actually if I am not mistaken Halo 2 was released in 2004, which would make it ineligiblefor nomination. I may be be wrong, so don't shoot me.
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pathknyght
Posted Jan 4, 2006 8:38 pm PT

Actually this would would better if sequals are unable to be nominated. Or at least sequals that add nothing new are just for sequals sake. And to LordelX, anything in a mushroom kingdom is fantasy
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Neurothustra
Posted Jan 4, 2006 8:18 pm PT

Funny how people would deprive Halo of it's rightful nomination. Kind of like the guys who say Britney Spears isn't hot just because she's overexposed. Halo deserves to win a Hugo award. Disagree? That's cool, but in the end, Halo will take it.
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davahsa
Posted Jan 4, 2006 8:16 pm PT

Too bad Breakdown will miss out. Hey Sci-heads with an Xbox....Go play Breakdown! It's very cheep now and even worrth 50 bucks!
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LordelX
Posted Jan 4, 2006 8:09 pm PT

Would this award only be given to games with science fiction/fantasy themes? So would that mean that licenced games, sports games, modern day setting games (GTA) and things from the mushroom kingdom won't qualify?
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stevo1588
Posted Jan 4, 2006 8:09 pm PT

If only we had a new Marathon...
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jpp67
Posted Jan 4, 2006 7:44 pm PT

about time
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nemes1s3000
Posted Jan 4, 2006 7:23 pm PT

Anything but Halo.. ANYTHING!
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Xanog1
Posted Jan 4, 2006 6:59 pm PT

Maybe this award will go to a game that deserves it, instead of "Master Chief gets the award for most emotional character in a dramatic, epic storyline!"
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GregK
Posted Jan 4, 2006 6:50 pm PT

That's cool news. Stuff like The Longest Journey or even Halo deserves recognition as legitimate science fiction, not just as great games.
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soundlife2
Posted Jan 4, 2006 5:48 pm PT

gyro567,

Please be aware .... Elder Scrolls was not released in 2005.
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GyRo567
Posted Jan 4, 2006 5:40 pm PT

Why do I see Half-Life and Elder Scrolls dominating?
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ff7cloudking
Posted Jan 4, 2006 5:36 pm PT

Awesome. Now the game industry is getting more of the credit they deserve.
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Sturm08
Posted Jan 4, 2006 5:18 pm PT

Very cool. Hopefully the industry gets more awards that are legitimate, not stupid like Spike TV awards, etc.
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Donkeljohn
Posted Jan 4, 2006 4:58 pm PT

Excellent! This just might be the artistic recognition the game industry has been waiting for. The Hugo awards are top-notch.
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