TGS '07: Japan's game(s) of the year announced

TOKYO--The Japan Game Awards 2007 Game of the Year gong, announced as part of the Tokyo Game Show, has this year gone to not one, but two titles, both of which were considered too good to miss out on the top prize.

The awards are organised by the Computer Entertainment Suppliers Association--also the organisers of the annual Tokyo Game Show--and winners are chosen, from nominations received by the public, by the Japan Game Awards Selection Panel, made up of industry personnel. Games that were eligible for entry for this year's awards had to be released in Japan between April 1, 2006, and March 31, 2007.

The first title, Nintendo's Wii Sports, won because of its ease of use and the view that people new to gaming could jump straight in and play it. In a statement, CESA said, "Wii Sports has totally revamped the image of traditional game consoles, and has won over new demographic sectors, particularly women and seniors."

The second winner, Monster Hunter Portable 2nd, which is phenomenally successful in Japan, was described as "more than a game" by the panel. The game has now become a communication tool in its home country, the panel said, especially for junior high and high school students.

Other awards given at the event included the Best Sales Award, which went to Nintendo's Pokémon Diamond/Pearl--the games have shifted 4,930,000 units in the target year.

The Global Award Japanese Product went to Capcom's zombie-bashing Dead Rising, and the Global Award Foreign Product went to Microsoft's Gears of War--both Xbox 360 titles.

A number of games were also given the nod for excellence: Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, Ryu ga Gotoku 2, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Blue Dragon, New Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker, Gundam Musou, and Okami.