The Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.), the non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of game audio, announced the winners of the 10th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards held at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco last week.
Voted and judged upon by the game audio industry and members of G.A.N.G., the finalists represent an array of the best audio in videogames from 2011. A 70-person Advisory Committee helped in deciding each of the final nominees which included hundreds of hours of research, listening, watching and playing. More than 2,000 people representing more than 30 countries have signed up as members of G.A.N.G. since its inception in 2002.
The final winners, voted on by the general membership of G.A.N.G., included multiple wins for Portal 2, Battlefield 3, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Kinect Disneyland Adventures. Other notable winners included L.A. Noire, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, and the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
World-renowned videogame composer/sound designer Tommy Tallarico received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his 22-year career and major contributions to the community of game audio. Aside from his many award-winning soundtracks over the years, Tallarico is also the creator/producer of the touring Video Games Live show and one of the original founders of the Game Audio Network Guild.
“He has literally helped hundreds of people get into the videogame industry and realize their dreams,” says G.A.N.G. President Paul Lipson “There has never been a more deserving person for this award. His work and his life embody everything that G.A.N.G. is about.”
Here is a complete list of the award winners.
AUDIO OF THE YEAR
Battlefield 3
MUSIC OF THE YEAR
L.A. Noire
SOUND DESIGN OF THE YEAR
Battlefield 3
BEST SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
Star Wars: The Old Republic—Collector’s Edition Soundtrack
BEST INTERACTIVE SCORE (tie)
Portal 2
Kinect Disneyland Adventures
BEST CINEMATIC/CUTSCENE AUDIO
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
BEST DIALOG
Portal 2
BEST ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTAL
“Glory, The Galactic Republic”from Star Wars: The Old Republic
BEST ORIGINAL VOCAL—CHORAL
“Main Theme” from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
BEST ORIGINAL VOCAL—POP
“Want You Gone” from Portal 2
BEST USE OF LICENSED MUSIC
Kinect Disneyland Adventures
BEST AUDIO MIX
Battlefield 3
BEST HANDHELD AUDIO
Infinity Blade II
BEST AUDIO IN A CASUAL/INDIE/SOCIAL GAME
Bastion
BEST GAME AUDIO ARTICLE, PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST
“The Use of Voice in Portal 2”
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Tommy Tallarico
G.A.N.G. RECOGNITION AWARD
Kevin Riepl
G.A.N.G. DISTINGUISED SERVICE AWARD
Dan Rudin
ROOKIE OF THE YEARD AWARD
Darren Korb (Bastion)
DIAMOND SPONSOR/PARTNER AWARDS
Sumthing Else Musicworks
Game Developers Conference
Pyramind Studios
The entire awards show will be broadcast via TwitchTV starting Sunday, March 18 at 9 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Pacific at www.twitch.tv/videogameslive.
Visit the Game Audio Network Guild at www.audiogang.org.
