Bafta Games Awards: Outer Wilds wins Best Game
- Published
Action-adventure game Outer Wilds has won the prestigious Best Game prize at the 16th annual Bafta Games Awards.
The title's writer Kelsey Beachum credited its players saying: "Word of mouth has been essential in getting people to play the game, you're all really beautiful"'
The game where you explore a distant galaxy under threat from an exploding star claimed three awards in total.
It also won in the best design and original property categories.
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It was a successful night for role-playing detective game Disco Elysium which also picked up three awards - winning in the best music, debut game and best narrative categories.
This year's award ceremony had to be pre-recorded because of coronavirus restrictions.
Host Dara O'Briain pulled the strings from his house with every nominee required to submit a winners speech - just in case they won.
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There was disappointment for mysterious adventure game Control.
It had 11 nominations going into the event and only won once.
Martti Suosalo was rewarded for his role in the supernatural title - he picked up a golden mask in the performer in a supporting role category.
Call of Duty: Mobile won the EE Mobile Game of the Year, the only award to be voted for by the public.
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Best British Game was awarded to sci-fi thriller Observation. Jon McKellan, its creative director, spoke to Newsbeat after the ceremony saying: "Winning a BAFTA is a huge thing.
"What it's done for us is give us the confidence to know that we're doing something right. To have that seal of approval after being judged by your peers is a big confidence booster."
Jon also discussed how the coronavirus crisis could impact gaming in the near future: "Pre-recording an acceptance speech is probably one of the weirdest things I've ever done!
"This industry is kind of lucky because we can do the majority of our work from home, but there are some aspects of it that will be impacted.
"But things like motion capture and voiceover recordings can't really happen at the moment.
"We can't get around some things which I think will have quite a big ripple effect over the next six months".
'I devote myself to creating for others'
Japanese game designer Hideo Kojima, creator of the Metal Gear franchise, was honoured with the Bafta Fellowship - the highest accolade the organisation can give.
The fellowship recognises exceptional contributions to the gaming industry.
In an emotional video message he dedicated the prize to his parents saying: "My determination is stronger than ever.
"For the rest of my life I will continue to devote myself to creating for others.
"Games are holding their own next to films, or perhaps fusing together with them, evolving into a huge medium of digital entertainment".
His latest release, Death Stranding, was nominated for 11 awards and won only one award for technical achievement.
The game was Kojima's first release since leaving his former employer Konami to set up his own studio.
Last year Radio 1 Newsbeat went behind-the-scenes to see the final hours of the game's creation.
Kojima's aim with Death Stranding was for players to "re-use their in-game experiences in the real world"
The Bafta winners in full were:
Animation: Luigi's Mansion 3
Artistic Achievement: Sayonara Wild Hearts
Audio Achievement: Ape Out
British Game: Observation
Debut Game: Disco Elysium
Evolving Game: Path of Exile
Family Game: Untitled Goose Game
Game Beyond Entertainment: Kind Words (Lo Fi Chill Beats To Write To)
Game Design: Outer Wilds
Multiplayer: Apex Legends
Music: Disco Elysium
Narrative: Disco Elysium
Original Property: Outer Wilds
Performer in a Leading Role: Gonzalo Martin (Life is Strange)
Performer in a Supporting Role: Martti Suosalo (Control)
Technical Achievement: Death Stranding
Mobile Game of the Year (Audience Vote): Call of Duty Mobile
Best Game: Outer Wilds
Untitled Goose Game won in the Family Game category
There are many people across the world living in lockdown at the moment and it's thought that as a result more people are turning to gaming as a way to pass the time.
There are reports that games platform Steam is seeing record figures, streaming sites Twitch and YouTube Gaming have increased viewership and Animal Crossing has become the fastest selling single game in the history of Nintendo's Switch console.
The Games Awards were an opportunity for the industry to showcase the variety of experiences gaming offers as a way to appeal to a broader audience.
With big blockbuster franchises like Call of Duty and niche independent titles like Untitled Goose Game winning golden masks , the industry will no doubt feel like it's made the most of that opportunity.
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- Published2 April 2020
