It’s about that time again – time for me to let you know how great BioShock is. This go-’round, the news comes from the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.), and the non-profit organization’s 6th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards. These awards are designed to honor outstanding achievement and excellence in videogame audio, recognizing the creative and technical talents of those individuals who make our games sound great.
This year, powerhouse title BioShock received eight awards, winning in every category in which it was nominated. That’s more than a third of all the honors that were bestowed at the San Francisco ceremony. Composer Garry Schymann responded:
"Every now and again, life provides one of those great moments of satisfaction for which words are really inadequate to describe. Being honored by my friends and colleagues at this year’s G.A.N.G awards was one of those moments. It was a very moving evening for me and I will always be grateful to G.A.N.G. and everyone who considered my score for BioShock worthy of these honors. I get to look at the trophies every day now, and that is very humbling and amazing!"
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Brian Schmidt this year, whose portfolio of work includes Madden Football, Desert Strike, Star Wars Trilogy and Crue Ball, as well as driving Windows and Xbox audio tech since he left freelance work to join Microsoft in 1998.
A full list of awards follows:
AUDIO OF THE YEAR
BioShock
MUSIC OF THE YEAR
BioShock
SOUND DESIGN OF THE YEAR
BioShock
BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
God of War II
BEST INTERACTIVE SCORE
BioShock
BEST HANDHELD AUDIO
Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow
BEST AUDIO – OTHER
Jewel Quest II
BEST CINEMATIC/CUT-SCENE AUDIO
BioShock
BEST DIALOGUE
BioShock
BEST ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTAL
"Welcome To Rapture" – BioShock
BEST ORIGINAL VOCAL – CHORAL
"Main Titles" – God of War II
BEST ORIGINAL VOCAL – POP
"Still Alive" – Portal
BEST USE OF LICENSED MUSIC
BioShock
BEST ARRANGEMENT OF A NON-ORIGINAL SCORE
Simpsons Game
BEST GAME AUDIO ARTICLE, PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST
"The World of Game Composing" – Film Music Magazine
MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF AUDIO
Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2
(Audio controlling graphics & physics engine)
BEST USE OF MULTI-CHANNEL SURROUND IN A GAME
Halo 3
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Austin Wintory (composer – flOw)
Tomas Neumann (audio programmer – Crysis)
STUDENT/APPRENTICE CONTEST WINNERS
Mike "Skitch" Schichiano (music)
Mikkel Eskessen (sound design)
G.A.N.G. RECOGNITION AWARDS
Russell Brower (audio director & composer – Blizzard Entertainment)
Rod Abernathy (composer – Dead Head Fred)
Michael "Piano Squall" Gluck (Piano Squall album and charity work)
G.A.N.G. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Sean Beeson
Jerry Lyons
Chance Thomas
Becky Young
G.A.N.G./EXPRESSIONS SCHOLARSHIP
Nathan Rain Schwartz
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Brian Schmidt
