The Game Awards may not boast the most innovative name, but the first ever ceremony for the new annual event went down relatively well in Las Vegas; our live blog was a happier place than during the VGX broadcast last year. It perhaps veered too far back to bland PR speech occasionally, but there were also a number of nice moments and nods to wider gaming culture.

Nintendo played a prominent role, with Koji Kondo opening and closing the show — the latter with Imagine Dragons — with music pieces, and Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime also participating throughout the night. The latter's job was to introduce some new trailers, in particular videos from Nintendo's luminaries in Japan — Shigeru Miyamoto unveiled more details for Mario Maker, before an appearance with Eiji Aonuma to provide a new look at The Legend of Zelda for Wii U. We were also shown multiplayer and a release date for Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. on the 3DS.

Beyond that, there were actual awards to be won.

• Best Fan Creation — Twitch Plays Pokemon by Anonymous
• Best Family Game — Mario Kart 8
• Best Sports / Racing Game — Mario Kart 8
• Best Fighting Game — Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
• Best Independent Game — Shovel Knight
• Developer of the Year — Nintendo

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/12/nintendo_wins_four_at_the_game_awards_2014_while_shovel_knight_scoops_best_indie_prize

 

While I was a bit bummed that Bayonetta 2 didn't win the Game of the Year award,I was happy that Smash 4 and Mario Kart 8 made it into best fighting game and best racing game categories.

 

Nice to see Shovel Knight getting more recognition and I'm happy that Nintendo won the Developer of the Year award ^_^

 

I can see why Bayonetta 2 didn't win any awards. The game didn't sell very well since Nintendo didn't ship enough copies of the game. A lot of game store didn't have enough stick of the game.

I can see why Bayonetta 2 didn't win any awards. The game didn't sell very well since Nintendo didn't ship enough copies of the game. A lot of game store didn't have enough stick of the game.

it's not an award of best selling game, and it's decided by a committee

I can see why Bayonetta 2 didn't win any awards. The game didn't sell very well since Nintendo didn't ship enough copies of the game. A lot of game store didn't have enough stick of the game.

The awards aren';t based on sales at all

The awards aren';t based on sales at all

Oh. Silly me.

Oh. Silly me.

Otherwise Call of Duty would've won every year

Otherwise Call of Duty would've won every year

Yeah lol. Or Assassin's Creed.

Otherwise Call of Duty would've won every year

Not true, Grand Theft Auto V sold way more than CoD last year

and stuff like NSMB and Mario Kart have sold insanely well in the past as well

I can't believe that Smash lost best handheld game to an iOS game, but I'm glad Nintendo got their other awards.

I can't believe that Smash lost best handheld game to an iOS game, but I'm glad Nintendo got their other awards.

At least the Wii U version won the best fighting game award

I can't believe that Smash lost best handheld game to an iOS game, but I'm glad Nintendo got their other awards.

I can't believe that stupid iOS game was even nominated for Game of the Year...

I can't believe that stupid iOS game was even nominated for Game of the Year...

At least it didn't win that award. I would have lost all hope in TGA at that point. Smash Wii U deserved the nomination.

At least it didn't win that award. I would have lost all hope in TGA at that point. Smash Wii U deserved the nomination.

TGA would have been a complete flop at that point. Now, the actual thing had some minor issues being the first time for it, but other than that, I can't wait to see the work for it next year. I'm expecting Zelda to be out by early-mid November. It better be in the run for next year's Game of the Year.

I can't believe that stupid iOS game was even nominated for Game of the Year...

er... why? are you some sort of iOS racist?

er... why? are you some sort of iOS racist?

What? No. I just think something like Hearthstone isn't deserving of such a role.

What? No. I just think something like Hearthstone isn't deserving of such a role.

Er, why?

Hearthstone is an internet-wide phenomenon, it's one of the biggest surprise hits of recent memory

Congrats Nintendo!