Edge Awards 2008

LittleBigPlanet, a UK-developed PlayStation 3 title, has dominated this year’s Edge Awards, picking up four trophies including Best Game of 2008.

Edge, the influential videogame magazine and website published by special-interest media group Future, singled out LittleBigPlanet for its ability to entertain and engross everyone, from children to adults, prospective game designers to daydreaming tinkerers. Identifying 2008 as one of videogaming’s greatest years, Edge also hailed LittleBigPlanet’s accessible level-editing tools and idiosyncratic visual design, along with the studio that created it, Media Molecule, which won Best Developer.

In other categories, Edge recognised Dead Space’s superlative audio design and Left 4 Dead’s rewriting of the rules of cooperative multiplayer, while Microsoft Game Studios won Best Publisher for the variety and quality of its releases over the last 12 months. Xbox 360, meanwhile, was named best hardware gaming platform thanks to Xbox Live, the launch of New Xbox Experience and the quality of Xbox Live Arcade releases in 2008.

The Edge Awards 2008:

Best Game: LittleBigPlanet

Runners up: Grand Theft Auto IV, Fable II

Best Innovation: LittleBigPlanet

Runners up: New Xbox Experience, Left 4 Dead

Best Visual Design: LittleBigPlanet

Runners up: Street Fighter IV, Far Cry 2

Best Audio Design: Dead Space

Runners up: Grand Theft Auto IV, No More Heroes

Best Hardware: Xbox 360

Runners up: PlayStation 3, Wii

Best Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Runners up: EA, Sony Computer Entertainment

Best Online Experience: Left 4 Dead

Runners up: LittleBigPlanet, Gears Of War 2

Best Developer: Media Molecule

Runners up: Criterion Games, Rockstar North

Editor-in-Chief of Edge, Tony Mott, said:

“In a year dominated by quality sequels, LittleBigPlanet stood apart thanks to its unique audiovisual design and its open-ended architecture, which gives users tools to create their own entertainment which can be shared online with the world. It is the most playful game of 2008, and its ability to capture the imaginations of everyone, not just established gamers, was fundamental in it earning Edge’s ultimate award this year.”

An eight-page Edge Awards 2008 feature appears in the latest issue of Edge, on sale now, with a coverprice of £4.50.

ENDS

About Future

Future plc is an international special-interest media group with offices in the UK and USA. Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today it creates over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events, with strong portfolios in the technology, games, music, automotive and sports sectors. Over 130 international editions of Future's magazines are published under licence by publishing partners in 30 other countries around the world. Future employs around 1,300 people worldwide. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR).

For more information

Will Guyatt, Media Relations Manager, 01225 822517.