Spike 2009 Video Game Awards recap

Zachary Quinto presents the award for best voice in a video game at Spike TV's Video Game Awards on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Zachary Quinto (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Opening with a cheesy rendition of the Joker’s attempt to gas the audience, the Spike Video Ggame Awards featured an excessively lighted stage and various stars who voiced video games and play them. Really the faux gassed the smiling audience. Laden with scantly clad women escorting the presenters and hardcore music, the show is geared towards men. However women will not only find games of interest at the show but are represented by designers, testers, writers and composers both at the show and at the Video Game Awards.

Stevie Wonder Presenting Award to Beatles Rockband

Stevie Wonder (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Best voice went to Jack Black as Eddie Riggs from Brutal Legend. Black hammed it up on stage showcasing why he won the award. He is a character.

Video game premiers included Batman: Arkham Asylum 2, Metal of Honor 2, True Crime, Spec Ops: The Line, Crackdown 2 Green Day Rockband and Tron: Evolution. The Tron graphics show the updated smoothness with the original elements easily visible.

Then came the premier of the Deadliest Warrior video game. For those that haven’t seen the tv show, Deadliest Warrior takes two warriors, most famously a knight and a ninja, and runs computer simulations to decide who would win. The show is a laugh fest with unrealistic variables and cheesy reenactments. This is a video game was probably the least interesting game showcased.

Studio of the year went to Rocksteady Studios for Batman: Arkham Asylum The first award connected with Arkham Asylum to win, though it’s been nominated for every category so far.

The new Star Wars game premiered with an argument between Vader and Yoda, but featured the tortured protégée from the Force Unleashed. Frankly it looked awesome. The Force Unleashed storyline holds together better than the prequel movies have. If you’ve played The Force Unleashed then you know there’s a great story there.

The movie trailer for Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time looks awesome but as the tract records for video games movies isn’t always wonderful it will be best to hold reservations till the movie premiers. The video game premier looked similar to the movie and no less effort was put in the game trailer than the movie.

Best Team Sports games was presented by the cast of Blue Mountain State, three men and a bunch of cheerleaders in the background. It’s hard to be disappointed that NHL 2010 took home the reward.

Best Performance by a Human Male went to Hugh Jackman in X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition. This game also one Best Cast.

The Best Independent Video Game Fueled by Mountain Dew went to Flower. This category features games that might have been missed and definitely worth trying.

Best Music Game was presented by Stevie Wonder. He called to video game creators to create handicap accessible games before giving out the award to Beatles Rockband.

The graphics in the Halo Reach trailer were phenomenal. It had a feel of down to the last man standing with it’s hard line music and no-nonsense voice acting.

A lot of games to choose from. If you haven't played them these are really some of the best out there. Denver locals have not only enjoyed these games but a few of them that came out early this year are already available in second hand stores such as Black and Read or the local Game Stop. You won't find the newest titles there, though. Hard to find titles such as Super Mario Wii may have to wait till after Christmas in Denver.

Other Awards

Game of the year, Best PS3 Game and Best Graphics: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Best action adventure game went to Assassin’s Creed II.

Best Individual Sports Game went to UFC Undisputed 2009.

Best RPG and Best PC went to Dragon Age: Origins.

Best Shooter and Best Multiplayer Game: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Awards that only got mention:

Best Performance as a Human Female: Megan Fox as Mikalea Banks in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Best Downloadable Game: Shadow Complex.

Best Wii Game: New Super Mario Bros Wii

Best DLC: Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony

Most Anticipated Game: God of War III