"Outfit" Wins 'Game of the Year' at 2006 CAEAA 'Elan' Awards
Produced by Vancouver's Holly Carinci and hosted by Canadian actor William "Captain Kirk" Shatner of "Star Trek" fame (also co-owner of games developer CORE Digital), the first Canadian Awards for the Electronic and Animated Arts (CAEAA), presented 37 'Elan' statuettes at the Richmond, BC River Rock Casino Resort, September 14.
Michael Stevens of SNEAK PEEK and BIG GAME HUNTER was in attendance as the awards were handed out in front of a live audience of approximately 700 people, including 390 VIP floor guests and 300 gallery seats for the public.
Highlights of the evening's black tie champagne reception, sit-down dinner and after-party included a video game 'hall of fame' award, given to Dr. Greg Zeschuk and Dr. Ray Muzyka. The Alberta physicians switched careers as medical doctors 10 years ago to found BioWare, producers of video games "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic" and "Baldur's Gate".
Overseen by auditing firm Buckley Dodds, here are this year's 'Elan' winners:
Animation - Best production; feature length: Sharan Wood and Ben Burden Smith of Mainframe Entertainment for Tony Hawk in "Boom Boom Sabotage".
Gaming - Best PC game: David Thompson and George Geczy of BattleGoat Studios for "Supreme Ruler 2010".
Student game of the year: Anthony Perrella, Chris Lee, Jack Kelley and M. Reid of the Vancouver Film School for "Rusty Gears".
Best original musical score for animation: Brian Carson of Mainframe Entertainment for Tony Hawk in "Boom Boom Sabotage".
Best musical score in a video game: Charles Deenan of Electronic Arts for "Need for Speed Most Wanted".
Student, best original musical score: Colin Janz of the Vancouver Film School for "Piece of Mind".
Best Soundscape of a video game: Charles Deenan of Electronic Arts for "Need for Speed Most Wanted".
Best original sound design for a video game or animated production: Tasha Brotherton of the Emily Carr Institute for "Woof, Woof, Woof".
Best animated short subject: Jeff Chiba Stearns for "Who Are You Anyways?"
Best animated effects: Steve McLeod of Studio B for "Being Ian: The Fifth" and "1/2 Sense".
Best visual effects: Pseudo Interactive of Pseudo Interactive for "Full Auto".
Best student visual effects: Injoon Hwang of the Arts Institute of Vancouver for "Demo Reel".
Best motion graphics in gaming: Antoine Guinard of Ubisoft for "Far Cry Instincts Predator".
Best motion graphics in the student category: Pius Jung-Kit Chan of the Vancouver Film School for "Backbone Medley".
Best graphics for gaming: Catherine Roy of Ubisoft for "Peter Jackson’s King Kong".
Best writing in an animated production: Vito Viscomi of Studio B for "Being Ian: Movie: Hurry for Hollywood".
Best writing in a student production: Eugene Flormata of the Arts Institute of Vancouver for "Zatomaru’s Boot".
Best storyboarding in animation: Chez Battista and Todd Denung of Studio B for "Class of the Titans: Make Up Exam".
Best character design for a video game: Catherine Roy of Ubisoft for "Peter Jackson’s King Kong".
Best character design in a student production: Joel Furtado of the Emily Carr Institute for "Tree for Two".
Best animation crafts: Gino Nichele and Conrad Helten of Mainframe Entertainment for "Barbie Fairytopia Mermaidia".
Best 3D animation in a student production: Joel Furtado of the Emily Carr Institute for "Tree for Two".
Best innovation in gaming: Catherine Roy of Ubisoft for "Peter Jackson’s King Kong".
Best classical or stop motion animation in a student production: Stephanie Sim of the Vancouver Film School for "The Story Tree".
Best production design or art direction in animation: Zo Evamy and Greg Huculak of Bardel Entertainment for "Dragon: Metal Ages".
Best visuals for a video game in a student production: Gordon Moran of Van Arts for "Demo Reel".
Game design of the year: Backbone Entertainment, Vancouver, for "Age of Empires: The Age of Kings".
Best direction in animation: Josh Mepham of Studio B for "Being Ian: Movie: Hurry for Hollywood".
Best mobile game of the year: Buena Vista Games for Disney’s "Kim Possible Kimmunicator".
Best console game: Ben Mattes of Ubisoft for "Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones".
Viewers choice: game of the year: Kelly Zamak of Radical Entertainment for "Hulk Ultimate Destruction".
Ready to Rocket Award: Lani Lum-Watson of the Arts Institute of Vancouver.
Lifetime achievement award in animation: Marv Newland.
Video game hall of fame: Dr. Greg Zeschuk and Dr. Ray Muzyka of BioWare.
Best animated production in a student category: Joel Furtado of Emily Carr Institute for "Tree for Two".
Best animated production in a television series: Michael Hirsh of Cookie Jar Entertainment for "Caillou" (eps. #306, 308, 309).
Best game of the year: "The Outfit" by Relic Entertainment.
The 2006 Canadian Awards for the Electronic and Animated Arts (CAEAA), was produced by Holly Carinci.