Gamertell

On July 24, 2008, during Casual Connect, the second annual Zeebys Casual Game Awards were held. The award show names the best casual games in a variety of categories, as nominated by 40 companies and casual gamers. This year’s awards had 17 categories and honored games from 2007.

The show also raised a substantial amount of money. The Zeebys is an awards show and a charity event, and this year $11,000 from ticket sales and a charity auction was raised for Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation.

The categories and winners (taken directly from the press release and official site) are as follows:

• People’s Choice Award for Casual Game of the Year: Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile, by I-play and Flood Light Games
• People’s Choice Award for Best Arcade & Action Game: Peggle, by PopCap Games
• People’s Choice Award for Best Puzzle Game: Jewel Quest II, by iWin
• People’s Choice Award for Best Web Game: Bloons, by Ninja Kiwi
• People’s Choice Award for Best Hidden Object & Adventure Game: Dream Chronicles, by PlayFirst and Kat Games
• People’s Choice Award for Best Time Management Game: Diner Dash Hometown Hero, by Playfirst
• People’s Choice Award for Best Word & Trivia Game: Trivial Pursuit Genus Edition, by Real Games
• People’s Choice Award for Best Card, Board & Mahjong Game: Monopoly Here & Now, by Tik Games and Real Games
• People’s Choice Award for Best Strategy Game: Chocolatier, by Big Splash Games and PlayFirst
• Craft Award for Best Mobile Game: Guitar Hero III, by Hands-On Mobile and MachineWorks Northwest, LLC
• Craft Choice Award for Social Network Game: Who Has The Biggest Brain? by Playfish
• Craft Award for Best Story: Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate,  by Big Fish Games
• Craft Award for Best Innovative Game: Build a Lot, by Hipsoft
• Craft Award for Best Visual Art: Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate, by Big Fish Games
• Craft Award for Best Xbox LIVE Arcade Game: Worms, by Team 17
• Craft Award for Best Audio: Peggle, by PopCap Games
• Live Audience Choice Award for Best Game Portal: Big Fish Games

Its good to see an event that not only honors well-executed games and their creators, but also benefits needy children. If you visit the Zeebys site, you can download the winning games.

Read [Reuters] Site [Zeebys]