Gamertell

It’s Oscar night, which means different things to different people. Some folks take bets and watch the ceremony from the red carpet to the after parties, others couldn’t care less if they tried. I think that the best way to celebrate this articular exercise in award-giving by handing out Oscars to videogames. Sure, comparing the two media can be sort of like pitting apples against oranges but enough “cinematic” games came out this year to make it worth thinking about.

On this particular list, I’m only considering games that fit into Oscar categories - that is, games with strong narratives, voice acting, cut scenes and the like. As phenomenally cool as I think LittleBigPlanet and Boom Blox are, it’s pretty tough to explain those experiences in a filmic way.

Without further ado, I invite you to bust out the popcorn, warm up the projector, and enjoy the 2008 videogame Oscars.

Actor in a Leading Role: David Hayter (Solid Snake) - Metal Gear Solid IV
Nothing tops Hayter’s performance in what was surely one of the year’s most “interesting” narratives.

Actor in a Supporting Role: Ricky Gervais (himself) Grand Theft Auto IV
You thought I’d pick another GTA IV performer over Ricky Gervais? You thought wrong.

Actress in a Leading Role: Khari Wahlgreen (Princess Ellika) Prince of Persia
This game certainly had some of the best dialogue of the year’s games, and Wahlgreen did a fantastic job bringing Ellika to life.

Actress in a Supporting Role: Jen Taylor (Zoey) Left 4 Dead
I confess, I awarded this to Taylor because I think Zoey is a badass. But seriously, I can’t get her lines out of my head after playing this awesome zombie game over and over.

Art Direction: Tie: Braid and Fallout 3
It’s hard to chose between gorgeous, inspired, hand-drawn art and the fully-realized, bleak, post-apocalyptic world of Fallout. So I didn’t.

Cinematography: Metal Gear Solid IV
Again, nobody can beat Kojima, the most “filmic” videogame director in the business.

Costume Design: Gears of War II
You have to love that armor.

Directing: Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear Solid IV
See “Best Cinematography”

Music - Score: Russel Shaw Fable II
Shaw’s work was stunning in the best way, almost reminiscent of an old-school Disney score.

Music - Song: (various) Rock Band II

Visual Effects: Prince of Persia
Not only the gorgeous hand-drawn visuals, but the effects and animation were smooth as silk.

Sound: Dead Space
The sound design was entirely stellar, capturing all of the eerie sound effects and audio clues a player needed to be immersed in the creepy, crawly atmosphere.

Writing: Tie: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Fallout 3
Again, Fallout 3 deserves a special mention, alongside the best Star Wars story in 25 years.

So what do you think? Did I miss any Oscar-worthy gaming moments? Share away in the comments section below.

Read [Oscar Nominees]