LittleBigPlanet scoops a Golden Joystick

Last night saw the announcement of the winners of the Inaugural Australian Golden Joystick Awards, with LittleBigPlanet taking out the award for PlayStation Game of the Year 2009.

The Golden Joystick Awards recognise the best in games entertainment, and internationally the awards are a gaming tradition. Established in the UK by Future Publishing they are now in their 27th year and the oldest and most prestigious gaming awards ceremony in the world.

Significantly, the awards are voted for by gamers themselves, and in 2009, Future Publishing Australia has introduced a local version of the awards attracting almost 11,000 votes, and Sony Computer Entertainment Australia is pleased to say that LittleBigPlanet scooped the award for PlayStation Game of the Year 2009.

Karl Penn, MD of Future Publishing's Australian business: "We are delighted with the high number of votes received for these first ever local Golden Joystick awards. The objective in this market was to introduce an award which is widely recognised in the games industry but which reflects what the local gamers think - and important to note too that it's their votes that count - in recognition of the best console games in this territory. We're delighted with the response we've received to these inaugural awards, both in terms of interest from Australian gamers - with almost 11,000 votes received - and also the support from the local games industry too. This is a great start for the awards here, and it provides the platform from which to grow and evolve the awards in 2010."

The voting was conducted online, and promoted over an 8 week period via print and online advertising, and social media channels including a number of Australian games magazines and online. The winners of each category were presented with a Golden Joystick statuette at an event hosted by Future Publishing Australia, in Sydney on Tuesday 15 December, attended by senior figures from the Australian games industry.