Game Audio Network Guild announces 18th Annual G.A.N.G. Award Winners
Los Angeles, CA (May 6, 2020)— The Game Audio Network Guild (G..A.N.G.) is thrilled to announce the winners for their 18th annual G.A.N.G. Awards. For the first time, the G.A.N.G. Awards were streamed live on Twitch.tv and featured a pre- and post-show. The Awards were co-hosted by composers Cody Matthew Johnson and Wilbert Roget, II. “Death Stranding” took home SIX wins, including the award for Audio of the Year. For the full show, including a pre-show featuring Mike Shapiro, and post-show with various winners, check out the VOD here!
For 18 years, the G.A.N.G. Awards has recognized the very best in game audio excellence. Some of the highlights this year include a pre-show interview with voiceover artist Mike Shapiro (“Half-Life: Alyx”) along with post-show interviews with winners, game publishers and developers from around the globe. “Death Stranding” swept the awards show, taking home a total of six awards
Said G.A.N.G. President Brian Schmidt, “In this our 18thyear, we again recognize the highest achievements in game music, sound and dialogue. We are also excited to round out our indie categories with the new Best Dialogue for an Indie Game award, helping recognize the amazing work done by the smallest of teams. Although the show is online this year, the spirit of community of the Game Audio Network Guild continues unabated.”
G.A.N.G. Co-Host Wilbert Roget II stated, “It was an honor to co-host the awards show and Post-Show with Cody, and discuss the processes and motivations behind last year’s best-sounding games with the creators themselves. Nothing can beat the friendships and camaraderie that the G.A.N.G. Awards has provided in years past. I hope that the live Pre-Show, Post-Show, and winner interviews served to inspire the game audio community just the same!”
Co-Host Cody Matthew Johnson said, “The G.A.N.G. Awards are the biggest spotlight forthe game audio industry, where top talent from around the world are honored and recognized for their masterful contributions to last year’s favorite games. It was a privilege to participate in this year’s events, and help celebrate the winners.”
Said G.A.N.G. Executive Director Savina Ciaramella, “G.A.N.G. is a unique and special organization. The members truly like each other and help one another to succeed, despite the fierce competition in this industry. I feel privileged to work behind the scenes supporting our members, sponsors and partners from around the world, and look forward to seeing everyone in person next year.”
Full list of winners and nominees:
Audio of The Year
“Death Stranding” – Kojima Productions – WINNER
“Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order”- Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts
“Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare” (2019) – Infinity Ward
“Mortal Kombat 11” – NetherRealm Studios
“Borderlands 3” – Gearbox Software
Music of the Year
“Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” (Gordy Haab and Stephen Barton) – Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts – WINNER
“Erica” – Flavourworks
“Fantastic Creatures” – Blue Callisto
“Undersea” – Magic Leap Studios
“Borderlands 3” – Gearbox Software
“Rend” – Frostkeep Studios
Sound Design of the Year
“Death Stranding “- Kojima Productions – WINNER
“Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” – Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts
“Borderlands 3”- Gearbox Software
“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” (2019) – Infinity Ward
“Mortal Kombat 11” – NetherRealm Studios
Best Cinematic / Cutscene Audio
Death Stranding – Kojima Productions – WINNER
“World of Warcraft: Battle” For Azeroth Patch 8.25 – Blizzard Entertainment
“Concrete Genie” – Pixelopus
“Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order” – Reason Entertainment/Electronic Arts
“Destiny 2: Shadowkeep” – Bungie
“Gears 5”- The Coalition
Best Dialogue
“Death Stranding “- Kojima Productions – WINNER
“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” (2019) – Infinity Ward
“Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order” – Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts
“Gears 5” – The Coalition
“Control” – Remedy Entertainment
Best Dialogue for an Indie Game
“Golem” – Highwire Games LLC – WINNER
“Dance of Death: Du Lac & Fey” – Salix Games
“Deliver Us The Moon” – KeokeN Interactive
Best Original Instrumental
“Erica Know Thyself” (Austin Wintory) – Flavourworks – WINNER
“Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order” – Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts
“Bee Simulator” – Varsav Game Studios
“Mortal Kombat 11” – NetherRealm Studios
“Control” – Remedy
Best Music for an Indie Game
“Bee Simulator” (Mikolai Stroinski) – Varsav Game Studios – WINNER
“Sky: Children of the Light” – thatgamecompany
“Astrologaster” – Nyamyam
“Outer Wilds” – Mobius Digital
“Slay the Spire” – MegaCrit
Best Sound Design in a Casual/Social Game
“Call of Duty: Mobile” – TiMi Studios/ Activision – WINNER
“Hearthstone: Saviors of Uldum” – Blizzard Entertainment
“Kine” – Chump Squad
“Honor of Kings 2.0” – TiMi Studios
“Grindstone” – Capybara Games
“Sky: Children of the Light”- thatgamecompany
Best Sound Design for an Indie Game
“Deliver Us The Moon – KeokeN Interactive – WINNER
“Golem” – Highwire Games
“Knights & Bikes“ – Foam Sword
“Astroneer” – System Era Softworks
“Hunt: Showdown” – Crytek
“Deliver Us The Moon”
Best Music for a Casual / Social Game
“Honor of Kings 2.0” – TiMi Studios – WINNER
“Sky: Children of the Light” – thatgamecompany
“Astrologaster “- Nyamyam
“Bee Simulator” – Varsav Game Studios
“Hearthstone: Rise of Shadows ” – Blizzard Entertainment
Best Interactive Score
“Erica (Austin Wintory)” – Flavourworks – WINNER
“Outer Wilds” – Mobius Digital
“Concrete Genie” – Pixelopus
“Death Stranding” – Kojima Productions
“Borderlands 3 “- Gearbox Software
Best Original Choral Composition
“Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order “- “Cordova’s Theme” (Gordy Haab and Stephen Barton) – Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts – WINNER
“Astrologaster” – Nyamyam
“Rend” – Frostkeep Studios
“Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm” – Firaxis Games
“Elsinore” – Golden Glitch Studios
Best Original Song
League of Legends “Giants” (Jared Lee, Jessica Karpov, Kole Hicks, Umar Ibrahim) – Riot Games – WINNER
“BB’s Theme” from Death Stranding – Kojima Productions
“Saudade” from Resident Evil 2 – Capcom
“Fair as a Rose” from Elsinore – Golden Glitch Studios
“Days Gone Quiet” from Days Gone – SIE Bend Studio
“Constellation” from Sky: Children of the Light – thatgamecompany
Best Original Soundtrack Album
Death Stranding (Ludvig Forssell) – Kojima Productions – WINNER
Erica – Flavourworks
Bee Simulator – Varsav Game Studios
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm – Firaxis Games
Control – Remedy Entertainment
Elsinore – Golden Glitch Studios
Sole – Gossamer Games
Best Game Audio Publication, Presentation, or Broadcast
100 Unusual, Novel, Surprising Ways to be a Better Sound Designer in Video Games – Rob Bridgett – WINNER
Thoughts on Game Audio History – Kenneth C M Young
Lydia Andrew: The audio of assassination – John Broomhall/Resolution Magazine
Guide: How to Survive a Game Audio Layoff – Insights from Damian Kastbauer – Jennifer Walden and Asbjoern Andersen
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – Infinity Ward
Best Audio Mix
(Tie) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) – Infinity Ward – WINNER
(Tie) Death Stranding – Kojima Productions – WINNER
Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order – Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts
Borderlands 3 – Gearbox Software
Apex Legends – Respawn Entertainment
Concrete Genie – Pixelopus
Control – Remedy Entertainment
Best Virtual Reality Audio
Journey of the Gods – WINNER
Dragons: Flight Academy -DreamWorks
How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Virtual Tour
Undersea
Blood and Truth
Vacation Simulator
Best Game Music Cover/ Remix
Chrono Trigger “The Trial” (John Robert Matz, Producer) – WINNER
Borderlands 3 – Gearbox, Finishing Move Inc
Mario Kart 64 – John Stacy
Suikoden II KDET – Arranged and Conducted by Kentaro Sato
Donkey Kong Country – Ross Casey
G.A.N.G. / MAGFEST People’s Choice Award
Cadence of Hyrule – Crypt of the Necrodancer – WINNER
Breakout Talent Award – Laryssa Okada
G.A.N.G. Recognition Award – Guy Whitmore
Distinguished Service Award – Emmanuel Lagumbay
