SimHQ 2009 Best of the Year Awards

By SimHQ on January 4, 2010 in _commentary

For this years “Best of” Awards, the Staff and Readers of SimHQ each had their own poll to complete. The voting competition was broken into six categories: PC Simulation; Console Simulation; Game; Simulation Hardware; Simulation Peripheral; Best Commercial and Non-commercial Software Update / Add-on / Mod of 2009. In these categories, the SimHQ staff and readers were in simpatico three of seven times. Voting results were hidden from each group until the polls’ expiration to avoid any comparison of results.

Best PC Simulation of 2009

From our first look in April we knew Rise of Flight had the potential to be exceptional, in spite of its controversial digital rights management (DRM) approach. For those that made the leap to purchase the initial release, it was a belief that the sim would mature through evolutionary updates, and the initial teething problems would be resolved. While there are still items to be addressed, voters believe there is a lot of good in Rise of Flight as evidenced by winning both the SimHQ and SimHQ Reader’s Choice Awards.

SimHQ Award
Winner: Rise of Flight: The First Great Air War
Runner-up: Armed Assault 2

SimHQ Reader’s Choice Award
Winner: Rise of Flight: The First Great Air War
Runner-up: Armed Assault 2

SimHQ Review
Rise of Flight: The First Great Air War

Best Console Simulation of 2009

Traditionalists would say there is no such thing as a “Console Simulation” but even they would have to admit there is an evolution going on in console titles. As console gamers gets older and more people choose the quick setup of consoles because of their busy lives, we can expect more sophistication and realism in some of the published console titles. Nothing could be better evidence of this progression than our winners Forza Motorsport 3 and IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey.

SimHQ Award
Winner: Forza Motorsport 3
Runner-up: Operation FlashPoint: Dragon Rising

SimHQ Reader’s Choice Award
Winner: IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey
Runner-up: Forza Motorsport 3

SimHQ Reviews
Forza Motorsport 3
IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey
Operation FlashPoint: Dragon Rising

Best Game of 2009

Let’s face it, most everyone who sims also has at least one favorite uhh, “game”. Its been a longtime “crazy aunt in the attic” for simmers to admit they “game”, and don’t ever think of calling a sim a game!

This years Best Game winner is an epic story in itself. Mired in controversy before the title arrived for retail sales, all Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 did was become the biggest selling entertainment title ever, no doubt due to an avalanche of console sales.

SimHQ Award
Winner: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Runner-up (3-way tie): Jutland, Left 4 Dead 2, Need for Speed: Shift

SimHQ Reader’s Choice Award
Winner: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Runner-up: Dragon Age: Origins

SimHQ Reviews
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Jutland