LOS ANGELES, CA (Feb. 28, 2008) – The Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.), the non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of game audio, announced the winners for the 6th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards which honor outstanding creative, technical and artistic audio achievement in the world of interactive entertainment.Voted and judged upon by the game audio industry and members of G.A.N.G., BioShock made its mark by taking home every category it was nominated in. BioShock composer Garry Schymann said “Every now and again life provides one of those great moments of satisfaction for which words are really inadequate to describe. Being honored by my friends and colleagues at this years G.A.N.G awards was one of those moments. It was a very moving evening for me and I will always be grateful to G.A.N.G. and everyone who considered my score for BioShock worthy of these honors. I get to look at the trophies everyday now and that is very humbling and amazing!”

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to 20 year game industry veteran Brian Schmidt who is best known for his audio work in classic games such as MADDEN FOOTBALL, DESERT STRIKE, STAR WARS TRILOGY, and the award-winning Crue Ball. His theme from the original NARC arcade video game was later covered and recorded by The Pixies. In 1998, Brian left the freelance world to work at Microsoft, where he set the direction for game audio technologies for Windows and Xbox for the next decade.

A $10,000 scholarship to Expression College for Digital Arts was awarded to G.A.N.G. member Nathan Rain Schwartz. Expressions College offers a game audio curriculum at their Emeryville, CA campus.

Winners of the 6th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards were announced at the G.A.N.G. Awards ceremony held in San Francisco, CA during the Game Developers Conference and are listed below by category.

AUDIO OF THE YEAR
BioShock

MUSIC OF THE YEAR
BioShock

SOUND DESIGN OF THE YEAR
BioShock

BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
God of War II

BEST INTERACTIVE SCORE
BioShock

BEST HANDHELD AUDIO
Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow

BEST AUDIO – OTHER
Jewel Quest II

BEST CINEMATIC/CUT-SCENE AUDIO
BioShock

BEST DIALOGUE
BioShock

BEST ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTAL
“Welcome To Rapture” – BioShock

BEST ORIGINAL VOCAL – CHORAL
“Main Titles” – God of War II

BEST ORIGINAL VOCAL – POP
“Still Alive” – Portal

BEST USE OF LICENSED MUSIC
BioShock

BEST ARRANGEMENT OF A NON-ORIGINAL SCORE
The Simpsons Game

BEST GAME AUDIO ARTICLE, PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST
“The World of Game Composing” – Film Music Magazine

MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF AUDIO
Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2
(Audio controlling graphics & physics engine)

BEST USE OF MULTI-CHANNEL SURROUND IN A GAME
Halo 3

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Austin Wintory (composer - flOw)
Tomas Neumann (audio programmer - Crysis)

STUDENT/APPRENTICE CONTEST WINNERS
Mike “Skitch” Schichiano (music)
Mikkel Eskessen (sound design)

G.A.N.G. RECOGNITION AWARDS
Russell Brower (audio director & composer - Blizzard Entertainment)
Rod Abernathy (composer - Dead Head Fred)
Michael “Piano Squall” Gluck (Piano Squall album and charity work)

G.A.N.G. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Sean Beeson
Jerry Lyons
Chance Thomas
Becky Young

G.A.N.G./EXPRESSIONS SCHOLARSHIP
Nathan Rain Schwartz

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Brian Schmidt