And they said it wouldn’t last…

Welcome to the 5th Annual Operation Sports Year End Awards celebrating the best the sports gaming industry had to offer in 2006. Once again, the Staff at OperationSports.com has gotten together to award our “Stevie” to best and brightest from this calendar year. Like ‘em or hate ‘em, we looked at everything from ’06 and came up with this prestigious list.


2006 Racing/Driving Game of the Year

Test Drive Unlimited (Xbox 360)

“The giant, open world of Test Drive Unlimited felt like you were driving in a real, living and breathing city. Top notch cars, excellent race types, and a game that is always online with real people driving a lot of the real cars that come down the street, the game couldn't be beat as far as racing games go. With a price tag of $39.99 for the Xbox 360, this was probably also the best value of the year.” – Scott Burress, Forum Moderator


2006 Extreme Sports Game of the Year

Tony Hawk’s Project 8 (Xbox 360)

“The Neversoft team went back to basics, and it paid off nicely. It's as addictive as ever, and the Xbox 360 version integrates Xbox Live extremely well.” – Shawn Drotar, Managing Editor


2006 Non-Sports Game of the Year

Gears of War (Xbox 360)

“This was a tough one. There are several games that deserve consideration, but only one came with an incredible amount of hype. Gears of War lived up to it. The best looking game for the Xbox 360, and although the single player campaign was too short, it had you on the edge of your seat.” – Chris Sullivan, Forum Administrator


2006 Hockey Game of the Year

NHL 2K7 (Multi-Platform)

“Though the competition narrowed the gap this season, it’s hard to not give major love to the NHL2K7 for yet another rock solid release in ’06. There consistency is something that we are not always use to in the sports gaming industry. And I, personally, found the ‘Cinemotion’ a welcome addition and advance in the genre.” – Clay T. Shaver, Senior Staff Writer


2006 Baseball Game of the Year

MLB ’06: The Show (PS2)

“Hands-down, the highest quality baseball we've seen in some time now.” – Mark Fossen, Forum Administrator/Staff Writer


2006 Basketball Game of the Year

College Hoops 2K7 (Multi-Platform)

“This is a tough one. College Hoops and the NBA game are neck and neck. I enjoy the added challenge of recruiting, and the game plays better online than NBA 2k7.” – Chris Sullivan, Forum Adminstrator


2006 Football Game of the Year

NCAA Football 07 (Multi-Platform)

“NCAA 07 made me a believer that it is possible for a series to debut in the Next Gen without taking one step forward, and two steps backwards. The stadiums were beautiful, and the running game was the best in an EA football game to date.” – Chris Sullivan, Forum Adminstrator

“Bonus points for not mailing in the PS2 and Xbox versions when they knew the 360 release was going to get the most attention.” – Clay Shaver, Senior Staff Writer


2006 Online/Multiplayer Game of the Year

Rainbow Six: Vegas (Xbox 360)

“Between the unlimited options and character advancement, it wins easily.
I know this was meant to be a sports game question, but I was consistently disappointed with the online performance in sports games this year. They were often lag-ridden, and when they weren't, the online leagues were broken (2K Sports, I'm looking in your direction!). Of course, at least 2K Sports tried online leagues - EA Sports still hasn't even dipped its toe into the pool, and until they do, they're not even involved in this discussion.” – Shawn Drotar, Managing Editor


2006 "Sleeper" Game of the Year

Wii Sports (Nintendo Wii)

“’It's a tech demo.’ Yeah right! Tell that to the people who play Wii Bowling for hours upon hours. A collection of 5 amazing little titles, giving you the opportunity to box, bowl, golf, play tennis, or play baseball. A truly remarkable game and Nintendo gave it away free to everyone who bought a Wii.” – Scott Burress, Forum Moderator


2006 Most Improved Game of the Year

Madden NFL 07 (Multi-Platform)

“Madden was nothing less than atrocious on the Xbox 360 last year. This year, it's on par with the Xbox and PS2 releases with prettier graphics. I realize that's damning with faint praise, but they're definitely moving in the right direction again.” – Shawn Drotar, Managing Editor


Biggest Disappointment of 2006

MLB 2K6 (Multi-Platform)

“I didn't expect perfection, but I expected to be able to more than three innings without a crash.” – Mark Fossen, Forum Administrator/Staff Writer

“I guess Madden deserves some consideration, but at least that game was playable out of the box. The MLB series debuted on the 360, and was a miserable failure. Sadly, like Madden in football, MLB 2K6 was the only choice for baseball gamers on the 360 in 2006.” – Chris Sullivan, Forum Administrator


Best Innovation of 2006

WiiMote (Nintendo Wii)

“Sports games, meet your new innovation. Now you pitch by moving your arm, not pressing a button. You throw a football by making the throwing motion, not by hitting the button. The WiiMote will change sports games forever on the Nintendo Wii.” – Scott Burress, Forum Moderator


2006 Developer of the Year

SCEA

“This has to be the most lop-sided win of the year. Not only did they release the best baseball game of the year and arguably the best baseball title ever, the competition played the two steps forward, two steps back game all year. Other developers could learn from what SCEA pulled off this year. The future is bright.” – Clay T. Shaver, Senior Staff Writer

“They gave us the game of the year, in MLB: The Show, while their competitors struggled to make the jump to Next Gen without charging us more for these stripped versions. The PS3 release of MLB: The Show 07 is the most anticipated sports release of 2007… SCEA Sports listens to the hardcore sports gamer, they cater to us, and they care.” – Chris Sullivan, Forum Administrator


2006 Game of the Year

MLB ’06: The Show (PS2)

“Baseball is by far the hardest sport to represent realistically on a console, due to fans' knowledge of the game's stats and the ability to skew them with a gamepad. Somehow, SCEA San Diego created a game that's startlingly realistic, wildly enjoyable, and encompassed all the nuance and strategy of the great American pastime. It's presentation - both visual and audio - is completely immersive, and the fact that this was all pulled off on the now-dated PS2 makes it even more impressive. The Show isn't just the best baseball game ever created - it's fair to discuss whether it's the best sports game ever created. Its debut this spring on the PlayStation 3 can't come fast enough.” – Shawn Drotar, Managing Editor

With all 3 new Gen systems on the market going into 2007, the year should be huge for gamers and the industry. Developers will be getting their second and third attempts at the new hardware. Excuses will be out the window and the front-runners should emerge from the pack. Add in our game of the year’s debut on the PS3 and a much anticipated football release from 2K Sports, everyone at Operation Sports is excited to see where the year will take us.

Thank you for a wonderful 2006 and we wish you all a great 2007!