Minecraft is now officially owned by Microsoft - just as it's named Game of the Year
The game was bought by Microsoft in a $2.5 billion deal
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Your support makes all the difference.The console version of the virtual building game Minecraft has been named Game of the Year at a video game industry awards.
Minecraft Console Edition by 4J Studios was handed the accolade following a public vote at the TIGA Games Industry Awards 2014.
More than 10,500 people voted, choosing from a shortlist of games that had been compiled by the awards judges.
The console edition refers to the Xbox and PlayStation versions of the hugely popular game which was created by Swedish developer Markus Persson and originally released for the PC.
Microsoft's $2.5 billion deal to buy Swedish developer Mojang has now officially closed, announced Head of Xbox Phil Spencer on Twitter on Thursday:
"It’s official, today we welcome Mojang to the Microsoft Studios family. We're excited for the possibilities ahead w/the Minecraft community."
The TIGA event, held at the OXO Tower in London last night, was attended by dozens of UK-based developers.
Although 20 of the categories were open to TIGA members only and industry-based, Reflections won best large studio for an arcade-adventure game for Watch Dogs and Evil Twin Artworks won for Victory at Sea in the small studio equivalent.
An outstanding individual award was given to Trevor Williams of Playground Games.
Others winners were:
Best arcade small studio: FuturLab, Velocity 2X
Best arcade large studio: 4J Studios, Minecraft Console Edition
Best casual small studio: SFB Games, Detective Grimoire
Best casual large studio: SCEE/Honeyslug & Sony Santa Monica - Hohokum
Best social small studio: Investigate North, Cloud Chamber
Best social large studio: Playdemic, Village Life
Best game with a purpose small studio: Atomicom, Switch Galaxy Ultra
Best game with a purpose large studio: Sumo Digital, Xbox Fitness
Best student game: Five Pixels, Seek
Best accessibility awards: Somethin' Else, Audio Defence: Zombie Arena
Best debut game: Midoki, Plunder Pirates
Most original game: SCEE/Media Molecule, Tearaway
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