Kinect Sports: BAFTA Family Game of the Year

We're thrilled to announce that Kinect Sports has won its first major trophy, triumphing in the Family Game category at this year's British Academy Video Game Awards.

Competition in the Family bracket included fellow Kinect launch titles Dance Central, Kinectimals and Kinect Adventures along with Toy Story 3 and LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, making it a fiercely fought contest. You can see a full list of nominees and winners along with event coverage and backstage footage at the official BAFTA site.

Here's the media alert (different from a press release in a myriad nebulous ways) that went out this morning. Thanks to everyone involved in creating, promoting and just playing the game!

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Kinect Sports Wins Best Family Game at the 2011 BAFTA Games Awards

Peter Molyneux from Lionhead Studios also honored as the second Academy Fellow

LONDON – 17 March 2011 – On the heels of being named the Fastest Selling Consumer Electronics Device by the Guinness World Records, the Kinect for Xbox 360 game, Kinect Sports, was named Best Family Game at the GAME British Academy Video Games Awards yesterday evening. Overall, Kinect titles were up for six awards, including Family Game, Technical Innovation, and the GAME Award of 2010 which is the only public-voted category. In addition, legendary game developer, Peter Molyneux of Lionhead Studios and "Fable" fame, was awarded the prestigious British Academy of Film and Television Arts' Fellowship.

"We'd like to congratulate our extraordinary developers and partners on their BAFTA award nominations, particularly Rare for their win for Kinect Sports. They've delivered truly revolutionary, and fantastically immersive and fun experiences, that can't be matched on any other platform," said Neil Thompson, Microsoft's General Manager, Retail Sales & Marketing Division, UK & Ireland.

"As the recent Guinness World Records distinction has shown, millions of families and gamers have gotten off the couch and moving, dancing and getting fit with Kinect. We promise that there are even more controller-free games and entertainment for all ages and interests still to come."

The full list of BAFTA wins and nominations include:

Kinect Sports: Winner for Best Family Game
Kinect Adventures: Family
Kinectimals: Family, Technical Innovation
Dance Central: Family, GAME Award of 2010
Halo: Reach: Action, Multiplayer, Technical Innovation, GAME Award of 2010
Fable III: Original Music
Alan Wake: Story, Original Music, Use of Audio
LIMBO: Artistic Development, Best Game, Gameplay, Use of Audio, GAME Award of 2010

Kinect for Xbox 360, the revolutionary controller-free way to experience games and entertainment, has sold more than 10 million sensors worldwide to date, with eight million units in just the first 60 days of launch.

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(Ceremony photo credit: BAFTA/Brian Ritchie)