ARTICLE EXTRACTS TAKEN FROM nintendo.co.uk

The Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 2006 has awarded Nintendo its highest honor.

Nintendo’s upcoming Wii console won the Best of Show award, as well as the best hardware award. Nintendo’s Wii Sports title won the best sports category, Excite Truck for Wii won as the best racing game and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for Nintendo DS won as the best handheld game of last month’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).

"It’s extremely gratifying to hear independent confirmation that our approach resonates so dramatically with the people who know videogames best," said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "These multiple awards demonstrate which company has momentum and which products will be in the highest demand this holiday season."

Nintendo won five Game Critics Awards, more than any other publisher or hardware manufacturer. The Game Critics Awards are issued annually by an independent group of journalists from 37 leading North American media outlets that cover the videogame industry in newspapers, magazines, online and on television.

The Game Critics Awards add to the long list of accolades Nintendo received after E3 from the videogame media. A sampling is below:

IGN.com
Best Platform Game - Super Mario Galaxy
Best Puzzle Game - Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Most Innovative Design - Wii Remote
Best Hardware/Peripheral - Wii Remote
Best Handheld Game - The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

GameSpot
Best Hardware - Wii
Best Platform Game - Super Mario Galaxy
Best Puzzle/Rhythm Game - WarioWare: Smooth Moves

The GameTap broadband entertainment network
Best Adventure Game - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Best Platform Game - Super Mario Galaxy
Best Sports Game - Wii Sports
Best Portable Game - New Super Mario Bros.
Best Surprise - Wii Remote
Best Announcement - Super Smash Bros. Brawl

GameTrailers.com
Most Innovative - WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Best Action/Adventure Game - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Best Sports Game - Wii Sports

Advanced Media Network
Gadget of Show - Wii Remote
Most Innovative - Super Mario Galaxy
Booth of Show - Nintendo booth
Best Trailer - Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Best Surprise - Snake from Konami’s Metal Gear Solid series in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Gamehelper.com
Best Adventure Game - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Best Platform Game - Super Mario Galaxy