A multi-awarded “slightly crazy project”: “Chants of Sennaar” received the prize for best video game of the year on Thursday evening during the 5th edition of the Pégases, which distinguishes French creations in the sector on the model of the Césars for the cinema.
Developed by the independent studio Rundisc, based in Toulouse, this title aims to reestablish the linguistic link between peoples through translations and puzzles to be solved in a universe inspired by the myth of the Tower of Babel.
“We really created a new gaming experience” to put language learning at the heart of this “slightly crazy project,” the production team explained on stage.
Nominated in five categories, “Chants of Sennaar”, available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch consoles and on PC, won two other distinctions for “best game design” and “best independent video game”.
The game “Unknown Soldiers: Brothers in Arms”, developed by Ubisoft’s Montpellier studio, also won three awards.
In addition to the prize for best mobile video game, this production, also available on consoles and PC since Thursday and which follows the adventures of four characters immersed in the horrors of the First World War, was crowned in the categories “narrative excellence”, and “beyond video games”.
“French excellence”, according to Dati
The ceremony took place at La Cigale, in Paris, in the presence of the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, and the Secretary of State for Digital Affairs, Marina Ferrari.
“Through this ministry, I discover the diversity of culture, all its facets.
Video games are a huge one, it is the first cultural practice of the French.
It is a sector very supported by the Ministry of Culture, which we hold dear.
We are continuing this structuring of this sector so that we continue to benefit from this exception, this French excellence,” declared Rachida Dati on stage.
“We have the best talents in the world, we can be proud of that,” added Marina Ferrari.
In the other categories, “Baldur's Gate 3” (PlayStation, Xbox, PC) was crowned best foreign video game.
Based on the “Dungeons and Dragons” universe, it was crowned video game of the year at the Game Awards 2023 in Los Angeles last December.
The audience prize was awarded to “Assassin's Creed Mirage”, the latest opus in the successful Ubisoft series, set in Baghdad in the 9th century.
Video games are the leading French cultural industry
Mickaël Newton, president of the Loisirs Numériques association, which notably organizes the Desert Bus de l'Espoir charity marathon during which personalities take turns to play and raise funds, was named "personality of the year".
Muriel Tramis, one of the first creators to establish herself in the video game industry and a pioneer in the sector in the 1980s and 1990s, notably with the educational game “Adibou”, received the honorary prize.
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The Pégases, founded by the national video game union which brings together French professionals in the sector, have been awarded since 2020 following a vote carried out by the more than 1,500 members of the Academy of video game arts and techniques.
Video games are the leading French cultural industry in terms of turnover with 5.5 billion euros generated in 2022, according to the Union of Leisure Software Publishers (Sell), which will publish the figures for the year at the end of March. year 2023.