ABOUT THE AWARDS

The Golden Joysticks Awards History

The Golden Joysticks truly are the people’s gaming awards. Now in their glorious twenty sixth year, the Joysticks are also the oldest gaming awards ceremony in the world and the most prestigious – voted for by the only people who truly matter - gamers themselves.

From the truly humble beginnings when Radio One’s Dave Lee Travis presented the first awards, the Golden Joysticks have evolved into one of the best loved and most successful gaming awards ever with over 750,000 votes cast in 2007 as gamers from around the world lined up to have their say. So enjoy this blast from the past as we take you on a quick journey through Golden Joysticks through the ages.

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The ‘Hairy Cornflake’ Radio 1’s Dave Lee Travis presented the inaugural awards.
The ‘Hairy Cornflake’ Radio 1’s Dave Lee Travis presented the inaugural awards.
Ultimate’s Carol Ward picks up the first Game of the Year award for Jetpac.
Codemaster’s Rod Cousens picks up the C&VG; Special Award for his work with Softaid.
Jools Holland hosted 1984’s Golden Joysticks pictured here with Tim Cheney of US Gold.
Louise Stamper of Ultimate accepts the Game of the Year for Knight Lore.
Acornsoft’s Shelley Saddler with the Best Original Game Joystick for Elite.
It’s 1987 and Jools Holland is back again as US Gold’s Geoff Brown receives the Game of the Year for Gauntlet.
Programmer of the Year in 1987 was Andrew Braybrook who was responsible for classics like Uridium, Morpheus and Paradroid.
In 1988 Jon Ritman took the Joystick for Programmer of the Year for Match Day.
1988’s host was Tiswas legend Chris Tarrant and the ever exuberant CVG ad manager Garry Williams.
Ocean’s Gary Bracey scoops the 1989 Joystick for the 8-Bit Software House of the Year.
Chris Tarrant proves so popular he was back again in 1989 as the genial Joystick host.
In 1991 it was Capital DJ Danny Baker who took to the stage when Anco hit the back of the net with 16-Bit Game of the Year Kick Off 2.
It must be Madness! And it is with Suggs and Chas Smash presenting the Going Live Viewers Award to some bloke from Sega’s for Sonic 2. Street Fighter II won game of the Year in 1993.
It’s 2002 and Jonathan Ross hosted gaming’s favourite award show as PC Zone Editor Dave Woods looks on...
Phil Jupitus took over hosting duties in 2003, here handing out the Joystick for Knights of the Old Republic
Matt Lucas hosted the 2004 sticks as Fat Fighter’s Marjorie Dawes, pictured here with Sonic and the Sun girls...
The Friday Night Project’s Justin Lee Collins goes wild at the twenty fifth anniversary awards.
Peep Show’s David Mitchell took over hosting duties in 2007 for the 26th annual Golden Joysticks.
Frankie Boyle hosted in 2008 and reduced the audience to tears of laughter with a riotous live set.