Super Mario has again risen to the top of the pile after claiming the top prize at this week's British Video Industry awards. The veteran gamer has been around for some time now but managed to beat off the likes of Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty and Rock Band to take the biggest prize in the British video gaming industry.
The award ceremony was hosted by Dara O'Briain and featured the best of the British video gaming industry with 15 categories leading to the climax of the best game of the year award which was taken by the old veteran. Interestingly, as predicted by many observers, the British Video Gaming Academy decided to distance itself from the bloodthirsty games of yesteryear after more negative comments in the press of late. While super Mario is no doubt one of the most popular gaming characters of all time, with this award specifically going to the Super Mario Galaxy game, there is a feeling that the Academy went for a "safe option".
As the video gaming industry comes under more and more pressure to reduce the violence and gore seen in many games there is a feeling that unless the video game industry introduces self-regulation the government will step in with ever tighter laws.