The lights are on
We're a little more than a month away from the 2012 Game Developers Conference. Since most of us will very likely not be attending, I'm not going to spend a lot of time throwing a blog together about the history and purpose of the GDC. Well, except this little paragraph below...
The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is the world's largest and longest-running professionals-only game industry event. The GDC attracts over 19,000 attendees, and is the primary forum where programmers, artists, producers, game designers, audio professionals, business decision-makers and others involved in the development of interactive games gather to exchange ideas and shape the future of the industry.
In regular gamer terms...it's a boondoggle where all the big names in the video game industry come together to party and call it work. Yes, I'm jealous. If you're interested in learning more about it, check out the website and you'll find everything you need to know and more. There will assuredly be lots of fascinating speeches and exhibits...which for us non-attending gamers...that means we'll very likely see a ton of tantalizing news posts and tweets from the event.
Again...I'm not here to talk about the GDC. Well, I am...a very small part of the GDC. My favorite part. Maybe yours too. I'm here to talk about the Game Developers Choice Awards.
Game Developers Choice Awards are the premier accolades for peer-recognition in the digital games industry, celebrating creativity, artistry and technological genius. Industry professionals from around the world nominate for the awards, free of charge, ensuring that the recipients reflect the community's opinions. Awards in thirteen categories will be given at a ceremony produced by the Game Developers Conference (GDC) and presented on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at GDC.
If you're interested in the awards, you can view that information here (even though that's what I'm going to talk about). So yeah...taken straight from the GDC website, the categories and the nominees, listed below.
And my predictions of the games I "THINK" will win...not that I necessarily want to win.
12th Annual Nominees
Game of the Year
Batman: Arkham City (Rocksteady Studios)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda Game Studios)
Portal 2 (Valve)
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Eidos Montreal)
Dark Souls (FromSoftware)
Best Narrative
The Witcher 2 (CD Projekt RED)
Bastion (Supergiant Games)
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (Naughty Dog)
Saints Row: The Third (Volition)
Best Game Design
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Nintendo)
Best Technology
Battlefield 3 (DICE)
L.A. Noire (Team Bondi)
Crysis 2 (Crytek Frankfurt/UK)
Best Visual Arts
Rayman Origins (Ubisoft Montpellier)
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron (Ignition Japan)
Best Debut
Supergiant Games (Bastion)
Team Bondi (L.A. Noire)
Re-Logic (Terraria)
Bioware Austin (Star Wars: The Old Republic)
Eidos Montreal (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)
Innovation Award
Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure (Toys For Bob)
Johann Sebastian Joust (Die Gute Fabrik)
Best Handheld/Mobile Game
Tiny Tower (NimbleBit)
Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo)
Jetpack Joyride (Halfbrick)
Infinity Blade II (Chair Entertainment)
Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (Capy Games/Superbrothers)
Best Audio
LittleBigPlanet 2 (Media Molecule)
Dead Space 2 (Visceral Games)
Best Downloadable Game
Stacking (Double Fine)
From Dust (Ubisoft Montpellier)
Outland (Housemarque)
Frozen Synapse (Mode 7)
Now...if I have this right...the Lifetime Achievement award has not been announced yet, but the Pioneer Award and Ambassador Award have. Here's a little info on those awards...with more info available here if you're interested.
12th Annual Special Awards
These three special honors, selected by the Game Developers Choice Awards advisory board, will be presented at the ceremony.
Lifetime Achievement Winner: TBA
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the career and achievements of a developer who has made an indelible impact on the craft of game development and games as a whole.
Pioneer Award Winner: Dave Theurer
The Pioneer Award (formerly known as the First Penguin Award) celebrates those individuals who developed a breakthrough technology, game concept, or gameplay design at a crucial juncture video game history - paving the way for the myriads who followed them.
Ambassador Award Winner: Ken Doroshow and Paul M. Smith
The Ambassador Award honors an individual or individuals who have helped the game industry advance to a better place, either through facilitating a better game community from within, or by reaching outside the industry to be an advocate for video games and help further our art.
So, what are your picks on who you think will win at the this year's GDC?
And speaking of awards (or achievements, trophies, badges...whatever you want to call them), stay tuned for tomorrow's blog for the next update on the unofficial Game Informer Online Achievements initiative that is about to go live.
My personal GOTY was Skyward Sword. I have played a lot of the others, and it still takes top spot.
I'm betting that either Batman AC or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will take the honor of GOTY.
Narrative I'm going for the underdog, The Witcher 2.
Best Design will either go to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim or Dark Souls.
Best Tech will go to LA Noire. I mean, Battlefield 3 was impressive, but LA Noire is the only game every to take that leap over the uncanny valley.
Best Visual will go to Rayman. At least it SHOULD win, because that game is too charming for its own good.
Best Debut and Best Innovation I think will both go to Bastion. That game is just too smexy not to win.
Best Handheld will more than likely be handed over to Supper Mario 3D Land, but I wouldn't be surprised if we saw another winner.
Best Audio is hands down Dead Space 2. Whether you're scared or not of that game, the audio work is absolutely top-tier.
Best Downloadable will be Bastion, but I do still hold a little hope for some Stacking recognition.
I just don't get how Saints Row got nominated for best narrative, I mean a giant ***** bat? Seriously?
And my picks are:
Game of the year - Skyrim
Best Narrative - Portal 2
Best Design - Portal 2
Best Tech - L.A. Noire
Best Visual Arts - Rayman Origins
Best Debut - Bastion
Best Innovation - Bastion
Best Handheld - Super Mario 3D Land (I'm surprised Dead Space for iOS wasn't nominated)
Best Audio - Dead Space 2
Best Download Only - Bastion
And Good to see your getting the achievements coming along...
Very happy to see that Deus Ex got at least a nom for GOTY. The GDCA are the "real" awards show in my opinion. Looking forward to tomorrow's blog!!!
Saints Row 3 all the way baby!
Great blog. I agree with you're choices except for GOY which I think will be Batman and best design which I think will be Dark Souls but will be hoping for Dark Souls because I just can't stop playing that game.
Well, I really hope DICE wins the best technology. However, I think Portal 2 will when best innovation. My biggest gripe here is not seeing Rayman: Origins for best audio. I mean seriously? The game is walking song!
Good post. Ugh, I also think Skyrim will get GOTY, but I'm hoping Uncharted 3 can get best visual arts and narrative.
Why is Battlefield 3 not nominated for best audio? That just doesn't make any sense to me.
as much as i loved skyrim and the rest of the TES series, i really think people are a little biased when it comes to the TES games. like i said skyrim was fantastic, but i think batman should recieve GOTY cause truthfully i had more fun playing arkham city than i did skyrim
Basically, just put Bastion anywhere it could win (and even some places it wasn't nominated) and you'll have my thoughts.
I recenty bougt my warcraft blueprint for a lower price compared to marketprice guys:) Im so excited!!
87da2hvo1inn7w9vqgm717fy7m.hop.clickbank.net