John-ShepardThe Spike TV Video Game Awards kick off on Saturday, December 10 at 8:00 p.m. EST, and it's time to check out the major nominees.
They were determined by the VGA Advisory Council, comprised of "some of the most well-respected video game journalists from media outlets such as Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, Game Informer Magazine, Kotaku, Joystiq, GameSpot, IGN and Wired." No, we at PSXE aren't special enough to be involved.
This year, Valve's tremendous Portal 2 leads the charge with 12 total nominations, while Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham City has 10 and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception garnered 9. Bastion landed 5 nominations. Here are the nominees for Game of the Year, Studio of the Year, Best Shooter, and Best Independent Game:
GAME OF THE YEAR
STUDIO OF THE YEAR
BEST SHOOTER
BEST INDEPENDENT GAME
We still say Killzone 3 doesn't get anywhere near enough respect and we had hoped to see more from L.A. Noire , but other than that, the nominations make sense.
Well deserved in my opinion.
Looks like some worthy picks, many of which would have been mine.
I have contention with their shooter nominees.
First, I don't think Rage really fits, even Id is dodgy in classifying it as a shooter. It's arguably so, but judging by the lineup of other "shooters" that made the same list, Rage is an odd-ball by way of design. There's too much racing there to ignore, among other things.
Personally, my shooter list would've crossed out Rage (place that somewhere else) and CoD (no where else, just off the list), and in their place Crysis 2 and Resistance 3.
I think their GotY nominees are spot-on. I can't speak much for Zelda or even Portal 2, haven't played either.
Right now, my GotY top pick is a showdown between Skyrim and Batman. I've played and finished Batman, but I still have many more hours to spend with Skyrim before feeling good about passing judgement.
The problem with "oddballs" is always where to put them. I got Rage this monday and I have to say, that game has to be inserted *somewhere*. It is easily one of the best releases this year.
But I agree with Crysis 2, although I am not surprised. Crysis 2 has already won the prize for "most underrated game of the year".
Last edited by Beamboom on 11/17/2011 4:16:31 AM
Sorry this was meant for a comment below.
Last edited by bigrailer19 on 11/17/2011 10:30:08 AM
I do have to say the lack of KZ3 in shooter of the year is total BS.
It's a tough choice, maybe? I hvnt played gears or rage, but I do believe it should to some extent stand up there next to BF3 and MW3.
Killzone should have been nominated instead of Rage. Rage started out good but fizzled out quick. It was over before I new it and it left me scratching my head saying "that's it?! Really?!".
I don't think KZ3 has anything to do on any GOTY list at all.
If you have to insert an exclusive into the lists, insert Resistance 3 instead. That game has a good story, impressive graphics, creativity and above all: Personality. That game stands out from the crowd.
Last edited by Beamboom on 11/17/2011 4:14:48 AM
Beam-
Interesting you say that. I love KZ3 and will defend it. But instead I want to bring up an article I read at the PSblog. They were celebrating The PS3's 5 year anniversary and asked many many top developers from jaffe, to cliffy B what there 3, favorite PS3 games have been. Resistance 3 showed up a lot.
Now even though it says PS3 games the developers included multiplats also which makes it even more impressive.
Maybe I should mention, Uncharted was listed every time almost, from Drakes fortune to Drakes deception. But Killzone was never listed, but neither was BF3, and CoD4:MW was listed once so…
Big,
That's interesting to hear! Finally, finally an opinion I am not alone in voicing then! wuuhuu – yess! 😀
Last edited by Beamboom on 11/17/2011 12:29:54 PM
Well I love the Resistance series. I still say aside from Socom 2, R:FoM had the best MP I've ever played. I just don't know why theyade so many drastic changes in R2, I couldn't even play the mp without getting frustrated at the things they changed. The co op though was fun! Anyways I haunt gotten to R3 but plan to soon. But not for the MP, doesn't sound like it's what it used to be.
I would have picked KZ3 & Crysis 2 for that shooter catogory
i checked their list and i just had to laugh at the BEST XBOX 360 nominees. theres gears of war 3, forza 4 i think, and the last 2 were Arkham City and Portal 2.
Isn't that funny. I don't think there should be that category if 2 of the games which are better than the exclusives btw, are multiplats and in the category.
Last edited by bigrailer19 on 11/17/2011 12:26:28 AM
And both those Multi platform games, Portal 2 and Batman are better on PS3 😛 poor 360!
The best year of gaming I've experienced so far!
Definitely. May it never end.
Skyrim is the only nominee for goty I've played so I can't say. It will probably be between Zelda and Arkham City though. Uncharted 2 has already taken the title so no matter how good U3 is I bet it doesn't win this year.
Was Mario Galaxy 2 GOTY last year? How sweet it would be if Nintendo nabbed it 2 years in a row.
Last edited by Jawknee on 11/17/2011 1:06:02 AM
Who downvoted Jawknee? lame
I guess the same person that downvoted me…
Uncharted 3 or maybe Skyrim (i've been so addicted to it these last few days, it's crazy). Naughty Dog. Battlefield 3. Minecraft. 🙂
wow thats a tough one for game of the year, which shows this year has seen some awesome games, i'll go with Uncharted 3 for GOTY
Last edited by AshT on 11/16/2011 11:45:51 PM
Wow, inFamous 2 doesn't even get a nomination. I actually enjoyed it more than Arkham City, Resistance 3, Uncharted 3, and Gears 3. I'm aware of my bias as a fan, but not even a mention?
It's up for best PS3 game.
it did under best ps3 game.
thats not the full list of the nominations.
Ah, phew. Thanks. For whatever reasons, it may not be GOTY material (though it has been for me), but I know it deserves some attention as a legitamate AAA title.
I hope Uncharted 3 or Skyward Sword wins. Portal 2 was good. Not great and Batman was great but not GOTY worthy.
Don't forget Skyrim 🙂
Although, I think Skyward Sword may get it.
KZ3 Is the best FPS without a doubt!
id have to go for portal 2.
such a freaking awesome game, and a fantastic sense of humour!
though i cant believe they have not listed the witcher 2 under best graphics.
that makes BF3, crysis 2, uncharted 3, every game released look like a ps1 game!
GOTY: Skyrim – for so many reasons
Studio: Valve
Shooter: Rage (but I'd PAY to get Crysis 2 on that list)
Indie: Minecraft – the success of this game is uplifting in so many ways. To see my teenage son play Minecraft makes me happy every time.
You may want to remind your son that Minecon will be going on starting tomorrow and will be streaming live online if he's interested.
Resistance 3 should have been on that list. It is the best FPS that i have played this generation.
Good. R3 deserves more cred than it's received. It should at least be nominated.
Resistance 3 and Infamous 2 overlooked. I want Uncharted 3 to win game of the year, but i think Batman Arkham City will win it.. and also i would like to mention that Uncharted 3 should have been nominated under best Original Score!
Once again GG's masterpiece is getting the shaft. KZ3 should be in there. Show me another shooter with smarter AI. I haven't played all the games up there so I can't make an completely accurate choice, but I think it's safe to give Uncharted 3 the overall award.
See also Resistance 3
Those look like some pretty good choices to me. I think that big battle will be between Naughty Dog and Rocksteady, which should be fun because they're all friends. I just played Batman: Arkham City and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception and they're easily the two best games of the year, in my opinion. As much as I loved both of them, though, I have to say that my personal GotY is Batman. It was a perfect game. I loved Uncharted 3 to death and thought it was better than the second game and just as good as the first game (story-wise), but I saw a lot more glitches in that game than in Batman.
I don't really like LA Noire any more, I did a couple of days ago, but then my PS3 overheated while playing it. Thanks for the YLOD, R*! I'm going to try to repair it tomorrow, I hope it will work again then.
Yeah i'm glad RAGE showed up. It really is a great game. Didn't finish it but i really want to. I hated borderlands but RAGE, i was really enjoying. BF3 i think takes the cake in shooter imo, although i do think kz3 and resistance 3 should be on there. GOTY for me would be uncharted 3. It really took my breath away as 2 did. The cinematic scene where drake is walking across the desert was just amazing. Best graphics i've seen. Studio of the year, ND of course. Portal 2 is amazing as well but u3 is better in my eyes
Had you finished Rage you would have a different opinion of it I think. It was one of the worst endings I have ever experienced. Not just how they wrapped up the abysmal story but the execution of the final moments in the game. It was as if they never completed the game.
Dark Souls!
KZ3 & R3 should have been mentioned, it is funny how GG gave everyone what they wanted to be changed from KZ2, & then those very things are what critics hate about KZ3. BF3 should get shooter of the year, plays very differently from any BFBC games unlike CODMW3
I was kind of disappointed by the award nominations. There was not one nomination for my favorite game of the year, Bulletstorm.
Why was killzone 2 not included in the best shooter category? I mean I know it probably wasn't going to win but at least nominated it.