The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences has announced the nominees for its annual awards. In an industry that for some reason craves a definitive award show like the Oscars or Emmys, this is the best we have, so long as you pay the dues to belong.
The only PC game in the Best of Year category is Oblivion, and it’s dual platform. Age of Empires: The Warchiefs is nominated for Computer Game of the Year, but not Strategy Game of the Year. Sid Meier’s Railroads got a nomination for Simulation of the Year. The strategy nominees are:
Company of Heroes
Star Wars: Empire at War
Battle for Middle-earth II
Rise of Legends
Medieval II: Total War
The winners will be announced at DICE on February 8.
What about the Game Developers Choice Awards? That’s always been the premier award show for me. Of course, I may be a little biased since it’s directed to me and my colleagues. Does the GDCA have any weight among the general public? Or is GDCA more of a SAG analog?
I’m also a fan of the GDC awards, but it seems that the Academy is where it’s at if it’s anywhere. I don’t think any of these awards have much heft with the gaming public – I’d wager that more people read the Gamespot choices than anything else, but they don’t consider them definitive by any stretch of the imagination.
You hear about Capcom and the complaints about the AIAS nomination process? Apparently Capcom is is not an AIAS member, and so its titles are not included during the standard nomination process.