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Game of the Year


Bayonetta 2 (Platinum Games/Nintendo)

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (Monolith Productions/Warner Bros.)

Destiny (Bungie/Activision)

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft (Blizzard)

Alien: Isolation (Creative Assembly/Sega)


Honorable Mentions: Titanfall (Respawn/Electronic Arts), Valiant Hearts: The Great War (Ubisoft Montpellier/Ubisoft), Far Cry 4 (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft), Dragon Age: Inquisition (BioWare/Electronic Arts), Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (Sora Ltd. and Bandai Namco/Nintendo)


Innovation Award


Bounden (Game Oven)

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (Monolith Productions/Warner Bros.)

This War of Mine (11 bit studios)

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (The Astronauts)

Monument Valley (Ustwo)


Honorable Mentions: Crypt of the Necrodancer (Brace Yourself Games), Extrasolar (Lazy 8 Studios), Elite: Dangerous (Frontier Developments), Elegy For A Dead World (Dejobaan Games), 80 Days (Inkle Studios)


Best Debut


Yacht Club Games (Shovel Knight)

Respawn Entertainment (Titanfall)

The Astronauts (The Vanishing of Ethan Carter)

Stoic Studio (The Banner Saga)

Upper One Games (Never Alone)


Honorable Mentions: Dynamighty (CounterSpy), Hinterland Games (The Long Dark), 1337 & Senri (Leo's Fortune), MachineGames (Wolfenstein: The New Order), Hipster Whale (Crossy Road)


Best Design


Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (Monolith Productions/Warner Bros.)

Shovel Knight (Yacht Club Games)

Dragon Age: Inquisition (BioWare/Electronic Arts)

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Nintendo EAD Tokyo and 1-Up Studio/Nintendo)

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft (Blizzard)


Honorable Mentions: Mario Kart 8 (Nintendo EAD Tokyo/Nintendo), Alien: Isolation (Creative Assembly/Sega), Destiny (Bungie/Activision), Monument Valley (Ustwo), Far Cry 4 (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)


Best Handheld/Mobile Game


Threes! (Sirvo)

Super Smash Bros. 3DS (Sora Ltd. and Bandai Namco/Nintendo)

Hearthstone (Blizzard)

80 Days (Inkle Studios)

Monument Valley (Ustwo)


Honorable Mentions: Bounden (Game Oven), Bravely Default (Silicon Studio and Square Enix/Nintendo and Square Enix), Desert Golfing (Blinkbat Games), Velocity 2X (FuturLab), Fantasy Life (Level-5/Nintendo)


Best Visual Art


Monument Valley (Ustwo)

Hohokum (Honeyslug and Richard Hogg/Sony)

Child of Light (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)

Bayonetta 2 (Platinum Games/Nintendo)

Alien: Isolation (Creative Assembly/Sega)


Honorable Mentions: Never Alone (Upper One Games/E-Line Media), The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (The Astronauts), Transistor (Supergiant Games), Broken Age: Act 1 (Double Fine Productions), Destiny (Bungie/Activision)


Best Narrative


80 Days (Inkle Studios)

This War of Mine (11 bit studios)

Kentucky Route Zero: Episode 3 (Cardboard Computer)

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (Monolith Productions/Warner Bros.)

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (The Astronauts)


Honorable Mentions: Dragon Age: Inquisition (BioWare/Electronic Arts), Valiant Hearts: The Great War (Ubisoft Montpellier/Ubisoft), Tales From The Borderlands: Episode 1 (Gearbox Software/Telltale Games), D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die (Access Games/Microsoft), Hatoful Boyfriend (Mediatonic/Devolver Digital)


Best Audio


Alien: Isolation (Creative Assembly/Sega)

Hohokum (Honeyslug and Richard Hogg/Sony)

Destiny (Bungie/Activision)

Transistor (Supergiant Games)

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (The Astronauts)


Honorable Mentions: Child of Light (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft), Far Cry 4 (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft), D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die (Access Games/Microsoft), Bayonetta 2 (Platinum Games/Nintendo), Crypt of the Necrodancer (Brace Yourself Games)


Best Technology


Destiny (Bungie/Activision)

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (Monolith Productions/Warner Bros.)

Wolfenstein: The New Order (MachineGames/Bethesda)

Elite: Dangerous (Frontier Developments)

Far Cry 4 (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)


Honorable Mentions: Assassin's Creed Unity (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft), The Last of Us: Remastered (Naughty Dog/Sony), Sunset Overdrive (Insomniac Games/Microsoft), Alien: Isolation (Creative Assembly/Sega), Infamous: Second Son (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony)

 

[Mista]

Mordor mordor mordor!!

 

[Piston Hyundai]

If Alien doesn't win Best Audio they may as well not even have these awards.

and lol at the Wolfenstein best tech nod

 

[SJRB]

I'm very okay with Mordor winning awards left and right, but that game even being nominated in the category "Best Narrative" is ridiculous.

 

[ViciousDS]

Destiny over any of those honorable mentions......seriousy? Especially DA:I

 

[Kuro]

I really really really don't get these Destiny nominations.

 

[Verger]

Wow, is this the first awards that didn't have DAI as a GOTY nominee?

 

[Neiteio]

Would be very pleased to see Alien: Isolation or Bayonetta 2 get the GOTY.

 

[Jimmyfenix]

Hohokum!!!

 

[Crossing Eden]

I'm very okay with Mordor winning awards left and right, but that game even being nominated in the category "Best Narrative" is ridiculous.

I agree. Best narrative how? ^ This is the most comical way i've seen romance done in a game in a long way.

 

[Toxi]

Yacht Games should win best debut.

 

[JayEH]

C'mon Bayonetta 2!

 

[Coffee Dog]

another donkey kong snub.

 

[Kayant]

Best Technology


Destiny (Bungie/Activision)

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (Monolith Productions/Warner Bros.)

Wolfenstein: The New Order (MachineGames/Bethesda)

Elite: Dangerous (Frontier Developments)

Far Cry 4 (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)


Honorable Mentions: Assassin's Creed Unity (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft), The Last of Us: Remastered (Naughty Dog/Sony), Sunset Overdrive (Insomniac Games/Microsoft), Alien: Isolation (Creative Assembly/Sega), Infamous: Second Son (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony)

Wat?? Over games like AS:U, SO, A:I, I:SS really...

 

[Jimmyfenix]

 

[MrChowderClams]

I agree. Best narrative how? ^ This is the most comical way i've seen romance done in a game in a long way.

PRESS X TO SURPRISE KISS. THEN ANOTHER TIME TO PAY YOUR RESPECTS.

 

[jett]

Mordor for best innovation.

Mordor for best narrative.

 

[TI82]

Game of the year:

Hearthstone, love this game

Innovation:

Shadow of Mordor, clearly.

Best debut:

Yacht Club Games

Best design:

Hearthstone

Mobile game:

Hearthstone

Narrative:

No pick

Best audio:

Transistor

Best technology:

Shadow of Mordor

 

[EL CUCO]

#TeamDestiny

 

[jett]

Didn't notice best technology for Wolfenstein.

I lol'd. I do not understand many of these noms.

 

[thunder_snail]

Driverclub's not nominated for best technology? What's happening!

 

[Alasfree]

I agree. Best narrative how? ^ This is the most comical way i've seen romance done in a game in a long way.

They presented the tutorial like this exactly because is comical and ironic that in a game filled with stealth killing the tutorial is about a stealth kiss.
At least it's how i interpreted it.

 

[Corgi]

Pretty surprised bayonetta got nominated. Developers don't really often play niche stuff that aren't popular indie games. Did the first bayonetta do well at gdc awards?

 

[SystemBug]

Bayonetta for best visual art? geez

 

[Euron]

I'm very okay with Mordor winning awards left and right, but that game even being nominated in the category "Best Narrative" is ridiculous.

This. It will probably sweep the awards, deservedly so, but why is it nominated for the category regarding its biggest criticism? That's like nominating Mass Effect 3 for Best Ending.

Also, WTF at Destiny being nominated for GOTY and not Dragon Age or Smash?

 

[chicagocubsfan]

Does Hatoful boyfriend actually have a good story? If they were going for a VN type game they could have least put Danganronpa 2 or 1 on the list.

 

[KorrZ]

Destiny nominated for Game of the Year. What the fuck? Stop it people, we can't encourage these completely devoid of content releases.

 

[Gaogaogao]

I hope Alien isolation wins best audio and/ or art and Shovel knight for best debut

wish shovel knight was up for more categories cause it deserves to win everything.

 

[Crossing Eden]

They presented the tutorial like this exactly because is comical and ironic that in a game filled with stealth killing the tutorial is about a stealth kiss.
At least it's how i interpreted it.

I think it's unintentional comedy. Also Infamous SS and ACUnity not being in the best tech category while Destiny and oddly enough Wolfenstein being there is something I just can't agree with as those games look great but I don't see how they're using the best overall tech.

 

[WaffleTaco]

Shadows of Mordor...best Narrative? Also surprised Alien: Isolation get a nod.

 

[Nzyme32]

I'm also not getting the Destiny GOTY nomination, amongst a bunch of the others. Innovation award seems to have a good selection going though

 

[Floridian]

Destiny nominated for Game of the Year. What the fuck? Stop it people, we can't encourage these completely devoid of content releases.

People have fun with those games though.

 

[The Shogun]

Thats a lot of Destiny nominations. A little surprised at how many its getting and how few DA Inquisition is.

 

[Staf]

Mordor for best innovation.

Mordor for best narrative.

Narrative i agree isn't really its strong suit and shouldn't really be nominated in that category. Best innovation however they should win. That nemesis system is so damn good with how it dynamically creates antagonists that are better than most games.

 

[JNA]

Mordor for best innovation.

Mordor for best narrative.

What's wrong with best innovation for Mordor? The nemesis system is definitely worthy of that. Narrative I agree with you though.

The one BS thing here though is Destiny for game of the year? I say that as a guy who played many hours of it but no way should it be anywhere near that award.

Those people are high for having that game over DA:I.

 

[border]

Interesting that Alien Isolation got a GOTY nomination.

Destiny nominated? Salty tears incoming. It's strange how well-loved the game is beyond this forum's walls.

 

[AndrewDean84xX]

I wish I liked Mordor as much as others did.

 

[Coffee Dog]

Does Hatoful boyfriend actually have a good story? If they were going for a VN type game they could have least put Danganronpa 2 or 1 on the list.

Not really, either danganronpa game would have fit better.

The real reason is that danganronpa is niche as fuck.

 

[strafer]

Alien Isolation did something different and completely awesome yet the majority votes on the most generic game of all time.

 

[ArkkAngel007]

Wonder who is all in ICAN.

Mordor's Nemesis system is worthy of innovation. Probably should win that category.
Isolation audio is another easy win.
Best tech, as much as people here will throw a fit, should probably go to Destiny.

Can't really speak of the rest. Looking at GOTY it's probably down to Bayonetta, Mordor, and Alien at a development angle rather than a hype/outreach one. Destiny doesn't bother me, but I think that the other 3 did more for the industry (Alien/Mordor) or just all around better games. Can't speak on the mobile Warcraft game.

 

[Gaogaogao]

best design --> shovel knight
best handheld --> shovel knight
best visual art --> shovel knight
best audio --> shovel knight
best technology --> shovel knight

shovel knight, you da real mvp

 

[RespectThySole]

Thats a lot of Destiny nominations. A little surprised at how many its getting and how few DA Inquisition is.

I thought the same thing until I saw this:

http://gotypicks.blogspot.com/?m=1

Dragon Age has by far the most GOTY awards(98), but for some odd reason quite a few of the media/other lists posted on GAF had Destiny over it.

------
I'm a bit puzzled by some of these nominations.

 

[border]

Best Visual Art is the most fiercely competitive category of them all. I wouldn't want to have to make that decision:


Best Visual Art

Monument Valley (Ustwo)
Hohokum (Honeyslug and Richard Hogg/Sony)
Child of Light (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)
Bayonetta 2 (Platinum Games/Nintendo)
Alien: Isolation (Creative Assembly/Sega)

 

[chicagocubsfan]

Not really, either danganronpa game would have fit better.

The real reason is that danganronpa is niche as fuck.

More niche than Hatoful boyfriend?

 

[Shaanyboi]

I'm absolutely fine with Mordor winning 'Best Innovation'. They deserve all the credit in the world for the Nemesis system, and that will absolutely be a big deal in years to come.

But no way in hell does it deserve to win against Bayonetta 2 as Game of the Year

 

[jett]

Narrative i agree isn't really its strong suit and shouldn't really be nominated in that category. Best innovation however they should win. That nemesis system is so damn good with how it dynamically creates antagonists that are better than most games.

What's wrong with best innovation for Mordor? The nemesis system is definitely worthy of that. Narrative I agree with you though.

The one BS thing here though is Destiny for game of the year? I say that as a guy who played many hours of it but no way should it be anywhere near that award.

Those people are high for having that game over DA:I.

One of its mechanics is innovative, but 95% of what you do in that game is lifted either from the AssCreed or from the Arkham games. And for me personally, the nemesis didn't make much of a difference.

 

[Tenebrous]

No design or art nominations for Transistor? The second is especially surprising.

 

[Ridley327]

Not really, either danganronpa game would have fit better.

The real reason is that danganronpa is niche as fuck.

And Hatoful Boyfriend is some mainstream sensation blowing down the doors of publishers that are now scrambling to get their own pigeon dating sims out in short order?

 

[Coffee Dog]

More niche than Hatoful boyfriend?

Hatoful is funny and has lol look at this weird thing appeal

 

[Gaogaogao]

And Hatoful Boyfriend is some mainstream sensation blowing down the doors of publishers that are now scrambling to get their own pigeon dating sims out in short order?

MAN I wish