It was only Sunday night that I was out standing in the snow and rain at BAFTAs. Just when I thought I had gotten over the show, the video game BAFTAs have crept up on me and released their nominations on me. Across 17 catagories, Journey has been nominated for 8. As with all the awards this year, The Walking Dead is right on its heels as it looks like the two games are set to slug it out one last time on March 5th. In one of the most interesting nominations of the year, Far Cry 3 has been nominated for Best Story. This is going to get some stick from some, but not from me. I have been championing that games story and intent since I completed the game. Clearly a few of us Brits had our thinking caps on as we played through the game. But perhaps, most surprisingly is the poor show of XCOM: Enemy Unknown, which only got two nominations. That is quite a big snub as Firaxis' game has consistently been considered the third favorite at most of the awards. It is this years video game equivalent of Ben Affleck's Oscar snub. On top of that, it seems like there isn't a whole lot of love for Halo 4 either, which I think was one of the best titles this year also. This year will also see the inclusion of 'Best British Game' which features massive titles like Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Forza Horizon, but also indie oddities like Dear Esther and The Room. The full list of nominees are below:
Action
Borderlands 2 Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Far Cry 3 Halo 4 Hitman: Absolution Mass Effect 3
Artistic Achievement
Borderlands 2 Dear Esther Far Cry 3 Halo 4 Journey The Room
Audio Achievement
Assassin's Creed III Dear Esther Far Cry 3 Halo 4 Journey
Best Game
Dishonoured Far Cry 3 FIFA 13 Journey Mass Effect 3 The Walking Dead
British Game
Dear Esther Forza Horizon LEGO: The Lord of the Rings Need for Speed Most Wanted The Room Super Hexagon
Debut Game
Deadlight Dear Esther Forza Horizon Proteus The Room The Unfinished Swan
Game Design
Borderlands 2 Dishonored Far Cry 3 Journey The Walking Dead XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Family
Clay Jam Just Dance 4 LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes LEGO the Lord of the Rings Minecraft: XBOX 360 Edition Skylanders Giants
Game Innovation
Call of Duty: Black Ops II Fez Journey Kinect Sesame Street TV The Unfinished Swan Wonderbook: Books of Spells
Mobile & Handheld
Incoboto LittleBigPlanet (Vita) The Room Super Monsters Ate My Condo The Walking Dead
Online Browser
Amateur Surgeon Hospital Dick and Dom's HOOPLA! Merlin: The Game Runescape The Settlers Online SongPop
Online-Multiplayer
Assassin's Creed III Borderlands 2 Call of Duty: Black Ops II Halo 4 Journey Need For Speed Most Wanted
Original Music
Assassin's Creed III Diablo III Journey Thomas Was Alone The Unfinished Swan The Walking Dead
Performer
Adrian Hough (Haytham) - Assassin's Creed III Danny Wallace (The Narrator) - Thomas Was Alone Dave Fennoy (Lee Everett) - The Walking Dead Melissa Hutchinson (Clementine) - The Walking Dead Nigel Carrington (The Narrator) - Dear Esther Nolan North (Nathan Drake) - Uncharted: Golden Abyss
Sports/Fitness
FIFA 13 F1 2012 Forza Horizon New Star Soccer Nike+ Kinect Training Trials Evolution
Story
Dishonoured Far Cry 3 Journey Mass Effect 3 Thomas was Alone The Walking Dead
Strategy
Dark Souls: Prepare To Die Diablo III Football Manager 2013 Great Big War Game Total War Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai XCOM: Enemy Unknown
BAFTA Ones to Watch Award in association with Dare to Be Digital