What do the film Life of Pi and the video game Journey share in common? Both have the same number of nominations for the highest awards of their industry. Journey, developed by Thatgamecompany and published by Sony, received 11 nominations for the 16th Dice Summit Awards, which are like the Oscars of video games. Life of Pi is nominated for 11 Oscars.
The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) announced its nominations today for its awards program at the annual Dice Summit. Meanwhile, Nerdist founder Chris Hardwick will host the video game award show at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas on Feb. 7. Machinima will live stream the presentation.
A total of 63 games across console, mobile, web, portable, and PC platforms received nominations this year. Journey’s list included Game of the Year. Other Game of the Year nominees are Borderlands 2, Far Cry 3, The Walking Dead, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The Walking Dead received eight nominations, Far Cry 3 had seven, Halo 4 had six, and Borderlands 2 and Dishonored both received five each.
The following is a partial list of nominees. The complete list of awards categories, finalists, and gamemaker credits is available at the AIAS website.
Game of the Year
Borderlands 2
— Publisher: 2K Games
— Developer: Gearbox Software
Far Cry 3
— Publisher: Ubisoft
— Developer: Ubisoft
Journey
— Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC
— Developer: Thatgamecompany
The Walking Dead
— Publisher: Telltale Games
— Developer: Telltale Games
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
— Publisher: 2K Games
— Developer: Firaxis Games
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Journey
— Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC
— Developer: Thatgamecompany
Dishonored
— Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
— Developer: Arkane Studios
Far Cry 3
— Publisher: Ubisoft
— Developer: Ubisoft
The Unfinished Swan
— Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC
— Developer: Giant Sparrow
The Walking Dead
— Publisher: Telltale Games
— Developer: Telltale Games
Outstanding Innovation in Gaming
Journey
— Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC
— Developer: Thatgamecompany
Nintendo Land
— Publisher: Nintendo of America Inc.
— Developer: Nintendo
Sound Shapes
— Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC
— Developer: Queasy Games
The Unfinished Swan
— Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC
— Developer: Giant Sparrow
The Walking Dead
— Publisher: Telltale Games
— Developer: Telltale Games
Action Game of the Year
Borderlands 2
— Publisher: 2K Games
— Developer: Gearbox Software
Far Cry 3
— Publisher: Ubisoft
— Developer: Ubisoft
Halo 4
— Publisher: Microsoft Studios
— Developer: 343 Industries
Hitman: Absolution
— Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.
— Developer: IO Interactive A/S
Sleeping Dogs
— Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.
— Developer: United Front Games
Adventure Game of the Year
Assassin’s Creed III
— Publisher: Ubisoft
— Developer: Ubisoft
Darksiders II
— Publisher: THQ
— Developer: Vigil Games
Dishonored
— Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
— Developer: Arkane Studios
New Super Mario Bros. U
— Publisher: Nintendo of America Inc.
— Developer: Nintendo
The Walking Dead
— Publisher: Telltale Games
— Developer: Telltale Games
Mobile Game of the Year
Fairway Solitaire
— Publisher: Big Fish
— Developer: Big Fish
Hero Academy
— Publisher: Robot Entertainment
— Developer: Robot Entertainment
Horn
— Publisher: Zynga
— Developer: Phosphor Games Studio
Rayman Jungle Run
— Publisher: Ubisoft
— Developer: Pastagames, Ubisoft Montpellier