The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) has announced nominees for the 5th annual Game Developers Choice Awards, the premier accolades for peer-recognition in the game industry. Recipients will be awarded on March 9, 2005, at a ceremony during the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.
"Thousands of developers voiced their picks during the Choice Awards' open nominations process," said Jason Della Rocca, executive director, IGDA. "The high prestige of these honors comes from the fact that fellow developers recognize each other's best work."
The nominees are:
Best GameBURNOUT 3: TAKEDOWN (Criterion Games / Electronic Arts)- Paul Glancey, Chris Roberts, Paul Ross, Fiona Sperry, Alex WardGRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS (Rockstar North / Rockstar Games)- Leslie Benzies, Adam Fowler, Aaron Garbut, Sam Houser, Alexander Roger, Obbe VermeijHALF-LIFE 2 (Valve Software / Vivendi Universal Games)- Ken Birdwell, Gabe Newell, Jay StellyKATAMARI DAMACY (Namco)- Keita TakahashiWORLD OF WARCRAFT (Blizzard Ent.)- Mark Kern, Mike Morhaime, Rob Pardo
New StudioCryptic Studios (CITY OF HEROES)- Michael LewisCrytek (FAR CRY)- Avni Yerli, Cevat Yerli, Faruk Yerli inXile ent. (THE BARD'S TALE)- Brian Fargo, Matthew FindleyObsidian Ent. (STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC II: THE SITH LORDS)- Chris Avellone, Chris Jones, Darren Monahan, Chris Parker, Feargus Urquhartthe Behemoth (ALIEN HOMINID)- Tom Fulp, Brandon LaCava, Dan Paladin
AudioCALL OF DUTY: FINEST HOUR (Spark Unlimited / Activision)- Jack Grillo, Caleb SweazyDOOM 3 (id Software / Activision)- Christian Antkow, John Carmack, Tim WillitsGRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS (Rockstar North / Rockstar Games)- Craig Conner, Allan WalkerHALO 2 (Bungie Software / Microsoft Game Studios)- C Paul Johnson, Marty O'Donnell, Jay WeinlandKATAMARI DAMACY (Namco)- Yu Miyake
Character DesignHALF-LIFE 2 (Valve Software / Vivendi Universal Games)- Ted Backman, Dhabih Eng, Bill Fletcher, Bill Van BurenKATAMARI DAMACY (Namco)- Keita TakahashiPRINCE OF PERSIA: WARRIOR WITHIN (Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Ent.)- Nicolas Bouvier, Mickael LabatSLY 2: BAND OF THIEVES (Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Computer Ent. America)- Travis Kotzebue, Dev MadanWORLD OF WARCRAFT (Blizzard Ent.)- Brandon Idol, Chris Metzen
Game DesignGRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS (Rockstar North / Rockstar Games)- Leslie Benzies, Adam Fowler, Aaron Garbut, Sam Houser, Alexander Roger, Obbe VermeijHALF-LIFE 2 (Valve Software / Vivendi Universal Games)- Gabe Newell, Jay StellyKATAMARI DAMACY (Namco)- Keita TakahashiPIKMIN 2 (Nintendo)- Masamichi Abe, Hino ShigefumiWORLD OF WARCRAFT (Blizzard Ent.)- Chris Metzen, Rob Pardo
TechnologyBURNOUT 3: TAKEDOWN (Criterion Games / Electronic Arts)- Alex Fry, Ciaran Rooney, Paul Ross, Hamish YoungDOOM 3 (id Software / Activision)- John Carmack, Robert Duffy, Jan Paul van WaverenEYETOY: ANTIGRAV (Harmonix Music Systems / Sony Computer Ent. America)- Eran Egozy, Eric MalafeewFAR CRY (Crytek / Ubisoft Ent.)- Timur Davidenko, Vladimir Kajalin, Andrey Khonich, Anton Knyazyev, Cevat YerliHALF-LIFE 2 (Valve Software / Vivendi Universal Games)- Yahn Bernier, Brian Jacobson
Visual ArtsDOOM 3 (id Software / Activision)- Andy Chang, Seneca Menard, Kenneth ScottHALF-LIFE 2 (Valve Software / Vivendi Universal Games)- Viktor Antonov, Randy LundeenPAPER MARIO: THE THOUSAND-YEAR DOOR (Intelligent Systems / Nintendo)- Hiroyuki Hayashi, Chie KawabePRINCE OF PERSIA: WARRIOR WITHIN (Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Ent.)- Mickael Labat, Patrick LimogesWORLD OF WARCRAFT (Blizzard Ent.)- Sam Didier, William Petras, Justin Thavirat
WritingGRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS (Rockstar North / Rockstar Games)- Dan Houser, James WorrallHALF-LIFE 2 (Valve Software / Vivendi Universal Games)- Marc LaidlawLEISURE SUIT LARRY: MAGNA CUM LAUDE (High Voltage Software / Vivendi Universal Games)- Matt Entin, Ed Kuehnel, Eric NofsingerPAPER MARIO: THE THOUSAND-YEAR DOOR (Intelligent Systems / Nintendo)- Nate Bihldorff, Ryota KawadeSTAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC II: THE SITH LORDS (Obsidian Ent. / LucasArts Ent.)- Chris Avellone
Nominations were free of charge and open to all game developers, regardless of membership or affiliation, ensuring that the nominees reflect the international development community's opinions. The IGDA membership will vote on the finalists. In addition to the voted award categories, honors will be presented for the Innovation, Lifetime Achievement, First Penguin, Community Contribution and Maverick awards.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
