The official call for nominations for the second annual Game Developers Choice Online Awards at GDC Online in Austin are now open. Developer types can nominate their favorite online, social, and massively multiplayer online games for various awards.
The awards include such categories as Online Game Design, Social Network Games, Live Games, Visual Arts, Technology, and Community Relations. To be eligible, nominees had to have been launched during the May 2010 – May 2011 time period in North America. All game development professionals holding an active Gamasutra.com user account can nominate a game at www.GDCOnlineAwards.com.
The full list, along with a description of each, follows:
Best Online Visual Arts recognizes the overall excellence of visual art in online game - including, but not limited to, art direction, animation, modeling, character design, and so on.
Best Online Technology recognizes the overall excellence of technology in an online game - including, but not limited to, online networked infrastructure, persistent world coding, graphics/3D programming, etc.
Best Online Game Design honors the overall excellence of design in an online game - this category recognizes the best social-specific gameplay mechanics, quest design, and other major game design elements.
Best Audio for an Online Game recognizes the overall excellence of audio in an online game - including, but not limited to, sound effects, musical composition, sound design, orchestration, etc.
Audience Award honors the audiences' favorite game. Members of the public vote on their favorite game from the Game Developers Choice Online finalists.
Best Social Network Game recognizes the best game of that launched on a social network, such as Facebook or MySpace, honoring the most outstanding title in terms of overall depth, execution and quality.
Best Live Game recognizes the best currently-operating online game - distinguishing itself by releasing exceptional new content through expansion packs, patches, or other updates in the 12 months to May 2011, as well as a vibrant player community, high-quality community management and network operation during that period.
Best New Online Game recognizes excellence in any online-specific game, including MMOs, free to play titles and social network games.
Community Relations honors the currently operating online game that provides the highest quality community feedback and experience, including customer support, forum moderation and leadership, weblog and information updates, real-life events, and other community outreach.
Online Innovation honors one particular online game that shows key aspects of innovation in the fast-expanding online games space - a title that pushes the game design and social boundaries of how we play video games online against others.
Special Awards:
Online Games Legend recognizes the career and achievements of a developer who has made an indelible impact on the craft of online game development.
Hall of Fame recognizes a specific online game that has resulted in the long-term advancement of the medium, pioneering major shifts in online game development and games as a whole.
The awards ceremony takes place the evening of October 12, during the four-day conference in Austin, Texas.
