The nominations are in and the finalists have been officially selected for the 2013 Canadian Videogame Awards. This year, the fifth for the relatively young award ceremony, is quite a bit different. Reboot Communications and EP Media are moving the show this year from Vancouver FanExpo, where it's traditionally been held, to Toronto but recently delayed the production to the fall where the 2013 awards will be announced alongside (but separately from) the 2014 awards as well.
The 2013 finalists for the Canadian Videogame Awards span seventeen categories and include 29 games, narrowed down from 75 nominated titles. To qualify titles, at least in part, must be developed in Canada. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag leads the pack this year with an impressive 12 nominations. Last year's show saw Far Cry 3 take him the most awards, including Game of The Year.
The 2014 show will include 2013 and 2014 made games to be awarded separately, based on the nomination year, in one ceremony. Information on 2014 nominations will be released in June while the votes for the 2013 winners must be submitted by April 21st. The award ceremony takes place November 21, 2014 at the Carlu in the heart of downtown Toronto.
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Game of the Year
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montréal)
- Batman: Arkham Origins (WB Games Montréal)
- Contrast (Compulsion Games)
- Dead Rising 3 (Capcom Vancouver)
- Don't Starve (Klei Entertainment)
- Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon (Ubisoft Montréal)
- Guacamelee! (DrinkBox Studios)
- Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (Next Level Games)
- Outlast (Red Barrels)
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist (Ubisoft Toronto)
Best Console Game
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montréal)
- Batman: Arkham Origins (WB Games Montréal)
- Dead Rising 3 (Capcom Vancouver)
- Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon (Ubisoft Montréal)
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist (Ubisoft Toronto)
Best Downloadable Game
- Contrast (Compulsion Games)
- Don't Starve (Klei Entertainment)
- Guacamelee! (DrinkBox Studios)
- Outlast (Red Barrels)
- Rogue Legacy (Cellar Door Games)
Best Game on the Go
- Fast & Furious 6: The Game (Kabam)
- Infinite (Nexus Game Studio)
- Jurassic Park Builder, Battle Arena (Ludia)
- Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (Next Level Games)
- Mighty Bots (East Side Games)
Best iOS Game
- Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition (Beamdog)
- Dungeon Hunter 4 (Gameloft Montreal)
- Pocket Mine (Roofdog Games)
- Soul Power (Gabriel Koenig)
- Super Splatform (P1XL Games)
Best Social/Casual Game
- Ballpark Empire (Behaviour)
- EGGNOGG (Madgarden)
- Monster Loves You! (Radial Games)
- TraceRace (Spaddlewit Inc.)
- UNO & Friends (Gameloft Toronto)
Best Animation
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montréal)
- Batman: Arkham Origins (WB Games Montréal)
- Dead Rising 3 (Capcom Vancouver)
- Don't Starve (Klei Entertainment)
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist (Ubisoft Toronto)
Best Audio
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montréal)
- Batman: Arkham Origins (WB Games Montréal)
- Dead Rising 3 (Capcom Vancouver)
- Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon (Ubisoft Montréal)
- Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (Next Level Games)
Best Game Design
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montréal)
- Batman: Arkham Origins (WB Games Montréal)
- Dead Rising 3 (Capcom Vancouver)
- Don't Starve (Klei Entertainment)
- Guacamelee! (DrinkBox Studios)
Best Game Innovation
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montréal)
- Contrast (Compulsion Games)
- Dead Rising 3 (Capcom Vancouver)
- Guacamelee! (DrinkBox Studios)
- Infinite (Nexus Game Studio)
Best Indie Game
- Contrast (Compulsion Games)
- Don't Starve (Klei Entertainment)
- Guacamelee! (DrinkBox Studios)
- Infinite (Nexus Game Studio)
- MacGuffin Quest (Pixel Crucible)
- Outlast (Red Barrels)
- Pocket Mine (Roofdog Games)
- Rogue Legacy (Cellar Door Games)
- Sang-Froid - Tales of Werewolves (Artifice Studio)
- Super Stickman Golf 2 (Noodlecake Studios Inc.)
Best New Character
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montréal) - Edward Kenway
- Contrast (Compulsion Games) - Didi Malenkaya
- Dead Rising 3 (Capcom Vancouver) - Nick Ramos
- Don't Starve (Klei Entertainment) - Wilson
- Guacamelee! (DrinkBox Studios) - Juan Aguacate
Best Original Music
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montréal) - Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Main Theme
- Batman: Arkham Origins (WB Games Montréal) - Arkham Origins Main Title
- Contrast (Compulsion Games) - House on Fire
- Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon (Ubisoft Montréal) - Power Core
- Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (Next Level Games) - Dark Moon
Best Technology
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montréal)
- Bungee Pigs (InLight Entertainment)
- Contrast (Compulsion Games)
- Dead Rising 3 (Capcom Vancouver)
- Warframe (Digital Extremes)
Best Visual Arts
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montréal)
- Batman: Arkham Origins (WB Games Montréal)
- Contrast (Compulsion Games)
- Don't Starve (Klei Entertainment)
- Guacamelee! (DrinkBox Studios)
Best Writing
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montréal)
- Batman: Arkham Origins (WB Games Montréal)
- Contrast (Compulsion Games)
- Dead Rising 3 (Capcom Vancouver)
- Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon (Ubisoft Montréal)
Fans' Choice Award
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montréal)
- Batman: Arkham Origins (WB Games Montréal)
- Contrast (Compulsion Games)
- Dead Rising 3 (Capcom Vancouver)
- Don't Starve (Klei Entertainment)
- Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon (Ubisoft Montréal)
- Guacamelee! (DrinkBox Studios)
- Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (Next Level Games)
- Outlast (Red Barrels)
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist (Ubisoft Toronto)
What's the best Canadian made game of the year? Share your thoughts and favorites in the comments!
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