VGX 2013 Nominees

For this year's version of their annual video game awards, Spike TV is trying something a little different. Rather than broadcast the show live on an actual cable channel, the awards show will be streamed through a bevy of online outlets, from GameTrailers.com to MTV2.com.

In keeping with that change, Spike has rebranded their awards show as VGX 2013, and promised that the show won't just be about awards and trailers, but will feature behind-the-scenes interviews with developers and some other early access content. The awards are still the main focal point, but the show is getting bigger and broader at the same time.

No host has been announced, but we know VGX 2013 will broadcast live on December 7, 2013 at 6PM EST. The full list of available venues from which to view the 3-hour show are as follows: Xbox One, Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3 (PS3â„¢), Twitch, iOS and Android devices, and available globally on VGXLIVE.com, Hulu, Yahoo Screen, the Yahoo Screen app and Viacom properties Spike.com, ComedyCentral.com MTV.com, MTV2.com, BET.com and GameTrailers.com. And for those that miss the live broadcast, Spike TV will air a "VGX Replay" featuring the show's biggest highlights on December 9th at midnight.

VGX Logo

As far as the VGX 2013 nominees go, Spike just unveiled that list earlier today, and many of the most high profile, and critically praised, titles of the year are well represented. Games like BioShock Infinite, The Last of Us, and Grand Theft Auto 5 are leading the pack with several nominations in various categories, while much smaller games, like The Fullbright Company's Gone Home, are also receiving some recognition.

Check out the list of nominees below:

Game of the Year

Studio of the Year

  • Irrational Games
  • Naughty Dog
  • Rockstar North
  • The Fullbright Company

Best Shooter

Best Action Adventure Game

  • Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag
  • Grand Theft Auto 5
  • The Last of Us
  • Tomb Raider

Best Sports Game

  • FIFA 14
  • MLB 13: The Show
  • NBA 2K14
  • NHL 14

Best Independent Game

  • Gone Home
  • Kentucky Route Zero
  • Papers, Please
  • The Stanley Parable

Best RPG

  • Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn
  • Fire Emblem: Awakening
  • Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
  • Pokemon X/Y

Best Fighting Game

  • Divekick
  • Injustice: Gods Among Us
  • Killer Instinct
  • Tekken Revolution

Best Driving Game

  • F1 2013
  • Grid 2
  • Forza Motorsport 5
  • Need for Speed Rivals

Best DLC

  • Borderlands 2: Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep
  • Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall
  • Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
  • Mass Effect 3: Citadel

Best Xbox Game

  • BioShock Infinite
  • Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
  • Grand Theft Auto 5
  • Tomb Raider

Best PlayStation Game

  • Grand Theft Auto 5
  • Rayman Legends
  • The Last of Us
  • Tomb Raider

Best Nintendo Game

  • Pikmin 3
  • Rayman Legends
  • Super Mario 3D World
  • The Wonderful 101

Best PC Game

  • Battlefield 4
  • Gone Home
  • Papers, Please
  • The Stanley Parable

Best Handheld Game

  • Animal Crossing: New Leaf
  • Pokemon X/Y
  • Tearaway
  • The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Best Casual Game

  • Animal Crossing: New Leaf
  • Disney Infinity
  • Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time
  • Skylanders Swap Force

Best Voice Actor

  • Troy Baker as Joel in The Last of Us
  • Troy Baker as Booker DeWitt in BioShock Infinite
  • Steven Ogg as Trevor Philips in Grand Theft Auto 5
  • Willem Dafoe as Nathan Dawkins in Beyond: Two Souls

Best Voice Actress

  • Ashely Johnson as Ellie in The Last of Us
  • Courtnee Draper as Elizabeth in BioShock Infinite
  • Camilla Luddington as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider
  • Ellen Page as Jodie Holmes in Beyond: Two Souls

Best Soundtrack

  • BioShock Infinite
  • Grand Theft Auto 5
  • Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
  • The Last of Us

Best Song in a Game

  • "ADHD" performed by Kendrick Lamar (Grand Theft Auto 5)
  • "Sleepwalking" performed by The Chain Gang of 1974 (Grand Theft Auto 5)
  • "Survival" performed by Eminem (Call of Duty: Ghosts)
  • "Will the Circle be Unbroken" performed by Courtnee Draper & Troy Baker (BioShock Infinite)

Most Anticipated Game

  • South Park: The Stick of Truth
  • Destiny
  • Watch Dogs
  • Titanfall
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

What's most strange about the nominees, as has been the case in past years, is the delineation as to what game gets nominated in the specific console categories. In some cases, like Battlefield 4's nomination under "Best PC Game", the choice makes sense, but, for example, highlighting BioShock Infinite under the Xbox and not any of the other consoles is confusing.

BioShock Infinite Elizabeth Behind the Scenes Trailer

Similarly confusing is the snub of voice actor Michael Mando who did a phenomenal job as Vaas in Far Cry 3. Yes, Far Cry 3 was a 2012 release, but the game didn't hit in time for the VGA 2012 window, and presumably it was overlooked when considering this year's nominations. That isn't to say Troy Baker, who nabbed a nom for his portrayals of Joel in The Last of Us and Booker DeWitt in BioShock Infinite, doesn't deserve a nomination, but Mando, in this writer's opinion, should also be included in that category.

The show's winners will be announced on December 7th after the VGX panel has cast their votes, but gamers can determine the winner of Most Anticipated Game (2014) by voting online right now. To be fair, we don't know much about the 2014 slate — although that could change after the VGX show — but Spike's choices all rank pretty high as far as next year's must-have games go.

Which 2014 release are you most looking forward to? What do you think of the VGX 2013 nominees? Any surprises or snubs? Which game is your Game of the Year?

Spike VGX 2013 will stream December 7, 2013 at 6PM PST.

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Source: Spike