One note, both Stephen Totilo and myself are judges for the show, though this list of nominees reflects the votes of quite a few judges.
We plan to unveil the nominees for Kotaku’s Goaties in December, until then here’s the Spike TV VGA noms.
Game of the Year
Call of Duty: Black Ops
God of War III
Halo: Reach
Mass Effect 2
Red Dead Redemption
Studio of the Year
Bioware
Blizzard Entertainment
Bungie Studios
Rockstar San Diego
Best Xbox 360 Game
Alan Wake
Fable III
Halo: Reach
Mass Effect 2
Best PS3 Game
God of War III
Heavy Rain
Modnation Racers
Red Dead Redemption
Best Wii Game
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Kirby’s Epic Yarn
Metroid: Other M
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Best PC Game
Fallout: New Vegas
Mass Effect 2
Sid Meier’s Civilization V
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty
Best Handheld Game
God of War: Ghost of Sparta
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
Super Scribblenauts
Best Shooter
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Bioshock 2
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Halo: Reach
Best Action Adventure Game
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
God of War III
Red Dead Redemption
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Best RPG
Fable III
Fallout: New Vegas
Final Fantasy XIII
Mass Effect 2
Best Multiplayer
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Halo: Reach
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty
Best Individual Sports Game
EA Sports MMA
Shaun White Skateboarding
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11
UFC Undisputed 2010
Best Team Sports Game
FIFA Soccer 11
Madden NFL 11
NBA 2K11
MLB 10: The Show
Best Driving Game
Blur
Modnation Racers
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Split/Second
Best Music Game
Dance Central
DJ Hero 2
Def Jam Rapstar
Rock Band 3
Best Soundtrack
Def Jam Rapstar
DJ Hero 2
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Rock Band 3
Best Song in a Game
Basket Case – Green Day
Black Rain – Soundgarden
Far Away – Jose Gonzalez
Goldeneye – Nicole Scherzinger
Won’t Back Down -Eminem
Replay / Rude Boy Mashup – Iyaz and Rihanna
Best Original Score
God of War III
Halo: Reach
Mass Effect 2
Red Dead Redemption
Best Graphics
God of War III
Heavy Rain
Kirby’s Epic Yarn
Red Dead Redemption
Best Adapted Video Game
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1 – 4
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World: The Game
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Transformers: War for Cybertron
Best Performance by a Human Male
Daniel Craig as James Bond in Blood Stone 007
Gary Oldman as Sgt Reznov in Call of Duty: Black Ops
John Cleese as Jasper in Fable III
Martin Sheen as Illusive Man in Mass Effect 2
Nathan Fillion as Sergeant Edward Buck in Halo: Reach
Neil Patrick Harris as Peter Parker in Amazing Spider-Man
Rob Wiethoff as John Marston in Red Dead Redemption
Sam Worthington as Alex Mason in Call of Duty: Black Ops
Best Performance by a Human Female
Dame Judi Dench as M in Blood Stone 007
Danica Patrick as herself in Blur
Emmanuelle Chriqui as the Numbers Lady in Call of Duty: Black Ops
Felicia Day as Veronica in Fallout: New Vegas
Jennifer Hale as Commander Sheppard in Mass Effect 2
Kristen Bell as Lucy Stillman in Assassin’s Creed Botherhood
Tricia Helfer as Sarah Kerrigan in Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty
Yvonne Strahovski as Miranda Lawson in Mass Effect 2
Best Downloadable Game
Costume Quest
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Monday Night Combat
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game
Best DLC
Bioshock 2: Minerva’s Den
Borderlands: The Secret Armory of General Knoxx
Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker
Red Dead Redemption Undead Nightmare
Best Independent Game
Joe Danger
Limbo
Super Meat Boy
Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom
Most Anticipated Game
Batman: Arkham City
Bioshock: Infinite
Gears of War 3
Portal 2
Video Game Awards 2010 [Spike TV]
Adam Ruch
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 9:24 AM:O I am shocked. “a myriad of awards”?? Myriad is an adjective not a noun. You mean “a variety of awards” or “myriad awards.” Dammit Crecente! Most influential journalist my FOOT!
:P
Justin
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 12:49 PMthe word myraid can be used as both a noun and an adjective… to say ‘myriad of something’ is actually perfectly fine
it’s true! look it up :)
NotoriousR
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 9:24 AM‘Sam Worthington as Alex Mason in Call of Duty: Black Ops’
You are kidding me right? He was absolutely terrible.
——————–
Most Anticipated Game
Batman: Arkham City
Bioshock: Infinite
Gears of War 3
Portal 2
I am eagerly anticipating all these games, but I am surprised there is no Last Guardian in that list. Or inFamous 2. OR LBP2. Or ICO/SOTC. Wow. Next year shall be freaking awesome.
TadMod
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 9:25 AMOk, these awards are officially bullcrap.
The fact that Black Ops has made the list over games like New Vegas (especially due to it’s release just weeks ago) proves that these awards are a piss-take.
I hate these kinds of award shows!
GARAAHAHHHHHHHHH!!! >:[
/rage
Mark Serrels
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 9:45 AMNo Mario Galaxy 2 make no sense…
Adam Ruch
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 9:25 AMOh on a serious note, can we assume that “Game of the Year” equates to “Highest budget spend” with a sub-category for “Highest marketing spend”? Not that I don’t really like ME2 and RDR, but those games are so predictable its not even funny.
Mr explody
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 11:05 AMIt’s “Game of the Year” not “Story of the Year”
Gobbo
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 9:31 AMYeah never mind about that whole GT5 thing… :P
matt30822
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 9:44 AMPersonally would have swapped out GoW3 for either Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Super Mario Galaxy 2 or StarCraft 2.
Braaains
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 9:54 AMOK, so how the hell does COD: Black Ops get a nomination for overall game of the year when it couldn’t even get nominated as the best game on any one of PS3, 360 or PC?
Stinger
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 9:57 AMWhy are females listed in “best performance by a human male” ?
That’s not funny.
And how is Black Ops in the running for best game of the year?! THAT IS COMPLETE BS.
Bish
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 10:49 AMTo be fair, the heading “Best Performance by a Human Female” is there, just not formatted properly. I don’t think it’s meant to be a joke, just an oversight.
Also, Gary Oldman as Reznov (I love that guy, he’s such a bro. Plus as an actor, he has such great diversity) and a split between Jennifer Hale and Felicia Day. Jennifer Hale for quality, Felicia Day for the great one liners she has. Too bad she didn’t have more lines, I think she’s a great companion to have around.
Dom Giacomantonio
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 10:23 AMHow in the hell is Super Meat Boy not nominated for best downloadable game? What a crock!! Of those games Scott Pilgrim should (and probably will, win).
Of the GOTY – hopefully common sense prevails and Mass Effect 2/Red Dead Redemption.
If COD:BO wins, I call bullshit.
Steven Burton
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 10:44 AMLets make either
Halo Reach (A last goodbye to the bungie guy’s halo world, and it was a incredible game)
Mass Effect 2 (should really win it hands down)
but
COD!? Get stuffed it would be like me putting up FIFA or something up there as there mass produced every 6 months and bring nothing new to the table
Hurry n die COD you generic jock video game!
Michael Thomas
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 11:00 AMwhy is SC2 not a GOTY nominee, its pedigree in gaming imo out does GOW, Halo and COD.
And frankly the only reason COD and Halo got on the list is because its COD and Halo. Theres a 360 only and a PS3 only, get black ops out and put in SC2.
and if ME2 doesn’t win i’ll eat my shoes
MILDLY IRATE VIDEO GAME GUY
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 11:16 AMThe best RPG catagory is depressing.
Tristan Nicholls
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 12:29 PMI lol’d at the Best Wii game category – 1) Just about none of those games compare with ANY of the others, and 2) none of the games have any orignal characters either, just the same junk Nintendo keeps pumping out over and over.
And my vote is for ME2 to win, but I am equally disappointed SC2 isn’t in the list. Shame.
Brendan Keogh
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 12:57 PMThat screenshot just looks like the “Grizzly Men Holding Guns” award -.-
Ben J
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 1:06 PMI got upset when I noticed the distinct lack of SMG2 for GOTY. It’s just my opinion and I know people will probably disagree but I think it should at least be in there as a replacement for GoW3.
Black ops will most likely win everything its nominated for unfortunately. It’s great, but it’s also not GOTY material.
Cerzel
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 4:33 PMI hate it when these awards aren’t proper rewards where any game that could deserve the award is put forward, and instead are just “(Big budget/big studio/”AAA” title game) x of the year”.
Aaron
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 6:00 PMVery surprised Starcraft II and Civ V don’t get a top spot. They’re the real games for gamers (who game) of 2010.
Martin Sheen for best actor in a game though, hands down. His Illusive man was just brilliant. You so wanted to trust that voice but every part of you told you not too. If he pulled up alongside me and offered candy I’d be stumped.
Steve0410
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 6:02 PMMass Effect 2 (Game)
Blizzard (studio)
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty (PC)
Call of Duty: Black Ops (shooter)
Red Dead Redemption (action adventure)
Mass Effect 2 (RPG)
AHhahhaha. Sam Worthington nominated for best voice? Seriously? I honestly thought Mason was supposed to be an Australian for most of Black Ops (Hey! They have an Aussie character! Cool!)
PS: Why are there multiplatform games for the PS3/360 nominations? Pointless.
Chad Lennerts
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 8:17 PMMass Effect 2 for me.
Kizaru
Friday, November 19, 2010 at 2:57 AMIf you have as much money as Activision does, it don’t matter when you release your game.