Gamers across the world started casting their votes on January 25th, 2017 and there’s one week left to make sure your favorite games and the creators behind them are rewarded at the SXSW Gaming Awards on March 18th in Austin, TX.
Once all the entries were received, the SXSW Gaming Advisory Board and staff selected the top five choices in each award category. The team is comprised of over 40 industry experts who are well-versed in everything gaming and geek culture. Now all the nominees are online and ready for you to help determine the winner of each award.
Voting Page: http://studios.ign.com/sxswgamingawards/
Video Game of the Year:
Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a distinct gaming experience across all platforms and genres.
Excellence in SFX:
Awarded to the game with the most outstanding and impactful sound effects.
Excellence in Musical Score:
Awarded to the game that best exemplifies artistic excellence in musical score and how it progresses the narrative of the game.
Excellence in Technical Achievement:
Awarded to the game that pushed the capabilities of technology and programming.
Excellence in Visual Achievement:
Awarded to the game with the most well-designed and stunning visuals.
Excellence in Animation:
Awarded to the game with the most outstanding animations.
Excellence in Art:
Awarded to the game with the most expressive and creative artistic style.
Excellence in Convergence:
Awarded to the game that excels in crossover to other entertainment mediums such as film, music, toys, animation, sports and more.
Excellence in Multiplayer:
Awarded to the game with the best player-to-player interaction experience.
Most Memorable Character:
Awarded to the best game character that left an overwhelming impression.
Most Promising New Intellectual Property:
Awarded to a new property that risked creating something fresh and that excelled within its genre or category for the year.
Most Fulfilling Community-Funded Game:
Awarded to the game that was primarily produced via crowdfunding platforms and had excelled beyond the expectations set before it.
Excellence in Gameplay:
Awarded to the game with the best gameplay mechanics.
Excellence in Design:
Awarded to the game with the best overall design concept and best execution.
Excellence in Narrative:
Awarded to the game with the best storyline and dialogue.
Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award:
Awarded to the game that best challenges the “norm” of everyday gaming and offers a culturally innovative view of a game world, character, or gameplay.
Fan Creation of the Year:
Awarded to the most compelling fan-made piece of work across all games and platforms. This includes, but isn’t limited to, artwork, writing, videography, special effects, and more.
Trending Game of the Year:
Awarded to the game that consistently entertained and kept us watching on social platforms with its humor, stories, and more.
Esports Game of the Year:
Awarded to the online game that has the best competitive scene, or potential to grow one, and most entertainment value.
Tabletop Game of the Year:
Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence and ingenuity of any tabletop game in any genre.
Mobile Game of the Year:
Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a unique gaming experience on any handheld device.