BAFTA game nominations revealed

By Robert Purchese Published 10 February, 2009

COD4, Fable II, GTAIV, LBP top the bill.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is heading up the nominations for the British Academy Video Game Awards this year, which take place in London on 10th March.

The Infinity Ward shooter is nominated for eight BAFTAs, ahead of Grand Theft Auto IV with seven, LittleBigPlanet with six and Fable II with five.

All but LBP will contend for Best Game, alongside other multiple-nominees Fallout 3, Rock Band and Super Mario Galaxy. Guitar Hero World Tour misses that shortlist, but has been put forward for the public GAME Award of 2008 further down.

Other big-hitters include Assassin's Creed, Dead Space and Fallout 3 with four nominations each. Gears of War 2, Rock Band and Super Mario Galaxy all have three shouts.

Action & Adventure

  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • Dead Space
  • Fable II
  • Grand Theft Auto IV
  • Prince of Persia
  • Tomb Raider: Underworld

Artistic Achievement

  • Assassin's Creed
  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • Dead Space
  • Gears of War 2
  • LittleBigPlanet
  • Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Best Game

  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • Fable II
  • Fallout 3
  • Grand Theft Auto IV
  • Rock Band
  • Super Mario Galaxy

Casual

  • Boom Blox
  • Buzz! Quiz TV
  • Guitar Hero: World Tour
  • LittleBigPlanet
  • SingStar Vol. 2
  • Wii Fit

Gameplay

  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • Grand Theft Auto IV
  • Left 4 Dead
  • Mario Kart Wii
  • Rock Band
  • Super Mario Galaxy

Handheld

  • Geometry Wars: Galaxies
  • God of War: Chains of the Olympus
  • The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
  • Patapon
  • Professor Layton and the Curious Village
  • Soul Bubbles

Multiplayer

  • Buzz! Quiz TV
  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • Gears of War 2
  • Left 4 Dead
  • Mario Kart Wii
  • Rock Band

Original Score

  • Assassin's Creed
  • Dead Space
  • Fable II
  • Fallout 3
  • LittleBigPlanet
  • Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Sports

  • FIFA 09
  • Football Manager 2009
  • Motorstorm Pacific Rift
  • Pure
  • Race Driver: GRID
  • Wii Fit

Strategy

  • Advance Wars: Dark Conflict
  • Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3
  • Ninjatown
  • Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution
  • SOCOM: US Navy Seals Tactical Strike
  • Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise

Story and Character

  • Assassin's Creed
  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • Fable II
  • Fallout 3
  • Grand Theft Auto IV
  • Mass Effect

Technical Achievement

  • Assassin's Creed
  • Fable II
  • Fallout 3
  • Grand Theft Auto IV
  • LittleBigPlanet
  • Spore

Use of Audio

  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • Dead Space
  • Gears of War 2
  • Grand Theft Auto IV
  • LittleBigPlanet
  • Super Mario Galaxy

BAFTA Ones to Watch Award (in association with Dare to Be Digital)

  • Boro-Toro
  • Origamee
  • VegeMe

GAME Award of 2008 (the only award to be voted for by the public)

  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • Fallout 3
  • Gears of War 2
  • Grand Theft Auto IV
  • Guitar Hero World Tour
  • Left 4 Dead
  • LittleBigPlanet
  • Professor Layton and the Curious Village
  • Wii Fit
  • World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (54) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • andywilkie35 #1 3 years ago

    no matter what people think of it, how Prince of Persia isn't nominated for the artistic award yet CoD4 has been is fucking bizarre

  • gallow #2 3 years ago

    I think Valkyria Chronicles has been massively overlooked in the nominations.

  • Aggesan #3 3 years ago

    This list is a joke. Buzz in the list for multiplayer of the year? And gears 2 also in the list for best multiplayer of the year? Fable 2 nominated for best game, but not Metal Gear Solid? Shhh....

  • Stuz359 #4 3 years ago

    Super Mario Galaxy HAS to get Best Game!

    Please, I don't ask for much

  • PearOfAnguish #5 3 years ago

    Do indie games not get a chance? Where's Braid or World of Goo?

  • JohnnyWashnGo #6 3 years ago

    Yeah the list is missing some very important and oft overlooked titles, as gallow mentioned, Valkyria Chronicles is one that springs to mind.

    And Metal Gear 4 should have more representation in their, as should Prince of Persia. Story and character should have had MGS in for sure.

    Good to see Dead Space in there tho. Possible my second favourite game of the year.

  • X201 #7 3 years ago

    No SMG in the original score section!?

  • danathjo #8 3 years ago

    they need a best downloadable game award

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #9 3 years ago

    If SMG is elligable, why not Orange Box? Portal is better than every single game up there (that I've played, at least, but I'd wager it's better than the ones I've not played too)

  • Erinan #10 3 years ago

    Why can't I vote for Rock Band in the public GAME award?

  • mikeck #11 3 years ago

    they need a best downloadable game award

    As long as it specified small downloadable games, or else we'd just see big games available through Steam like GTAIV, or Burnout Paradise on the PSN etc on the list too, as if they need more categories to be elegible for :)
    Edited by 2 at 10/02/09 @ 12:24

  • mad_caddy #12 3 years ago

    Good luck to the Boro-Toro team :)

  • LazyDan #13 3 years ago

    I hope Super Mario Galaxy wins everything it's up for, but I concur with X201... No SMG in the original score category is just plain incorrect when you consider Assasin's Creed is in there.

    I also hope Professor Layton get's the handheld one... We can pretty much write off the public voted award as a gimme for Wrath of the Lich King, which really shouldn't be there at all as it's an expansion and not a full game. It'd be like GTA4 DLC being up for nomination 3 years down the line.

    Braid and/or World of Goo really should've been in there too - preferably over GTA4 and Mario Kart Wii in the gameplay category. As much as I loooveee Mario Kart Wii, in terms of gameplay there was no 'wow' factor like there was with WoG and Braid. Same goes for GTA4 which game me the exact polar opposite feeling to 'wow'.

    Otherwise I think those are pretty solid lists. Despite what I might personally think of MGS4 and LBP.

  • secombe #14 3 years ago

    No SMG in the original score section!?

    Absolutely, best score of all time.

  • Gl3n #15 3 years ago

    Wasn't CoD4 nearly a year and a half ago?

  • chessboxer #16 3 years ago

    Am I the only one who thought COD4 was very meh?

    After playing UT2004 and CS:S, COD4 multiplayer was underwhelming (good single player story but it only lasted 4 hours on normal), and in terms of a console shooter, I prefer Bad Company for multiplayer. Even MGO provided me with more entertainment.

  • Bremenacht #17 3 years ago

    Ninjatown! I loved it, but I'm surprised to see it in that list.

  • miiiguel #18 3 years ago

    I like GTA 4. I like its narrative. I like the nihilist character. I think it's mature gaming even it it was stripped down of sex & violence.
    I can understand, however, why so much verbosity towards not liking it (in some circles they call it "hate";). It's due to its sucess, mostly.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/09 @ 12:39

  • beckyh #19 3 years ago

    As far as I know, it is up to the individual games developers to submit their games to BAFTA for consideration for nomination. If your favourite game is not there it is not the fault of BAFTA, it is down to the individual companies involved.

  • Razz #20 3 years ago

    The Handheld Categprory seems good thogh. Excellent games in there.

  • HiddenAway #21 3 years ago

    I just looked it up and Call of Duty 4 is a 2007 game - with the exception of the Mac version which was released in 2008 :p.

  • zoidberg #22 3 years ago

    Left 4 Dead deserved more noms !

  • Rafeage #23 3 years ago

    Boro-Toro FTW!

  • Burkey123 #24 3 years ago

    Mario Galaxy has to be the best game.
    Where is super smash brothers for multiplayer? Best multiplayer game ever!!
    Call of Duty does deserve a lot of praise though.

  • OldRavenNL #25 3 years ago

    Wow this list really is a joke.

    I mean in use of audio they should at least mention Bad company.
    Their audio simply blows COD off the map.

    Good to see Dead space in there.. one of the best games last years.

  • UKGN_Zoidberg #26 3 years ago

    The handheld category is indeed a tough one - because they forgot to nominate LocoRoco 2, which is easily the best handheld game of the year!

  • dr_faulk #27 3 years ago

    In all honesty, I think CoD4 should win every catgeory it's in. I've been playing the game for over a year now, and it's remarkable how many people played it, liked it, and couldn't say anything bad about it.

  • kinky_mong #28 3 years ago

    "no matter what people think of it, how Prince of Persia isn't nominated for the artistic award yet CoD4 has been is fucking bizarre"

    Even worse Dead Space is in there!! I didn't realise an abundance of brown and grey corridors and abominations for enemies was considered artistic.

    I'm praying SMG or Left 4 Dead win something but it's inevitable that CoD4 and GTA4 will clear up.

  • bad09 #29 3 years ago

    "Multiplayer

    * Gears of War 2"

    Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

    / wipes tears of laughter

    Gears 2 an award for MP...Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

    I hope DS wins best action adventure , but you KNOW it will be GTA.

  • patchbox360 #30 3 years ago

    FALLOUT3 >

  • kangarootoo #31 3 years ago

    Nom nom nom

  • paulf #32 3 years ago

    @ chessboxer 'Am I the only one who thought COD4 was very meh?'

    you are the first dissenting voice I have heard about COD4 - so maybe yes ;)

  • Rash' #33 3 years ago

    Why LBP isn't in Best Game is beyond me, but even more baffling is the inclusion of an FPS highlight from 2007. I don't rate these awards... but I'll echo calls for SMG.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/09 @ 13:51

  • Widge #34 3 years ago

    COD4 got a GOTY edition in 2008 didn't it? Maybe thats why its included...
    Then again, I suppose you could stick Bioshock up for nomination too.

  • robson_wii #35 3 years ago

    Why isn't Golden Balls in there? Don't they have a "worst game ever" category?

    No Brawl in multi player either! Criminal...

  • Rash' #36 3 years ago

    Widge, A re-release of a great film wouldn't game a Bafta nomination so how can CoD4 be any different? It's silly really and I don't rate the choices. The failing to have LBP even as a contender for Best Game is hugely disappointing.

  • retr0gamer #37 3 years ago

    No Valkyria Chronicles and the inclusion of games that are over 2 years old at this stage? What the hell is up with that?

  • Rash' #38 3 years ago

    What the hell is a Gameplay award?

  • Rash' #39 3 years ago

    LBP doesn't have original music. It's all licenced. These nominations are shockingly inaccurate.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/09 @ 14:21

  • Rash' #40 3 years ago

    Mass Effect is there too. The game was released in September (as far as I remember) 07! Why the hell should we care? Oh, that's right, because it's Bafta. The Academy shouldn't give up their day jobs.

  • paulf #41 3 years ago

    bioshock won best game last year,

    The entry period for games this year is a bit wierd because they have shifted the awards to make them after xmas - which make sense as most games are released at the xmas period

    so cod4 is nominated because it was released in the entry window which must of started around nov 2007 and finished end dec 2008

  • Markusdragon #42 3 years ago

    I was about to write what Paulf said. He's completely right on every account.

  • JahB #43 3 years ago

    And Metal Gear 4 should have more representation in their, as should Prince of Persia. Story and character should have had MGS in for sure.

    i hate to say it, but metal gears' story is average at best and should not be nominated for any prize whatsoever. the game's die-hard fans always seem to insist that MGS's storyline is great, but the rest of the world (including me) is always surprised at how people perceive stories about the clone of super soldier x and his strange friends and enemies with random names as good.

    edit: why prince of persia didn't make it for art I don't get either. that was the one thing done right about that game
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/09 @ 14:35

  • AceRadd #44 3 years ago

    "LBP doesn't have original music. It's all licenced."

    To be fair, some of it is original, but that's only something like 7 or 8 of the tracks.

  • Rash' #45 3 years ago

    AceRadd, So then the question is does that warrant an original music nomination when more note worthy candidates could have been considered.

    paulf, If that is true what good would CoD4 getting an award now serve?

    The more I look at these nominations the more I question.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/09 @ 15:02

  • Agent_Llama #46 3 years ago

    As far as I know, it is up to the individual games developers to submit their games to BAFTA for consideration for nomination. If your favourite game is not there it is not the fault of BAFTA, it is down to the individual companies involved.

    Er, surely it's BAFTA's fault if it's submitted for consideration and subsequently not nominated.

    /pedant mode off.

    (It's been a bad day)
    Edited by 2 at 10/02/09 @ 15:18

  • paulf #47 3 years ago

    well the point of these awards is to recognise excellence - cod4 is an excellent game it was released within the timeframe for this years awards rather than last years so why shouldn't it be up for an award -

    Like I said before this year is a bit funny because the window is longer than it would normally be, however not as strange as last year where a few games where nominated that hadn't been released (but that's the reason the awards have moved).

    Of course companies often use awards to plug their products (to increase sales) but in cod4 case it's not really neccesary

  • existenz1 #48 3 years ago

    call of duty 4 was released november 2007 for xmas 2007 period and so should not be on the 2008 list whats going ON ???

    (lbp was released oct/november 2008 for xmas 2008 period by way of comparison)


    are we comparing like with like here - or what arbitrary rules are being used. I live in GB, my PAL copy of COD4 was dispatched by Amazon on 8th November 2007

    I think this completely calls into question the running of these awards at a fundamental level

  • paulf #49 3 years ago

    @existenz1 - read my posts then you will see why

  • ThemisB #50 3 years ago

    No SMG in the original score section!?

    Absolutely, best score of all time.

    Here here.

  • ViralNinja #51 3 years ago

    The reason COD4, Assassins's Creed, Super Mario Galaxy, Mass Effect and Patapon are on the list is because there was no Bafta awards last year; they realised that holding awards in October was daft (as everyone else does them at the end of the year to include the christmas releases so the Baftas just looked out of place).

    So they moved it to March.

    The result is that this list includes every game released between October 2007 and March 2009.

    The reason why greats like Valkyria chorincles have gone overlooked (no artistic achievement nomination? seriously??) are probably down to the publishers not wanting to spend a few hundred quid to put their game up for voting by a panel of judges who think that LittleBigPlanet is a "casual" game and that Tomb Raider is a better game than MGS4.

  • TravisTouchdown #52 3 years ago

    This is not about artistic - or any other sort - merit , folks. Companies have to pay to have a game considered, and they have to choose categories for themselves for which they'd like their title considered.

    It is, without a shadow of a doubt, complete and utter bullshit. Saddening but true.

  • jack979 #53 3 years ago

    ok wheres the real list?
    how can metal gear solid only be in two catogories. so there saying tomb raider and fable's bettr than mgs.
    why havent they got a seperate racing catagory as it is a pretty big genre.
    how did assasins creed and cod even get in to story and character the wort thing about them were there story.
    and how do they even decide what games on it as assasins creed and cod4 came out in 07.

  • DavidA #54 3 years ago

    The process is more thorough than some of you are suggesting. I forget how much I can say without breaking confidentiality, so I'll keep it pretty vague.

    They made two big changes. They only considered games which had been released (no betas etc) and they moved the dates to better coincide with Christmas releases. The period this year is 26th October 2007 to 31st December 2008. Publishers and/or developers can put forward games they would like for consideration. The long list is gradually whittled down to a final six in each category (the nominations) and a secret ballot by the jury to find a winner.

    It's a pretty thorough process taken really seriously by BAFTA and I think it's good for gaming. I think the committee is made up of people who know their onions and the juries are well selected too. If you have comments then direct them to Kelly at BAFTA.

    [link url=http://bafta.org/awards/video-gam es/video-games-eligibility-judging,541,BA.html
    ]http://ba fta.org/awards/video-games/vide...[/link]
    http://ba fta.org/awards/video-games/game...