SXSW Gaming Awards finalists announced, fan vote open

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The first-ever SXSW Gaming Awards have announced the first finalists. These were picked from games that were released in 2013, by industry judges and cool folks such as yours truly. You’ll see the usual suspects in the Game of the Year Award, including The Last of Us and Super Mario 3D World. While I know it’s not cool to let the world know your nominations, know that I had Fire Emblem Awakening‘s back on this ballot.

You can see the full list below or here.

Fans vote on the winners of these awards. The online ballots are open now, and run through February 21. Do your part!

The SXSW Gaming Awards take place on March 8 at Long Center in Austin.

Game of the Year Award
Awarded to 2013 indie or mainstream game that exemplifies gaming excellence. These games represent the penultimate of gamine achievement.

Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, Ubisoft
Bioshock Infinite, Irrational Games
Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar Games
Gone Home, The Fullbright Company
The Last of Us, Naughty Dog
Super Mario 3D World, Nintendo of America
Tearaway, Sony Computer Entertainment America
Tomb Raider, Square Enix Inc.

Excellence in Gameplay Award Awarded to the 2013 indie or mainstream game that exemplifies excellence in gameplay mechanics. These games are amongst the most memorable and fun; the cream of the crop.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, 505 Studios
The Last of Us, Naughty Dog
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Nintendo of America
Super Mario 3D World, Nintendo of America
Tearaway, Sony Computer Entertainment America

Excellence in Art Award
Awarded to the 2013 indie or mainstream game that exemplifies excellence in art. These titles are beautiful, engaging, and visually amazing.

Bioshock Infinite, Irrational Games
Kentucky Route Zero, Cardboard Computer, LLC
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc
Rayman Legends, Ubisoft
Tearaway, Sony Computer Entertainment America

Excellence in Animation Award
Awarded to the 2013 indie or mainstream game that exemplifies excellence in animation.

The Last of Us, Naughty Dog
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc
Super Mario 3D World, Nintendo of America
Tearaway, Sony Computer Entertainment America
Tomb Raider, Square Enix Inc.

Excellence in Technical Achievement Award
Awarded to the 2013 indie or mainstream game that exemplifies excellence in technical achievement.

Antichamber, Demruth
Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar Games
Papa Sangre II, Somthin’Else
Super Mario 3D World, Nintendo of America
The Swapper, Facepalm Games

Excellence in Narrative Award
Awarded to the 2013 indie or mainstream game that exemplifies excellence in game narrative.

Bioshock Infinite, Irrational Games
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, 505 Studios
Gone Home, The Fullbright Company
Kentucky Route Zero, Cardboard Computer, LLC
The Last of Us, Naughty Dog

Excellence in Design and Direction Award
Awarded to the 2013 indie or mainstream game that exemplifies excellence in design and direction.

Bioshock Infinite, Irrational Games
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, 505 Studios
Gone Home, The Fullbright Company
Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar Games
Tearaway, Sony Computer Entertainment America

Excellence in Gaming Marketing Award
Awarded to 2013’s most memorable marketing campaign for a game title or hardware or company.

Excellence in SFX Award
Awarded to the 2013 indie or mainstream game that exemplifies excellence game sound effects.

Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, The Chinese Room
Battlefield 4, Electronic Arts
Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar Games
Forza Motorsport 5, Microsoft
The Last of Us, Naughty Dog

Excellence in Musical Score Award
Awarded to the 2013 indie or mainstream game that exemplifies artistic excellence in musical score and how it is used to progress the narrative of a game.

Bioshock Infinite, Irrational Games
The Last of Us, Naughty Dog
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
Tearaway, Sony Computer Entertainment America
Tomb Raider, Square-Enix

Convergence Award
Awarded to the 2013 indie or mainstream game that exemplifies excellence and pure crossover appeal through multiple mediums.

Injustice Gods Among Us, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
The Last of Us, Naughty Dog
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
The Walking Dead: Season Two, Episode One: All That Remains -Telltale Games
The Wolf Among Us, Episode One: Faith – Telltale Games

Cultural Innovation Award
Awarded to the 2013 indie or mainstream game that most challenges the “norm” of everyday gaming and offers a culturally innovative view of a game world, character or gameplay.

Bioshock Infinite, Irrational Games
Gone Home, The Fullbright Company
Guacamelee, Drinkbox Studios
Papers, Please, 3909 LLC
Year Walk, Simogo

Best Multiplayer Game Award
Awarded to the 2013 indie or mainstream game that exemplifies excellence in multiplayer gaming.

Battlefield 4, Electronic Arts
Call of Duty: Ghosts, Activision
DOTA 2 (Defense of the Ancients 2), Valve
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, Blizzard Entertainment
Super Mario 3D World, Nintendo of America

Texas Arts Achievement Award Annual award a Texas-based studio or company for their achievements in game development, and its role in progressing game development awareness in Texas.

SXSW Gamer’s Voice Award
Awarded to the favorite indie game in the Indie Corner Showcase, by gamers on the SXSW Gaming Expo floor