The BAFTA Videogame Awards have released the categories and nominations for 2012. Among the 48 titles selected, the top contenders for this year's title includes Batman: Arkham City and L.A. Noire, each collecting 8 nominations apiece. Trailing behind are other tope titles such as Uncharted 3, Little Big Planet 2 with 6 votes. Chasing them are Portal 2 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim with 5 nominations apiece. The race is tight but many feel that Batman: Arkham City may take the prize, even thought the game lacked multiplayer features, which has sparked some question whether that should be an included feature to be considered as Game of the Year.
BAFTA is also introducing new categories into this year's competition. The new awards include Debut Game, Online Browser, Online Multiplayer, and Performer. The competition works to offer diverse categories which includes games from a wide range of areas from action, artistic achievements, audio, acting, and innovation. There is also a category for fans to choose their top game of the year.
The event will be held in London on March 16, 2012 and will include top names in the gaming industry in attendance and to judge the winners.
Below is a full list nominations for each category:
Action
Assassin's Creed Revelations
Batman: Arkham City
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Portal 2
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Artistic Achievement
Batman: Arkham City
L.A. Noire
LitteBigPlanet 2
Rayman Origins
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Audio Achievement
Batman: Arkham City
Battlefield 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Dead Space 2
The Nightjar
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Best Game
Batman: Arkham City
FIFA 2012
L.A. Noire
Portal 2
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Debut Game
Bastion
Eufloria
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
L.A. Noire
Monstermind
RIFT
Design
Batman: Arkham City
L.A. Noire
LittleBigPlanet 2
Portal 2
Super Mario 3D Land
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Family
Dance Central 2
Kinect Sports 2
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
LittleBigPlanet 2
Mario Kart 7
Game Innovation
Bastion
Child of Eden
From Dust
L.A. Noire
LittleBigPlanet 2
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Mobile & Handheld
Dead Space iOS
Magnetic Billiards: Blueprint
Peggle
Quarrel
Super Mario 3D Land
The Nightjar
Online - Browser
Gardens of Time
I Am Playr
Monstermind
Resistance 3
Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure
The Sims Social
Online - Multiplayer
Assassin's Creed: Revelations
Battlefield 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Dark Souls
Gears of War 3
LittleBigPlanet 2
Original Music
Assassin's Creed: Revelations
Batman: Arkham City
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
L.A. Noire
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Performer
Aaron Stanton (Cole Phelps) - L.A. Noire
Mark Hamill (The Joker) - Batman: Arkham City
Nolan North (Nathan Drake) - Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Stephen Fry (Narrator) - LittleBigPlanet 2
Stephen Merchant (Wheatley) - Portal 2
Togo Igawa (Diplomat, Advisor and Military General) - Total War: Shogun 2
Sports/Fitness
Dance Central 2
DiRT 3
Fl 2011
FIFA 2012
Kinect Sports 2
Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012
Story
Batman: Arkham City
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
L.A. Noire
Portal 2
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Strategy
Dark Souls
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Football Manager 2012
From Dust
Ghost Recon Shadow Wars
Total War: Shogun 2
Bafta Ones to Watch Award in association with Dare to Be Digital
Dreamweaver
Joust!
Tick Tock Toys
GAME Award of 2011 (voted for by the public)
Batman: Arkham City
Battlefield 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
FIFA 2012
L.A Noire
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Minecraft
Portal 2
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception