VGX 2013 Awards/Vote Now!

VGX

I think we’re all pretty familiar with the bad rap that goes along with Spike’s Video Game Awards, but this year things are going to be done a little different. The award show has been rebranded as VGX 2013, and instead of being streamed on cable, the 3-hour show will be streamed online and will include behind-the-scenes interviews with developers and will also feature other exclusive, early access awesomeness.

I’ve always enjoyed at least voting for my favorite games, although I can’t say I’ve ever really sat down and, erm, watched the award show. But hey, it sounds like the big wigs have been listening and are working to incorporate some much-needed changes, so I think I’ll make a real effort to watch this year! The nominees have been announced, and you can now vote! The show is set to air December 7th, 2013 and I’m sure more details are to follow. Below are the nominees and I’ve bolded the game I voted for. Thanks GameRant for the list!

TLOU

Game of the Year – Oooh, this was a toss-up between The Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite. (I haven’t played much GTA V, Tomb Raider was a GREAT game but it didn’t blow my mind into a million chunks, and Super Mario 3D World is going to be Super Mario 3D World ALTHOUGH I have heard it’s quite amazing.) BioShock Infinite is a fan-fucking-tastic game, and isone of the most immersive I’ve ever played, not to mention Elizabeth is quite possibly the most realistic and helpful AI I’ve interacted with. But The Last of Us is unlike anything I had ever played before in terms of how cinematic the game is, and everything from the voice acting  to level design is nothing sort of superb.  DO WANT DLC.

  • BioShock Infinite
  • Grand Theft Auto 5
  • Super Mario 3D World
  • The Last of Us
  • Tomb Raider

naughty dog

Studio of the Year – I had to go with Naughty Dog, but I’d be very happy if Irrational Games won.

  • Irrational Games
  • Naughty Dog
  • Rockstar North
  • The Fullbright Company

bioshock

Best Shooter – NO. BRAINER. Paired with the insanely beautiful environment, innovative Vigors and great story BioShock Infinite is one of the best shooters I’ve ever played.

  • Battlefield 4
  • BioShock Infinite
  • Call of Duty: Ghosts
  • Metro: Last Light

tomb raider

Best Action Adventure Game – This is tricky because I haven’t played AC:4 or much of GTA V, but I believe Tomb Raider had more action/adventure in it than The Last of Us. When I think of Tomb Raider I think of constant doing, as opposed to the frequent cinematic walking/talking/observing scenes found in The Last of Us. So, Tomb Raider gets my love.

  • Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag
  • Grand Theft Auto 5
  • The Last of Us
  • Tomb Raider

sports

Best Sports Game – I don’t play sports games, so I voted for FIFA because that’s what all of the cool kids play and because I’ve played that a few times in my day. ::puffs chest out::

  • FIFA 14
  • MLB 13: The Show
  • NBA 2K14
  • NHL 14

Best Independent Game – I’m not much of an indie gamer and haven’t touched any of these titles, so I didn’t vote. I’ve heard great things about Gone Home, though!

  • Gone Home
  • Kentucky Route Zero
  • Papers, Please
  • The Stanley Parable

pokemon x y

Best RPG – GAH! Usually RPGs are my jam, and I’m saddened and disappointed I haven’t played the majority of these. I’ve dinked around with Final Fantasy XIV quite a bit, and from what I’ve heard Pokemon X/Y is nothing short of sex, sooo….I’m going to have to be a girl and vote for Pokemon X/Y BECAUSE I LOVE MY POKEMANZ. >___< (And also because I’m picking up the game on Friday with my 3DS!)

  • Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn
  • Fire Emblem: Awakening
  • Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
  • Pokemon X/Y

Best Fighting Game – I no play the fighting gamez. I skipz this vote.

  • Divekick
  • Injustice: Gods Among Us
  • Killer Instinct
  • Tekken Revolution

Best Driving Game – I no play driving gamez. I skipz this one too.

  • F1 2013
  • Grid 2
  • Forza Motorsport 5
  • Need for Speed Rivals

ME3

Best DLC – Because I love my Mass Effect crew, that’s why.

  • Borderlands 2: Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep
  • Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall
  • Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
  • Mass Effect 3: Citadel

bioshock

Best Xbox Game 

  • BioShock Infinite
  • Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
  • Grand Theft Auto 5
  • Tomb Raider

TLOU

Best PlayStation Game

  • Grand Theft Auto 5
  • Rayman Legends
  • The Last of Us
  • Tomb Raider

super mario 3d world

Best Nintendo Game – Uhhhhhhhhh. This is slightly awkward since I haven’t played any of these. Well, seeing as I’m going to pick up Super Mario 3D World on Friday and seeing as the reviews are positive as hell I’ll give it my vote.

  • Pikmin 3
  • Rayman Legends
  • Super Mario 3D World
  • The Wonderful 101

Best PC Game – Can’t really vote for any of these, either! MAN! I’m such a slacker.

  • Battlefield 4
  • Gone Home
  • Papers, Please
  • The Stanley Parable
Link
BWAHAHAHAHA. I’m so sorry.

Best Handheld Game –  OKAY WORLD I GET IT. YOU WANT TO RUB THE FACT THAT I HAVE YET TO PICK UP A 3DS IN MY FACE. WELL FINE. I’M GETTING ONE FRIDAY, OKAY?! Also I’m voting for Zelda.

  • Animal Crossing: New Leaf
  • Pokemon X/Y
  • Tearaway
  • The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

new leaf

Best Casual Game – Animal Crossing. It’s like crack. Not buttcrack, but the addictive stuff. I mean, I guess buttcrack can be addictive.

  • Animal Crossing: New Leaf
  • Disney Infinity
  • Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time
  • Skylanders Swap Force

troy baker

Best Voice Actor – I gotta roll with my homeboy Troy. Don’t get me wrong, everyone nominated is talented as hell, but Troy is just phenomenal.

  • Troy Baker as Joel in The Last of Us
  • Troy Baker as Booker DeWitt in BioShock Infinite
  • Steven Ogg as Trevor Philips in Grand Theft Auto 5
  • Willem Dafoe as Nathan Dawkins in Beyond: Two Souls

camilla

Best Voice Actress – ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! HNNNGHHHHHHHH. This is like asking to choose from my favorite video game collectible. Or something. That was a terrible reference. Alright, I gotta go with Camilla. That lady is just so stinkin’ hot and her voice — the main focus here — is not only just as hot, it could read me bedtime stories every night for the rest of my life and I would not complain. TALK TO ME LARA.

  • Ashely Johnson as Ellie in The Last of Us
  • Courtnee Draper as Elizabeth in BioShock Infinite
  • Camilla Luddington as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider
  • Ellen Page as Jodie Holmes in Beyond: Two Souls

bioshock

Best Soundtrack – BioShock Infinite f’sho. The first thing that comes to mind are all of the old record players scattered throughout the game and how neat it was to just stand there and listen for a while.

  • BioShock Infinite
  • Grand Theft Auto 5
  • Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
  • The Last of Us

eminem

Best Song in a Game – Will the Circle be Ubroken is a BEAUTIFUL song, but it’s a bit slow. So I shall go with my boy Eminem! <3

  • “ADHD” performed by Kendrick Lamar (Grand Theft Auto 5)
  • “Sleepwalking” performed by The Chain Gang of 1974 (Grand Theft Auto 5)
  • “Survival” performed by Eminem (Call of Duty: Ghosts)
  • “Will the Circle be Unbroken” performed by Courtnee Draper & Troy Baker (BioShock Infinite)

south park

Most Anticipated Game – South Park. While I’m undeniably excited for Titanfall and Destiny, I feel like…well….like I’ve already played those types of games before and I know what to expect from them. Not that that’s a bad thing, but South Park: The Stick of Truth looks like something I’ve never played before. It’s going to be rude, crude, hilarious and push boundaries. AND PLUS IT’S FREAKIN’ SOUTH PARK.

HONORABLE MENTION: The Witcher 3. I haven’t blogged about this yet, but I recently completed both The Witcher and The Witcher 2, and uh, where have they been my entire life?! In short, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is probably my most anticipated game of 2014 other than Dragon Age: Inquisition. But again, I have an idea of what Wild Hunt will be bringing to my doorstep (which will be nothing short of awesomeness) so I had to vote for South Park. Even though I’m more excited for The Witcher. Does that make sense? It makes sense in my head. Right.

  • South Park: The Stick of Truth 
  • Destiny
  • Watch Dogs
  • Titanfall
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

MY BRAIN HURTS. If you decide to vote, let me know what you voted for and if you plan to watch the show this year!

9 Comments

  1. My list goes a little something like this,

    GotY: The Last of Us

    Studio of the Year: Naughty Dog

    Best Shooter: Bioshock Infinite

    Best Action Adventure Game: AC4

    Best RPG: Pokemon X/Y

    Best Fighter: Injustice: Gods Among Us

    Best DLC: ME3: Citadel

    Best Playstation Game: The Last of Us

    Best Nintendo Game: Super Mario 3D World

    Best Handheld: The Legend of Zelda: A link Between Worlds

    Best Voice Actor: Steven Ogg

    Best Voice Actress: Courtnee Draper

    Best Soundtrack: BioShock Infinite

    Best Song in a Game: “Survival” performed by Eminem

    Most Anticipated Game: I would say Infamous Second Son but I’ll go with South Park since it’s not on the list.

  2. I agreed with a decent amount of your choices, but a few stood out to me.
    Sadly, and much to my chagrin as a fan, I did not go with Troy for best voice actor. I felt that, despite how much I enjoyed his characters and his portrayal of them, Troy was not as dynamic in his character as Steve Ogg was with Trevor. The way in which he showed the absolute ups and downs of Trevor’s character lends itself to his phenomenal talent. But I still would prefer to have Troy as an actor any other day.
    As for best voice actress, I disagreed, again. I greatly enjoyed ‘Tomb Raider’ and the way Lara’s character was voiced/acted. However, the greatest achievement of ‘The Last of Us’ was Ellie’s character and that has everything to do with how brilliantly Ashley Johnson portrayed the role. That one, to me at least, was a no-brainer.
    As for soundtrack, I can’t really say that the little recordings of modern songs weren’t awesome to see, but I can’t help but find that Gustavo Santaolalla’s subtle score for ‘The Last of Us’ perfectly portrayed both the desolation and desperation of the characters/environment while using while-timed swells in music to draw out the finest of emotional moments. All of that truly brought together the experience that was ‘The Last of Us.’
    Other than that, I can’t think of anything that stands out, to me.
    Great pics, though!

    • Y’know, you got me thinking about it. Ellie’s character was voice phenomenally, but I think I may have been partial to Camilla because I liked Lara more as a character. While Ellie was a very likable, deep character, I liked how Lara was able to take care of herself. Hmmmm. GOOD SHIT.

      • Lara was a different type of character from Ellie, though. Lara showed how she had this amazing strength and will to live and brought out this brutal survival instinct, when needed.
        However, Ellie was far from helpless.
        **SPOILERS!!**
        There’s a whole level where Ellie is out hunting with nothing but a bow and arrow, and fashions bombs and traps, while fighting off hordes of Infected. It’s the hardest “level” in the game, but also the most enjoyable. While I definitely liked empowering Lara throughout her tale, I was completely enthralled with the part where Ellie was armed with nothing but a knife, wandering through the blistering cold, taking out bad guys in a silent fashion. Then, after all is said and done, she’s able to overcome a much more powerful – not to mention insane – man and butcher him in order to protect herself. The desperation is so well displayed due to Ashley’s performance.
        **END SPOILERS!!**
        While Lara has a great power in her character, I cannot help that the greatest strength of Ellie’s character is driven by how she’s portrayed by the actress. I love both games and both characters, but I’d honestly be surprised if Ashley did not end up winning.

  3. I hated that I even spent time time voting for these since our vote doesn’t really matter (aside from Most Anticipated, our vote is more of a suggestion), but I did it because it’s fun in a dumb kind of way. I’ve watched these awards for the last three or four years, and I can pretty much confirm they are fun in a dumb kind of way. The best moment I can remember from one of these is when they first revealed The Last of Us a few years ago, as I fell in love with the game instantly right then and there. It’s nice to see things come full circle and hopefully culminate with a big win (it’d be great to see a game first revealed at the VGAs go on to win GotY there a few years later).

    I don’t really play a lot of new release games, but I did play The Last of Us so I pretty much picked it in every category it was nominated. In the categories where it wasn’t nominated I just picked the game that I figured I would like the most. For Best Song I went with “Sleepwalking” because I loved the song in those GTA V commercials. Most Anticipated I went with South Park, because how could I not (I’ve been watching the show since it started, even though I’m sure it wasn’t appropriate for me to do so).

    • Oh really, that’s how it works? THAT’S DUMB. :(

      But yeah, they are fun in a dumb kind of way. Anything industry related is always entertaining on some level. ;) And yeah dude, I’ve been watching SP since I was in elementary school. I remember I saw a shirt with all of the kids on it and thought they were cute, so I had my mom buy it for me. I found out maybe a week later what it was!

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