For the eighth year running, the Game Audio Network Guild is awarding its members for outstanding achievement in the game audio field, and it's revealed its finalists, with Assassin's Creed II and Uncharted 2 getting nine nods each.
The nonprofit guild, known as G.A.N.G, is a trade group for game audio professionals that has existed since 2002. Its annual awards are voted on and judged by its membership, numbering 2,000 members from over 30 countries. Members vote on 70 nominees chosen by the group's advisory board.
The group will announce the award winners at a ceremony on March 12, taking place in San Francisco during the Game Developers Conference 2010.
"The level of quality for game audio continues to get higher and higher each year," says G.A.N.G. founder, chairman, and CEO Tommy Tallarico. "It's so important to make sure that the talented game audio individuals from around the world get the recognition they deserve."
G.A.N.G. President Paul Lipson says it was one of the awards' biggest submission years yet. "With the level of talent these days, being voted as a final nominee is a remarkable accomplishment," he says.
The full list of finalists is as follows, in alphabetical order:
Audio Of The Year
Assassin's Creed II
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Need For Speed: Shift
Resident Evil 5
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Music Of The Year
Assassin's Creed II
AVATAR: The Game
Dragon Age: Origins
Flower
Halo 3: ODST
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Best Sound Design
Assassin's Creed II
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Need For Speed: Shift
Resident Evil 5
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Best Soundtrack Album
Assassin's Creed II
Brutal Legend
Dragon Age: Origins
inFAMOUS
Tom Clancy's: H.A.W.X.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Best Interactive Score
Assassin's Creed II
Flower
Halo 3: ODST
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Best Handheld Audio
Gran Turismo (PSP)
Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier (PSP)
Mecho Wars (iPhone)
Resistance: Retribution (PSP)
The Secret Of Monkey Island: Special Edition (iPhone)
Best Cinematic/Cut Scene Audio
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Need For Speed: Shift
Resident Evil 5
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Best Dialogue
Assassin's Creed II
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Brutal Legend
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Resident Evil 5
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Best Original Instrumental
"Ezio's Family" - Assassin's Creed II
"Flight Over Venice" - Assassin's Creed II
"Spirit of Bladehenge" - Brutal Legend
"Sonny Tang" - Eat Lead
"Reunion" - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Best Original Vocal - Choral
"Venice Rooftops" - Assassin's Creed II
"A Creature Shall Rise" - Brutal Legend
"Sad Theme" - Tom Clancy's: H.A.W.X.
"Washington Under Seige" - Tom Clancy's: H.A.W.X.
"Halls of Iron" - World of Warcraft: Fall of the Lich King
Best Original Vocal - Pop
"I Am The One" (High Fantasy Version) - Dragon Age: Origins
"Lelianna's Song" - Dragon Age: Origins
"Silent Melody" - inFAMOUS
"Best Friends Menu Theme" - Littlest Pet Shop Friends
"Pray - Theme Song" - Resident Evil 5
"Plants vs. Zombies" - Plants vs. Zombies
Best Use Of Multi-Channel Surround In A Game
Bayonetta
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Forza Motorsport
Left 4 Dead 2
Resident Evil 5
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Best Use Of Licensed Music
Brutal Legend
DJ Hero
Guitar Hero: Van Halen
Rock Band: The Beatles
SingStar: Queen
Best Game Audio Article, Publication Or Broadcast
"Avoiding Tedium - Fighting Repetition in Game Audio" - AES Conference Paper
"Dynamics of Narrative" - Gamasutra.com
"The Future of Game Audio / The Game Audio Mixing Revolution" - Gamasutra.com
"Less is More" - Game Developer Magazine
"Surviving the Crunch - Being Healthy Sound Designers" - Designing Sound
"Surviving Your First Composing Gig" - Shockwave-Sound.com
G.A.N.G. will also present the Rookie of the Year award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, the G.A.N.G. Recognition Awards, Student/Apprentice competition winners and the G.A.N.G. Distinguished Service Awards.
