Somewhere in the neighborhood of “best news ever,” our very own Nerdist News host Jessica Chobot will be co-hosting the 20th annual D.I.C.E. Awards with Greg Miller, co-founder and host of Kinda Funny. This news comes hot off the heels of last month’s announcement that Todd Howard (Fallout 4, Skyrim) will be inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) during the ceremony on February 23.
Regarding hosting the show this year, Chobot remarked, âIt is an honor to co-host the show with Greg and pay tribute the incredible talent that drives this industry and inspires so many.â She continued, âI thank the Academy for the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful evening.”
Miller said, âAs great as our industry is, the men and women who create the games don’t get the credit they deserve. I’m humbled to be part of the D.I.C.E. Awards, and I can’t wait to spend the night honoring those who make so many so happy.â
Ahead of the D.I.C.E. Awards this year, the Academy will premiere The Game Makers: Inside Story, a digital series directed by filmmaker and games writer Jennie Kong. The series, which is dedicated to storytelling in games, will feature veterans like Hideo Kojima (Death Stranding, Metal Gear Solid), Neil Druckmann (The Last of Us, Uncharted), Amy Hennig (Uncharted), Will Byles (Until Dawn), David Cage (Heavy Rain, Detroit: Become Human), Jade Raymond (Assassins Creed), and more.
Members of the AIAS will begin voting for the awards show starting tomorrow, January 13, at 5 PM. Winners will be revealed during the ceremony next month at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, following the 2017 D.I.C.E. Summit.
So without further ado, here are a few of this year’s nominees:
Game of the Year
Battlefield 1
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Overwatch
Pokemon Go
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
1979 Revolution: Black Friday
Battlefield 1
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The Last Guardian
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
D.I.C.E. Sprite Award
1979 Revolution: Black Friday
Firewatch
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SUPERHOT
That Dragon, Cancer
Adventure Game of the Year
Firewatch
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King’s Quest: The Complete Collection
The Last Guardian
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Action Game of the Year
Battlefield 1
DOOM
Gears of War 4
Overwatch
Titanfall 2
Mobile Game of the Year
Clash Royale
Crashlands
Gardenscapes – New Acres
Pokémon Go
Reigns
Two brand new categories will also be joining the fray this year. Nominees for “Immersive Reality Game of the Year” and “Immersive Reality Technical Achievement Award” will be announced at a later date. Both celebrate the accomplishments and technological advances of the emerging virtual reality medium. Click over to Interactive to see the full list of nominees.
You can watch the ceremony live at live.interactive.org on Feb. 23 at 7:30pm PT/10:30pm ET. What was your favorite game? Let us know in the comments below, join the conversation on Facebook, or start one with me on Twitter: @Samantha_Sofka.