Last month the AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences) failed to allow Capcom games from being nominated in its game awards for the second straight year because the game publisher was not a member of the AIAS. The most glaring Capcom omissions from the nominations process were Okami and Dead Rising, which have both received universal praise from the gaming community and press. But in spite of the snub by the AIAS, Capcom may be able to find solace as the Game Developers Conference (GDC) has acknowledged its works of gaming artistry by nominating both games for GDC Choice Awards.
Okami is up for the Best Game Award, and Dead Rising has been nominated for Technology honors by the GDC. However, the controversy surrounding the AIAS incident has caused some to doubt the integrity of the awards themselves because of the strict guidelines (and membership dues) publishers and developers must follow in order to be nominated for AIAS awards in the first place. The unfairness of this process has often been talked about in the game industry, but discreetly behind closed doors.
As if to distinguish the GDC Awards from the closed nomination process of the AIAS, GDC Executive Director Jamil Moledina said in a statement, "The GDC derives its authenticity from the developers themselves, who teach and share at the show–the Game Developers Choice Awards is then the natural validation of their collective artistic effort, voted on and awarded to individual game creators. Since the Choice Awards have an open nomination process and reflect the judgment of peers, the awards have earned the highest respect of the community."
The Game Developers Choice Awards will take place in San Francisco at the Moscone Convention Center on March 7th. The full list of nominees can be reviewed here.
