IGDA to Present "Game Developers Choice Awards" at GDC

According to the IGDA, the Game Developers Choice Awards are designed to give game developers the opportunity to honor each other. Beginning today, game developers may make nominations at the IGDA awards web site at http://www.igda.org/awards. Nominations will close on February 9th. The Game Developers Choice Awards recognize specific advances in the art form, as well as contributions made to the industry by the community in the following categories: -Lifetime Achievement Award -The First Penguin Award (honoring risk-taking in the industry) -Rookie Studio Award -IGDA Award for Community Contribution -Original Game Character of the Year -Excellence in Audio -Excellence in Game Design -Excellence in Level Design -Excellence in Programming -Excellence in Visual Arts -Game of the Year In a nod to the previous name and focus of the awards, there will be a number of "Game Spotlight Awards" presented to games that demonstrate creative and/or technical innovation. "The Game Developers Choice Awards is all about peer-to-peer recognition," said Jason Della Rocca, program director, IGDA. "We are taking a forward-looking approach to these awards, making it accessible to developers from around the world and rewarding developers for their efforts that help to create the real heroes of the game industry."