Second Annual Canadian Video Game Awards Announces Call For Nominations

Nominations are now being accepted for the second annual Canadian Video Game Awards, which have seen some significant category changes since last year's show. The awards, which will be given out May 18 in Vancouver in conjunction with the newly-announced Canadian Games Conference, will accept nominations through February 28 in 12 categories, including new ones devoted to casual/social games, student games and innovation in gaming. Categories from 2010 devoted to in-game cinematics and the year's "most promising game" are being removed from next year's awards, while categories devoted to console, handheld, and downloadable games as well as game design, technology, audio and visual arts and writing will return. Finalists for each category will be announced April 15 and be subject to public voting before the awards are announced. "Last year's show was a screaming success and got great reviews from both fans and the industry" said Vancouver's Victor Lucas, co-host and executive producer of The Electric Playground and Reviews on the Run, in a statement. "The event was a long-overdue recognition of how much incredible interactive entertainment is made every year in this country and 2010 was a true blockbuster for Canadian-made games." The awards ceremony will be broadcast on G4 Canada through the Rogers Network and once again feature the music of the Video Games Live orchestra. BioWare's Dragon Age: Origins won Game of the Year and Best Writing awards at the first Canada Video Game Awards show last May, with Ubisoft Montreal's Assassin's Creed II taking home three other awards.