The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences has honored
Wrath of the Lich King with three different nominations in their yearly awards. The game was nominated for both the Computer Game of the Year and Massively Multiplayer Online Game of the Year (both of which are pretty obvious choices, though as an expansion pack, it's probably not a complete shoo-in for either category), and also for Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition. That one's not really a surprise either, though, when you consider that
the music in the game is terrific, and
Wrath's music especially is great.
At this point, considering this is an expansion pack to a four year old game, it really does seem like it would be an honor just to be nominated for these. But we'll see -- the winners will be announced at the
2009 D.I.C.E. Summit, on February 18th-20th in Las Vegas. Good luck to Blizzard and their teams.
[via
WorldofWar]
Tags: academy-of--interactive-arts-and-sciences, aias, awards, blizzard, computer-game-of-the-year, dice-summit, expansion, las-vegas, music, online-game, world-of-warcraft, wrath-of-the-lich-king
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Odds and ends, Blizzard
Jan 26th 2009 at 6:00PM 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
elstor Jan 26th 2009 6:07PM
They better win
Alkaios Jan 26th 2009 6:23PM
Actually SimAnimals should win every award offered, including the "CHUCK NORRIZ BEST GAME EVURER" award.
hobo Jan 26th 2009 6:34PM
lol Best Computer Game of the Year? Not by a long shot. If this was based on quantity sold, Blizzard would win with no doubt. Quality of product is a different story. this game pretty much fails in that category
Epiny Jan 26th 2009 6:41PM
I don't know how I feel about expansions being in direct competition with full fledged games. To be honest WoW shouldn't win any category... well maybe MMO but again Wrath is an expansion so it seems unreasonable to compare it to any other MMO that has just come out... even though they pretty much all flopped.
I'm rooting for L4D in every category but I'm sure Little Big Planet will clean up.
Colin Behrens Jan 27th 2009 5:35AM
I think that Wrath should be eligible for an MMO award, because it changes the gameplay drastically. Compare present day WoW to vanilla WoW, and you'll see many differences. In truth, they could be considered different games.
Xtofer Jan 26th 2009 6:50PM
I hope they win in the music category. I believe that they outdid themselves this time around.
Particularly, the music in The Storm Peaks (track 9 on the soundtrack) contains some of the most enchanting pieces. The music from The Culling of Strathholme is also pretty epic.
Ed (Sindarin, Hydraxis US) Jan 26th 2009 7:01PM
Those are the two that especially stand out for me also. I also particularly enjoy the Grizzly Hills music.
draeth Jan 26th 2009 7:33PM
Yea all the music is epic as fock!
Microtonal Jan 26th 2009 10:59PM
I love the Grizzly Hills music, too. Has a sort of post-apocalyptic-Appalachia feel.
I've been hooked on the WoW music ever since I noticed that the music in Blood Furnace quotes Alexander Scriabin, but Blizzard games have ALWAYS had good music. I still get goosebumps when I hear the in-town loop from Diablo II.
Holgar Jan 26th 2009 9:54PM
Hmm I'd assume it would come down to Wrath vs WAR in the mmo dpt. Hard to say here Wrath is definatly a lot more complete and in my opinion a lot funner BUT its an expansion and WAR is the new kid on the block so we will see.
Bucco Jan 26th 2009 11:02PM
LoTRO Mines of Moria doesn't make the cut for these awards?
I hope that was based on some sort of release date, because it would reek of Blizz bias.
LoTRO has done EXTREMELY well in the early MMO awards this year.
Raijin Jan 27th 2009 7:33AM
if you look at who they are competing against :
music :
de Blob - THQ - Blue Tongue
Dead Space - Electronic Arts - EA Redwood Shores
Fable II - Microsoft Game Studios - Lionhead Studios
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. - Kojima Productions
i would say wotlk wins that round.
however game of the year :
Fallout 3 - Bethesda Softworks - Bethesda Game Studios
Left 4 Dead - Valve Software - Valve Software
Mass Effect - Electronic Arts - Bioware
Spore - Electronic Arts - Maxis
i would say sorry wotlk but seeing as mass effect is a complete new universe cooked up by the masters of storytelling. managed to put it contrary to most rpg's in a sci-fi costume with guns , nukes and what not as an exellent combat system. the entire game plays asif you're watching a movie and be able to participate in it. i would have to credit them with the game of the year award above wotlk.
and as for fallout 3... sorry but fail. you're just putting oblivion in the fallout costume.
and as for mmo of the year :
EVE Online: Quantum Rise - CCP - CCP hf.
Pirates of the Burning Sea - Sony Online Entertainment - Flying Lab Software
PMOG - GameLayers - GameLayers
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning - Electronic Arts - Mythic Entertainment
yes wotlk is the most played game. but i would also credit EVE online. they're a complete different mmo and have managed to stick around with their mindblowing graphics. and being able to stick around while WoW is dominating does mean something.
but most likely this award will go to wotlk.
so imo wotlk will get 2/3 awards.