A bit like the Oscars for video games, “Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor,” won big at the 18th annual DICE Awards, emerging on top in eight categories. Another fantasy game, “Dragon Age: Inquisition,” won the Game of the Year honors but SoM had an outstanding night despite not taking that prize. It won:
Outstanding Achievement in Story
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
Adventure Game of the Year
Outstanding Innovation in Gaming
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Outstanding Achievement in Character
Outstanding Technical Achievement
The awards are given by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences with the ceremony taking place in Las Vegas. Once upon a time TheOneRing.net was sent review copies of games, but as far as I know, we didn’t review this one, so nobody on our staff can vouch for it, but that is an impressive collection of awards. (I think a few too many very mediocre Tolkien-themed games happened and there are only a handful of our staffers who really love games. I wish I had taken the time to play and review and so, sorry dear readers.) Staffer Kelvarhin did a great job of updating with info about the game though.
As a Tolkien fan site we salute Warner Bros. games and Monolith for doing more than the standard cash-in and really pushing for excellence. We hope they continue to take care of Middle-earth experiences.
And while we are typing about film awards, the British Academy Film Awards known as the BAFTAs also recognize video games. And wouldn’t you know it, “Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor,” has four nominations including Best Game. Unlike the DICE people however, the BAFTA folks got “Middle-earth” wrong and called it “Middle Earth.” Who cares you ask? Well, J.R.R. Tolkien did, for one.
Its BAFTA categories are:
Best game
Game design
Game innovation
Music
