2010 Game Developers Conference

SAN FRANCISCO—Dec.17, 2010—The 2010 Game Developers Choice Awards, the most prestigious honors in the world of video game development, are now open for nominations through Jan. 4, 2010. In its tenth year of honoring the best games and developers, the Game Developers Choice Awards -- the leading awards voted on by developers, and created for developers -- has adopted a new voting methodology.

Nominations - as always - are selected by any game professional worldwide simply by submitting ballots via the Game Developers Choice Awards website - http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/ - and category finalists and Special Award winners are selected by the 15 person-strong Game Developers Choice Awards Advisory Committee, including notable industry veterans from Harmonix, Valve, PopCap, Ubisoft, BioWare, and more.

Starting this year, winners are now being selected by the Game Developers Choice Awards-specific International Choice Awards Network (ICAN), which is a new invitation-only group comprised of 500 leading game creators from all parts of the video game industry. Choice Awards organizers believe that, in tandem with their goal of having the most focused, impartial awards in the game industry, this additional voting transparency will further boost the awards' reputation.

The 2010 award categories open for nominations to any member of the video game community until January 4th, combining both Regular and Special Award nominations, are:

(Regular Awards)

- Best Audio

- Best Debut Game

- Best Downloadable Game

- Best Handheld Game

- Best Game Design

- Best Technology

- Best Visual Arts

- Best Writing

- Innovation Award

- Game of the Year

(Special Awards)

- Lifetime Achievement

- Pioneer Award

- Ambassador Award

The ceremony, produced in association with the Game Developers Conference® (GDC), will take place on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 6:30 pm. The ceremony, which is open to all game developers, is held immediately following the Independent Games Festival Awards, and will be hosted in North Hall D of San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center. The nomination ballot and further details about the Choice Awards are now available online at www.gamechoiceawards.com.

“Since its inception in 2001, the Game Developers Choice Awards have come to represent one of the highest honors in game development," said Meggan Scavio, event director of the Game Developers Conference. "We're humbled by the incredible talent that is showcased in the awards, and consistently awed by the amazing gameplay experiences we see every year. I can't wait to see what games the development community will be honoring on March 11th.”

To submit a nomination ballot for the Game Developers Choice Awards, visit www.gamechoiceawards.com. For further information and to register for GDC, please visit www.gdconf.com.

About the Think Services Game Group

A core provider of essential information to the professional game industry, the Think Services Game Group offers market-defining content, and drives community through its award winning lineup of print, online, event and research products and services. These include Game Developer Magazine, Game Developer Research, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, GameCareerGuide.com, WorldsInMotion.biz, GameSetWatch.com, GamesOnDeck.com, SeriousGamesSource.com, the Game Developers Conference®, the Game Developers Conference® Austin, the Game Developers Conference® Europe, the Game Developers Conference® China, GDC Mobile, the Game Career Seminars, the Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards. To learn more, visit www.tsgamegroup.com

About Think Services, a division of United Business Media

Think Services connects specialized communities worldwide using educational events, consulting, training, certification, membership, and innovative media. Providing comprehensive opportunities for people to learn from, network with, and inspire each other, Think Services builds strong brands and works within communities to foster a unique affinity with its products and services. The division's flagship products include the Game Developers Conference, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, Game Developer magazine, the International Customer Management Institute (ICMI), and HDI. Think Services is a subsidiary of United Business Media (unitedbusinessmedia.com), a global media and marketing services company with a market capitalization of more than $1.6 billion. To learn more, visit www.think-services.com.

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