R.A.G.E Magazine in association with Microsoft has announced the 2nd annual R.A.G.E Gaming Awards and R.A.G.E Expo 2005.
Spread over three days, the activities begin with the Awards ceremony on November 25 at Mumbai’s Rang Sharda Auditorium where the best PC and Console games of the past year will be recognized and rewarded in 12 categories. This will be followed by a 2 day Gaming Expo at Nehru Centre (Worli) on 26 and 27 November 2005.
Besides Microsoft which is the main sponsor, other sponsors include IBM and Nvidia. The event is also supported by Contests2win.com, Level Up, Game Masti, Sujata Softech, Kreeda.com, Mountain Dew, Animation ‘xpress and Mid Day.
Speaking to Animation ‘xpress, R.A.G.E Magazine Managing Partner Milind Shah commented, “Following the encouraging response to last year’s R.A.G.E Awards, this year we have scaled up the event and are organising 3 days of gaming related activities. Besides the Awards and exhibition, the Expo includes Workshops, forums and presentations by renowned Indian and International speakers giving their perspectives on the worldwide gaming industry in general and on the Indian market specifically”
Further continuing Milind added,”Also in store is access for PC users to a never-before-experienced level of cutting-edge PC hardware and software. Indian gamers will be able to get a hands-on experience of the best in gaming in the Gaming Arena, view trailers and videos of blockbuster titles and even get sneak peeks at some red-hot games expected to release in 2006″
An official release from R.A.G.E lists speakers lined up for the R.A.G.E expo which include,”Mohit Anand, Country Manager (India) – Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division, Contest2win.com CEO Alok Kejriwal, A3 India’s (Sify)Chris Lee, Kreeda.com Managing Partner Robin Alter, IBM Global services business practice leader for digital media Asia Pacific Quentin Staes Polet and Asian Gamers Journalist association President Joey Allarila.
Following is the list of nominees for each category
Best Sports Game
Cricket 2005
Winning Eleven 8
Brian Lara Cricket 2005
FIFA 2006
NBA Live 2006
Fight Night Round 2
Best Action Game
Quake 4
F.E.A.R
Halo 2
Half-Life 2
God of War
Ninja Gaiden Black
Best Racing Game
Burnout Revenge
Gran Turismo 4
Formula 1 2005
Nascar 2006
Forza Motor sports
Need for Speed Under Ground 2
Best Role Playing Game (RPG)
Jade Empire
X-men Legends 2 Rise of Apocalypse
Fable Lost Chapters
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Star Wars Knights of the old republic The Sith Lords 2
Full Metal Alchemist 2 Curse of the Crimson Elixir
Best Movie Adaptation
Shark’s Tale
Batman Begins
Madagascar
The Incredibles
Star Wars Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith
Lemony Snickets a series of unfortunate events
Best Real Time-Strategy Game (RTS)
Code Name Panzers Phase 2
Blitzkrieg Rolling Thunder
Armies of Exigo
Cossacks 2
Age of Empires III
Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War Winter
Best Music in a Game
Fable Lost Chapters
God of War
World of Warcraft
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas
Jade Empire
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Best Animation in a Game
Half-Life 2
F.E.A.R
Quake 4
Ultimate Spiderman
Shadow of The Colossus
Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening
Best War game
Battlefield 2
Medal of Honor European Assault
Brother in Arms; Road to Hill 30
Call of Duty 2
Close Combat First to Fight
Ghost Recon 2
Best Adventure Game
Resident Evil 4
Indigo Prophecies
Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening
Prince of Persia Warrior Within
Ultimate Spider-Man
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Best Stealth Action Game
Splinter Cell Chaos Theory
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eaters
Metal Gear Solid Twin Snakes
Tenchu Return from Darkness
Rainbow Six: Lockdown
Stolen
Game of the Year
Shadow o f The Colossus
Quake 4
Halo 2
God of War
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas
Metal Gear 3: Snake Eaters
Half-Life 2
Age of Empires III
It is high time that such events around gaming become a regular feature in the Indian calendar. Initiatives like the R.A.G.E Gaming Awards and Expo are well timed and will definitely spur the gaming culture here and add spunk & spice to India’s fledgling gaming scenario.