British Academy of Films and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced nominations for BAFTA Games Awards 2015. A total of 51 games have been recognised across 17 categories. Sega and The Creative Assembly’s survival horror game Alien: Isolation leads the pack with six nominations, while Ubisoft’s open world adventure Far Cry 4 and Monument Valley by Ustwo have each received five nominations.
The world adventure game 80 Days, Bungie’s FPS game Destiny, Mario Kart 8 and Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor have been nominated in four categories while The Banner Saga, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, Lumino City, Titanfall and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter all have received three nominations.
The 2015 Baftas will also be introducing two new awards for original property and persistent game. The latter recognises a growing number of titles that feature online multiplayer worlds. Activision’s sci-fi epic Destiny, the space combat sim Eve Online and the battle arena title League of Legends are among the nominees.
BAFTA’s best game category includes, Alien: Isolation which faces stiff competition from Destiny, Monument Valley, Mario Kart 8 and role-playing fantasy titles Dragon Age: Inquisition and Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor.
The BAFTA winner along with, a Golden Globe for TV drama House of Cards and twice Academy Award winner actor Kevin Spacey is up for his first video game BAFTA, for his performance as a despotic private military contractor in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. Arkham series Joker, played by Troy Baker too is nominated in the category for his antagonist act of Pagan Min in Far Cry 4.
BAFTA which also recognises student game developers through its ‘ones to watch’ award has three titles which are competing for this accolade: Don’t Walk: Run, Chambara and Sagittarius.
The BAFTA video game awards will take place on 12 March in London, with the comedian and actor Rufus Hound hosting for the first time.