Tomorrow night is Spike TV’s annual Video Game Awards show. Since 2003, Spike has given the public the ability to vote for top their video games of the year. While it is often the target of criticism as it’s a glorified popularity contest, it is the starting point of the video game awards season. So let’s take a look at 2011 crop of VGA nominees and take a stab at who should win the awards and who we thing will win the awards.

GAME OF THE YEAR
Batman: Arkham City
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Portal 2
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Who We Want To Win: Portal 2
Who Will Win: Batman: Arkham City

When making my pick for game of the year, I went with the game I had the most fun playing. Sure, the graphics in Uncharted and Batman may have been better and all four of the other nominations had deeper stories and took themselves very seriously (not that there’s anything wrong with that). The thing is that I had more fun playing Portal 2 than any other game this year. It was fun and funny and challenging all at the same time. However, I think Arkham City is this year’s big juggernaut game that will be nearly impossible to beat. I’m not saying it’s a bad game, it’s just the one with the most hype.

STUDIO OF THE YEAR
Bethesda Game Studios
Naughty Dog
Rocksteady Studios
Valve

Who We Want To Win: Valve
Who Will Win: Bethesda Game Studios

I believe I called “Studio of the Year” a compensatory award for the company that doesn’t win game of the year. Hence, I don’t have Rocksteady on my picks list. I think they’ll pick up the GOTY and, by almost default, disqualify themselves from this award. I still love what Valve did with Portal but I think Bethesda will win the award. They put out four games this year including GOTY nominee Skyrim and VGA nominee RAGE. Two nominated games puts it on top statistically so I think it’s a deserved win for them.

BEST XBOX 360 GAME

Batman: Arkham City
Forza Motorsport 4
Gears of War 3
Portal 2

Who We Want To Win: Gears of War 3
Who Will Win: Batman: Arkham City

I really think these categories should be limited to exclusive releases for each platform. I don’t think a multi-platform game should pick up an award for a specific platform. Batman’s the best game on this list so it should win but GoW3 was the best XBox exclusive game hence why I want it to win.

BEST PS3 GAME
inFAMOUS 2
Killzone 3
LittleBigPlanet 2
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Who We Want To Win: LittleBigPlanet 2
Who Will Win: Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

See, this nomination list gets it right. Four games and four PS3 exclusives, all of which were very good games. While Uncharted 3 has been getting surprisingly mixed reviews for an Uncharted game, it’s still the best the platform has to offer in terms of graphics, story, voice and gameplay. While any one of those games could score an upset, I’d be happiest if LBP2 picked up the award simply because it’s the most fun game here. It’s a modernized version of the classic side-scrolling platformer. And the level creation engine is unlike anything ever seen before in a video game. It’s both evolutionary and revolutionary at the same time.

BEST Wii GAME
Disney’s Epic Mickey
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land
Lost in Shadow
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Who We Want To Win: Disney’s Epic Mickey
Who Will Win: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

How good is Legend of Zelda? It’s nominated for GoY and best Wii game despite the fact that it has yet to be released. And if you’re the only game from a console that gets a Game of the Year nomination, then you’re clearly that consoles best game. Based on that logic, there is no argument against Legend of Zelda picking up this award this year.

BEST PC GAME
Battlefield 3
Minecraft
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Portal 2

Who We Want To Win: Minecraft
Who Will Win: Battlefield 3

I think that Battlefield 3 will win the award simply based on the fact that this is a shooter. They’re easy broad appeal games. I’ve never particularly liked shooters but I know that damn near everyone plays them. Look out for an upset from the indie gaming darling that is Minecraft. It has a cult-like following in the gaming community so it wouldn’t surprise me if it knocks off the big studio games.

BEST HANDHELD/MOBILE GAME
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Infinity Blade
Super Mario 3D Land
Jetpack Joyride

Who We Want To Win: Super Mario 3D Land
Who Will Win: Super Mario 3D Land

When Nintendo has to go to the well for a big game to launch a console, they always go to Mario first. Back at the tail end of the NES era and to a certain extent on the SNES, they overkilled the Mario franchise and watered it down. Lately, they’ve shored things up and are generally releasing epic Mario games. The long and short of that history lesson is that Mario 3D was good enough that history will carry it to a win.

BEST SHOOTER
Battlefield 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Gears of War 3
Rage

Who We Want To Win: We Really Don’t Care
Who Will Win: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

I really don’t much care for shooters unless they have a plot. I’m sure they all have stories but we’ve been spoiled for choice over the last couple of years between the Dead Space and BioShock franchises. They put the emphasis on story. These games… I couldn’t tell you if they had a real story. And I recall that whenever I see my cousins play these sorts of games, they just skip any cutscenes and go straight to shooting. That’s how much the average gamer cares about story in an FPS.

BEST ACTION ADVENTURE GAME
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
Batman: Arkham City
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Who We Want To Win: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Who Will Win: Batman: Arkham City

Picking a Nintendo game as my choice for the gong seems out of character for me but I’d love to see a good Nintendo game get some notoriety for something other than motion controls. Mario was robbed last year and hopefully the same won’t happen to Link this year. However, this is a Batman sort of year. Don’t be surprised to see the awards spread around a bit and Batman not win this award if they pick up the GOTY.

BEST RPG
Dark Souls
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Dragon Age II
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Who We Want To Win: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Who Will Win: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

One of these four nominated for game of the year. And that particular one of these four nominees has the potential to pull of an upset for GotY. So I guess that means that Skyrim will pull off the win here without much trouble. No objections here.

BEST MULTI-PLAYER
Battlefield 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Gears of War 3
Portal 2

Who We Want To Win: Portal 2
Who Will Win: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Here’s my favourite thing about Portal 2’s multiplayer component. You can play it as an entirely offline co-op multiplayer mode. In other words, it’s vintage video gaming. But multiplayer these days is all about online and it is easiest to look at shooters as top multiplayer games because you need to have your classic online multiplayer modes in order to be competitive. And MW3 is definitely among the most popular so I’m tipping it as the favourite.

BEST INDIVIDUAL SPORTS GAME
Fight Night Champion
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters
Top Spin 4
Virtua Tennis 4

Who We Want To Win: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters
Who Will Win: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters

Two tennis games in this category? Must have been a slow year for individual sports games. I doubt that one tennis game could get enough votes but two will split what little vote tennis already had. That leaves boxing versus golf. FNC wasn’t as good as Fight Night Round 4 which will probably take points off. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods 12 revolutionized the series based entirely around the addition of The Masters. From top to bottom, the game was improved. Adding the most famous golf course and tournament in the world doesn’t hurt either.

BEST TEAM SPORTS GAME
FIFA Soccer 12
NBA 2K12
NHL 12
MLB ’11: The Show

Who We Want To Win: NHL 12
Who Will Win: NHL 12

I think MLB 11 is probably the weakest of this bunch but that’s not a harsh critique of it because they are all properly good games. NHL 12 introduced legends this season much like NBA 2K12 is doing this year after the success of 2K11’s Jordan experiment. The big difference between these two series is that NHL has functioning online play and NBA doesn’t. With online multiplayer being so important now, you shouldn’t win over an equally as good game if you’re missing a large part.

BEST DRIVING GAME
DiRT 3
Driver: San Francisco
Forza Motorsport 4
Need For Speed: The Run

Who We Want To Win: Gran Turismo 5
Who Will Win: Forza Motorsport 4

So GT5 misses the nomination cutoff for last year and gets forgotten on this year’s list. Either the nomination committee for the VGAs is comprised of a bunch of forgetful buffoons or they have an agenda. My guess is a bit of both. Also missing is F1 2011 which was a pretty damn good racing game. There are two quality substitutes for the underwhelming Driver and NFS. Out of this bunch, my personal favourite was DiRT 3 but I think that Forza 4 will take home with the trophy this time out.

BEST FIGHTING GAME
The King of Fighters XIII
Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds
Mortal Kombat
WWE All Stars

Who We Want To Win: Mortal Kombat
Who Will Win: Mortal Kombat

The problem with fighting games is that there’s really not much that has changed with them since the glory days of the arcade. Two characters fight in using a series of moves produced by pushing a series of direction and button inputs. Mortal Kombat made a comeback this year so it’s my sentimental favourite to pick up the gong this year.

BEST MOTION GAME
Child of Eden
Dance Central 2
The Gunstringer
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Who We Want To Win: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Who Will Win: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

What will it say about the Kinect when a Wii game takes home the motion gaming prize. I’m interested in how the Wii U will do now that they’re changing the controller and upgrading the hardware. Anyway, since Zelda is a game of the year nominee, it has to win here.

BEST INDEPENDENT GAME
Bastion
Minecraft
Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP
The Binding of Isaac

Who We Want To Win: Minecraft
Who Will Win: Minecraft

Only one of these games is a massive hit among gamers and the press. Now that Minecraft has gone live, I don’t think that they can deny it the win. Well, Minecraft could be denied but people would riot.

BEST ADAPTED VIDEO GAME
Back to the Future: The Game
Batman: Arkham City
Captain America: Super Soldier
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

Who We Want To Win: Back to the Future: The Game
Who Will Win: Batman: Arkham City

No other game in this category has or deserves a chance to win this award but Batman. It’s the only one nominated for Game of the Year. This award is a pretty open and shut case. But I’d be happy if Back to the Future won because it’s Back to the Future.

BEST SONG IN A GAME
“Build that Wall (Zia’s Theme)” by Darren Korb – Bastion
“Exile Vilify” by The National – Portal 2
“I’m Not Calling You a Liar” by Florence + the Machine – Dragon Age II
“Setting Sail, Coming Home (End Theme)” by Darren Korb – Bastion
“Want You Gone” by Jonathan Coulton – Portal 2

Who We Want To Win: “Want You Gone” by Jonathan Coulton – Portal 2
Who Will Win: “Want You Gone” by Jonathan Coulton – Portal 2

I made sure to listen to all five songs in the category before making my picks. Heading into this, I wanted Want You Gone to win from the moment I finished Portal 2. Having listened to all five songs, the only song that has a decent shot at winning would be Florence and the Machine. Apart from the chance that they’ll attract the vote based on mainstream credibility, it should be Coulton’s to lose.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Bastion
Batman: Arkham City
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Portal 2

Who We Want To Win: Portal 2
Who Will Win: Batman: Arkham City

I’m not going to play each game to listen to the soundtrack to judge this award. I’m an unpaid part-time blogger. I have other things to do. I’ll pick it the same way I’m doing a lot of these it seems. I like Portal but it seems like a Batman sort of year.

BEST GRAPHICS
Batman: Arkham City
LA Noire
Rage
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Who We Want To Win: LA Noire
Who Will Win: LA Noire

This one could also be a very close call. But I think that the top-notch facial animation that we got from LA Noire was such a massive improvement over the status quo that I think it has to win the award. Sure the rest of the graphics were fairly average for this console generation but that could also be compared to the faces. When my dad saw the game, the facial realism freaked him out. I’d say that’s a good enough endorsement to win the award.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A HUMAN MALE
J.K. Simmons as Cave Johnson – Portal 2
Mark Hamill as The Joker – Batman: Arkham City
Nolan North as Nathan Drake – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Stephen Merchant as Wheatley – Portal 2

Who We Want To Win: Stephen Merchant as Wheatley – Portal 2
Who Will Win: Nolan North as Nathan Drake – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Merchant was absolutely hilarious as the little robot Wheatley in Portal 2. The thing that will likely hold he and Simmons back is that they weren’t in the whole game. Wheatley was in maybe two-thirds of the game while Simmons’ character was only in about one-third. However, they should really be named co-winners of this award. They really were that damn good. (Seriously, watch a video walkthrough of the game and you’ll kill yourself laughing.) Hamill definitely is in there with a shot for his return (and possibly final performance) as The Joker. However, I think history gives the nod to Nathan Drake. North always does a good job as Drake and having to motion capture this role gives him a deserved leg up over his competition.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A HUMAN FEMALE
Claudia Black as Chloe Frazer – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Ellen McLain as GLaDOS – Portal 2
Emily Rose as Elena Fisher – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Tara Strong as Harley Quinn – Batman: Arkham City

Who We Want To Win: Ellen McLain as GLaDOS – Portal 2
Who Will Win: Tara Strong as Harley Quinn – Batman: Arkham City

Gee, notice a theme in the voice acting nominees? All four women have a very good claim to the award this year. It’s just a matter of which will actually take it home. I absolutely loved McLain as GLaDOS in Portal. The voice acting in Portal far exceeded what I had expected from a puzzle game. (Then again, everything in that game exceeded my expectations.) Rose and Black were their usual selves in Uncharted 3. They’re very good but the bar is high enough that you’re tempted to overlook them. However, this seems like a Batman sort of year. Mind you, I said last year was an RDR year and it didn’t quite turn out that way… Entirely. RDR still did dominate though. That reminds me: Does anyone know how to install a bigger HDD for a PS3. I’ve run out of space for my RDR: GOTY Edition game.

BEST DOWNLOADABLE GAME
Bastion
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
Stacking
Trenched

Who We Want To Win: Don’t Know
Who Will Win: Don’t Care

Umm… Isn’t Minecraft only really available as a download? That would be a pretty good nominee here. Anyway, I haven’t heard of any of these games. At least I’ll admit it rather than try to pull something out of my ass on this one. On to the next category.

BEST DLC
Fallout: New Vegas – Old World Blues
Mass Effect 2: Arrival
Mortal Kombat: Freddy Krueger
Portal 2 Peer Review

Who We Want To Win: Portal 2 Peer Review
Who Will Win: Mass Effect 2: Arrival

The process of elimination brings me to this pick. New Vegas wasn’t a well-received game at its release so I don’t think this would pick up an award here. Freddy Kreuger is only a character so it shouldn’t even be nominated. Portal 2 doesn’t have the mass appeal of Mass Effect so I don’t like it’s chances. What hurts Arrival for me is the fact that it was such a disappointment compared to Lair of the Shadow Broker which was one of the all-time great DLCs.

MOST ANTICIPATED GAME
BioShock: Infinite
Diablo III
Halo 4
Mass Effect 3
The Last Guardian

Who We Want To Win: Mass Effect 3
Who Will Win: Mass Effect 3

Halo 4 could pull off the upset in this category but I thought that Halo was a trilogy so I don’t really care about it. ME3 was always designed as a trilogy and the conclusion of a trilogy should be more anticipated than a cash-grab sequel (Halo 4). To be honest, after the ME2: Arrival DLC, I’m more interested in BioShock myself. That doesn’t mean that I’m not excited for ME3. It just means I’m pissed off that I paid for Arrival when I was more than happy with the conclusion we were given.

GAMETRAILERS.COM TRAILER OF THE YEAR
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations – E3 2011 Trailer
Batman: Arkham City – Hugo Strange Reveal Trailer
Dark Souls – Ignite ’11 Debut Trailer
Dead Island – GDC 11 Cinematic Trailer
Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Purity First Infomercial
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – In-Game Debut Trailer
Hitman: Absolution – E3 2011 Trailer
Prey 2 – E3 2011 Trailer
Tomb Raider – E3 2011 Trailer
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception – E3 2011 Trailer

Who We Want To Win: Dead Island
Who Will Win: Dead Island

This is an actual category? Most of these games are out now so why should we even care about which game had a good trailer? Dead Island should win this one going away because of how big of a splash that the trailer made. However, this category is such a waste of time that the only reason it’s even here because Spike broadcasts a Game Trailers TV show. This award should be covered by a blog post on GT’s website but instead an important technical category will be pushed off the broadcast for a useless category.