ELAN award categories announced

Organisers of the Canadian ELAN awards have revealed the new categories featuring in this year’s ceremony.

In addition to covering the effects industry for this first time, several awards have been added through consultation with the games industry, including ones dedicated to mobile games and massively-multiplayer online titles.

“We hold industry roundtables in Vancouver and ask each group to determine their own Award Categories and Criteria,” explained Holly Carinci, founder and producer of the ELAN Awards.

“We then send them out to their peers around the world for their input and that is how our official categories are decided each year. We do this so that we are on top of what each of these fast-paced industries are doing today, acknowledging new areas of importance to each of them such as mobile games and MMOs are this year to the video game industry. We could never do this without the industry’s help and they have given it to us very generously.”

The full award line-up in the video game category is as follows:

1. GAME OF THE YEAR
The game released during the qualifying year that the adjudicators have decided was "ahead of the pack".

2. BEST CONSOLE GAME
The best game operated on a videogame consoles which include: Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, Wii

3. BEST PC GAME
The best game operated on Windows, Macintosh OS or Linux based multipurpose computing system. Includes MMOs.

4. BEST CASUAL/ARCADE GAME
Awarded to the best casual game which may be pay-for-play OR free game played on any platform.

5. BEST HANDHELD GAME (PSP, DS, iPod or other similar devices)
The best game developed for a portable gaming device. This device may NOT be one that’s primary function is voice communication like iPhone or NGage.

6. BEST MOBILE GAME
Awarded to the best mobile game for devices whose primary function IS voice communication.

7. BEST AUDIO DIRECTION
Awarded to an individuals or team for their creative excellence and collaboration in sound design and music for a video game.

8. BEST ART DIRECTION
Recognizes direction and implementation of cutting-edge visuals in relation to hardware/platform specs and limitations, or most innovative application of graphics techniques.

9. BEST GAME DESIGN
Recognizes best overall new game design. This category is adjudicated based on the implementation and coordination of design concepts in any type of electronic game.

10. OUTSTANDING INNOVATION in PLAY
Recognizes technical or creative innovation that will have a significant impact on future game development.

11. VIDEO GAME HALL OF FAME
Awarded to the individual who in the course of pursuing their art, has excelled in their medium. The recipient will have achieved creative excellence throughout their career.

Tarnie Williams, GM of Relic Entertainment and member of the board of advisors for the 3rd Annual ELAN Awards, added: “Relic is honored to have collected statues at the ELANS in both of the past two years. The ELANS are great since the awards are independent, their entire focus is on the digital media industries of video games, animation and visual effects, and they are voted on by a panel of industry professionals, so it really means something to win. It’s not just a popularity contest.”

The 3rd Annual ELANS awards will take place on February 28th 2009. For more information, visit the official website.