The 2012 British Academy Video Game Awards hosted on March 16th saw a number of big industry names flock to London for the UK’s largest independent video game award ceremony. In association with BAFTA, better known for their annual Film and Television awards, and sponsored by UK retailer GAME, the event seeks to reward excellent contributions to the video game industry on an international level, with nominees spanning the globe. Votes are cast by a panel of judges selected by the BAFTA committee, and consist of a number of a number of writers, editors and presenters of high-profile video game websites and programmes. This year’s even was hosted by Jane Goldman and Charlie Higson, better known as Jonathan Ross’ wife and oh-yeah-that-guy-from-the-90s; however attendees’ focus was directed towards the presenters, such as Call of Duty voice actor Craig Fairbrass, Mad Men actor and voice of LA Noire’s Detective Cole Phelps, Aaron Staton, and Eidos President and CEO Ian Livingstone, who all dished out gongs to the lucky winners (or, more often, their representatives).
Few surprises feature in what looks to be a largely inarguable list of locks. Take a look for yourself at this full write-up of winners and nominees:
Best Game
Portal 2 – Winner
Batman: Arkham City
FIFA 2012
L.A. Noire
The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Best Action
Batman: Arkham City – Winner
Assassin’s Creed Revelations
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Portal 2
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Best Story
Portal 2 – Winner
Batman: Arkham City
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
L.A. Noire
The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Best Design
Portal 2 – Winner
Batman: Arkham City
L.A. Noire
LittleBigPlanet 2
Super Mario 3D Land
The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim
Best Game Innovation
LittleBigPlanet 2 – Winner
Bastion
Child of Eden
From Dust
L.A. Noire
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Best Original Music
L.A. Noire – Winner
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
Batman: Arkham City
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Best Artistic Achievement
Raymans Origins – Winner
Batman: Arkham City
L.A. Noire
LitteBigPlanet 2
The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Best Audio Achievement
Battlefield 3 – Winner
Batman: Arkham City
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Dead Space 2
The Nightjar
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Best Debut Game
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet – Winner
Bastion
Eufloria
L.A. Noire
Monstermind
RIFT
Best Family
LittleBigPlanet 2 – Winner
Dance Central 2
Kinect Sports 2
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
Mario Kart 7
Best Mobile and Handheld
Peggle HD – Winner
Dead Space iOS
Magnetic Billiards: Blueprint
Quarrel
Super Mario 3D Land
The Nightjar
Best Online Multiplayer
Battlefield 3 – Winner
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Dark Souls
Gears of War 3
LittleBigPlanet 2
Best Online (Browser)
Monstermind – Winner
Gardens of Time
I Am Playr
Resistance 3
Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure
The Sims Social
Best Performer
Mark Hamill – Batman: Arkham City – Winner
Aaron Stanton – L.A. Noire
Nolan North – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Stephen Fry – LittleBigPlanet 2
Stephen Merchant – Portal 2
Togo Igawa – Total War: SHOGUN 2
Best Sports/Fitness
Kinect Sports 2 – Winner
Dance Central 2
DiRT 3
Fl 2011
FIFA 2012
Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012
Best Strategy
Total War: SHOGUN 2 – Winner
Dark Souls
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Football Manager 2012
From Dust
Ghost Recon Shadow Wars
BAFTA Ones To Watch Award
Tick Tock Toys – Winner
Joust
Dreamweaver
People’s Choice GAME Award of 2012
Battlefield 3 – Winner
Batman: Arkham City
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
FIFA 2012
L.A Noire
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Minecraft
Portal 2
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception
Special Award
Markus Persson (Minecraft)