Gaming Globes 2001 : The Shortlist

This year the Gaming Globes return for a second year, bigger and better than ever. And for the first time you will now have the chance to nominate your own favourite games, characters and developers for awards, making sure that we don't overlook any games.

The Process

Nominations are now open. Over the last week we have trawled through our game collections and reviews from the last year and have come up with a short list of titles for each category. Now it is your turn! Simply use our comments system to give us feedback on our choices and offer your own nominations.

This process will close on Friday March 9th, at which point the EuroGamer staff will go through the list of games which have been suggested and select a final list of five nominees for each category. Nominees will be announced on Monday March 12th, and readers will then have one week to vote on which they think deserve the gongs at the end of the day. Voting closes at midnight on Monday March 19th.

The final results of the Gaming Globe 2001 awards will be announced on Monday March 26th, with the winners in each category posted here on EuroGamer along with acceptance speeches from the developers behind the top games.

Nominating Games

To avoid wasting our time and yours, before you nominate a game please read the following guidelines on which games are eligible for this year's awards -

You can find full explanations of what all the categories are over the next few pages. If you plan to nominate a game for a particular category, please read the description first, and please do not just nominate your favourite game for every category unless you honestly believe it deserved it. For example, "Quake III : Team Arena" is an obvious choice for the "best visual effects" category, but not even the most hardcore of id Software fans could reasonably claim that its characters or storyline were Gaming Globe material!

Best Game

As the name suggests, the "Best Game" award goes to the best overall game of the year on any platform. Last year's winner was Asheron's Call, with a staff pick for Unreal Tournament.

This year's initial shortlist is -

Baldur's Gate II (PC)

Chrono Cross (PSX)

Counter-Strike (PC)

Deus Ex (PC)

Grandia (PSX)

Grand Prix 3 (PC)

MSR (DC)

Perfect Dark (N64)

Shenmue (DC)

The Sims (PC)

Spider-Man (PSX)

SSX (PS2)

Vagrant Story (PSX)

Virtua Tennis (DC)

Zelda : Majora's Mask (N64)

Designer

The "Designer" award goes to the lead designer of the game with the best original concept, design and implementation. Last year's winner was Chris Avellone for Planescape Torment, with the staff pick going to Cliff Bleszinski for Unreal Tournament.

This year's initial shortlist is -

Baldur's Gate II (PC)

Warren Spector for Deus Ex (PC)

Vince Farquharson for Evolva (PC)

Geoff Crammond for Grand Prix 3 (PC)

Perfect Dark (N64)

Red Alert 2 (PC)

Yu Suzuki for Shenmue (DC)

Shogun (PC)

Will Wright for The Sims (PC)

Thief II (PC)

Foreign Language Game

Again the name explains it all - this award is for the best game which was developed and originally released during the year 2000 in a language other than English. Games developed primarily in English by foreign companies do not count. Last year's winner was Final Fantasy VIII for Japan.

This year's initial shortlist is -

Dynasty Warriors 2 (PS2)

Evil Islands (PC)

Final Fantasy IX (PSX)

Shenmue (DC)

Skies of Arcadia (DC)

Vagrant Story (PSX)

X-Tension (PC)

Lead Characters

The categories for best "Male Lead Character" and "Female Lead Character" are given to characters with a leading role in a game, generally someone who is central to the storyline and under the player's direct control. Last year's winners were The Nameless One from Planescape Torment and Lara Croft for Tomb Raider : The Last Revelation, with a staff pick for Cutter Slade of Outcast.

This year's initial Male Lead Character shortlist is -

Nathan Zachary for Crimson Skies (PC)

Guybrush Threepwood for Escape from Monkey Island (PC)

Zidane Tribal for Final Fantasy IX (PSX)

The Meccaryn for Giants (PC)

Gift for Gift (PC)

John Cord for In Cold Blood (PC)

Max for MDK2 (PC)

Ragnar for Rune (PC)

Jake Logan for Tachyon : The Fringe (PC)

Garrett for Thief II (PC)

Ryo Hazuki for Shenmue (DC)

Link for Zelda : Ocarina of Time (N64)

This year's initial Female Lead Character shortlist is -

Alice for American McGee's Alice (PC)

Kid for Chrono Cross (PSX)

Major Kira for Deep Space 9 : The Fallen (PC)

Delphi for Giants (PC)

Julia for Heavy Metal : FAKK2 (PC)

April Ryan for The Longest Journey (PC)

Cate Archer for No One Lives Forever (PC)

Joanna Dark for Perfect Dark (N64)

Jill Valentine for Resident Evil 3 : Nemesis (PC/PSX/DC)

Mint for Threads of Fate (PSX)

Lara Croft for Tomb Raider Chronicles (PC/PSX/DC)

Supporting Characters

Best "Male Supporting Character" and "Female Supporting Character" are for characters in a supporting role in the game, often not under the player's direct control or not central to the game (such as NPCs and secondary party members in role-playing games). Last year's winners were Morte and Annah from Planescape Torment, with staff picks for Mephistopheles from Faust and Rinoa Heartily of Final Fantasy VIII.

This year's initial Male Supporting Character shortlist is -

The Cheshire Cat for Alice (PC)

Minsc for Baldur's Gate II (PC)

Vivi Orunitia from for Final Fantasy IX (PSX)

Elvis for Perfect Dark (N64)

Odin for Rune (PC)

Charnel for Sacrifice (PC)

Brad Evans for Wild Arms 2 (PSX)

This year's initial Female Supporting Character shortlist is -

Imoen for Baldur's Gate II (PC)

Mrs M for Bangai-O (DC)

Elaine for Escape from Monkey Island (PC)

Clara for Skies of Arcadia (DC)

Victoria for Thief II (PC)

Fancy Mel for Threads of Fate (PSX)

Callow Merlose for Vagrant Story (PSX)

Lilka Eleniak for Wild Arms 2 (PSX)

Art Direction

This is the award for the game's artwork and style, particularly focusing on the design of locations such as levels, arenas, tracks and backdrops. Last year's winner was Planescape Torment, with a staff pick for Outcast.

This year's initial shortlist is -

American McGee's Alice (PC)

Baldur's Gate II (PC)

Evolva (PC)

Heavy Metal : FAKK2 (PC)

The Longest Journey (PC)

MSR (DC)

Shenmue (DC)

Spider-Man (PSX)

Thief II (PC)

The Time Machine (PC)

Vagrant Story (PSX)

Zelda : Ocarina of Time (N64)

Character Design

The character design award is for the best in-game character design and art (models, sprites, skins etc). Last year's winner was Planescape Torment, with a staff pick for Quake 3 : Arena.

This year's initial shortlist is -

Deep Space 9 : The Fallen (PC)

Evolva (PC)

The Longest Journey (PC)

Rune (PC)

Sacrifice (PC)

Shenmue (DC)

Skies of Arcadia (DC)

Zelda : Ocarina of Time (N64)

SNK vs Capcom : Match of the Millenium (NGPC)

Cinematography

The "Cinematography" category is for the best use of cinematics and scripted sequences, whether pre-rendered or game-engine, and covers the direction, dialogue, graphics and everything else which goes into make a cutscene. Last year's winner was predictably enough "Final Fantasy VIII" for its glorious rendered sequences.

This year's initial shortlist is -

Chrono Cross (PSX)

Diablo II (PC)

Final Fantasy IX (PSX)

Giants (PC)

Heavy Metal : FAKK2 (PC)

In Cold Blood (PC)

The Longest Journey (PC)

Red Alert 2 (PC)

Sacrifice (PC)

Shenmue (DC)

Thief II (PC)

Tomb Raider Chronicles (PC/PSX/DC)

Visual Effects

As you would expect, the best "Visual Effects" award is for the most impressive graphics engine and use of special effects within a game. Last year's award went to Quake III : Arena, with a staff pick for Outcast

This year's initial shortlist is -

B17 : Mighty 8th (PC)

Evolva (PC)

Giants (PC)

Ground Control (PC)

Heavy Metal : FAKK2 (PC)

Jet Set Radio (DC)

MDK2 (PC)

MSR (DC)

Rune (PC)

Sacrifice (PC)

Shenmue (DC)

Starlancer (PC)

Original Music

The "Original Music" award is for the best the best soundtrack, songs and background music created specifically for a game. It does not cover games which use compilations of existing music. Last year's winner was Homeworld, with a staff pick for Outcast.

This year's initial shortlist is -

Baldur's Gate II (PC)

Chrono Cross (PSX)

Grandia (PSX)

Icewind Dale (PC)

MDK2 (PC)

Shenmue (DC)

Star Trek Voyager : Elite Force (PC)

Thief II (PC)

The Time Machine (PC)

Vagrant Story (PSX)

Sound

As the name suggests, this category is for the best sound effects and use of sound within a game. Last year's winner was Unreal Tournament, with a staff pick for ShadowMan.

This year's initial shortlist is -

Grand Prix 3 (PC)

Perfect Dark (N64)

Red Alert 2 (PC)

Samba de Amigo (DC)

The Sims (PC)

Thief II (PC)

Zelda : Majora's Mask (N64)

Original Storyline

This award is for the best storyline and plot developed for a game based on an original idea. This covers any game not based on an existing franchise, although sequels to previous computer games can count as having original storylines, assuming that the first game in the series was itself based on an original idea. Last year's winner was Homeworld, with a staff pick for Outcast.

This year's initial shortlist is -

Chrono Cross (PSX)

Deus Ex (PC)

Escape from Monkey Island (PC)

Giants (PC)

The Longest Journey (PC)

Sacrifice (PC)

Shenmue (DC)

Thief II (PC)

Vagrant Story (PSX)

Adapted Storyline

The award for the best storyline and plot developed for a game based on an existing franchise, such as a movie, book, comic, role-playing game or TV series. Last year's winner was Planescape Torment, with a staff pick for Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine.

This year's initial shortlist is -

Alice (PC)

Baldur's Gate II (PC)

Crimson Skies (PC)

Deep Space 9 : The Fallen (PC)

Heavy Metal : FAKK2 (PC)

John "Gestalt" Bye

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Gaming Globes 2000 - Results

Gaming Globes 2000 - Nominees