GDC Online: Smedley to keynote, SWTOR receives six award nominations

By Stephany Nunneley

GDC Online organizers have announced SOE president John Smedley will provide the opening keynote at the event, where he will discuss free-to-play as the future of online gaming, and how SOE transitioned its entire line-up to see record high-numbers both in player and revenue growth.

Smedley will also provide insight on SOE’s line-up of titles including Planetside 2.

Organizers have also announced nominations for the third annual GDC Online Awards which include everything from MMOs to social titles.

Star Wars: The Old Republic has received six nods, and Diablo III and The Sims Social have also received multiple nominations.

Here’s the full list nominees:

BEST SOCIAL NETWORK GAME

• CastleVille (Zynga Dallas)
• Rage Of Bahamut (Cygames/Mobage)
• Draw Something (OMGPOP/Zynga)
• Empires & Allies (Zynga LA)
• The Sims Social (Playfish)

BEST AUDIO

• Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin)
• Tribes: Ascend (Hi-Rez Studios)
• Marvel: Avengers Alliance (Playdom/Disney)
• Diablo III (Blizzard Entertainment)
• Indiana Jones Adventure World (Zynga Boston)

BEST ONLINE GAME DESIGN

• Glitch (Tiny Speck)
• Realm of the Mad God (Wild Shadow Studios/Kabam w/Spry Fox)
• Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin)
• DragonVale (Backflip Studios)
• Woodland Heroes (Row Sham Bow)

BEST ONLINE VISUAL ARTS

• Tera (Bluehole Studio/En Masse)
• Empires & Allies (Zynga LA)
• Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin)
• Age of Empires Online (Robot Entertainment & Gas Powered Games)
• Glitch (Tiny Speck)

ONLINE INNOVATION

• Journey (thatgamecompany)
• Realm of the Mad God (Wild Shadow Studios/Kabam w/Spry Fox)
• Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin)
• DayZ Mod for ArmA II (Dean Hall/Bohemia Interactive)
• Idle Worship (Idle Games)

BEST COMMUNITY RELATIONS

• World of WarCraft (Blizzard Entertainment)
• League of Legends (Riot Games)
• Solitaire Blitz (PopCap/EA)
• World of Tanks (Wargaming.net Belarus)
• Diamond Dash (Wooga)

BEST ONLINE TECHNOLOGY

• Diablo III (Blizzard Entertainment)
• Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin)
• Indiana Jones Adventure World (Zynga Boston)
• Tera (Bluehole Studio/En Masse)
• The Sims Social (Playfish)

BEST LIVE GAME

• League of Legends (Riot Games)
• Rift (Trion Worlds)
• CityVille (Zynga)
• World of WarCraft (Blizzard Entertainment)
• EVE Online (CCP Games)

BEST NEW ONLINE GAME

• CastleVille (Zynga Dallas)
• Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin)
• DragonVale (Backflip Studios)
• Draw Something (OMGPOP/Zynga)
• Rage Of Bahamut (Cygames/Mobage)

GDC Online takes place in Austin, Texas October 9-11.