Steam Awards 2017 Nominations

My picks for the Steam Awards 2017.

http://store.steampowered.com/SteamAwardNominations/

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FEATURING: STEAM AWARDS NOMINATIONS

NOV 22 10AM - NOV 28 10AM 2017 (PST)

A year ago, the Steam Award Selection Committee stepped out of the shadows and put a challenge out into the world… “Who amongst you has the will to stare into your very soul, and in doing so determine what was the best use of a farm animal in 2016”. The stakes were high, fortunately 6,700,000 brave men and women stepped forward who were up to the challenge. But that was then. Today, the SASC has been called to gather once more… are you ready to celebrate the best?

The “The World Is Grim Enough Let's Just All Get Along” Award
Games delight and entertain us, giving us much needed breaks from the sorrows and low points of our lives… and let’s be honest, for a lot of people it’s been a rough 2017. That is why the SASC has chosen to celebrate a game that doesn’t involve combat or conflict.

The “Choices Matter” Award

Games are about agency, and this award is for the game that has it in spades. Maybe it’s because there are 31 ways you can breach into a villains lair. Perhaps there are dozens of potential partners for you to build a romantic future with. Or maybe you find yourself constantly saying “Where oh where should I plant those turnips”? In all three scenarios there is a common bond: the choice was always yours.

The “Haunts My Dreams” Award
This award is slightly a misnomer, because this game doesn’t just haunt your dreams. It consumes your thoughts every waking moment of the day. This game doesn’t demand your time. You give it willingly.

The “Mom’s Spaghetti” Award
There are games that make you excited. There are games that make you happy. Then there are games so intense that they elicit a physical reaction. We’re talking weak knees. We’re talking sweaty palms. We’re talking fear-induced accidents. We’re talking your friends reminding you to breathe. We’re talking about mom’s spaghetti.

The “No Apologies” Award
This award is for the game that you love unconditionally. Does it have some faults? Maybe. Do other people not understand your love for it? Sure. But make no mistake. There is no guilt here. Only pleasure.

The “Cry Havoc And Let Slip The Dogs Of War” Award
The Bard said it best. This game doesn't necessarily offer the biggest explosions... it offers something better. Potential. Potential to be a rampaging force of nature. Or not. Who knows. You're an agent of chaos and no one is going to tell you what to do.

The “Suspension of Disbelief” Award
Let’s be honest: games can have some pretty ridiculous elements in them… from the stories that drive the action, to the items required to conquer obstacles, to even the protagonists themselves. This award is for the game that has a key component, which when described out of context, seems totally insane, but while playing the game doesn’t even make you bat an eye, because in the moment it makes total sense.

The “Soul Of Vitruvius” Award
The Vitruvian Man was Leonardo’s celebration of the ideal form. And in that spirit the SASC looks to celebrate the game with the most lovingly rendered character… be it human, alien, anthropomorphic cat people, or even a piece of produce.

The “Defies Description” Award
This game is like... well actually it's more similar to...picture a combination of... ya know what, I can't describe it, just play it.

The “Labor of Love” Award
This game has been out for a while. The team is well past the first unveiling of their creative baby, but being the good parents they are, these devs continue to nurture and support their creation. This game, to this day, is still getting new content after all these years.

The “Whoooaaaaaaa, Dude! 2.0” Award
The Academy wasn't clear enough in the awards description last year. Let's try this again. This award is for the “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” of video games.

The “Even Better Than I Expected” Award
We’ve all been there. You get super excited for a game, you pre-order it, and you anxiously wait as it downloads. Then you finally play it. How do you feel now? If the answer is “Elated beyond words because even I, a conductor aboard the hype train, was blown away with how good this thing was” then you have found the perfect candidate for this award.

The “Write-In” Award
You are a member of the Steam Award Selection Committee and your voice needs to be heard! What additional category needs to be added for the 2017 steam awards? Best Use Of A Lighthouse? Best Game To Play While Listening To The Hamilton Soundtrack? The only limit is your imagination (and a vague sense of decency)!

And My PICKS... I don't own all of these games; they're just the games at the top of my head at the time but I did give some of them some thoughts. I am obviously biased towards RPG games and games that I've played. I would pick Black Desert Online for the “Soul Of Vitruvius” Award or the game with the best-looking character but it is not available in my region.

• The “The World Is Grim Enough Let's Just All Get Along” Award — Currently Hidden Folks
• The “Choices Matter” Award — Currently Torment: Tides of Numenera
• The “Haunts My Dreams” Award — Currently Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition
• The “Mom’s Spaghetti” Award — Currently Dota 2
• The “No Apologies” Award — Currently Crusaders of the Lost Idols
• The “Cry Havoc And Let Slip The Dogs Of War” Award — Currently Minion Masters
• The “Suspension of Disbelief” Award — Currently The Stanley Parable
• The “Soul Of Vitruvius” Award — Currently The Witcher® 3: Wild Hunt
• The “Defies Description” Award — Currently Undertale
• The “Labor of Love” Award — Currently Terraria
• The “Whoooaaaaaaa, Dude! 2.0” Award — Currently Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition
• The “Even Better Than I Expected” Award — Currently Pillars of Eternity
• The “Write-In Award” — Currently PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | Your category suggestion: “Most Popular Game I Would Never Play Award”

Steam Awards 2017 Nomination Committee Badges