2008 was a great year for games.  Developers found many ways to push both graphics, gameplay, and Story Development to higher levels then ever before to where most games can rival the movie industry.  But of course with the end of the year comes the ever grueling award shows that may seem fair, yet unfair at the same time.  To counter balance this I'll be writing my own.  Leave comments on who you think should win (Or lose in certain categories) and this can sway the decision.  Without further ado my Game of the Year Awards.

Best Story:
Sometimes its hard to come up with a good story.  However when you get the right scriptwriters you can create an amazing story that can touch the heart and boggle the mind.  Here are the nominees:
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
Bioshock (PS3)
Condemned 2: Bloodshot (PS3, 360)
Mass Effect (PC)
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (PS3, 360, PS2, Wii, DS, PSP, iPhone)

Best Graphics, Technical:
Games are now pushing the boundaries in what they can put forth.  This award goes to the game that pushes tech as far as anyone has seen in any video game this year.  This award is a landmark as games start to push farther into realism and life.  Here are the nominees:
Gears of War 2 (360)
Resistance 2 (PS3)
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
Crysis: Warhead (PC)
Far Cry 2 (PS3, 360, PC)

Best Graphics, Artistic:
Tech graphics aren't just the only thing that make a game stand out.  Sometimes a very powerful design choice can help influence the games graphics and show that a beautiful game doesn't need to have the most realistic graphics.  And the nominees are:
Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)
LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
Prince of Persia (PS3, 360)
Tales of Vesperia (360)
Patapon (PSP)

Best Voice Acting:
A good script can go a long way but how the lines are delivered packs the final punch.  A good voice actor can enlighten any game and make it go from blah to OMG.  Here are the nominees:
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (PS3, 360, PS2, Wii, DS, PSP, iPhone)
Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)
No More Heroes (Wii)
Dead Space (PS3, 360, PC)

Best Co-Op Game:
Playing alone can be fun, but playing with other people just cranks up the action.  Games in this category give an enriching Co-Op experience that will keep you coming back for more.  And here are the Nominees:
Left 4 Dead (360, PC)
Call of Duty: World at War (PS3, 360, PC, Wii, PS2, DS)
Resistance 2 (PS3)
LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
Gears of War 2 (360)

Best Competitive Multiplayer:
Who doesn't like to go online and show people whos da man.  Games in this category offer some of the best online matches that make you feel powerful and good.  Here are the nominees:
Super Smash Brother Brawl (Wii)
Resistance 2 (PS3)
Call of Duty: World at War (PS3, 360, PC, PS2, Wii, DS)
Gears of War 2 (360)
Burnout Paradise (PS3, 360)

Best Original IP:
These games are brand new.  These games just exploded onto the game industry this year and made us all hope that we would soon recieve a sequel.  Here are the nominees:
Dead Space (PS3, 360, PC)
LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
No More Heroes (Wii)
Patapon (PSP)
Mass Effect (PC)

Be sure to check back tomorrow as I'll release the winners for this part and the nominees for Part 2.  Stay Tuned.
-El_Kevo