2014 D.I.C.E. Award Nominees Announced

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences has pulled back the curtain on its gaming nominees for the 17th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards on the same day as the Oscars. The Last of Us leads the charge with 13 nominations, while BioShock Infinite, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, and Tearaway also garner nods in multiple categories.

The awards show will take place on February 6 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas during the D.I.C.E. Summit. Those interested in tuning in can watch a live stream at 7:30pm PT/10:30pm ET on that day.

The following is a short list of categories. The full details will appear on the official D.I.C.E. site soon. 

Game of the Year

•Assassin's Creed: IV Black Flag
•Bioshock Infinite
•Grand Theft Auto V
•The Last of Us
•The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

•Brothers – A Tale of Two Sons
•Grand Theft Auto V
•Papers, Please
•Tearaway
•The Last of Us

Outstanding Innovation in Gaming

•Grand Theft Auto V
•Papers, Please
•Tearaway
•The Last of Us
•The Stanley Parable

Adventure Game of the Year

•Assassin's Creed: IV Black Flag
•Tearaway
•The Last of Us
•The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
•Tomb Raider

Action Game of the Year

•Battlefield 4
•Bioshock Infinite
•Dead Rising 3
•DmC: Devil May Cry
•Resogun

Downloadable Game of the Year

•Brothers – A Tale of Two Sons
•Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
•Gone Home
•Papers, Please
•The Stanley Parable

Online Game of the Year [New category which doesn't require release within the 2013 calendar year]

•Battlefield 4
•Borderlands 2
•Diablo III
•The Last of Us
•World of Tanks

Curious on the process behind the D.I.C.E. Awards? Here's the official explanation:

"Titles were played and evaluated by members of the Academy’s Peer Panels to determine final nominees. These panels, one for each award category, are comprised of the game industry’s most experienced and talented men and women who are experts in their chosen fields. The Academy’s 22,000+ members then vote to determine the winners as part of a secure voting process in which the winners are not revealed until the evening of the show."

Our Take:
Like the Game Developers Choice Awards,  the D.I.C.E. Awards are voted on by those in the industry. It's not surprising to see several of the nominees from the GDC awards and our top picks in this list as well.