Journey and The Walking Dead win big at the 16th annual DICE awards

At tonight's 16th annual DICE Awards, PlayStation exclusive Journey won eight of its eleven category nominations, including Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction and Outstanding Innovation in Gaming.

The Walking Dead won four of its eight nominations, including Adventure Game of the Year, Downloadable Game of the Year and Outstanding Character Performance of protagonist Lee Everett (voiced by Dave Fennoy). Halo 4 won two of six nominated categories, including Outstanding Achievement in Connectivity and Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering.

The Academy's Peer Panels evaluated more than 100 games, a peer panel for each category, with 63 nominated for awards. Voting for the awards was online and anonymous.

"For the past 16 years, the D.I.C.E. Awards have brought together the brightest and most creative minds in games to celebrate outstanding achievement in interactive entertainment. This year is no exception as the hottest players representing all facets of the industry took center stage," said Martin Rae, president of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences in a statement. "From our many category winners to our distinguished honorees Gabe Newell, Dave Lebling and Marc Blank, we congratulate all the talented developers and publishers whose contributions led to another exceptional year in games."

The nominees in each category are listed below. The winners are bolded.

Game of the Year

• Borderlands 2 (Gearbox Software)
• Far Cry 3 (Ubisoft)
• Journey (thatgamecompany)
• The Walking Dead (Telltale Games)
• XCOM: Enemy Unknown (Firaxis Games)

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

• Journey (thatgamecompany)
• Dishonored (Arkane Studios)
• Far Cry 3 (Ubisoft)
• The Unfinished Swan (Giant Sparrow)
• The Walking Dead (Telltale Games)

Outstanding Innovation in Gaming

• Journey (thatgamecompany)
• The Unfinished Swan (Giant Sparrow)
• Nintendo Land (Nintendo)
• Sound Shapes (Queasy Games)
• The Walking Dead (Telltale Games)

Action Game of the Year

• Borderlands 2 (Gearbox Software)
• Far Cry 3 (Ubisoft)
• Halo 4 (343 Industries)
• Hitman: Absolution (IO Interactive A/S)
• Sleeping Dogs (United Front Games)

Adventure Game of the Year

• Assassin's Creed 3 (Ubisoft)
• Darksiders II (Vigil Games)
• Dishonored (Arkane Studios)
• New Super Mario Bros. Wii U (Nintendo)
• The Walking Dead (Telltale Games)

Mobile Game of the Year

• Fairway Solitaire (Big Fish)
• Hero Academy (Robot Entertainment)
• Horn (Phosphor Games Studio)
• Rayman Jungle Run (Pastagames, Ubisoft Montpellier)

Handheld Game of the Year

• Paper Mario Sticker Star (Intelligent Systems)

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

• Journey (thatgamecompany)

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design

• Journey (thatgamecompany)

Outstanding Achievement in Story

• The Walking Dead (Telltale Games)

Outstanding Character Performance

• The Walking Dead: Lee Everett (Telltale Games)

Downloadable Game of the Year

• The Walking Dead (Telltale Games)

Casual Game of the Year

• Journey (thatgamecompany)

Web Based Game of the Year

• SimCity Social (Maxis, Playfish)

Family Game of the Year

• Skylanders Giants (Toys for Bob)

Role Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year

• Mass Effect 3 (Bioware)

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

• XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2K Games)

Sports Game of the Year

• FIFA Soccer 13 (EA Canada)

Racing Game of the Year

• Need for Speed Most Wanted (Criterion Games)

Fighting Game of the Year

• PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (SuperBot Entertainment, Inc.)

Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay

• Journey (thatgamecompany)

Outstanding Achievement in Connectivity

• Halo 4 (343 Industries)

Outstanding Achievement in Animation

• Assassin's Creed 3 (Ubisoft)

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

• Journey (thatgamecompany)

Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering

• Halo 4 (343 Industries)

Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering

• XCOM: Enemy Unknown (Firaxis Games)