THE BUZZ: The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences have officially announced the finalists for the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.

Over 100 games were played across all platforms by select panels that were dedicated to coming up with the nominees and winners in 26 different gaming related categories. From the music to the controls to the cinematic cut scenes and finally to the coveted Game of the Year Award, every nuance that can make a game great was broken down for this year’s IAAs and will be celebrated when the awards are given out on Thursday, February 9th, during the 2012 DICE Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Our industry has really outdone itself this year and continues to exceed expectations with its creativity and craftsmanship,” said AIAS President Martin Rae.

Of course, some games were able to rise above others and transcended into multiple categories. Leading the pack were Portal 2 with 10 nominations followed by L.A. Noire’s nine and then six each for Batman: Arkham City, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Battlefield 3.

The awards show will once again be hosted this year by actor, comedian, and fellow game enthusiast Jay Mohr.

Some of the nominees and categories are below, but if you’d like the full list, you can click here: 15th Annual IAA’s Full List of Award Nominees

Game of the Year

  • Batman: Arkham City
  • Portal 2
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  • The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
  • Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Outstanding Innovation in Gaming

  • Bastion
  • L.A. Noire
  • Portal 2
  • Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

 
Action Game of the Year

  • Battlefield 3
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
  • Dead Space 2
  • Gears of War 3
  • Saints Row: The Third

EGM’S TAKE: The IAAs have become like the Oscars of the gaming industry and every year they put on a spectacular show that highlights the year in gaming like no other. It should be interesting to see just how many awards the heavyweights like Portal 2 and Batman: Arkham City come away with though with their multiple nominations.