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Halo 3, BioShock top Spike TV noms

Shooters from Bungie and 2K get most nods for testosterone-infused network's December 9 award show.

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No Caption Provided Even without the next two weeks' lineup of highly promising offerings, 2007 has seen more than its fair share of critically acclaimed games. Although the high quantity of high quality is unequivocally great for gamers, it's sure to create a massive headache for those looking to parse out the best of the best. Charged with the onus, Viacom-owned Spike TV unveiled its nominees for the 2007 Video Game Awards today through its official Web site.

This year, Spike has trimmed off a few of last year's more superfluous categories, such as Cyber Vixen of the Year (Half-Life 2's Alyx Vance in 2006, for those counting), by nominating games in 22 categories. Microsoft console-exclusives dominate the coveted game-of-the-year category, with noms this year being Halo 3 and Mass Effect, as well as BioShock and The Orange Box. 2K Games' dystopian shooter BioShock and Bungie Studios' sci-fi shooter Halo 3 received the most nominations with seven apiece. Valve Software's compilation The Orange Box semimatched that number with five overall, as well as solo nominations for Portal and Team Fortress 2.

To be eligible for nomination, a game's release date must fall between November 16, 2006 and December 1, 2007. The nominees were chosen by Spike TV's advisory panel, which is made of nearly two dozen game journalists, including editors from the San Jose Mercury News, EGM, Game Informer, and GameSpot. The category of most addictive game will be selected by online voters polled on the official VGA site.

Spike TV's Video Game Awards will air December 9 at 9 p.m. Eastern on Spike. Last year, Samuel L. Jackson emceed the event, which featured live performances from Jack Black's Tenacious D and rockers AFI. Spike has not yet announced the master of ceremonies or other entertainers for this year's event.

A complete list of nominees for Spike TV's 2007 Video Game Awards is listed below.

Game of the Year
BioShock
Halo 3
Mass Effect
The Orange Box

Best Shooter
BioShock
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Halo 3
The Orange Box

Best Action Game
Assassin's Creed
God of War 2
Super Mario Galaxy
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

Best Rhythm Game
Guitar Hero Encore: Rock the 80s
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Jam Sessions
Rock Band

Best RPG
Eternal Sonata
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Mass Effect
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3

Best Driving Game
DiRT
Forza Motorsport 2
Need for Speed ProStreet
Project Gotham Racing 4

Best Military Game
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
World in Conflict

Studio of the Year
Bungie Studios
Harmonix
Irrational Games
Valve

Best Graphics
BioShock
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Crysis
Mass Effect

Breakthrough Technology
Crysis
Halo 3
Portal
Rock Band

Best PS3 Game
Heavenly Sword
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Warhawk

Best Wii Game
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Paper Mario

Best Xbox 360 Game
BioShock
Halo 3
Mass Effect
The Orange Box

Best PC Game
BioShock
Crysis
The Orange Box
World in Conflict

Best Individual Sports Game
Skate
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08
Tony Hawk's Proving Ground
Virtua Tennis 3

Best Team Sports Game
Madden NFL 08
NBA 2K8
NHL 08
Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007

Best Handheld Game
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

Best Game Based on a Movie or TV Show
The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of Angmar
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja
The Simpsons Game
Stranglehold

Best Soundtrack
BioShock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Tony Hawk's Proving Ground
Rock Band

Best Original Score
BioShock
God of War 2
Halo 3
Mass Effect

Best Multiplayer Game
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Halo 3
Rock Band
The Orange Box

Most Addictive Game Fueled by Dew
Halo 3
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Team Fortress 2
Wii Sports

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