THE BRITISH ACADEMY has launched its list for the contenders for game of the year.

The Academy has so many categories for games these days that frankly, we feel like Mario collecting stars just trying to make sense of them all.

There are no less than 40 games in contention for 15 gongs, and here we try and pick out THE best of the best. Its been a good year for games, so it is going to be tough to avoid the same names appearing. Particularly when, for example, Uncharted 2 is nominated nine times, Batman: Arkham Asylum 7 times and Assassin's Creed II six times. And we can't choose between them either.

The Action category is highly contested, and ine obvious choice is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - which itself has eight nominations. The game has revolutionised (or ruined?) social lives, spoiled valentines day and made grown men talk about gun awards and booster nerds. Also in the running is Batman: Arkham Asylum, which is fun for the six hours it takes to complete, Left 4 Dead 2, which like COD:MW2 really made its bones in online multiplayer action and Sony's Assassin's Creed II.

Best Game will always divide opinion, and Bafta's discussions will be similar to those seen in pubs everywhere. Here the Fifa man - number 10 is in contention - along with those who live amongst thieves in Uncharted 2, play Modern Warfare games, go batty in the Asylum, or are following the Assassins Creed for the second time, all agree on one thing. Their game is the best.

This is going to be a tough decision for Bafta.

Artisitic Achievement is another tough call. One man's cheese is another man's cow by-product, but most likely to get a nod are Batman: Arkham Asylum, which is beautifully dark, and Assassin's Creed 2, which quite simply, looks fantastic.

Family and social gaming may be a bit 'meh' to many, but this year Bafta has both Guitar Hero 5, and the mum n' dad involving Beatles Rockband. Wii Sports result will also be strong in the running, particularly when it comes to running on the spot.

Gameplay. Where do you start with Gameplay? We all know people who have clocked up whole weeks of Call of Duty time since that game was released last year, but Uncharted 2 is 'like a film', according to those that got it for Christmas. One thing is for sure, the Bafta judges have a few weeks of fun consideration time in front of them.

Use of audio is an interesting one. DJ Hero would probably win our vote, if not our neighbours, again though, the smart money may be on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Bunjie's Halo franchise makes two appearances. Once for best strategy game for Halo Wars, which disappointed Halo fans globally, and another for best multiplayer and its point release Halo ODST. In this latter category the game is likely to be beat by COD:MW, or the multi-instrumented console cashcow, Beatles Rockband. Whoever wins the strategy category is up for debate. They are a bit slow for us, but Plants vs Zombies sounds interesting.

The result of the public vote for best game will be the one that most viewers are waiting for, and indeed it looks like a top ten list of games from the last couple of months. You could throw an virtual dart in the direction of most of these games and come up with a credible winner. Except, perhaps Street Fighter IV.

The awards take place on the 19th March and will be streamed online. µ

The full list of nominations:

Action
Assassin's Creed II
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
inFAMOUS
Left 4 Dead 2
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Artistic Achievement
Assassin's Creed II
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Flower
Street Fighter IV
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Best Game
Assassin's Creed II
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
FIFA 10
Left 4 Dead 2
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Family & Social
The Beatles: Rock Band
Buzz! Quiz World
EyePet
Guitar Hero 5
New Super Mario Bros Wii
Wii Sports Resort

Gameplay
Assassin's Creed II
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
New Super Mario Bros Wii
PixelJunk Shooter
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Handheld
Gran Turismo
LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
LocoRoco Midnight Carnival
Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Professor Layton and Pandora's Box
Scribblenauts

Multiplayer
Battlefield 1943
The Beatles: Rock Band
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Halo 3 ODST
Left 4 Dead 2
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Original Score
Assassin's Creed II
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
PixelJunk Shooter
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Sports
Colin McRae: DiRT 2
FIFA 10
Football Manager 2010
Forza 3
Wii Fit Plus
Wii Sports Resort

Story
Assassin's Creed II
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: The Director's Cut
Brutal Legend
Dragon Age: Origins
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Strategy
Command and Conquer 3: Uprising
Empire: Total War
FIFA Manager 10
Football Manager 2010
Halo Wars
Plants vs Zombies

Use of Audio
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
DJ Hero
Flower
Left 4 Dead 2
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Use of Online
Battlefield 1943
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
FIFA 10
LIttleBigPlanet (PSP)
Singstar TakeThat
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

BAFTA Ones To Watch Award in association with Dare to Be Digital
Colour Coded
Quick as thieves
Shrunk!

GAME Award of 2009 -to be voted for by the public
Assassin's Creed II
Batman Arkham Asylum
The Beatles: Rockband
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
FIFA 10
GTA China Town Wars
Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks
Street Fighter IV
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Wii Sports Resort