With the Video Game Awards 2012 getting close it's getting pretty exciting, not only for those who worked on the games nominated but also for their fans. Everyone has their own opinions about who they want to win each category, including the VGU staff. Keep reading to find out who we think should win the awards this year, and don't forget: there's still time to vote for your favourite games here, and keep checking back for updates on the results during the ceremony!

Game of the Year

Assassin's Creed 3

Dishonored

Journey

Mass Effect 3

The Walking Dead: The Game

VGU Pick: This was a bit of a debate, but the VGU guys all agree that Assassin's Creed 3 should get Game of the Year. An epic story combined with fast paced action, lots of exploration and an element of immersion lost in lots of games, you'll be happily assassinating the night away.

Studio of the Year:

343 Industries

Arkane Studios

Gearbox Software

Telltale Games

VGU Pick: This was a toss up between 2, but the majority voted for Gearbox Software due to Borderlands 2. Nobody can argue that it was an impressive game, with a massive world, 17 bazillion guns and a whole host of things to blow up! And who can forget iconic character such as Clap Trap and Mad Moxxi?

Best Xbox 360 Game:

Assassin's Creed 3

Borderlands 2

Dishonored

Halo 4

 VGU Pick: This one was pretty obvious. The brain child of the Xbox, Halo 4 is a pretty good contender. With a massive and emotionally twisting storyline, a whole array of new weapons to kill things with and an expansive multiplayer experience to accompany it, it provides an all around experience. Expect it to tug at your heart strings a few times!

Best PS3 Game:

Assassin's Creed 3

Borderlands 2

Dishonored

Journey

VGU Pick: Not surprisingly Assassin's Creed 3 was voted in here. It's been said that the experience is much better on the PS3 than the Xbox or PC equivalent, but I suppose that's really up to personal taste, right?

Best Wii/Wii-U Game:

New Super Mario Bros. U

The Last Story

Xenoblade Chronicles

ZombiU

VGU Pick: It has been claimed that Xenoblade Chronicles revitalised the JRPG genre with well driven RPG gameplay and an immersive and entertaining story. Some people would probably argue, but you're always bound to get at least one person who disagrees!

Best PC Game:

Diablo 3

Guild Wars 2

Torchlight 2

Xcom: Enemy Unknown

VGU Pick: Hold the trumpers please. VGU voted and thought Guild Wars 2 would win best PC game this year. With a dynamic storyline that changes with your experiences and choices and a large fantasy world unlike things previously seen, it's already sold 1.48million copies since it's release. Pretty good we think.

Best Song in a Game:

Castle of Glass by Linkin Park (Medal of Honor Warighter)

Cities by Beck (Sound Shapes)

I Was Born For This by Austin Wintory (Journey)

Tears by Health (Max Payne 3)

VGU Pick: Castle of Glass has to be one of my favourite Linkin Park tracks at the moment. It's upbeat, simple and yet easy to remember - the kind of song you find yourself randomly singing for no reason!

Best Original Score:

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

Halo 4

Journey

Max Payne 3

VGU Pick: Officially the first cateory we had to get another person in for just to decide, it eventually came down to Journey having the Best Original Score of 2012. It's emotive and (a word for word quote) "epic in ways you won't understand", definitely worth a listen if you've got a minute.

Best Graphics:

Assassin's Creed 3

Dishonored

Halo 4

Journey

VGU Pick: As good as all of the games in this category are, we eventually decided that Halo 4 is a pretty good contender for this title. The graphics are amazing, with huge contrasts between the open lands, UNSC areas and wastelands. Even the weapons seem to look shinier and better!

Best Performance by a Human Female:

Emma Stone as Amanda Cartwright (Sleeping Dogs)

Jen Taylor as Cortana (Halo 4)

Jennifer Hale as Commander Shepard (Mass Effect 3)

Melissa Hutchinson as Clementine

VGU Pick: You have never heard an argument as bad as the one surrounding this category, particulart between myself and Bradley. It's the kind of argument that makes you want to throw something or someone, but we eventually came to the painstaking decision of a draw between Jen Taylor as Cortana and Melissa Hutchinson as Clementime. Why I hear you ask? His reason for picking Clementine is that the actress doesn't only portray a frightened, small child but also gives a realistic performance that has you believing she has seen the worst this world has to offer. My reasons for Cortana? I think it's hard to portray an artificial creature as a human, and to play her well enough to elicit emotion from an audience (she actually had me almost crying at one point) takes an awful lot of skill. You can actually see her development as she becomes more human and see her feelings for people, especially the Chief. See why we had the HUGE argument?

Best Performance by a Human Male:

Dameon Clarke as Handsome Jack (Borderlands 2)

Dave Fennoy as Lee Everret (The Walking Dead: The Game)

James McCaffrey as Max Payne (Max Payne 3)

Nolan North as Captain Martin Walker (Spec Ops: The Line)

VGU Pick: A favourite, Handsome Jack was a brilliant performance. It was one of the best parts of the game: from his one liners to the witty conversations involving you, the vault hunters and anyone else who annoyed him. It's quite funny how he sees himself as the good guy...

Best DLC:

Dawnguard - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Leviathan - Mass Effect 3

Mechromancer Pack - Borderlands 2

Perpetual Testing Initiative - Portal 2

VGU Pick: Bradley was pretty animated at this, but we decided that the Mechromancer Pack was pretty awesome and desreved this award. It gave you a whole new character and 3 new skill trees to explore, as well as adding a whole host of perks and extra stuff to the game. Plus who can say no to her slightly-psychotic-yet-adorable charm?

Best Social Game:

Draw Something

Marvel: Avengers Alliance

Simcity Social

You Don't Know Jack

VGU Pick: Marvel: Avengers Alliance was so simple yet incredibly addictive. Control a team of your favourite Marvel characters as you battle enemies and level up, competing with your friends. It has everything a Facebook game should with extra added POW (Cheers Marvel!)

And last but not least....

Character of the Year:

Connor (Assassin's Creed 3)

Commander Shephard (Mass Effect 3)

Clap Trap (Borderlands 2)

Master Chief (Halo 4)

Raul Menendez (Call of Duty: Black Ops 2)

VGU Pick: He may be annoying, crazy and get you to do the most random of things, but Claptrap is certainly an adorable little character! If his dancing doesn't have you laughing then his singing will, or his insane mutterings, or even how he seems to fail at everything... Overall he's a wel rounded, funny little guy. Definitely in need of an award, right?

So that's the first part done! You can find the second part here, and keep checking back for the results! If you think a different game should win an award let us know in the comments!!