GDC Online: Smedley to keynote, SWTOR receives six award nominations

GDC Online organizers have announced SOE president John Smedley will provide the opening keynote at the event, where he will discuss free-to-play as the future of online gaming, and how SOE transitioned its entire line-up to see record high-numbers both in player and revenue growth.

Smedley will also provide insight on SOE's line-up of titles including Planetside 2.

Organizers have also announced nominations for the third annual GDC Online Awards which include everything from MMOs to social titles.

Star Wars: The Old Republic has received six nods, and Diablo III and The Sims Social have also received multiple nominations.

Here's the full list nominees:

BEST SOCIAL NETWORK GAME

• CastleVille (Zynga Dallas)
• Rage Of Bahamut (Cygames/Mobage)
• Draw Something (OMGPOP/Zynga)
• Empires & Allies (Zynga LA)
• The Sims Social (Playfish)

BEST AUDIO

• Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin)
• Tribes: Ascend (Hi-Rez Studios)
• Marvel: Avengers Alliance (Playdom/Disney)
• Diablo III (Blizzard Entertainment)
• Indiana Jones Adventure World (Zynga Boston)

BEST ONLINE GAME DESIGN

• Glitch (Tiny Speck)
• Realm of the Mad God (Wild Shadow Studios/Kabam w/Spry Fox)
• Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin)
• DragonVale (Backflip Studios)
• Woodland Heroes (Row Sham Bow)

BEST ONLINE VISUAL ARTS

• Tera (Bluehole Studio/En Masse)
• Empires & Allies (Zynga LA)
• Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin)
• Age of Empires Online (Robot Entertainment & Gas Powered Games)
• Glitch (Tiny Speck)

ONLINE INNOVATION

• Journey (thatgamecompany)
• Realm of the Mad God (Wild Shadow Studios/Kabam w/Spry Fox)
• Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin)
• DayZ Mod for ArmA II (Dean Hall/Bohemia Interactive)
• Idle Worship (Idle Games)

BEST COMMUNITY RELATIONS

• World of WarCraft (Blizzard Entertainment)
• League of Legends (Riot Games)
• Solitaire Blitz (PopCap/EA)
• World of Tanks (Wargaming.net Belarus)
• Diamond Dash (Wooga)

BEST ONLINE TECHNOLOGY

• Diablo III (Blizzard Entertainment)
• Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin)
• Indiana Jones Adventure World (Zynga Boston)
• Tera (Bluehole Studio/En Masse)
• The Sims Social (Playfish)

BEST LIVE GAME

• League of Legends (Riot Games)
• Rift (Trion Worlds)
• CityVille (Zynga)
• World of WarCraft (Blizzard Entertainment)
• EVE Online (CCP Games)

BEST NEW ONLINE GAME

• CastleVille (Zynga Dallas)
• Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin)
• DragonVale (Backflip Studios)
• Draw Something (OMGPOP/Zynga)
• Rage Of Bahamut (Cygames/Mobage)

GDC Online takes place in Austin, Texas October 9-11.