An unexpected, but welcome surprise surfaced today as two Warner Brothers Entertainment properties, video game Mortal Kombat (2011) and web series Mortal Kombat Legacy have both been selected as nominees for the 2012 Writer's Guild Awards. The writing team behind NetherRealm Studios Mortal Kombat has been nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Video Game Writing, while Warner Premier's Mortal Kombat Legacy directed by Kevin Tancharoen, has been nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Writing Derivative New Media. From the press release:
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN WRITING DERIVATIVE NEW MEDIA

“Soft Served!,” “Iced!,” “Rokered!” (Jack Donaghy: Executive Superhero), 30 Rock, Written by Tom Ceraulo; nbc.com

“Raiden,” “Kitana and Mileena,” “Johnny Cage” (Mortal Kombat: The Web Series), Written by Todd Helbing & Aaron Helbing; machinima.com

“Pay Phone,” “Jax Meets His Second Son,” “Tara & Piney,” “Mexican Basketball” (Sons of Anarchy), Written by Kurt Sutter & Gladys Rodriguez; FXnetworks.com

“A New Day,” “Family Matters,” “Neighborly Advice,” “Step Mom,” “Everything Dies” (The Walking Dead), Teleplay by John Esposito, Story by John Esposito and Greg Nicotero; amc.com

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN VIDEOGAME WRITING

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, Story by Alexandre Amancio, Jean Guesdon, Corey May, Darby McDevitt; Multiplayer Story by Stéphane Blais, Richard Farrese, Jeffrey Yohalem; Lead Script Writer Darby McDevitt; Script Writers Richard Farrese, Nicholas Grimwood, Corey May, Jeffrey Yohalem; Greek and Turkish Ambient Dialogue Writer Vincenzo Beretta; Ubisoft

Batman: Arkham City, Lead Narrative Designer Paul Crocker; Story Written by Paul Dini, Paul Crocker and Sefton Hill; Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Brink, Lead Writer Edward “Bongoboy” Stern; Bethesda Softworks

Mortal Kombat, Story by John Vogel, Brian Chard, Dominic Cianciolo, Alexander Barrentine, Jon Greenberg; Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, Written by Amy Hennig; Sony Computer Entertainment

Interesting to note is that Mortal Kombat Legacy's nomination in the derivative new media category is unique, given it is the only nominee that has internet distribution roots from Machinima, as well as being listed as the only video game related title in its group. All of the other nominees are based on popular television series including 30 Rock, Sons of Anarchy, and The Walking Dead. According to the press release, The 2012 Writers Guild Awards will be presented on February 19, 2012,  at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles and at B.B. King Blues Club in New York City.

Mortal Kombat Online would like to send our sincere congratulations to both NetherRealm Studios and Warner Premier writing teams!

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