The 2010 Game Developers Choice (GDC) Online Awards have announced the opening of the Audience Awards which allows fans to cast a vote for their favorite persistent online game.

The deadline to submit nominee suggestions is Sept 24th at 12am PDT. The winners will be announced at the Choice Online Award ceremony on Oct 7, 2010

World of Warcraft is currently nominated by the development community to the following categories:

1. The Best Community Relations Award

The Best Community Relations Award honors the currently operating online game that provides the highest quality community feedback and experience, including customer support, forum moderation and leadership, weblog and information updates, real-life events, and other community outreach.

Blizzard Entertainment is contending this award with Eve Online, Guild Wars, Free Realms and Wizard101.

2. The Best Live Game Award

The Best Live Game Award recognizes the best currently-operating online game, having been launched in North America for at least 12 months (before May 2009), and distinguishing itself by that exceptional new content through expansion packs, patches, or other updates in the last 12 months, as well as a vibrant player community, high-quality community management and network operation during that period.

Other games in this category are EVE Online, Dungeon Fighter Online, Farmville and League of Legends.