The 11th Interactive Achievement Awards (sometimes, incorrectly referred to as the video games Oscars) were given out last night in Las Vegas, Nevada.
One of the reasons that these awards are often misnamed is because they are handed out by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences - and it has 'Academy' in its name, see. They are awarded at the D.I.C.E. (Design Innovate Communicate Entertain) Summit. Winners were selected by panels of engineers, designers and "others in the industry".
In fact, according to D.I.C.E.,"The 11th anniversary of the Interactive Achievement Awards will included many of the biggest names in the gaming industry!" - yes it will... have... erm?
The Ballroom at the Red Rock Casino Resort was rammed to its sides with besuited industry figures all vying to say something interesting but not controversial enough to affect share price or stockholder options. Packs of hungry journalists circled waiting to pick off any developer
drunk enough to have momentarily slipped the leash held by its marketing and PR body guard.
Down went the lights, the conversations about, "We're just happy to have been nominated" quietened, and the modernist statuey award thingies were handed out.
The big winners, although not surprising, can be seen as worthy recipients.
BioShock,
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and
The Orange Box got four statuey-thingies respectively.
The biggest winner of the biggest prize was - coincidentally - also the best-selling game of 2007 in the world,
apparently.
Call of Duty, was praised for its unique online multi-player levelling system, was named overall game of the year and console game of the year. It was also honoured as the top action and online game.
BioShock, which had a record-setting 12 nominations, won awards for art direction, story development, music and sound.
The Orange Box, was Computer Game of the Year. With
Portal garnering the Game Design, Character Performance and Gameplay engineering.
±The list of winners is right here... well, right below here.
Overall Game of the YearCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Activision/Infinity Ward
Outstanding Achievement in Game DesignThe Orange Box: Portal - Electronic Arts/Valve
Computer Game of the YearThe Orange Box Electronic - Arts/Valve
Console Game of the YearCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Activision/Infinity Ward
Handheld Game of the YearThe Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - Nintendo of America
Family Game of the YearRock Band - MTV Games/Harmonix
Outstanding Achievement in AnimationAssassin's Creed - Ubisoft Montreal Alex Drouin Elspeth Tory, Sylvain Bernard
Outstanding Achievement in Art DirectionBioShock - 2K Games
Outstanding Achievement in Visual EngineeringCrysis - Electronic Arts/Crytek
Outstanding Character Performance[i]The Orange Box: Portal Ellen McLaw as GLADos
Outstanding Achievement in Story DevelopmentBioShock - 2K Games
Outstanding Achievement in Game Play EngineeringThe Orange Box: Portal - Electronic Arts/Valve Software
Outstanding Achievement in Online Game PlayCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Activision/Infinity
Downloadable Game of the YearPuzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - D3
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music CompositionBioShock - 2K Games
Outstanding Achievement in SoundtrackRock Band - MTV Games/Harmonix
Outstanding Achievement in Sound DesignBioShock - 2K Games
Cellular Game of the Yearskate. - Electronic Arts/EA Mobile
Role-Playing Game of the YearMass Effect - Microsoft Game Studios/BioWare
Racing Game of the YearMotorstorm - SCEA/Evolution Studios
Outstanding Innovation in GamingRock Band - MTV Games/Harmonix
Adventure Game of the YearSuper Mario Galaxy - Nintendo of America/Nintendo
Sports Game of the Yearskate. - Electronic Arts/EA Black Box
Strategy/Simulation Game of the YearCommand and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars - Electronic Arts/EA Los Angeles
Action Game of the YearCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Activision Infinity Ward
Massively Multiplayer Game of the YearWorld of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade - Vivendi Games/Blizzard Entertainment
± Associated Press