And the big winner is...LittleBigPlanet (Sony Computer Entertainment America), collecting on an impressive 8 awards at the 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards last night. The award ceremony was hosted by comedian and avid gamer Jay Mohr at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. LittleBigPlanet is a platform adventure with a vibrant social community enabling gamers to play, create and share their experiences.
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences also honored industry icon Bruce Shelley for his tremendous contributions to the video game industry. Shelley's fellow co-founder of Ensemble Studios, Tony Goodman, presented his award after a video retrospective of his career. Shelley is the 12th recipient of the prestigious Hall of Fame Award. In a partnership with the Academy, Independent Film Channel (IFC) will broadcast a half hour special with highlights from the IAAs in April 2009.
"The Interactive Achievement Awards is the forum for the industry's leading game makers to honor the best in technical innovation and game play experience," said Joseph Olin, president, AIAS. "This year's winners represent the range of interactive entertainment experiences and truly exemplify why video games enjoy so much popularity among adults and children. It's no wonder that IFC TV, one of the best-known outlets for creative entertainment, is excited to bring the Interactive Achievement Awards to their audience this spring."
These peer-based awards recognize the outstanding products, talented individuals and development teams that have contributed to the advancement of the multi-billion dollar worldwide entertainment software industry. The winners in each category are as follows:
Overall Game of the Year: Console Game of the Year:
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LittleBigPlanet LittleBigPlanet
Publisher: Sony Computer Publisher: Sony Computer
Entertainment America Entertainment America
Developer: Media Molecule Developer: Media Molecule
Producer: Siobhan Reddy, Leo Producer: Siobhan Reddy, Leo
Cubbin Cubbin
Game Director: Mark Healey, Game Director: Mark Healey,
David Smith David Smith
Computer Game of the Year Outstanding Achievement in Game
Direction
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Left 4 Dead LittleBigPlanet
Publisher: Valve Software Publisher: Sony Computer
Developer: Valve Software Entertainment America
Producer: Gabe Newell Developer: Media Molecule
Game Director: Mike Booth Creative Director: Mark Healey
Casual Game of the Year Fighting Game of the Year
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Braid Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Publisher: Microsoft Game Publisher: Nintendo
Studios Developer: Nintendo, Hal
Developer: Number None Laboratory, Sora Ltd.
Producer: Kevin Hathaway Producer: Shigeru Miyamoto
Game Director: Jonathan Blow Game Director: Masahiro Sakurai
Handheld Game of the Year Massively Multiplayer Game of
the Year
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God of War: Chains of Olympus World of Warcraft: Wrath of the
Publisher: Sony Computer Lich King
Entertainment of America Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Developer: Ready at Dawn Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Producer: Marc Turndorf, Eric Producer: J. Allen Brack
Koch, Chad Cox Game Director: Jeff Kaplan
Game Director: Ru Weerasuriya
Lead Designer: Dana Jan
Cellular Game of the Year Role-Playing Game of the Year
------------------------- -----------------------------
Spore Origins Fallout 3
Publisher: Electronic Arts Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Barbaraoga, Tricky Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Software Production Director: Ashley Cheng
Producer: Mike Pagano Lead Producer: Gavin Carter
Game Director: Todd Howard
Lead Designer: Emil Pagliaruio
Racing Game of the Year Outstanding Achievement in
Game Design
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Burnout Paradise World of Goo
Publisher: Electronic Arts Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Criterion Games Developer: 2D Boy
Producer: Peter Hawley Lead Game Designer: Kyle Gabler
Lead Designer: Alex Ward
Adventure Game of the Year Sports Game of the Year
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Mirror's Edge NHL 09
Publisher: Electronic Arts Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Digital Illusions Developer: EA Canada
Creative Entertainment Producer: David Littman
Producer: Owen O'Brien Game Director: Sam Ramjagsingh
Game Director: Yoshiaki Koizumi Lead Designer: Matt Mahar
Creative Director: Shigeru
Miyamoto
Strategy/Simulation Game of Action Game of the Year
the Year
--------------------------- -----------------------
Command and Conquer 3: Red Dead Space
Alert Publisher: Electronic Arts
Publisher: Electronic Arts Developer: EA Redwood Shores
Developer: EA Los Angeles Producer: Glen Schofield
Producer: Chris Corry, Amer Game Director: Bret Robbins
Ajami
Game Director: Jason Torres,
Greg Black
Family Game of the Year Outstanding Achievement in
Animation
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LittleBigPlanet Prince of Persia
Publisher: Sony Computer Publisher: Ubisoft
Entertainment America Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Developer: Media Molecule Lead Animator: David Wilkinson
Producer: Siobhan Reddy, Leo
Cubbin
Game Directors: Mark Healey,
David Smith
Outstanding Achievement in Art Outstanding Achievement in Visual
Direction: Engineering
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LittleBigPlanet LittleBigPlanet
Publisher: Sony Computer Publisher: Sony Computer
Entertainment America Entertainment America
Developer: Media Molecule Developer: Media Molecule
Art Director: Kareem Ettourney Technology Director : Alex Evans,
David Smith
Outstanding Character Outstanding Achievement in Story
Performance -Adapted
------------ ---------
LittleBigPlanet (Sackboy) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Publisher: Sony Computer Publisher: LucasArts
Entertainment America Developer: LucasArts
Developer: Media Molecule Writer: Haden Blackman
Writer: Dean Wilkinson
Outstanding Achievement in Outstanding Achievement in Online
Story - Original Game Play
-------------------------- ---------------------------------
Fallout 3 Left 4 Dead
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Publisher: Valve Software
Developer: Bethesda Game Developer: Valve Software
Studios Lead Online Designer: Mike Booth
Writer: Emil Pagliarulo
Outstanding Innovation in Outstanding Achievement in Original
Gaming Music Composition
------------------------- -----------------------------------
LittleBigPlanet Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the
Publisher: Sony Computer Patriots
Entertainment America Publisher: Konami Digital
Developer: Media Molecule Entertainment, Inc.
Producers: Siobhan Reddy, Leo Developer: Kojima Productions
Cubbin Composer: Harry Gregson-Williams
Game Director: Mark Healey
Outstanding Achievement in Outstanding Achievement in Sound
Soundtrack Design
-------------------------- --------------------------------
Rock Band 2 Dead Space
Publisher: MTV Games Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Harmonix Music Developer: EA Redwood Shores
Systems,Inc. Sound Designer: Don Veca
Music Supervisor: Paul DeGooyer,
Eric Brosius
Since 1996, the Interactive Achievement Awards have recognized outstanding games, individuals and development teams that have contributed to the advancement of the multi-billion dollar worldwide entertainment software industry. More than 160 titles were played and evaluated by members of the Academy's Peer Panels. The panels are comprised of the game industry's most experienced and talented men and women. Each panel is responsible for evaluating one award category. Interactive Achievement Award recipients are determined by a vote of qualified Academy and IGDA members. Award voting is confidential, conducted online and supervised and certified by VoteNet Solutions, Inc. The integrity of the system, coupled with a broad-based voting population of AIAS members, makes the Interactive Achievement Awards the most credible, respected and recognized awards for interactive entertainment software.
About the D.I.C.E. Summit:
The D.I.C.E. Summit is a high-level interactive entertainment industry conference that brings together the top video game designers and developers from around the world and business leaders from all the major publishers to discuss the state of the industry, its trends and the future. Please visit http://www.dicesummit.org/ for more information.
About the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) was founded in 1996 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of the interactive arts. The Academy's mission is to promote and advance common interests in the worldwide interactive entertainment community; recognize outstanding achievements in the interactive arts and sciences; and conduct an annual awards show (Interactive Achievement Awards) to enhance awareness of the interactive art form. The Academy also strives to provide a voice for individuals in the interactive entertainment community. In 2002, the Academy created the D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit, a once yearly conference dedicated to exploring approaches to the creative process and artistic expression as they uniquely apply to the development of interactive entertainment. The Academy has over 16,000 members, with the board comprised of senior executives from the major videogame companies including BioWare/Pandemic, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony and Ubisoft. More information on the AIAS and the Interactive Achievement Awards is available at http://www.interactive.org/.
