The 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards were held last night in Las Vegas, Nevada and a number of big games took home big awards.
As expected The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, cleaned up in most of the categories they were nominated in including Game of the Year. Other top accolades went to Uncharted 3, Portal 2, Call of Duty: MW3, Bastion and Fruit Ninja Kinect.
See the full list of winners below.
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
Portal 2
- Publisher: Valve Corporation
- Developer: Valve Corporation
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Battlefield 3
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Developer: DICE
Outstanding Achievement in Story
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Outstanding Character Performance
Portal 2 – Wheatley
- Publisher: Valve Corporation
- Developer: Valve Corporation
Downloadable Title of the Year
Bastion
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: Supergiant Games
Casual Game of the Year
Fruit Ninja Kinect
- Publisher: Microsoft Studios
- Developer: Halfbrick Studios
Social Networking Game of the Year
The Sims Social
- Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc.
- Developer: Playfish
Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Online Game of the Year
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Outstanding Innovation in Gaming
Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure
- Publisher: Activision
- Developer: Toys for Bob
Sports Game of the Year
FIFA 12
- Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc.
- Developer: EA Canada
Racing Game of the Year
Forza Motorsport 4
- Publisher: Microsoft Studios
- Developer: Turn 10 Studios
Fighting Game of the Year
Mortal Kombat
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
Orcs Must Die!
- Publisher: Microsoft Studios
- Developer: Robot Entertainment
Family Game of the Year
LittleBigPlanet 2
- Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
- Developer: Media Molecule LLC
Mobile Game of the Year
Infinity Blade II
- Publisher: Epic Games
- Developer: Epic Games
Handheld Game of the Year
Super Mario 3D Land
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Nintendo
Adventure Game of the Year
Batman: Arkham City
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay
Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc.
- Developer: BioWare Austin
Outstanding Achievement in Connectivity
Portal 2
- Publisher: Valve Corporation
- Developer: Valve Corporation
Action Game of the Year
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
- Publisher: Activision
- Developer: Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer Games
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
- Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
- Developer: Naughty Dog
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
- Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
- Developer: Naughty Dog
Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
- Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
- Developer: Naughty Dog
Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Game of the Year
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Read on for more info on the event.
The 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (IAAs) took place last night, with a veritable who’s who of industry talent and this year’s hottest titles. 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.
The night’s big winner was The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which grabbed Game of the Year honors and a total of five (5) awards in recognition of its excellent storytelling and extensive and immersive world. Other big winners included the blockbuster Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, which was recognized for technical achievements that brought the game to life, walked away with a total of three (3) IAAs. Likewise, the cross-over hit puzzle-platformer Portal 2 walked away with three (3) IAAs. The energetic motion game Fruit Ninja Kinect sliced and diced the competition to come out on top as Casual Game of the Year. Continuing to be a hot topic in the industry, Social and Mobile gaming took flight with Infinity Blade II taking Mobile Game of the Year and The Sims Social winning Social Networking Game of the Year.
“Each year the Interactive Achievement Awards sees the top minds and personas of our industry coming together to not only celebrate, but recognize one another for the achievements of the year,” said Martin Rae, president, Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.” 2011 produced an outstanding number of fantastic games in all areas of the industry ? console, PC, social and mobile ? we are truly witnessing a new golden age of gaming. Bravo to our winners!”
Hosted by comedian, actor and proud game enthusiast, Jay Mohr, at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, industry luminaries, development personalities and talent from around the world came together to celebrate, share and comment on the status of the industry and where they see it going in 2012 and beyond. For those who may have missed the live same-day webcast of the IAAs in its entirety on GameSpot.com, the video will continue to be hosted on http://dice.gamespot.com.
These awards, decided by a peer-based voting system, are given to the talented individuals and development teams that have added to, shaped and pushed the limits of what was once thought to be the boundaries of this multi-billion dollar worldwide interactive entertainment industry. The winners in each category are as follows (in order of presentation):
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
Portal 2
- Publisher: Valve Corporation
- Developer: Valve Corporation
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Battlefield 3
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Developer: DICE
Outstanding Achievement in Story
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Outstanding Character Performance
Portal 2 – Wheatley
- Publisher: Valve Corporation
- Developer: Valve Corporation
Downloadable Title of the Year
Bastion
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: Supergiant Games
Casual Game of the Year
Fruit Ninja Kinect
- Publisher: Microsoft Studios
- Developer: Halfbrick Studios
Social Networking Game of the Year
The Sims Social
- Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc.
- Developer: Playfish
Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Online Game of the Year
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Outstanding Innovation in Gaming
Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure
- Publisher: Activision
- Developer: Toys for Bob
Sports Game of the Year
FIFA 12
- Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc.
- Developer: EA Canada
Racing Game of the Year
Forza Motorsport 4
- Publisher: Microsoft Studios
- Developer: Turn 10 Studios
Fighting Game of the Year
Mortal Kombat
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
Orcs Must Die!
- Publisher: Microsoft Studios
- Developer: Robot Entertainment
Family Game of the Year
LittleBigPlanet 2
- Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
- Developer: Media Molecule LLC
Mobile Game of the Year
Infinity Blade II
- Publisher: Epic Games
- Developer: Epic Games
Handheld Game of the Year
Super Mario 3D Land
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Nintendo
Adventure Game of the Year
Batman: Arkham City
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay
Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc.
- Developer: BioWare Austin
Outstanding Achievement in Connectivity
Portal 2
- Publisher: Valve Corporation
- Developer: Valve Corporation
Action Game of the Year
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
- Publisher: Activision
- Developer: Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer Games
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
- Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
- Developer: Naughty Dog
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
- Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
- Developer: Naughty Dog
Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
- Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
- Developer: Naughty Dog
Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Game of the Year
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
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.
The IAAs honors the amazing creations of our industry’s top minds, as well as the personalities and shining stars that give their all to these projects. This year Tim Sweeney of Epic Games was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his revolutionary work with the Unreal Engine and the impact it has had on the gaming world. Ed Logg was named 3rd annual AIAS Pioneer Award recipient for his groundbreaking work in the early days of Atari’s arcade generation on games such as Asteroids.