The 9th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards was the 9th edition of the Interactive Achievement Awards, an annual awards event that honored the best games in the video game industry during 2005. The awards were arranged by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), and were held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on . It was also held as part of the Academy's 2006 D.I.C.E. Summit, and was hosted by stand-up comedian Jay Mohr.
This was the first year that the Academy did not have separate genre awards for console and computer. In addition, there was only one award for "Outstanding Innovation in Gaming". "Wireless Game of the Year" was seemingly replaced with "Cellular Game of the Year", as the former was part of the description for "Cellphone Game of the Year" in the nomination packet. The announcement for submissions listed the "Handheld Game of the Year" as a "Game of the Year" category along with "Cellular Game of the Year", but would both be listed as genre categories when the finalists were announced.
God of War received the most nominations and won the most awards, including "Overall Game of the Year". Sony Computer Entertainment received the most nominations and won the most awards. Nintendo had the most nominated games, but Electronic Arts had the most award-winning games. There was a tie for the "Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering" award between Guitar Hero and Nintendogs. There was also a tie for "Massive Multiplayer/Persistent World Game of the Year" between City of Villains and Guild Wars, the only time a publisher, NCSoft, published both games that tied for a category.
Richard Garriott, creator of Ultima, was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.
Winners and Nominees Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger ().
Game of the Year God of War — SCE Santa Monica Studio Call of Duty 2 — Infinity Ward, Activision Guitar Hero — Harmonix, RedOctane Nintendogs — Nintendo EAD Shadow of the Colossus — SCE Japan StudioAge of Empires III — Ensemble Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Battlefield 2 — DICE, Electronic Arts Civilization IV — Firaxis Games, 2K Games F.E.A.R. — Monolith Productions, Vivendi Universal Games The Movies — Lionhead Studios, ActivisionGod of War — SCE Santa Monica Studio Call of Duty 2 — Infinity Ward, Activision Guitar Hero — Harmonix, RedOctane Nintendogs — Nintendo EAD Shadow of the Colossus — SCE Japan Studio
Outstanding Innovation in Gaming Guitar Hero — Harmonix, RedOctane God of War — SCE Santa Monica Studio Nintendogs — Nintendo EAD Shadow of the Colossus — SCE Japan Studio The Movies — Lionhead Studios, Activision
Outstanding Achievement Guitar Hero — Harmonix, RedOctane God of War — SCE Santa Monica Studio King Kong — Ubisoft Montpellier Nintendogs — Nintendo EAD Psychonauts — Double Fine Productions, MajescoCall of Duty 2: Big Red One — Treyarch, High Voltage Software, Activision Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood — Gearbox Software, Ubisoft Gun — Neversoft, Activision King Kong — Ubisoft Montpellier Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves — Sucker Punch Productions, Sony Computer EntertainmentGod of War — SCE Santa Monica Studio Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath — Oddworld Inhabitants, Electronic Arts Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones — Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Casablanca Rise of the Kasai — BottleRocket Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Shadow of the Colossus — SCE Japan StudioShadow of the Colossus — SCE Japan Studio God of War — SCE Santa Monica Studio Jade Empire — BioWare, Microsoft Game Studios King Kong — Ubisoft Montpellier Ultimate Spider-Man — Treyarch, ActivisionGuitar Hero — Harmonix, RedOctane Burnout Revenge — Criterion Games, Electronic Arts SSX on Tour — EA Canada The Warriors — Rockstar Toronto Wipeout Pure — SCE Studio LiverpoolGod of War — SCE Santa Monica Studio Gun — Neversoft, Activision Jade Empire — BioWare, Microsoft Game Studios Kameo — Rare, Microsoft Game Studios Rise of the Kasai — BottleRocket Entertainment, Sony Computer EntertainmentGod of War — SCE Santa Monica Studio Condemned: Criminal Origins — Monolith Productions, Sega F.E.A.R. — Monolith Productions, Vivendi Universal Games King Kong — Ubisoft Montpellier Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory — Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft MilanGuitar Hero — Harmonix, RedOctane Nintendogs — Nintendo EAD God of War — SCE Santa Monica Studio Lumines: Puzzle Fusion — Q Entertainment, Ubisoft Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species — Blue Fang Games, Microsoft Game StudiosBattlefield 2 — DICE, Electronic Arts Age of Empires III — Ensemble Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Call of Duty 2 — Infinity Ward, Activision Mario Kart DS — Nintendo EAD Project Gotham Racing 3 — Bizarre Creations, Microsoft Game StudiosShadow of the Colossus — SCE Japan Studio Call of Duty 2 — Infinity Ward, Activision F.E.A.R. — Monolith Productions, Vivendi Universal Games God of War — SCE Santa Monica Studio Kameo — Rare, Microsoft Game Studios
Outstanding Character Performance God of War — SCE Santa Monica Studio Gun — Neversoft, Activision Jade Empire — BioWare, Microsoft Game Studios Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath — Oddworld Inhabitants, Electronic Arts Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory — Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft MilanJade Empire — BioWare, Microsoft Game Studios Gun — Neversoft, Activision Need for Speed: Most Wanted — EA Canada, EA Black Box Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones — Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Casablanca
Genre Awards God of War — SCE Santa Monica Studio Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones — Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Casablanca Shadow of the Colossus — SCE Japan Studio The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction — Radical Entertainment, Vivendi Universal Games Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory — Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft MilanBattlefield 2 — DICE, Electronic Arts Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 — Gearbox Software, Ubisoft Call of Duty 2 — Infinity Ward, Activision Condemned: Criminal Origins — Monolith Productions, Sega F.E.A.R. — Monolith Productions, Vivendi Universal GamesJade Empire — BioWare, Microsoft Game Studios Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King — Level-5, Square Enix Dungeon Siege II — Gas Powered Games, Microsoft Game Studios Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance — Intelligent Systems, Nintendo Radiata Stories — Tri-Ace, Square EnixSoulcalibur III — Namco Fight Night Round 2 — EA Chicago Tekken 5 — Namco WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 — Yuke's, THQSSX on Tour — EA Canada MLB 2006 — 989 Studios, Sony Computer Entertainment Major League Baseball 2K5: World Series Edition — Visual Concepts, 2K Games NBA 2K6 — Visual Concepts, 2K Games Super Mario Strikers — Next Level Games, NintendoNeed for Speed: Most Wanted — EA Canada, EA Black Box Burnout Revenge — Criterion Games, Electronic Arts Forza Motorsport — Turn 10 Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Mario Kart DS — Nintendo EAD Project Gotham Racing 3 — Bizarre Creations, Microsoft Game StudiosWe Love Katamari — Namco Chicken Little — Avalanche Software, Buena Vista Games Madagascar — Toys for Bob, Activision Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves — Sucker Punch Productions, Sony Computer Entertainment Tak: The Great Juju Challenge — Avalanche Software, THQWik: The Fable of Souls — Reflexive Entertainment Chuzzle — Raptisoft, PopCap Games Egg vs. Chicken — Gamelab, PlayFirst Oasis — Mind Control Software, PlayFirst Tradewind Legends — Sandlot GamesGuitar Hero — Harmonix, RedOctane Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix — Konami, Hudson Soft, Nintendo Lego Star Wars: The Video Game — Traveller's Tales, Eidos Interactive, LucasArtsThe Movies — Lionhead Studios, Activision Animal Crossing: Wild World — Nintendo EAD Silent Hunter III — Ubisoft BucharestCivilization IV — Firaxis Games, 2K Games Age of Empires III — Ensemble Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Empire Earth II — Mad Doc Software, Vivendi Universal GamesCity of Villains — Cryptic Studios, NCSoft Guild Wars — ArenaNet, NCSoft Final Fantasy XI: The Vana'diel Collection — Square Enix Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle — NCSoftNintendogs — Nintendo EAD Burnout Legends — Criterion Games, Electronic Arts Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories — Rockstar Leeds Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time — AlphaDream, Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap — Flagship, Capcom, NintendoAncient Empires II — Macrospace, Sorrent High Seize — RedLynx, Nokia Mile High Pinball — Ideaworks3D, Nokia One — Digital Legends, Nokia Skipping Stone — Gamevil, I-Play
Hall of Fame Award Richard Garriott
Multiple nominations and awards Multiple Nominations
+ Games that received multiple nominations Nominations Game 12 God of War 7 Guitar Hero Shadow of the Colossus 6 Nintendogs 5 Call of Duty 2 Jade Empire 4 F.E.A.R. Gun King Kong 3 Age of Empires III Battlefield 2 Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones The Movies Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory 2 Burnout Revenge Civilization IV Condemned: Criminal Origins Kameo Mario Kart DS Need for Speed: Most Wanted Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath Project Gotham Racing 3 Rise of the Kasai Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves SSX on Tour
+ Nominations by company Nominations Games Company 25 6 Sony Computer Entertainment 15 Activision 7 Microsoft Game Studios 14 8 Nintendo 7 Ubisoft 13 Electronic Arts 7 1 Harmonix RedOctane 6 3 Vivendi Universal Games 2 Monolith Productions 5 1 BioWare 4 3 2K Games 1 Neversoft 3 3 Namco NCSoft Nokia Square Enix 1 DICE Ensemble Studios Lionhead Studios 2 2 Avalanche Software Bizarre Creations Gearbox Software PlayFirst THQ Treyarch Visual Concepts 1 BottleRocket Entertainment Firaxis Games Oddworld Inhabitants Rare Rockstar Games Sega Sucker Punch Productions
Multiple awards
+ Awards Game 7 God of War 5 Guitar Hero 2 Battlefield 2 Jade Empire Nintendogs Shadow of the Colossus
+ Awards by company Awards Games Company 9 2 Sony Computer Entertainment 5 1 Harmonix RedOctane 4 3 Electronic Arts 3 2 Microsoft Game Studios 2 Activision Namco NCSoft 1 BioWare DICE Nintendo
Notes
References