The 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards was the 12th edition of the Interactive Achievement Awards, an annual awards event that honored the best games in the video game industry during 2008. The awards were arranged by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) and were held at the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada on . It was also held as part of the Academy's 2009 D.I.C.E. Summit, and was hosted by stand-up comedian Jay Mohr.
The award for "Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction" was introduced this year. Even though the award for "Outstanding Achievement in Game Design" was not listed in the rules & procedures for the 12th annual awards, there were still finalists named for the category. Separate awards for "Outstanding Achievement in Story" were offered for original material and adapted material. "Downloadable Game of the Year" was not offered this year. Finalists were named for "Fighting Game of the Year" and "Casual Game of the Year" this year.
Gears of War 2 and LittleBigPlanet were tied for the most nominations, with the latter winning the most awards, including "Overall Game of the Year". Sony Computer Entertainment was the most award-winning publisher. Electronic Arts had the most nominated and award-winning games. Spore won "Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering", while the mobile spin-off Spore Origins won "Cellular Game of the Year".
Bruce Shelley, creator of Age of Empires, 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 awards LittleBigPlanet — Media Molecule, Sony Computer Entertainment Fallout 3 — Bethesda Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks Grand Theft Auto IV — Rockstar North, Rockstar Games Left 4 Dead — Valve South, Valve Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots — Kojima Productions, KonamiLittleBigPlanet — Media Molecule, Sony Computer Entertainment Fallout 3 — Bethesda Game Studios Gears of War 2 — Epic Games, Microsoft Game Studios Grand Theft Auto IV — Rockstar North Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots — Kojima Productions, KonamiLeft 4 Dead — Valve South Fallout 3 — Bethesda Game Studios Mass Effect — BioWare, Microsoft Game Studios Spore — Maxis, Electronic Arts World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King — Blizzard EntertainmentGod of War: Chains of Olympus — Ready at Dawn, Sony Computer Entertainment Advance Wars: Days of Ruin — Intelligent Systems, Nintendo Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia — Konami Patapon — SCE Japan Studio Professor Layton and the Curious Village — Level-5, NintendoLittleBigPlanet — Media Molecule, Sony Computer Entertainment Braid — Number None, Microsoft Game Studios Left 4 Dead — Valve South Spore — Maxis, Electronic Arts Wii Fit — Nintendo EAD
Craft awards LittleBigPlanet — Media Molecule, Sony Computer Entertainment Fallout 3 — Bethesda Game Studios Gears of War 2 — Epic Games, Microsoft Game Studios Left 4 Dead — Valve South Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots — Kojima Productions, KonamiWorld of Goo — 2D Boy, Nintendo Fable II — Lionhead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Fallout 3 — Bethesda Game Studios Gears of War 2 — Epic Games, Microsoft Game Studios Left 4 Dead — Valve SouthPrince of Persia — Ubisoft Montreal Castle Crashers — The Behemoth, Microsoft Game Studios Gears of War 2 — Epic Games, Microsoft Game Studios Left 4 Dead — Valve South Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots — Kojima Productions, KonamiLittleBigPlanet — Media Molecule, Sony Computer Entertainment Dead Space — EA Redwood Shores Fable II — Lionhead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Mirror's Edge — DICE, Electronic Arts Prince of Persia — Ubisoft MontrealSackboy (LittleBigPlanet) — Media Molecule, Sony Computer Entertainment Dom Santiago (Gears of War 2) — Epic Games, Microsoft Game Studios Marcus Fenix (Gears of War 2) — Epic Games, Microsoft Game Studios Old Snake (Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots) — Kojima Productions, Konami Lara Croft (Tomb Raider: Underworld) — Crystal Dynamics, Eidos InteractiveSpore — Maxis, Electronic Arts Fable II — Lionhead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Fallout 3 — Bethesda Game Studios Left 4 Dead — Valve South Tom Clancy's EndWar — Ubisoft ShanghaiLeft 4 Dead — Valve South Call of Duty: World at War — Treyarch, Activision Gears of War 2 — Epic Games, Microsoft Game Studios NHL 09 — EA Canada Rock Band 2 — Harmonix, MTV GamesMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots — Kojima Productions, Konami de Blob — Blue Tongue Entertainment, THQ Dead Space — EA Redwood Shores Fable II — Lionhead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King — Blizzard EntertainmentRock Band 2 — Harmonix, MTV Games Guitar Hero World Tour — Neversoft, Activision LittleBigPlanet — Media Molecule, Sony Computer Entertainment MotorStorm: Pacific Rift — Evolution Studios, Sony Computer Entertainment SingStar PS3 Vol. 1 — SCE London StudioDead Space — EA Redwood Shores Gears of War 2 — Epic Games, Microsoft Game Studios LittleBigPlanet — Media Molecule, Sony Computer Entertainment Prince of Persia — Ubisoft Montreal Wipeout HD — SCE Studio LiverpoolFallout 3 — Bethesda Game Studios Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway — Gearbox Software, Ubisoft Fable II — Lionhead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Grand Theft Auto IV — Rockstar North Professor Layton and the Curious Village — Level-5, NintendoStar Wars: The Force Unleashed — LucasArts Lego Batman: The Videogame — Traveller's Tales, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe — Midway Games Naruto: The Broken Bond — Ubisoft Montreal 007: Quantum of Solace — Treyarch, ActivisionLittleBigPlanet — Media Molecule, Sony Computer Entertainment Gears of War 2 — Epic Games, Microsoft Game Studios Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots — Kojima Productions, Konami Resistance 2 — Insomniac Games, Sony Computer Entertainment Tomb Raider: Underworld — Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Interactive
Genre awards Dead Space — EA Redwood Shores Call of Duty: World at War — Treyarch, Activision Far Cry 2 — Ubisoft Montreal Gears of War 2 — Epic Games, Microsoft Game Studios Grand Theft Auto IV — Rockstar NorthMirror's Edge — DICE, Electronic Arts Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia — Konami God of War: Chains of Olympus — Ready at Dawn, Sony Computer Entertainment Naruto: The Broken Bond — Ubisoft Montreal Prince of Persia — Ubisoft MontrealBraid — Number None, Microsoft Game Studios Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst — Big Fish Studios Patapon — SCE Japan Studio Professor Layton and the Curious Village — Level-5, Nintendo World of Goo — 2D Boy, NintendoSpore Origins — Babaroga, Tricky Software, Electronic Arts Reset Generation — RedLynx, Nokia Trism — DemiforceLittleBigPlanet — Media Molecule, Sony Computer Entertainment Boom Blox — EA Los Angeles Rayman Raving Rabbids: TV Party — Ubisoft Paris Rock Band 2 — Harmonix, MTV Games Wii Fit — Nintendo EADSuper Smash Bros. Brawl — Sora Ltd., Nintendo Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe — Midway Games Soulcalibur IV — Project Soul, Namco Bandai Games Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix — Backbone Entertainment, Capcom WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 — Yuke's, THQWorld of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King — Blizzard Entertainment Eve Online: Quantum Rise — CCP Games Pirates of the Burning Sea — Flying Lab Software, Sony Online Entertainment PMOG — GameLayers Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning — Mythic Entertainment, Electronic ArtsBurnout Paradise — Criterion Games, Electronic Arts GRID — Codemasters Mario Kart Wii — Nintendo EAD MotorStorm: Pacific Rift — Evolution Studios, Sony Computer Entertainment Pure — Black Rock Studio, Disney Interactive StudiosFallout 3 — Bethesda Game Studios Fable II — Lionhead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time — Chunsoft, Nintendo Tales of Vesperia — Namco Tales Studio, Namco Bandai GamesNHL 09 — EA Canada FIFA 09 — EA Canada Madden NFL 09 — EA Tiburon MLB 08: The Show — SCE San Diego NBA 2K9 — Visual Concepts, 2K GamesCommand & Conquer: Red Alert 3 — EA Los Angeles Advance Wars: Days of Ruin — Intelligent Systems, Nintendo Civilization Revolution — Firaxis Games, 2K Games Sins of a Solar Empire — Ironclad Games, Stardock Tom Clancy's EndWar — Ubisoft Shanghai
Special awards
Hall of Fame Bruce Shelley
Multiple nominations and awards Multiple Nominations
+ Games that received multiple nominations Nominations Game 10 Gears of War 2 LittleBigPlanet 8 Fallout 3 Left 4 Dead 7 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots 6 Fable II 4 Dead Space Grand Theft Auto IV Prince of Persia 3 Professor Layton and the Curious Village Rock Band 2 Spore World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King 2 Advance Wars: Days of Ruin Braid Call of Duty: World at War Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia God of War: Chains of Olympus Mirror's Edge Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe MotorStorm: Pacific Rift Naruto: The Broken Bond NHL 09 Patapon Tom Clancy's EndWar Tomb Raider: Underworld Wii Fit World of Goo
+ Nominations by company Nominations Games Company 21 9 Sony Computer Entertainment 20 5 Microsoft Game Studios 18 11 Electronic Arts 12 7 Nintendo 11 6 Ubisoft 10 1 Epic Games Media Molecule 9 2 Konami 8 1 Bethesda Game Studios Valve South 7 Kojima Productions 6 Lionhead Studios 4 3 Activision 1 Rockstar North 3 2 Treyarch 1 Blizzard Entertainment Harmonix Maxis MTV Games Level-5 2 2 2K Games Namco Bandai Games THQ 1 2D Boy Crystal Dynamics DICE Eidos Interactive Evolution Studios Intelligent Systems Midway Games Number None Ready at Dawn
Multiple awards
+ Awards Game 8 LittleBigPlanet 2 Dead Space Fallout 3 Left 4 Dead
+ Awards by company Awards Games Company 9 2 Sony Computer Entertainment 8 7 Electronic Arts 1 Media Molecule 2 2 Nintendo 1 Bethesda Game Studios Valve South
External links
References