The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences also honored two industry icons for their tremendous contributions. Mike Morhaime, president, CEO and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment(R), was inducted as the 11th member of the prestigious AIAS Hall of Fame and Ken Kutaragi, former president and CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., received the highly coveted Lifetime Achievement Award.
"The Interactive Achievement Awards is the forum for the industry's best game makers to evaluate the merits of more than 160 titles submitted for consideration and honor the best in technical innovation and gameplay experience," said Joseph Olin, president of the AIAS. "This year's winners truly represent the best cross section of interactive entertainment, demonstrating the power of next-generation platforms that have come of age."
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 award ceremony was hosted by comedian and avid video game player Jay Mohr at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas.
The winners in each category are as follows:
Overall Game of the Year: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
* Publisher: Activision
* Developer: Infinity Ward
* Producer: Mark Rubin
* Game Director: Jason West
* Creative Director: Vince Zampella
Console Game of the Year: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
* Publisher: Activision
* Developer: Infinity Ward
* Producer: Mark Rubin
* Game Director: Jason West
* Creative Director: Vince Zampella
Computer Game of the Year: The Orange Box
* Publisher: Electronic Arts, Valve Software
* Developer: Valve Software
* Producer: Gabe Newell
Outstanding Innovation in Gaming: Rock Band
* Publisher: MTV Games
* Developer: Harmonix
* Producer: Robert Jerauld
* Game Director: Bob Settles
* Creative Director: Jonas Norberg
Handheld Game of the Year: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
* Publisher: Nintendo of America
* Developer: Nintendo
* Producer: Shigeru Miyamoto
* Director: Eiji Aonuma Massively
Multiplayer Game of the Year: World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade
* Publisher: Vivendi Games
* Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
* Producer: Frank Pearce
* Game Director: Rob Pardo
* Creative Director: Chris Metzen
Cellular Game of the Year: skate.
* Publisher: Electronic Arts
* Developer: EA Mobile
* Producer: David Manriquez
* Game Director: David Manriquez
* Creative Director: Derek Zakaib
Role-Playing Game of the Year: Mass Effect
* Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
* Developer: BioWare
* Producer: Casey Hudson
* Lead Designer: Preston Watamaniuk
* Art Director: Derek Watts
Racing Game of the Year: Motorstorm
* Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
* Developer: Evolution Studios
* Producer: Simon Benson
* Creative Director: Paul Hollywood
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design: The Orange Box: Portal
* Publisher: Electronic Arts, Valve Software
* Developer: Valve Software
* Lead Game Designer: Robin Walker
* Game Director: Kim Swift
* Creative Director: David Speyrer
Adventure Game of the Year: Super Mario Galaxy
* Publisher: Nintendo of America
* Developer: Nintendo
* Producer: Takao Shimizu
* Game Director: Yoshiaki Koizumi
* Creative Director: Shigeru Miyamoto
Sports Game of the Year: skate.
* Publisher: Electronic Arts
* Developer: EA Black Box
* Executive Producer: Scott Blackwood
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year: Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
* Publisher: Electronic Arts
* Developer: EA Los Angeles
* Producer: Mike Verdu
* Creative Director: Matt Britton
Action Game of the Year: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
* Publisher: Activision
* Developer: Infinity Ward
* Producer: Mark Rubin
* Game Director: Jason West
* Creative Director: Vince Zampella
Family Game of the Year: Rock Band
* Publisher: MTV Games
* Developer: Harmonix
* Producer: Tracy Rosenthal-Newson
* Game Director: Greg LoPiccolo
* Creative Director: Josh Randall
Outstanding Achievement in Animation: Assassin's Creed
* Publisher: Ubisoft
* Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
* Animation Director: Alex Drouin
* Lead Animators: Elspeth Tory, Sylvain Bernard
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction: BioShock
* Publisher: 2K Games
* Developer: 2K Boston, 2K Australia
* Visual Art Director: Scott Sinclair
* Technical Art Directors: Hogarth De La Plante, Andrew James, Jay Kyburz, Nate Wells
Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering: Crysis
* Publisher: Electronic Arts
* Developer: Crytek
* Director of R&D: Douglas Binks
Outstanding Character Performance: The Orange Box: Portal
* Publisher: Electronic Arts, Valve Software
* Developer: Valve Software
* Writer: Erik Wolpaw
* Voice Actor: Ellen McLaw
* Character Name: GLADos
Outstanding Achievement in Story Development: BioShock
* Publisher: 2K Games
* Developer: 2K Boston, 2K Australia
* Writer: Ken Levine
* Character Designer: Rob Waters
Outstanding Achievement in Game Play Engineering: The Orange Box: Portal
* Publisher: Electronic Arts, Valve Software
* Developer: Valve Software
* Lead Game Designer: Robin Walker
* UI Designer: Alden Kroll
* AI Designer: Tom Leonard
Outstanding Achievement in Online Game Play: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
* Publisher: Activision
* Developer: Infinity Ward
* Lead Online Designer: Todd Alerman
* Lead Online Programmer: Richard Baker
Downloadable Game of the Year: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
* Publisher: D3 Publisher or America
* Developer: Infinite Interactive, 1st Playable Productions
* Producers: Arthur Kawamoto, Steve Baldoni
* Game Directors: Steve Fawkner, Janeen Fawkner
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition: BioShock
* Publisher: 2K Games
* Developer: 2K Boston, 2K Australia
* Composer: Garry Schyman
Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack: Rock Band
* Publisher: MTV Games
* Developer: Harmonix
* Music Supervisors: Paul DeGooyer, Eric Brosius
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design: BioShock
* Publisher: 2K Games
* Developer: 2K Boston, 2K Australia
* Sound Designers: Emily Ridgway, Patrick Balthrop, Justin Mullins
* Audio Lead: Eric Brosius