Featuring a peer-based voting system with panels comprised of the videogame industry's most experienced and talented men and women, awards from Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) are analogous to Hollywood's "Oscars." Just less illustrious... unless you're a game developer.

At any rate, the AIAS held the 13th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards last night, and surprising no one, Sony's Uncharted 2: Among Thieves for PlayStation3 was the leading lavishee, scooping 10 honors including Game of the Year.

Also surprising no one (except maybe Uncharted's Nolan North), Luke Skywalker, AKA Mark Hamill, won for his voice acting role as The Joker in Batman: Arkham Asylum. The guy does "crazed lunatic" like nobody's business.

Hosted by stand-up comedian and videogame enthusiast Jay Mohr at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, the awards show also took the time to honor David Crane, game designer and Activision co-founder, with the AIAS' first Pioneer Award while Doug Lowenstein, founder of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), was venerated with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Mark Cerny, creator of videogame mainstays including Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon, meanwhile, was inducted into the Academy's Hall of Fame.

But in the main, the peer-based awards were all about recognition of outstanding products and the talented individuals and development teams that creative them. The winners in each category are thus:

GAME OF THE YEAR

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Producer: Sam Thompson
Creative Director: Amy Hennig
Game Director: Bruce Straley


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN GAME DIRECTION

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Producer: Sam Thompson
Creative Director: Amy Hennig
Game Director: Bruce Straley


CASUAL GAME OF THE YEAR

Flower

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany
Producer: Kellee Santiago
Creative Director: Jenova Chen


FIGHTING GAME OF THE YEAR

Street Fighter IV

Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Producer: Yoshinori Ono


ROLE-PLAYING/MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER GAME OF THE YEAR

Dragon Age: Origins

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Bioware
Producer: Mark Darrah
Creative Director: Mike Laidlaw
Game Director: Mark Darrah


SPORTS GAME OF THE YEAR

FIFA Soccer 10

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada
Producer: David Rutter
Creative Director: Gary Paterson
Game Director: Kaz Makita


RACING GAME OF THE YEAR

Forza Motorsport 3

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Turn 10 Studios
Producer: Korey Krauskopf
Creative Director: John Wendl
Game Director: Dan Greenawalt


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN GAME DESIGN

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Publisher: Eidos/Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Lead Level Designer: Ian Ball


ADVENTURE GAME OF THE YEAR

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Producer: Sam Thompson
Creative Director: Amy Hennig
Game Director: Bruce Straley


SOCIAL NETWORKING GAME OF THE YEAR

Farmville

Publisher: Zynga
Developer: Zynga
Producer: David Gray
Creative Director: Mark Skaggs
Game Director: Bill Mooney


STRATEGY/SIMULATION GAME OF THE YEAR

Brutal Legend

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Producer: Caroline Esmurdoc
Creative Director: Tim Schafer
Game Director: Tim Schafer


ACTION GAME OF THE YEAR

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Publisher: Activision
Developer: Infinity Ward
Producer: Mark Rubin
Game Director: Jason West


FAMILY GAME OF THE YEAR

The Beatles: Rock Band

Publisher: MTV Games
Developer: Harmonix Music Systems
Producers: Paul DeGooyer, Jeff Jones, Alex Rigopulos
Creative Director: Chris Foster
Game Director: Josh Randall


OUTSTANDING INNOVATION IN GAMING

Scribblenauts

Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developer: 5th Cell Media
Producer: Joseph M. Tringali
Creative Director: Jeremiah Slaczka
Game Director: Jeremiah Slaczka


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ANIMATION

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Lead Animators: Josh Scherr, Jeremy Lai-Yates, Mike Yosh


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL ENGINEERING

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Technology Director: Pal-Kristian Engstad


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Art Directors: Erick Pangilinan, Robh Ruppel


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN STORY - ADAPTED

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Publisher: Eidos/Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Writers: Paul Dini, Paul Crocker


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN STORY - ORIGINAL

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Writers: Amy Hennig, Neil Druckmann, Josh Scherr


OUTSTANDING CHARACTER PERFORMANCE

Batman: Arkham Asylum – Joker

Publisher: Eidos/Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Writers: Paul Dini, Paul Crocker
Voice Actor: Mark Hamill


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ONLINE GAME PLAY

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Publisher: Activision
Developer: Infinity Ward
Lead Online Designer: Todd Alderman


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSITION

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Composer: Greg Edmonson


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK

Brutal Legend

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Music Supervisor: Emily Ridgway


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN GAME PLAY ENGINEERING

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Lead Game Play Programmer: Travis McIntosh


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND DESIGN

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Sound Designer/Audio Lead: Bruce Swanson


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN PORTABLE GAME DESIGN

Scribblenauts

Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developer: 5th Cell Media
Lead Level Designer: Matt Cox


PORTABLE GAME OF THE YEAR

Scribblenauts

Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developer: 5th Cell Media
Producer: Joseph M. Tringali
Creative Director: Jeremiah Slaczka
Game Director: Jeremiah Slaczka


Notes from AIAS: 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.
 
 

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