Home Page | 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards
The 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards was the 6th edition of the Interactive Achievement Awards, an annual awards event that honored the best games in the video game industry during 2002. 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 on February 27, 2003 as part of the Academy's 2003 D.I.C.E. Summit. It was hosted by Dave Foley with presenters including Cliff Bleszinski, Xander Berkeley, Don James, Shigeru Miyamoto, Julie Benz, Blue Man Group, Tony Hawk, Ed Fries, Kelly Hu, David Jones, Nina Kaczorowski, Doug Lowenstein, Syd Mead, Mike Metzger, Vince Neil, Tommy Tallarico, Amy Weber and Victor Webster. It had musical performances by Unwritten Law and The Players Band.
A trimmed down and edited version of this event was broadcast on the G4 program Pulse, with coverage by Patrick Clark, the host of Pulse and Diane Mizota, one of the hosts from Filter.
The Academy introduced the genre awards for "First-Person Action Game of the Year" for both console and computer. "Console Platform Action/Adventure Game of the Year" was also introduced. Originally separate console and computer awards for "Children's Title of the Year" were offered, but a single "Family Game of the Year" would be presented that featured finalists for both console and PC releases. The computer award for "Educational Title of the Year" was originally part of the category listings, but was not featured on the nomination form.
Battlefield 1942 won the most awards, including "Game of the Year". Metroid Prime received the most nominations. Electronic Arts received the most nominations, published the most nominated games, published the most award-winning games, and won the most awards. Rockstar North and Maxis were the only developers with more than one award-winning game. Four franchises had two award-winning titles at this awards ceremony:
Grand Theft Auto: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for "Console Action/Adventure Game of the Year", and Grand Theft Auto III for "Computer Action/Adventure Game of the Year".
Medal of Honor: Medal of Honor: Frontline for outstanding achievement in "Original Music Composition" and "Sound Design", and Medal of Honor: Allied Assault for "Computer First-Person Action Game of the Year".
Metroid: Metroid Prime for "Console First-Person Action Game of the Year", and Metroid Fusion for "Handheld Game of the Year".
The Sims: The Sims: Unleashed expansion for "Computer Simulation Game of the Year", and The Sims Online for "Massive Multiplayer/Persistent World Game of the Year".
Yu Suzuki, creator of Virtua Fighter, Shenmue, and other Sega franchises, was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and 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
Game of the Year
Battlefield 1942 — DICE, Electronic Arts‡
Animal Crossing — Nintendo EAD
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City — Rockstar North
Metroid Prime — Retro Studios, Nintendo
Ratchet & Clank — Insomniac Games, Sony Computer Entertainment
Console Game of the Year
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell — Ubisoft Montreal‡
Animal Crossing — Nintendo EAD
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem — Silicon Knights, Nintendo
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City — Rockstar North
Metroid Prime — Retro Studios, Nintendo
Ratchet & Clank — Insomniac Games, Sony Computer Entertainment
Computer Game of the Year
Battlefield 1942 — DICE, Electronic Arts‡
Age of Mythology — Ensemble Studios, Microsoft Game Studios
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault — 2015, Inc., Electronic Arts
Neverwinter Nights — BioWare, Atari Interactive
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos — Blizzard Entertainment
Innovation Awards
Innovation in Computer Gaming
Battlefield 1942 — DICE, Electronic Arts‡
Dungeon Siege — Gas Powered Games, Microsoft Game Studios
Grand Theft Auto III — Rockstar North
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault — 2015, Inc., Electronic Arts
Neverwinter Nights — BioWare, Atari Interactive
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos — Blizzard Entertainment
Innovation in Console Gaming
Animal Crossing — Nintendo EAD‡
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem — Silicon Knights, Nintendo
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City — Rockstar North
Metroid Prime — Retro Studios, Nintendo
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell — Ubisoft Montreal
Craft Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
Animal Crossing — Nintendo EAD‡
Battlefield 1942 — DICE, Electronic Arts
Metroid Prime — Retro Studios, Nintendo
Neverwinter Nights — BioWare, Atari Interactive
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos — Blizzard Entertainment
Outstanding Achievement in Character or Story Development