Interactive Academy Announces Award Finalists

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) announced the finalists for the 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, which will be held at Rain in the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, March 4, 2004. Leading the finalists was Electronic Arts with 29, followed closely by Ubisoft and Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) with 23 and 21 finalists respectively. The Academy will present awards in 36 craft, console, computer and online categories, including an overall "Game of the Year" and Game of the Year honors in various genres, as well as the prestigious Hall of Fame Award.

"We are looking forward to recognizing truly outstanding achievement in videogames at our 7th Annual Awards event," said Gordon Bellamy, exec director of the AIAS. "The developers and publishers who will be honored at this event have helped to establish the videogame industry as the fastest growing form of entertainment throughout the world."

Below is a complete list of the nominees. Each game is followed by the developer then publisher if only one company is listed then they served as both developer and publisher.

Game of the Year COMMAND & CONQUER: GENERALS (Electronic Arts) CALL OF DUTY (Infinity Ward, Activision) MAX PAYNE 2: THE FALL OF MAX PAYNE (Remedy Entertainment, Rockstar)PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (Ubisoft)RATCHET & CLANK: GOING COMMANDO (Insomniac, SCEA) RISE OF NATIONS (Big Huge Games, Microsoft) SSX 3 (EA Canada, Electronic Arts) STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC (Bioware, LucasArts) THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE WIND WAKER (Nintendo)

PC Game of the Year COMMAND & CONQUER: GENERALS (Electronic Arts) CALL OF DUTY (Infinity Ward, Activision) MAX PAYNE 2: THE FALL OF MAX PAYNE (Remedy Entertainment, Rockstar)PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (Ubisoft)RISE OF NATIONS (Big Huge Games, Microsoft) STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC (Bioware, LucasArts)

Console Game of the Year PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (Ubisoft)RATCHET & CLANK: GOING COMMANDO (Insomniac, SCEA) SSX 3 (EA Canada, Electronic Arts) STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC (Bioware, LucasArts) THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE WIND WAKER (Nintendo)

Innovation in PC Gaming CALL OF DUTY (Infinity Ward, Activision) PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (Ubisoft)RISE OF NATIONS (Big Huge Games, Microsoft) STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC (Bioware, LucasArts) TRON 2.0 (Monlith Studios, Buena Vista)

Innovation in Console Gaming EYE TOY (SCEA)PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (Ubisoft)SSX 3 (EA Canada, Electronic Arts) STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC (Bioware, LucasArts) THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE WIND WAKER (Nintendo)

Console Action/Adventure CRIMSON SKIES: HIGH ROAD TO REVENGE (FASA Studios, Microsoft)SIMPSONS HIT & RUN (Radical, VU Games)MAX PAYNE 2: THE FALL OF MAX PAYNE (Remedy Entertainment, Rockstar)MANHUNT (Rockstar North, Rockstar Games)METAL ARMS: GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM (Swingin' Ape Studios, VU Games/Sierra)

Console Fighting DEF JAM VENDETTA (Electronic Arts Canada, Electronic Arts)SOUL CALIBUR 2 (Namco)DRAGONBALL Z: BUDOKAI 2 (Dimps, Atari)VIRTUA FIGHTER 4: EVOLUTION (Sega - AM2, Sega)SMACKDOWN: HERE COMES THE PAIN (Yukes, THQ)WAR OF THE MONSTERS (Incognito Studios, SCEA)

Console First Person Action DEUS EX: INVISIBLE WAR (Ion Storm, Eidos)TOM CLANCY'S RAINBOW SIX 3 (Red Storm, Ubisoft)

Console Platform Action/Adventure JAK II (Naughty Dog, SCEA)PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (Ubisoft)RATCHET & CLANK: GOING COMMANDO (Insomniac, SCEA) THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE WIND WAKER (Nintendo) VIEWTIFUL JOE (Capcom, Capcom Production Studio 4)

Console Racing BURNOUT 2: POINT OF IMPACT (Criterion Games, Acclaim)F-ZERO GX (Nintendo)MARIO KART: DOUBLE DASH (Nintendo)NEED FOR SPEED UNDERGROUND (Electronic Arts) PROJECT GOTHAM RACING 2 (Bizarre Creations, Microsoft)

Console Role Playing Game DARK CLOUD 2 (Level 5, SCEA)DISGAEA: HOUR OF DARKNESS (Nippon Ichi Software, Atlus)FINAL FANTASY X-2 (Square Enix)STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC (Bioware, LucasArts) XENOSAGA (Namco)

Console Sports Simulation MADDEN NFL 2004 (EA/Tiburon, Electronic Arts)TOPSPIN (Pam Development, Microsoft)WORLD SOCCER WINNING ELEVEN 6 INTERNATIONAL (Konami) NCAA FOOTBALL 2004 (Electronic Arts)ESPN NHL HOCKEY (Kush Games, Sega)TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 2004 (Electronic Arts)

Family Game of the Year EYE TOY (SCEA) AMPLITUDE (Harmonix Music Systems, SCEA)GRABBED BY THE GHOULIES (Rare, Microsoft)THE SIMS: BUSTIN' OUT (Maxis, Electronic Arts)

Handheld Game of the Year MARIO & LUIGI SUPERSTAR SAGA (Alpha Dreams, Nintendo)ADVANCE WARS 2 (Nintendo)FIRE EMBLEM (Nintendo)FINAL FANTASY TACTICS ADVANCE (Square Enix) POKÉMON RUBY (Nintendo)

PC Family ZOO TYCOON: COMPLETE COLLECTION (Blue Fang Games, Microsoft)

PC Action / Adventure GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY (Rockstar North, Rockstar Games)LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (EARS, Electronic Arts)MAX PAYNE 2: THE FALL OF MAX PAYNE (Ubisoft)URU: AGES BEYOND MYST (Cyan Worlds, Ubisoft)

PC First Person Action CALL OF DUTY (Infinity Ward, Activision)TRON 2.0 (Monlith Studios, Buena Vista)BATTLEFIELD 1942: SECRET WEAPONS (DICE, Electronic Arts)

PC Massively Multiplayer / Persistent World A TALE IN THE DESERT (eGenesis) PUZZLE PIRATES (Three Rings Design) HORIZONS: EMPIRE OF ISTARIA (Artifact Ent., Atari)EVE ONLINE (Crowd Control Prods., Simon & Schuster)EVERQUEST: LOST DUNGEONS (Sony Online Entertainment)

PC Role Playing Game DEUS EX: INVISIBLE WAR (Ion Storm, Eidos)DUNGEON SIEGE: LEGENDS OF ARANNA (Mad Doc Software, Microsoft)NEVERWINTER NIGHTS: SHADOWS OF UNDRENTIDE (Bioware, Atari)STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC (Bioware, LucasArts)THE TEMPLE OF ELEMENTAL EVIL (Troika Games, Atari)

PC Simulation IL2 STURMOVIK: FORGOTTEN BATTLES (IC: Maddox Games, Ubisoft)FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2004: A CENTURY OF FLIGHT (Microsoft) TRAINZ RAILROAD SIMULATOR 2004 (Auran, Oteeva)THE SIMS: SUPERSTAR (Maxis, Electronic Arts)

PC Sports TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 2004 (Electronic Arts) MADDEN NFL 2004 (EA/Tiburon, Electronic Arts)OUT OF THE PARK 5.0 (.400 Software Studios) CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER 4 (Sports Interactive, Eidos Interactive)

PC Strategy RIDE OF NATIONS (Big Huge Games, Microsoft) COMMAND & CONQUER: GENERALS (Electronic Arts) HOMEWORLD 2 (Relic Entertainment, VU Games/Sierra)EMPIRES: DAWN OF THE MODERN WORLD (Stainless Steel Studios, Activision)PRAETORIANS (Pyro Studios, Eidos Interactive)

Game Design AMPLITUDE (Harmonix Music Systems, SCEA)PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (Ubisoft) STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC (Bioware, LucasArts)TONY HAWK'S UNDERGROUND (Neversoft, Activision)THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE WIND WAKER (Nintendo)

Character or Story Development PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (Ubisoft) THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE WIND WAKER (Nintendo) STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC (Bioware, LucasArts)RATCHET & CLANK: GOING COMMANDO (Insomniac, SCEA)BEYOND GOOD & EVIL (Ubisoft)

Art Direction PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (Ubisoft) THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE WIND WAKER (Nintendo) JAK II (Naughty Dog, SCEA)RATCHET & CLANK: GOING COMMANDO (Insomniac, SCEA)FINAL FANTASY X-2 (Square Enix)

Animation PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (Ubisoft) SOUL CALIBUR 2 (Namco) JAK II (Naughty Dog, SCEA)RATCHET & CLANK: GOING COMMANDO (Insomniac, SCEA)BEYOND GOOD & EVIL (Ubisoft)

Original Music Composition CALL OF DUTY (Infinity Ward, Activision)BEYOND GOOD & EVIL (Ubisoft) MEDAL OF HONOR: RISING SUN (EA LA, Electronic Arts)XIII (Ubisoft) GRABBED BY THE GHOULIES (Rare, Microsoft)

Sound Design CALL OF DUTY (Infinity Ward, Activision)BEYOND GOOD & EVIL (Ubisoft) TOM CLANCY'S RAINBOW SIX 3 (Red Storm, Ubisoft)AMPLITUDE (Harmonix Music Systems, SCEA)LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (EARS, Electronic Arts)

Gameplay Engineering THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE WIND WAKER (Nintendo) STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC (Bioware, LucasArts)PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (Ubisoft) JAK II (Naughty Dog, SCEA)

Visual Engineering PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (Ubisoft) THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE WIND WAKER (Nintendo) JAK II (Naughty Dog, SCEA)SSX 3 (EA Canada, Electronic Arts)RATCHET & CLANK: GOING COMMANDO (Insomniac, SCEA)

Console Action Sport TONY HAWK'S UNDERGROUND (Neversoft, Activision)NBA STREET VOL.2 (EA Canada, Electronic Arts)NHL HITZ PRO (Midway)SSX 3 (EA Canada, Electronic Arts)

Licensed Soundtrack MADDEN NFL 2004 (EA/Tiburon, Electronic Arts)TRUE CRIME: STREETS OF LA (Luxoflux, Activision)NBA LIVE 2004 (EA/Tiburon, Electronic Arts)TONY HAWK'S UNDERGROUND (Neversoft, Activision)SSX 3 (EA Canada, Electronic Arts)

Console Children MARIO PARTY 5 (Nintendo) SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: BATTLE FOR BIKINI BOTTOM (Heavy Iron Studios, THQ)BACKYARD BASKETBALL (Humongous Entertainment, Atari)TAK AND THE POWER OF JUJU (THQ)

PC Downloadable WORD WHOMP (Pogo, J.T. Software)HAMSTER BALL (Raptisoft, Real.com)ZUMA DELUXE (Pop Cap Games) POPPIT! TO GO (Pogo, Electronic Arts)

Character Performance - Male Michael Ironside (Sam Fisher) - TOM CLANCY'S SPLINTER CELL (Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft)Method Man - DEF JAM VENDETTA (Electronic Arts Canada, Electronic Arts)Snoop Dogg - TRUE CRIME: STREETS OF LA (Luxoflux, Activision)James McCaffrey (Detective Max Payne) - MAX PAYNE 2: THE FALL OF MAX PAYNE (Remedy, Rockstar)Elijah Wood (Frodo) - LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (EARS, Electronic Arts)

Character Performance - Female Jada Pinkett-Smith (Niobe) - ENTER THE MATRIX (Shiny Entertainment, Atari)Christina Milian (Angel) - DEF JAM VENDETTA (Aki, Electronic Arts)Anna Edwards (Yasmin) - THE GETAWAY (Team Soho, SCEA)Tara Strong (Rikku) - FINAL FANTASY X-2 (Square Enix) Anna Garduno (Keira) - JAK II (Naughty Dog, SCEA)

AIAS is the 5,000-member professional organization of the interactive entertainment industry, created to promote, communicate and advance the common interests of the worldwide entertainment software community. Annually, the Academy's two signature events are The Interactive Achievement Awards, the industry's premier and most highly regarded award show, recognizing outstanding achievement in interactive entertainment, and The DICE Summit, the only entertainment industry event dedicated exclusively to exploring the creative process, current trends and future of game design, development and marketing. The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences is located 9343 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232. For more information call 310/441-2280 or visit www.interactive.org.